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…

¹§. 4. In producing faith, first God bestoweth upon man the gift of understanding and spiritual wisdom, opening and illuminating the eyes of his mind, to know the promise in Christ, and to judge and esteem those things revealed of God to be the most undoubted and infallible truth. This understanding is requisite to faith: for it is impossible for a man to believe that whereof he hath no knowledge or understanding. Out of question, faith is a most wise gift or grace of Gods holy Spirit, making those that be endued therewith wise unto salvation: which we shall easily discern, if we consider how great the subtlety of that old Serpent the Devil is, as also the deceitfulness of sin, both which are defeated by faith. This understanding is the gift of Gods grace: for as reasonable understanding is beyond the compass of that knowledge ⟨p. 11⟩which the beasts have by kind: so is this understanding far beyond the reach of all that wisdom left in corrupted nature. It is a work irresistible, for it is wrought according to the purpose of the Lord,² and the counsel of God cannot be frustrated. In illumination the mind suffereth not from any natural power which it hath to conceive or understand spiritual things, but from that state of obedience that the mind standeth in unto Almighty God, whereby it must necessarily see whatsoever he will enlighten it to behold, and set before it. There is no natural power in an eye now blind to receive sight: but if God will enlighten it must needs see: So there is no natural power in the eye of the mind now become darkness, to receive the light of saving knowledge, which is every way a thing both for matter and manner supernatural unto it: but if he open the eyes of the understanding, and shine into the heart, it must needs understand. Secondly, God doth infuse or pour the habit of faith into man, whereby he giveth to will to come unto Christ, and to enjoy him. The first work of God is signified in Scripture, by opening the eyes of the understanding: ³the second by Gods drawing us: both at least figuratively by the opening of the ear, the opening of the heart, the taking away the heart of stone, and giving an heart of flesh. This second work is requisite to faith, for as a dead man can do no act of life until a living soul be breathed into him: nor a blind eye see unless new light be given unto it: