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…

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)³ we are made partakers of the divine nature, or the graces of the Holy Ghost.

Sixtly, Faith is the band or sinew whereby we are tied vnto Christ the fountaine of grace, and the pipe whereby grace is conueyed from him into the soule.¹ Looke what 〈…〉 full treasure of all sorts of graces Christ hath stored vp in him, faith draweth and driueth them out of his fulnes to the vse of each seuerall Christian, euen grace for grace.² It fetcheth sap from the root Christ, which maketh euery tree bring forth fruit in it kind, euery Christian in his owne calling. As water brought by pipes from the fountaine to the cocke, 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 lesse, as our faith is weaker or stronger in degree and measure. Faith openeth (as it were) the passages of grace, that it may distill more plentifully vpon vs. And thus by fetching supernaturall efficacie from the death and life of Christ, it changeth the heart, creates and infuseth new principles of action, begetteth a plyable willingnesse vnto euery thing that is good, and conueigheth both will and ability thereunto: as the medicine curing the vitious stomacke, and restoring it to health makes it long for wholsome meate, as before for coales and ashes. By the precious promises which wee haue from God (when they are ours by faith)