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…

The preposterous care and travel of many well-affected, is to be pitied, who study the practice of this or that virtue,¹ neglecting this cardinal and radical virtue; as if men should water all the branches of a Tree, and not the root. Fain would they abound and shine in patience, meekness, zeal, yet establish and root not themselves in f•ith, that should maintain all the rest. If water come not to the cock we use to open or amend the pipes or leads that convey it from the spring: Christ is the well-spring of grace, if we would have our wants supplied we must labour steadfastly to believe. All defects in ⟨p. 252⟩sanctification must admonish us to look to our faith. Thirst drives men to the Springs of water: col• forceth them to the fire: weakness or want of grace should move us to come unto Christ by a lively faith.² Oh, every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters. To give way to doubting because the graces of Gods Spirit be weak and feeble in us, is, as if a man should refuse to eat, because he is faint for want of sustenance.

The p•eposterous care and trauell of many wel-affected, is to bee pittied, who studie the practice of this or that vertue,¹ neglecting this cardinall and radicall vertue; as if men should water all the branches of a Tree, and not the root. Faine would they abound and shine in patience, meeknesse, zeale, yet establish and root not themselues in f•ith, that should maintaine all the rest. If water come not to the cocke wee vse to open or amend the pipes or leades that conueigh it from the spring: Christ is the wel-spring of grace, if wee would haue our wants supplied we must labour stedfastly to belieue. All defects in ⟨p. 252⟩sanctification must admonish vs to looke to our faith. Thirst driues men to the Spings of water: col forceth them to the fire: weaknesse or want of grace should moue vs to come vnto Christ by a liuely faith.