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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…
A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By John Ball.A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By Iohn Ball.
London: printed by William Stansby for Edward Brewster, 1631
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, It worketh humbleness of mind and heart: for what the law threateneth, the faithful will freely acknowledge, that they deserve, and so arraign themselves as guilty of all misery and death before the throne of grace; whereby the pride and stubbornness of nature is much abated. Say we not of him, who hath been once impleaded before the tribunal of an earthly Judge, as guilty of felony or treason, he hath no reason to be stout? What then will the arraignment of the soul work, when a man shall be drawn to acknowledge before God, that he hath deserved to be cast into hell for his manifold offences and transgressions, against God?
First, It worketh humblenesse of mind and heart: for what the law threateneth, the faithfull will freely acknowledge, that they deserue, and so arraigne themselues as guiltie of all miserie and death before the throne of grace; whereby the pride and stubbornesse of nature is much abated. Say wee not of him, who hath beene once impleaded before the tribunall of an earthly Iudge, as guiltie of felonie or treason, he hath no reason to be stout? What then will the arraignement of the soule worke, when a man shal be drawne to acknowledge before God, that he hath deserued to be cast into hell for his manifold offences and transgressions, against God?
Secondly, It bringeth forth awfulness, reverence and fear.1 The righteous also shall see and fear. As the Child quaketh, when he heareth that his Father is angry with, or doth correct a servant: so the heart and body of the faithful tremble, as oft as they consider the severity of Gods wrath against the wicked and ungodly. When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in my self, that I might rest in the day of trouble: That is, when the fame of thy divine punishment and judgement came to mine ea•es, which thou hast decreed to inflict upon thy people;“