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…

Fifthly, It submitteth willingly to what course the Lord is pleased to take for the crucifying of sin, and healing of our nature. Look as the patient yieldeth himself unto the Physician to be dieted, purged or lanced, for the curing of his maladies and recovery of health: so doth the soul resign it self by faith into the hands of God the spiritual Physician of the soul, who only is able to heal all diseases, to be dieted, purged, exercised as seemeth best unto his heavenly wisdom, only it desires that spiritual maladies may be removed and health recovered.

Fiftly, It submitteth willingly to what course the Lord is pleased to take for the crucifying of sinne, and healing of our nature. Looke as the patient yeeldeth himselfe vnto the Physician to be dieted, purged or lanced, for the curing of his maladies and recouery of health: so doth the soule resigne it selfe by faith into the hands of God the spirituall Physician of the soule, who only is able to heale all diseases, to be dieted, purged, exercised as seemeth best vnto his heauenly wisdome, only it desires that spirituall maladies may be remoued and health recouered.

Sixthly, Faith is the band or sinew whereby we are tied unto Christ the fountain of grace, and the pipe whereby grace is conveyed from him into the soul.¹ Look what […] full treasure of all sorts of graces Christ hath stored up in him, faith draweth and driveth them out of his fullness to the use of each several Christian, even grace for grace.² It fetcheth sap from the root Christ, which maketh every tree bring forth fruit in it kind, every Christian in his own calling. As water brought by pipes from the fountain to the cock, doth come faster or slower, as the pipes be wider or narrower, open or stopped: so grace doth flow from Christ into our hearts more or less, as our faith is weaker or stronger in degree and measure. Faith openeth (as it were) the passages of grace, that it may distil more plentifully upon us. And thus by fetching supernatural efficacy from the death and life of Christ, it changeth the heart, creates and infuseth new principles of action, begetteth a pliable willingness unto every thing that is good, and conveyeth both will and ability thereunto: as the medicine curing the vicious stomach, and restoring it to health makes it long for wholesome meat, as before for coals and ashes. By the precious promises which we have from God (when they are ours by faith)