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…

Secondly, It receiveth them not as the fruit of our forecast, labour, or desert, but as gifts of Gods bounty, yea,¹ as gifts of the gracious covenant, proceeding from the free love of God. For in the covenant of grace God promiseth not only to write his Law in our h•arts, and to forgive our ⟨p. 374⟩sins, but also to confer temporal blessings, as they shall be serviceable to us in our journey towards Heaven. Men that make a great purchase, desire to have some part in present possession: and our gracious God making promise of eternal happiness, doth give earthly blessings in hand as pertaining to that heavenly possession, which we shall enjoy hereafter. Now as God gives temporal things to his people in covenant, so doth faith receive them as tokens of special good-will and favour in Jesus Christ,² in and th•ough whom of free grace, son-like right and ti•le to the creatures is restored, which by sin and disobedience was forfeited. And these considerations strike the heart with reverence, inflame it with love, and raise an holy regard and care not to abuse this grant of mercy, breeds an acknowledgement of our unworthiness of any mercy,³ admiration of Gods provision and contentation with the least blessing of God.

Secondly, It receiueth them not as the fruit of our forecast, labour, or desert, but as gifts of Gods bountie, yea,¹ as gifts of the gratious couenant, proceeding frō the free loue of God. For in the couenant of grace God promiseth not only to write his Law in our h•arts, and to forgiue our ⟨p. 374⟩sinnes, but also to conferre temporall blessings, as they shall be seruiceable to vs in our iourney towrds Heauen. Men that make a great purchase, desire to haue some part in present possession: and our gratious God making pomise of eternll happinesse, doth giue earthly blessings in hand as pertaining to that heauenly possession, which wee shall enioy hereafter. Now as God giues temporall thigs to his people in couennt, so doth faith receiue them as okens of speciall good-will and fauour in Iesus Christ,