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…

¹In this state of temptation the servants of God are allowed to live by faith. For the God of peace hath promised to tread Satan under our feet shortly, opportunely. When Satan may seem to prevail and get the victory, God will speedily bruise and crush him under the feet of the faithful, least he should hurt or overthrow their salvation. The craft of Satan is great to deceive, but God will teach wisdom and providence to discern and disappoint his stratagems.² The power of Satan is great to molest, but if we fight manfully against him, not trusting in our own strength, but in the living Lord, we shall obtain a joyful victory. We must not be slothful nor self-confident, but valiant in the Lord, and the success is certain through his blessed aide. Through God we shall do valiantly: ³for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. This is the commandment of God, ⁴that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Nothing is so glorious to God: nothing so profitable to us.⁵ It doth give God, as it were, a testimonial of his truth, power, mercy and goodness. And for our selves,⁶ it is our treasure, strength and victory. God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith. In quietness, and in confidence shall be your strength. We ⟨p. 301⟩have a charge to resist the Devil strong in the faith. ⁷The more fiercely we be assailed, the more confidently should we betake our selves unto the Lord for help, who is our strong castle, and rock of defence. In peace if men let their armour hang by and rust, yet it is time to buckle it about them, when the enemy is at the gates, and beginneth to batter the walls. The Lord permits Satan to buffet us, that we might be moved to seek and take unto us the armour of a Christian, more especially to put on the shield of faith. To doubt & fear because we are exercised in spiritual combats, is as if a soldier should lay aside his harness, because he is called forth to battle with his enemies. The Apostle speaking of our spiritual conflict with the malicious enemies of our souls, chargeth us not only to believe, but above all things to labour after faith. Above all things taking the shield of faith: