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…

What it is to live by faith, and how a Christian should stir up himself thereunto.

What it is to liue by faith, and how a Christian should stirre vp himselfe thereunto.

Many and precious are the fruits of •aith,¹ whereof we have use at all times, in every state, at every turn, and in all things that we go about: which who so would enjoy, he must learn not only to have, but to use it aright; to live by it here; feeding upon the several promises of mercy, and not only to be saved by it when he goeth hence. The Lord himself, the Author and giver of life, hath o•ten taught us, by his Prophet and Apostle,² That the just man, is not only to believe to Justification, but to live by Faith. The worthy servants of God in all ages, are all brought in as a cloud of witnesses, testifying this truth, that The Just shall live by faith. ³By faith Enoch walked with God: By faith Abraham walked before God. Paul lived, if ever any comfortably, happily, from ⟨p. 200⟩the time of his conversion, to the time of his dissolution: but even whilst he lived in the flesh, he lived by the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without faith what ••e we but dead moles? living carcasses that carry about, and are carried with dead souls? The best, most excellent and precious part of Man is d stitute of true life till faith be inspired into it from above, whereby we are united unto Christ the fountain of supernatural and eternal life.⁴ The most glorious or pleasant life of Man without faith, is but a vain shadow, a mere picture and resemblance o life, or of death rather, drowned in carnal delights full of vexation, and leading towards everlasting perdition. The best work of the regenerate, if it be not animated and quickened by lively faith, is but the very outside and dull matter of a good and acceptable work: There is no going right forward in the way to Heaven,