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…

Fifthly, Faith worketh the heart to sobriety and moderation, watchfulness and fear, lest it should be ensnared and drawn away with these delights. To sobriety in affecting, and in using earthly things; To sobriety in thought that we suffer not the mind to be taken up with cogitations, what we shall eat next, how we may gratify the palate: Sobriety in desire, that we long not after dainty meat; for such longing effeminates the mind, engenders and feeds passion, and makes way to hardness of heart; Sobriety in receiving them, for the strengthening of nature, and not to the dulling of our Spirits. For faith rai••th the heart to more spiritual delights, and guardeth the appetite that it range not immoderately after sensual things. The word of grace teacheth to live soberly,¹ and faith receiving this word worketh sobriety in earthly things, refreshing the soul with spiritual sweetnesses, and watching against intemperate cherishings that they win not ground. As a man that hath took in the taste of the best creatures, cannot forth-with ⟨p. 376⟩feed on that which is coarse,² mean, no way to be compar d: so a Christian who by faith hath tasted the love of God, which is be•ter then wine, the comforts of the word, which are sweeter then honey to the mouth, he cannot affect (as sometimes before he did) those sensual delights which carnal men (who know no better) follow with greediness. If earthly delights creep upon us, it is because the exercise of faith is neglected, which must conscionably be renewed again. Moreover, a Christian believer comes to his Table with an holy Jealousy, remembering that a snare is laid for him in every creature. Satan is a cunning fowler, who hath his baits laid secretly to catch us, where we least suspect. The Snake lurketh in the fairest grass: and the most dangerous grins are set in our lawful liberties. And through neglect to keep up our watch, these oft take, when others miss. More perish through the abuse of things lawful, then by the practice of what is simply unlawful. They are spots in the feasts of Charity,³ who feed without fear. Eating, drinking, building, matter of marriage, the world shall be drowned in these, when Christ comes to Judgement. How many times do the best offend in lawful things? The pleasure we take in these things,