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…

Now if a Christian would stir up his faith to believe the promises of perseverance,¹ when he feels his own weakness, and considereth the strength and malice of his Adversaries.

Now if a Christian would stirre vp his faith to belieue the promses of perseuerance,¹ when hee feeles his owne weaknesse, and considereth the strength and malice of his Aduersaries.

1. 1Means to stir up our selves to believe these promises of perseverance.Meanes to stirre vp our selues to belieue these promises of perseuerance.

First, Let him heartily bewail his proneness to sin, aptness to decline, inability to withstand any one temptation, or set one step forward in the way to Heaven. Woe is me, poor wretch, blind, lame, crooked, sick, impotent, unstable as the running water: How was I bewitched with self-confidence and conceit of spiritual fullness? I have presumed upon my wisdom, as sufficient to direct my ways, and leaned upon my strength, as able to make resistance against temptations, stand upon mine own bottom, and go through stitch with my resolutions: But now I find my wisdom is ignorance, vanity and folly, my strength weakness: I am unable to think one good thought, set one step forward towards Heaven, keep my standing, or withstand the least assault. In pain I am pettish, under crosses faint, heartless, discontent, ready to fly at the sound of persecution, secure in prosperity, puffed up with comforts, apt to be led away with worldly allurements. My spiritual taste is distempered with carnal vanities, which relish sweeter to me then the mercies of God in Christ; mine appetite to the Word and food of life is abated, my zeal decayed, mine affections dull to good, my devotion cooled, my conscience benumbed. I hear, but feed not upon the Word, my Prayers are cold, heartless, roving; in earthly employments I keep no moderation, daily weaknesses and lesser sins go down without reluctation: the motions of the spirit quickly die, the motions of the flesh live and get strength, admonition