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…

Fourthly, Admirable in force and efficacy is the persuasion of faith, above all the Oratory in the world. All the common inducements taken from profit, pleasure, honour, what poor and weak engines are they to the irresistible arguments of faith, by which it moveth the heart to yield willing and cheerful obedience. Thus it goeth to work with us, Hath Christ given himself for thee, forgiven thee so many debts, conferred favours of all kinds upon thee, and what hast thou to retribute? If thou give all thy goods to the poor, thy body to the fire, •hy soul to his service, were not all short of recompense? Lovest thou, lovest thou this Saviour of thine, and •arest thou adventure upon any thing displeasing unto him? Is there any thing too hard to be done for his sake? too de•re or good for him? Whom hast thou in heaven or e••th worthy to be affected in comparison of thy Saviour? What is to be dreaded but his displeasure? Is there any recompense to the joys of Heaven? any danger to the torments of Hell? any pleasure to the sense of his favour? ⟨p. 390⟩O my soul why doest thou not resign thy self to the pleasure of his will in every thing, run when he calleth, and do what he requireth at thy hands? Wh•t dost thou fear? Wherewith art thou entangled? God is thy sovereign, thy F•ther, thy Saviour; to him thou owest thy self, and all that thou hast: thy honour, wealth, life, or if any thing be more precious then these. Thou canst not love thy self as is meet, if thou •enie not thy self to follow the Lord in all things. For in keeping his Commandments there is great reward. Can, or did any Believer ever give the nay to these m•lting commands, or commanding entreaties of faith? Will it take the repuls•? Doth it not constrain or extort more then all racks and strappados; allure more then all wages and prizes? When thou wouldst be sure to speed and obtain any thing of thine own untoward heart, set faith on work to make the motion, & thou shalt prevail. For the motives of faith are certain, evident, and such as cause firm assent, whereby the heart is drawn to follow after the thing proposed.