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 putteth forth it self to perform all duties of holiness and love with life and fe•uour: It laboureth and taketh pains in well-doing. For Idleness corrupts natural strength; use and exercise confirms it. Dull and sluggish actions argue feebleness of the faculty & tend unto decay; as if we do not things with that vigour we have done, it is a sign of infirmity, and of a faculty inwardly or outwardly hindered; and if we rest in such a perfunctory course and challenge not our selves for it, we are in danger to grow worse and worse. But liveliness and contention in doing is both an argument of good disposition, and a means of increase. The more lively faith is, the better it worketh: and the more it worketh, the faster it groweth. Life is the daily & continual vigour of a living substance: and every thing as it is most lively and likely to continue, the more it doth show forth it strength in working. For a time faith may fall asleep, and the actions of faith be heartless, dull and perfunctory: but faith now asleep will awake anon, sh•ke up it self, stir up affections, resist sloth, blow up devotion, and restlessly aspire after heavenly things. And like as it is with them, whose going back helpeth them to take their rise and fetch their leap more commodiously, or whose linking for a season makes them to ply their business the closer afterward: So here, ⟨p. 293⟩faith (through him that is the Author and finisher of it) after such remissness doth renew it endeavours, and with more vigour and holy contention set upon the works of piety and godliness, stir up the graces of the Spirit, tie up the thoughts to heavenly things, labour against wind and tide, and walk before God in all well-pleasing, though not without great weakness.

Fiftly, It putteth forth it selfe to performe all duties of holinesse and loue with life and fe•uour: It laboureth and taketh paines in wel-doing. For Idlenesse corrupts naturall strength; vse and exercise confirmes it. Dull and sluggish actions argue feeblenes of the faculty & tend vnto decay; as if we do not things with that vigor we haue done, it is a signe of infirmitie, and of a facultie inwardly or outwardly hindred; and if wee rest in such a perfunctorie course and challenge not our selues for it, wee are in danger to grow worse and worse. But liuelinesse and contention in doing is both an argument of good disposition, and a meanes of increase. The more liuely faith is, the better it worketh: and the more it worketh, the faster it groweth. Life is the daily & continuall vgour of a liuing substance: and euery thing as it is most liuely and likely to continue, the more it doth shew forth it strength in working. For a time faith may fall asleepe, and the actions of faith bee heartlesse, dull and perfunctorie: but faith now asleepe will awake anone, shke vp it selfe, stirre vp affections, resist sloth, blow vp deuotion, and restlessely aspire after heauenly things. And like as it is with them, whose going backe helpeth them to take their rise and fetch their leape more commodiously, or whose linking for a season makes them to ply their businesse the closer afterward: So here,