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…

Thirdly, It maketh inquiry into the heart, turneth from evil, and seeketh the face of God earnestly. Confidence in God breeds suspicion of our selves, lest any sin should harbour secretly in our bosom, or corruption get •ead to hinder prosperity: specially if God bless us not •c•ording to promise, the first work of faith is to ransack and fan the soul narrowly, to find out and remove whatsoever doth offend. I thought on my ways; ¹and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I have kept thy word. ²The counsel of Elephaz to Job was good, if he had rightly applied it; Acquaint now thy self with him, and be at ⟨p. 368⟩peace; thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy Tabernacles. This sound advice faith digesteth, and with much seriousness doth early with the whole heart seek the Lord, exercise it self in the worship of God, laboureth the reformation of what is amiss, and composeth it self wholly to the prescript •ule of his Word. By faith we know,³ God will draw nigh to us, if we draw nigh to him; he will lift us up, if we humble our selves in his sight; and if God lift us up, it shall go well; if he be with us, we shall want nothing which may be for our good. This is the way of faith, which cleaveth unto the Lord, and seeketh the accomplishment of his promises, as God hath promised to fulfil them.

Thirdly, It maketh inquiry into the heart, turneth f•om euill, and seeketh the face of God earnestly. Confi•ence in God breeds suspition of our selues, lest any sinne should habour secretly in our bosome, or corruption get ead to hinder prosperitie: specially if God blesse vs not cording to promise, the first worke of faith is to ransicke and fanne the soule narrowly, to find out and remoue whatsoeuer doth offend. I thought on my wayes;