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…

Stir up thy self, and awake to my judgement, curb and chain up Satan, that he may molest no longer, and strengthen thy poor servant, that through thy might, I may conquer and triumph over him. And my soul shall rejoice in the Lord, ¹it shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, Lord, who who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea the poor and needy, from him that spoileth him.

Stirre vp thy selfe, and awake to my iudgement, curbe and chaine vp Satan, that he may molest no longer, and strengthen thy poore seruant, that through thy might, I may conquer and tryumph ouer him. And my soule shall reioyce in the Lord, ¹it shall reioyce in his saluation. All my bones shall say, Lord, who who is like vnto thee, which deliuerest the poore from him that is too strong for him, yea the poore and needie, from him that spoyleth him.

1. 1Psal. 35.9.10.

Thirdly, he must cease to muse on the tentations ⟨p. 316⟩of Satan, and stir up himself courageously, valiantly to trust in the mercies of the Lord, and rely upon his grace. Why art thou cast down, ¹O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? why dost thou harbour perplexing doubtful thoughts, and in much pensiveness toss too and fro the tentations of Satan.² This musing kindles the fire: the more thou thinkest upon the tentat on, and art disquieted with doubtings, the greater liberty hath the Devil to tempt, the less able are thou to with-stand his malice. If thou be dejected, he will be insolent: if thou be affrighted, he will be the more furious. Trust therefore in the Lord, and wait upon his grace: for he hath seen thine adversity, he will hear thy prayers; the sins cleaving to the tentations which thou so much fearest, are pardoned & forgiven unto thee. Evil thoughts conceived with delight, pleasure, and purpose, are most displeasing unto God, dangerous unto the soul: but even hellish tentations, which never found consent or approbation under which thou art humbled, from which thou earnestly cravest to be delivered, doubt not, but upon thine unfeigned suite, they are freely remitted and done away. Be strong, and of good courage, fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord will be thy defence, and under the shadow of his wings thou shalt be safe. Satan cannot tempt longer then God shall give him leave: and he will never suffer thee to be tempted above measure, but will give a good issue unto the tentation.