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 stirreth up courage and resolution to set upon the practice of godliness, and the duties of our particular calling with diligence and cheerfulness, as the means sanctified of God to procure freedom. For despair, dumpishness, foregoing the means of grace, and neglect of our calling, these are the things which Satan labours to drive us unto: we do him the greatest pleasure that may be, when we yield unto him therein. Excessive fear brings that upon us, from which especially we desire to be freed, and ties up the powers of the soul, that it can make no resistance. Cowardice and fainting sorrow put courage into our Adversary: valour, resolution, and confidence forceth him to give back. When we give place to doubting, dejectedness, inordinate tyrannical fears, we put our selves into the hands of our Enemy: but the victory is ours, when by faith in the power and mercy of the Lord, we raise up our hearts in courage, and buckle our selves to the duties that lie before us, according to ability granted of God. When we are idle and solitary, Satan hath most advantage to molest and disquiet, as the thief hath to steal, when the door stands wide open: but conscionable employment shutteth the door against him, and takes away opportunity. This is the voice of faith, though Satan furiously assail thee, be not dismayed: when his temptations be most fierce, be thou most diligent in the means of grace, the practice of holiness, the labours of an honest calling; pray earnestly ⟨p. 307⟩call to remembrance the promises of grace, exercise thy self in works of mercy. Make this use of all his malicious assaults, that thou be quickened to stick faster unto the word of promise, lift up thy heart to crave his aide with confidence, and take courage to labour more earnestly in the paths of righteousness. For Satan will then cease to vex with his temptations, when that which he puts as a stumbling block, we make a spur and incitement to more diligence in well-doing.

Fiftly, It stirreth vp courage and resolution to set vpon the practice of godlinesse, and the duties of our particular calling with diligence and chearefulnesse, as the meanes sanctified of God to procure freedome. For despaire, dumpishnesse, foregoing the meanes of grace, and neglect of our calling, these are the things which Satan labours to driue vs vnto: we doe him the greatest pleasure that may be, when we yeeld vnto him therein. Excessiue feare brings that vpon vs, from which especially we desire to be freed, and ties vp the powers of the soule, that it can make no resistance. Cowardise and fainting sorrow put courage into our Aduersarie: valour, resolution, and confidence forceth him to giue backe. When wee giue place to doubting, deiectednesse, inordinate tyrannicall feares, wee put our selues into the hands of our Enemie: but the victory is ours, when by faith in the power and mercy of the Lord, we raise vp our hearts in courage, and buckle our selues to the duties that lie before vs, according to abilitie granted of God. When wee are idle and solitarie, Satan hath most aduantage to molest and disquiet, as the thiefe hath to steale, when the doore stands wide open: but conscionable imployment shutteth the doore against him, and takes away opportunitie. This is the voice of faith, though Satan furiously assaile thee, be not dismayed: when his temptations bee most fierce, bee thou most diligent in the meanes of grace, the practice of holinesse, the labours of an honest calling; pray earnestly