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…

This faith is necessary; for it availeth not to live under the Gospel, and to be present at the administration of the Sacraments, if they be not used in faith. The word profiteth ⟨p. 415⟩not,¹ unless it be mingled with faith in them that hear it: And the same may be said of receiving the Sacraments. Faith is the eye, the hand, the mouth, the stomach of the soul: by it we see, receive, feed upon Christ. Look as at a feast, though the Table be never so richly furnished, yet if a man have neither hand, mouth, nor stomach, he is not fed thereby: so is it here. Nor is it sufficient to have faith, but it must be exercised to receive that grace which the word of God doth reach us with the seal. It is not the having but the new exercise of faith, which maketh us profitable hearers of the word, worthy receivers of the Sacrament. Look as a man may have a hand, and yet, if when a thing is reached forth to him, he do not put it out, nothing is received: so we may have the grace of faith, and yet, if when God reacheth us the body and blood of his Christ, we do not then awaken it, to lay hold on the grace God offereth, we shall go away without receiving it. Or look as at a feast, though we have a mouth, and there be plentiful provision, if we will not open it, and take down the sustenance before us, we shall rise empty; so though we have the mouth of faith, yet if we do not open it to God now offering to feed us, we shall not get a crumb of grace.

This faith is necessary; for it auaileth not to liue vnder the Gospell, and to be present at the administration of the Sacraments, if they be not vsed in faith. The word profiteth ⟨p. 415⟩not,¹ vnlesse it bee mingled with faith in them that heare it: And the same may bee said of receiuing the Sacraments. Faith is the eye, the hand, the mouth, the stomacke of the soule: by it wee see, receiue, feed vpon Christ. Looke as at a feast, though the Table be neuer so richly furnished, yet if a man haue neither hand, mouth, nor stomacke, he is not fed thereby: so is it here. Nor is it sufficient to haue faith, but it must be exercised to receiue that grace which the word of God doth reach vs with the seale. It is not the hauing but the new exercise of faith, which maketh vs profitable hearers of the word, worthy receiuers of the Sacrament. Looke as a man may haue a hand, and yet, if when a thing is reached forth to him, he doe not put it out, nothing is receiued: so we may haue the grace of faith, and yet, if when God reacheth vs the body and bloud of his Christ, we doe not then awaken it, to lay hold on the grace God offereth, we shall goe away without receiuing it. Or looke as at a feast, though wee haue a mouth, and there be plentifull prouision, if we will not open it, and take downe the sustenance before vs, we shall rise emptie; so though wee haue the mouth of faith, yet if we doe not open it to God now offering to feed vs, we shall not get a crume of grace.