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…

Sixthly, To these must be joined ordinary and reverent hearing of the glad tidings of salvation, which is the key whereby God doth open and soften our iron hearts: and ⟨p. 169⟩an holy use of the Sacraments,¹ whereby this heavenly truth, which we have already received, is yet further sealed up to our consciences. These ordinances we must frequent with an appetite. Sound and healthful bodies receive nourishment from their food, and suck vigour out of it for growth and strength: Lively faith feedeth on the Word of life, and increaseth. Though the Word be immortal seed, which corruptible food is not, yet in this they are like, that look as bodily food doth not put to the body, all that substantial strength and latitude which belongeth to it; so the food of the Word doth not at one time augment the soul, with all length and depth of Knowledge, Faith, Hope, Love, Justice, Temperance, which it is to be brought unto. In which regard, as living bodies need daily food that they might grow unto perfection of nature, so souls having grace, have need to go over with the use of the means, as well as others, that the divine nature may be more and more enlarged, getting up as the light of the Sun•e doth in the air which it enlighteneth.

Sixtly, To these must be ioyned ordinarie and reuerent hearing of the glad tydings of saluation, which is the key whereby God doth open and soften our iron hearts: and ⟨p. 169⟩an holy vse of the Sacraments,¹ whereby this heauenly truth, which we haue alreadie receiued, is yet further sealed vp to our consciences. These ordinances we must frequent with an appetite. Sound and healthfull bodies receiue nourishment from their food, and suck vigour out of it for growth and strength: Liuely faith feedeth on the Word of life, and increaseth. Though the Word be immortall seed, which corruptible food is not, yet in this they are like, that looke as bodily food doth not put to the body, all that substantiall strength and latitude which belongeth to it; so the food of the Word doth not at one time augment the soule, with all length and depth of Knowledge, Faith, Hope, Loue, Iustice, Temperance, which it is to be brought vnto. In which regard, as liuing bodies need daily food that they might grow vnto perfection of nature, so soules hauing grace, haue need to goe ouer with the vse of the meanes, as well as others, that the diuine nature may be more and more enlarged, getting vp as the light of the Sune doth in the aire which it inlightneth.