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 wretchedness is this in me, that I have obeyed the Lord by the halves, been sleightie in his worship, most negligent where all diligence is no more then duty, most praise-worthy. As I have dishonoured God,¹ so I have hurt mine own soul. If it were not for unbelief, nothing could harm me; this doth all the mischief: for it rejecteth the medicines, which taken, would cure all maladies, and pulleth off Gods plasters, which lying on would salve our miseries: it defileth our best works, doubleth the bitterness of crosses, pulleth down many judgements upon us, disinableth in the combat against Satan, is the nurse of spiritual idleness, and hindereth the sweetness of all holy duties. ⟨p. 213⟩It were just with thee, Dear Father, to cast me off for ever, and give me over to the vanity of mine unbelieving heart. I have drawn back from thee by infidelity,² cleaving to the lusts of the flesh and allurements of the World, trusting in vain devices; and thou mightst justly forsake me utterly for this mine hypocritical starting aside from thy testimonies. O Lord, I am not more full of infidelity by nature, then of my self unable to remove it: unto thee therefore, do I lift up my soul; O tame in me the fierceness of infidelity, and teach me to believe as thou hast commanded: then shall I cleave unto thee inseparably, wait confidently on thy salvation, and serve thee cheerfully as long as I live. Thus are we to find out, and make infidelity odious.

What wretchednesse is this in me, that I haue ob•yed the Lord by the halues, beene sleightie in his worsh•p, most negligent where all diligence is no more then duty, most praise-worthy. As I haue dishonoured God,¹ so I haue hurt mine owne soule. If it were not for vnbeliefe, nothing could harme mee; this doth all the mischiefe: for it reiecteth the medicines, which taken, would cure all maladies, and pulleth off Gods pla sters, which lying on would salue our miseries: it defileth our best workes, doubleth the bitternesse of crosses, pulleth downe many iudgements vpon vs, disinableth in the combate against Satan, is the nurse of spirituall idlenesse, and hindreth the sweetnesse of all holy duties.