A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

Thirdly, Ponder and weigh who it is that maketh this liberal and free promise, even God himself, who is able and willing, and faithful to perform what he promiseth of his rich grace and unspeakable mercy. All these are clear and manifest for the truth of them, b•t we have need oft to set them before us for our use, to encourage us the more boldly and sincerely to rely upon Christ. To this end specially, are these testimonies of Gods Power, Mercy, and Truth so often repeated in the Scriptures, that we might have them ever before us, to uphold us against our doubtings and fears, whereof our nature is full. The things promised in the Gospel are unlikely in reason, opposite to sense and feeling, too great and excellent, as Satan and our distrustful hearts will suggest, to be conferred upon such vile and filthy creatures as we be, who have so many ways dishonoured God, and have such a load of sin lying still upon us; For the overcoming of which temptation, we must look up to him that hath made the promise; his grace, faithfulness, and power; and keep them in our eye continually, rousing up our souls to believe against sense and feeling, reason and likelihood, because God is faithful and cannot deny himself; gracious, and will not cast us off for our unworthiness; great in might, able to do whatsoever he will, and willing to perform with his hand, whatsoever cometh out of his mouth. We must say to our souls, The Lord of his grace invites thee a poor, needy, miserable, self-condemned wretch to come unto Jesus Christ, and of the ⟨p. 161⟩same grace hath promised to accept thee if thou do come, to heal thy soars, to forgive thy sins; come therefore, behold, he calleth thee: reason may be deluded, sense is deceitful, but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever: Thou hast his faithful promise for thy security, dispute no more, but draw near with confidence.

Thirdly, Ponder and weigh who it is that maketh this liberall and free promise, euen God himselfe, who is able and willing, and faithfull to performe what he promiseth of his rich grace and vnspeakable mercie. All these are cleare and manifest for the truth of them, b•t wee haue need oft to set them before vs for our vse, to encourage vs the more boldly and sincerely to relie vpon Christ. To this end specially, are these testimonies of Gods Power, Mercie, and Truth so often repeated in the Scriptures, that we might haue them euer before vs, to vphold vs against our doubtings and feares, whereof our nature is full. The things promised in the Gospell are vnlikely in reason, opposite to sence and feeling, too great and excellent, as Satan and our distrustfull hearts will suggest, to be conferred vpon such vile and filthy creatures as we be, who haue so many wayes dishonoured God, and haue such a load of sin lying still vpon vs; For the ouercomming of which temptation, wee must looke vp to him that hath made the promise; his grace, faithfulnesse, and power; and keepe them in our eye continually, rowsin vp our soules to belieue against sence and feeling, reason and likelihood, because God is faithfull and cannot denie himselfe; gracious, and will not cast vs off for our vnworthinesse; great in might, able to doe whatsoeuer he will, and willing to performe with his hand, whatsoeuer commeth out of his mouth. Wee must say to our soules, The Lord of his grace inuites thee a poore, needie, miserable, selfe-condemned wretch to come vnto Iesus Christ, and of the