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…

Our own strength is too weak for the work of holiness; as to defeat the policies of Satan, to repress and vanquish the lusts of our rebellious hearts & allurements of the world: much more to change and cleanse our hearts, which are by nature and custom in sin so deeply polluted. If we have not faith to believe that God will aide, assist, and bless us in our endeavours, yea, and do the whole work for us; what courage can we have to go about it? What success are we like to find in it? What shameful foils and repulses shall we sustain?

Our owne strength is too weake for the worke of holinesse; as to defeat the policies of Satan, to represse and vanquish the lusts of our rebellious hearts & allurements of the world: much more to change and cleanse our hearts, which are by nature and custome in sinne so deeply polluted. If wee haue not faith to belieue that God will aide, assist, and blesse vs in our endeuours, yea, and doe the whole worke for vs; what courage can we haue to goe about it? What successe are we like to find in it? What shamefull foyles and repulses shall we sustaine?

But settledness in this, that God will perfect his work begun, causeth men to go about the practice of mortification with much readiness, cheerfulness, ease, staidness, and happy speed. He will fight manfully against his lusts, and continue in the combat against them, who is assured of victory from God in the end. It is a great heartening to resist evil, or to do any good duty, when we believe God will be with us, in the one and in the other, to give us help against our enemies, and to enable us unto the work: and that work must needs prosper that ⟨p. 248⟩God will forward, and succeed well, that he will bring to perfection.

But setlednesse in this, that God will perfect his worke begun, causeth men to goe about the practice of mortification with much readinesse, chearefulnesse, ease, stayednesse, and happie speed. Hee will fight ma•fully against his lusts, and continue in the combate against them, who is assured of victorie from God in the end. It is a great heartning to resist euill, or to doe any good dutie, when we belieue God will bee with vs, in the one and in the other, to giue vs helpe against our enemies, and to inable vs vnto the worke: and that worke must needs prosper that