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…

THE PREFACE TO THE READER.

Glorious things are spoken of the grace of graces Faith in the Scriptures, God setting himself to honour that grace that yields up all the honour unto him in Christ; who indeed is the life of our life, and the soul of our soul. Faith only as the bond of union bringeth Christ and the soul together, and is as an artery that conveys the spirit from him as the heart; and as the sinews which convey the spirit to move to all duty from him as head, whence Saint Paul maketh Christs living in us, and our living by faith all one, Gal. 2.20. Now that which giveth boldness and liberty to faith, is not only Gods assignment of this office to it in the covenant of grace to come unto Christ, and unto him in Christ to receive grace, but likewise the gracious promises whereby the great God hath engaged himself as a debtor to his poor creature, for all things needful to life and godliness, until that blessed time when we shall be put into full possession of all things we have now only in promise; when faith shall end in fruition, and promises in performance. Faith first looks •o this word of promise, and in the promise to Christ, in whom and for whom, they are yea and Amen, both made ⟨image 3⟩and performed. And in Christ it eyeth God in whom it last resteth, is its proper centre and foundation, otherwise how should we weak sinful creatures dare to have any intercourse with God that dwelleth in that light that none can attain unto, if he had not come forth and discovered his good pleasure in Christ the substantial Word, and in the word inspired by the Holy Ghost for the good of those whom God meant for to make heirs of salvation. Now these promises whereon all our present comfort and future hope dependeth, lie hid in the Scriptures, as veins of gold and silver in the bowels of the earth, and had need be laid open, that Gods people may know what upon good grounds to lay claim unto. Those therefore that search these mines to bring to light these treasures deserve well of Gods Church. We commend, (and not without cause) the witty industry of those that from Springs remote bring Rivers to Cities, and by Pipes from those Rivers derive water to every mans house for all domesticall services: