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…

¹First, This is necessary; for faith in these promises doth kill covetous desires, distrustful and distracting ears. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have. For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Man is privy to his want of blessings,² and will never cease with excessive care, diligence and vexation to hunt after them, till he come to know that God will provide for him. When one hath great friends, which they are known to lean upon, we say of them, Such need take no care, they know such and such will see to them. On the contrary, come to one who knows no end of toiling and ⟨p. 361⟩caring, ask him, why will you thus tyre your self out? He will answer, I must needs do it, I have none but my self to trust to.³ So Christ followeth his Disciples carefulness to this door, their unbelief, which did not let them consider our heavenly Father cared for them. No present estate, (though never so great) can free the heart from distraction,⁴ because it is subject to decay and vanish: we shall never cast the burden of care off our own shoulders, till we learn by faith to cast it upon the Lord, whose eye is over us for good.

¹First, This is necessary; for faith in these promises doth kill couetous desires, distrustfull and distracting eares. Let your conuersation bee without couetousnesse; and be content with such things as yee haue. For he hath saide, I will neuer leaue thee, nor forsake thee. Man is priuie to his want of blessings,² and will neuer cease with excessiue care, deligence and vexation to hunt after them, till hee come to knowe that God will prouide for him. When one hath great friends, which they are knowne to leane vpon, wee say of them, Such neede take no care, they know such and such will see to them. On the contrarie, come to one who knowes no end of toyling and