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…

¹Eighthly, By faith the godly heart is drawn to use all lawful means of help, that God in his providence doth afford,² but resteth quietly upon Gods promises, and assurance of his presence above all likelihoods and appearances, God shall stand (saith the Psalmist) at the right hand of the poor to save him from those, that condemn his soul. When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back, this I know, for God is for me. Moses left Egypt, and feared not the wrath of the King: because he saw him ⟨p. 341⟩that was invisible. The reason hereof is, faith coupleth the means and the end, but looketh to the promiser, his grace, faithfulness and power (who is able to do above all that we can comprehend) and not to the probability of the thing promised.³ Abraham against hope believed in hope, that he might become the Father of many Nations, being fully persuaded, that what God had promised, he was able to perform. ⁴By faith Sarah received strength to bear a Son, when she was past age; ⁵because she judged him faithful who had promised. This dependence on the promises which faith worketh, is absolute, without limitation of time, measure of affliction, or manner of deliverance. All these it referreth to the good pleasure of Gods will,⁶ and reposeth it self securely upon his faithful word and providence. He that believeth will not make haste. Fear rides post to out-run danger, and folly turns over with speed, our mourning part before God, delighting to be in the house of laughter: but faith, which leaneth upon the promises of truth, makes no haste without good speed.⁷ Daniel waited seventy years for deliverance out of captivity in Babylon, and then finding the time of redemption to be at hand, he prayed to God for the same. As for the measure of affliction, or means of deliverance,