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…

will be of like force to withdraw our assent from Gods mercy, as the delight or pleasure of that sensual object, was to cause us to transgress any part of his will revealed. The same strength, beauty had to allure unto adultery, will that foul sin unrepented of, have to divorce our souls from Christ. Nor can we fail in practice of this or other Commandment, without a precedent defect of that faith, which only can firmly unite us unto Christ: whereby likewise were it firm it self, we should assent unto every precept of God as much better then any incompatible good. That act cannot please God; which is not animated by faith: for it is but the naked carcass of a good work, without life or soul, if that be wanting. It is faith, which impelleth to work righteousness, and putteth life and ⟨p. 383⟩vigour into the work wrought: so that the best works of the regenerate be dull and lifeless, if faith be dormant, and put not forth it self for a time. And when a Christian knows not, whether he shall have strength to do what God requireth; nor whether God hath given him any promise, that his burden shall be made light and that Christ will bear the greatest part of it for him, it must needs be very tedious and troublesome; it will occasion many fears and doubts, deadness and uncheerfulness. This killeth the heart of right good Christians, when they are ignorant, or not throughly informed, that God will make them able and fit for so great a work, as the leading of a godly life. But if they have this faith as a foundation to uphold them, they shall sooner wade through their doubts, and grow out of their fears, as knowing that God will be ever with them for their assistance. Who doth not know, that when some certainty of salvation is obtained, yet for all that inasmuch as it is but weak, they have many heart-griefs for this, that they see they have a wearisome pilgrimage to go through, and little knowledge and persuasion of any great guiding of them through all the fears and difficulties of it? A Christian that hath this confidence, that God will strengthen him to every good work, he shall go about it with heart and cheerfulness; he shall be encouraged to pray as his necessity shall give cause, he shall be kept from fainting and dismayedness, when his strength is not very great, and rise up again when he is fallen.

will be of like force to withdraw our assent from Gods mercy, as the delight or pleasure of that sensuall obiect, was to cause vs to transgresse any part of his wil reuealed. The same strength, beautie had to allure vnto adulterie, will that foule sinne vnrepented of, haue to diuorce our soules from Christ. Nor can wee faile in practice of this or other Commandement, without a precedent defect of that faith, which onely can firmely vnite vs vnto Christ: whereby likewis were it firme it selfe, wee should assent vnto euery precept of God as much better then any incompatible good. That act cannot please God; which is not animated by faith: for it is but the naked carkese of a good worke, without life or soule, if that be wanting. It is faith, which impelleth to worke righteousnesse, and putteth life and