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…

It is esteemed a matter of great honour to be the servant of the Prince in some special place of eminency in the Common-wealth: How do men seek and sue for such Offices? how do they rejoice when their desires are accomplished? But there is no comparison betwixt the servant of a Prince, and the Son of God; the favour of a Prince, and the Fatherly love of God; the dignity of the Court, and the Joys of Heaven; a temporal office, and an eternal inheritance. It is better and more honourable ⟨p. 274⟩to be the servant of God, then the Commander of men; to be an heir apparent to Heaven, then the possessor of the whole World. There is a great opinion, and not without just cause, of the estate of our first Parents, Adam and Eve, whilst they were in Paradise, before their fall. But their estate, notwithstanding all their privileges, ornaments and favours, exceeded not the condition of servants. Had they continued in obedience to their Creator, they should have been exempted from all misery, and confirmed in perfect blessedness: But they could never have attained this dignity. To be made the Sons of God by Adoption, of mere, rich, and undeserved love in Christ. And is it not an admirable prerogative, to be brought by Christ into a more excellent state, then that which Adam in his innocency and glory had just cause to wonder at. The low degree from which we are raised, doth commend this, and as the graciousness of him who preferreth, so the excellency of that state whereunto the Believer is exalted. Of the servants of sin, to be made the Sons of God; of the vassals of Satan, to be taken to reign with Christ in glory for evermore; of children of wrath, dead in trespasses, to be begotten again to the hope of an inheritance, immortal, undefiled, that fadeth not; what an unspeakable favour is this? O my soul arise, stir up thy self steadfastly to receive the promise of life; and hold it fast: for Gods promises are certain, never less, but rather more in accomplishment then in tender. Enter possession, and get the inheritance sealed unto thee. Would not a poor Beggar, if he should understand of some great and goodly inheritance bequeathed unto him in a far country, much rejoice therein, long to go see it, and take possession of it. In matters of weight men love great earnest and good assurance:

It is esteemed a matter of great honour to be the seruant of the Prince in some speciall place of eminencie in the Common-wealth: How doe men seeke and sue for such Offices? how do they reioyce when their desires are accomplished? But there is no comparison betwixt the seruant of a Prince, and the Sonne of God; the fauour of a Prince, and the Fatherly loue of God; the dignitie of the Court, and the Ioyes of Heauen; a temporall office, and an eternall inheritance. It is better and more honourable