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…

§. 7. A poor Christian is oft put to great plunges through the malice of Satan, because there is much weakness of spiritual life in him, he never felt any great strength of grace in himself,¹ and what he formerly felt is now decayed.² By this Temptation God doth chasten our pride and swelling of heart, unthankfulness, discontinuance of care to cherish and increase received graces by means sanctified, running into occasions of decay and cooling, and contentment with a small pittance of grace, faith, holiness: For all which sins and other of like kind, we must unfeignedly humble our selves before God, craving pardon of his mere grace and mercy. This Humiliation ⟨p. 178⟩is a special means to ease the conscience; as the wound doth cease raging when it is opened and well drawn.³ And it must be remembered, that we are but children, and therefore weak; yea, and subject to many spiritual diseases such as take away sense of life: and therefore we must seek to be cured, and not despair of life. When any one part or member is distempered or ill at ease, we despair not of the safety of the whole person, but labour to cure and restore it to health again: so when we have offended, we should resort to the Physician Christ Jesus, make our complaint to him, and be confident for his promise sake that he will help us. And if they who have fallen and offended God,⁴ may turn home again to their first Husband with good welcome, shall not they much more be beloved of him, and comforted by him, who have not provoked him, but are only held down through fear and infirmity. And though their graces be small, they may be true whiles they be small. Little faith is faith, as a little fire is fire. God despiseth not little things in obedience offered to him. In the sacrifices of the Law, not the price of the gift, but the ability and affection of the offerer was respected.⁵ And if weakness of grace was any just cause of fear, who might assure himself of Gods love? Not one. For though some have grace in greater measure then others, yet all are compassed with infirmities, and have not attained unto perfection. But it is not so much enquired how great or little, as how sincere our faith and obedience is. Faith if it be unfeigned, though but as a grain of Mustard seed;