A03064:483
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…
A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By John Ball.A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By Iohn Ball.
London: printed by William Stansby for Edward Brewster, 1631
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, Faith desireth, digesteth, and feedeth upon the wholesome food of life.1 As new borne babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby. If the body be healthful, and in case to grow in strength, there will be an appetite to wholesome food and good digestion by the stomach; every living thing hath a faculty to draw nourishment unto it self: and the faith which never faileth doth not only covet, but kindly digest the Word of life, and suck nourishment from it, whereby it is made able and strong to every good word and work: If the stomach decay, or the appetite be inordinate after things hurtful and unwholesome food, or the digestion ill, that meat taken in, passeth away not altered by the stomach, the natural life is in danger, so the ⟨p. 292⟩life of grace languisheth, when our appetite to the word decayeth, we affect earthly things immoderately, delight in a frothy, windy, vain sound of words, which pleaseth the ea•e, but edifieth not the conscience, or if we hear slightly, but take not pains to feed substantially upon the Word. I deny not, but a lively never-fading faith is subject to these and more grievous distempers for a time, but in this languishing fit, though it be not unto death, until it recover, it is unable to embrace the promises of perseverance: and the more lively it is to receive those promises, the more earnestly doth it desire and sweetly feed upon the Word of grace.
Fourthly, Faith desireth, digesteth, and feedeth vpon the wholesome food of life.1 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby. If the bodie be healthfull, and in case to grow in strength, there will be an appetite to wholesome food and good digestion by the stomacke; euery liuing thing hath a facultie to draw nourishment vnto it selfe: and the faith which neuer faileth doth not only couet, but kindly digest the Word of life, and sucke nourishment from it, whereby it is made able and strong to euery good word and worke: If the stomacke decay, or the appetite be inordinate after things hurtfull and vnwholsome food, or the digestion ill, that meate taken in, passeth away not altered by the stomacke, the naturall life is in danger, so the