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…

Secondly, he that finds himself plunged into the gulf of misery by sin, and destitute of the sap and fruit of grace is invited to come unto Christ, that he may receive from him the grace of sanctification, as well as remission: Oh, every one that thirsteth, ¹come ye to the waters; He that believeth, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life. The barren in grace must come unto Christ to be supplied of his fullness.² By faith we receive the promised Spirit. He that walloweth in sin, is not fitted to believe, for justifying faith can never take sound rooting in the heart which is not resolved to forgo the practice, and hast cast off the love of all sin: but when a man is weary of sin, and finds emptiness of grace; as he is commanded to pray for mercy, and the gifts of grace, so is he to believe in Christ, for the obtaining of both. Wherefore study, strive, endeavour to believe, and lay hold on the Rock, as in danger of drowning a man will do on the tree or post that comes next to hand. When thou hast, in thy conceit, most cause to despair, labour against it: When thou hast no reason in thy apprehension to believe, believe with all thy power; when the favour of God is lost to thy feeling, it may be present to thy faith, which discerneth what is promised, though to sense it have no being. And for thine encouragement, set before thine eyes Christs freedom to all suitors in the time of his flesh, repelling none who truly desi•ed the price of his blood. There be other causes of this weakness,³ which have been mentioned, and answered before.

Secondly, hee that finds himselfe plunged into the gulfe of miserie by sinne, and destitute of the sappe and fruite of grace is inuited to come vnto Christ, that hee may receiue from him the grace of sanctification, as well as remission: Oh, euery one that thirsteth, ¹come yee to the waters; Hee that belieueth, out of his bellie shall flow riuers of water of life. The barren in grace must come vnto Christ to be supplied of his fulnesse.²