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…

And great reason, for if sin be pardoned, every thing causeth a progress of salvation. Were it not odious to see one professing some l berall Science, to live by lewd and dishonest shifting? No better fight is it to see a Christian hanging his joy upon course and earthly pleasures, who hath more noble and generous, yea, Angelical delights, then which what hath Heaven better but in degree only and manner of fruition?¹ How excellent is thy l•uing kindness, O God, therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house: and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. It is a pleasure to him to want other pleasures, who is oft and every day serious in the meditation of the remission of his sins, the free grace and eternal love of God towards him in Jesus Christ. He that is every day busied to fetch out a pardon of course for his daily infirmities, and to make even reckoning betwixt God and his Soul, that nothing remain on the score to interrupt his peace, shall neither be idle, nor unprofitable; neither want employment, nor comfort. This course can open no gap to licentiousness, liberty in sin,² or carnal security: for he is ever most studious not to run into arrearages, who is most desirous to have his debts cancelled and blotted out. Faith is of the nature of sovereign purifying waters, which so wash off the corruption of the ulcer, that they cool the heat, and stay the spread of the infection, and by degrees heal the same. And of Cordials, which so comfort and ease the heart, as also they expel noxious humours, and strengthen nature against them. Justifying faith takes kindly rooting in a clean heart, and being rooted purifieth it more and more. Faith that pleads for mercy, doth cleave to the Commandments, ⟨p. 234⟩stir up to holiness, over-rule the affections, delight in purity, and diffuse the virtue of the word into every faculty of the soul.

And great reason, for if sinne bee pardoned, euery thing causeth a progresse of saluation. Were it not odious to see one professing some l berall Science, to liue by lewd and dishonest shifing? No better fight is it to see a Christian hanging his ioy vpon course and earthly pleasures, who hath more noble and generous, yea, Angelicall delights, then which what hath Heauen better but in degree only and manner of fruition?