1Faith therefore is a constant trust and a sure confidence of the mercy of God towards us, which is lively, and worketh mightily in our hearts, whereby we commit our selves wholly to God, casting all our care upon him: leaning and trusting assuredly to this Faith, we ate not afraid to die a thousand times. For this so bold an assurance of the mercy and favour of God doth make our hearts merry, glad, and light: doth also erect, raise, and even ravish us with most sweet motions and affections towards ⟨image 15⟩God: yea and doth so embolden the heart of the true believer, that trusting to have God on his side, he is not afraid to oppose himself alone against all creatures. But it is the Spirit of GOD which giveth us this heroical heart and stout stomach through faith, which working effectually in our hearts, doth incite and inflame us to do good. Now we have this cheerful towardness and forwardness, to the end that we might be most prompt and ready willingly and of our own accord to do, tolerate, and suffer all things, whereby we may be obedient to so gentle and favourable a father, who through Christ hath enriched us with so great abundance of his graces. It can not ⟨image 16⟩possibly be but that in whom soever this efficacy and life of faith is, it should daily work, fructify, and give increase to God.2 Even as it is unpossible that a fire being kindled and flaming should not give light and cast forth brightness, wherefore watch thou and take heed that thou do not believe either thine own vain songs and sounds of faith,3 thine own foolish imaginations, or the vain trifling stuff of Sophisters.4 For these Sophisters have neither wit nor wisdom. They are belly beasts borne only to those feasts of schools. But pray thou unto God (who commandeth by his word that light should shine out of darkness) that he would shine brightly in thine heart, & that ⟨image 16⟩he would create a true Faith in thee: otherwise thou shall never believe truly, though for the space of a thousand years thou diddest labour and study about such cogitations & imaginations, either of a faith heretofore gotten, or hereafter to be sought for.5 This faith now is, that true justice which the Apostle calleth the justice and righteousness of God, that is, which only is of force available and can stand before God: because it is the mere gift of God.
1Faith therefore is a constant trust and a sure confidence of the mercie of God towards vs, which is lively, and worketh mightily in our hearts, whereby wee commit our selves wholly to God, casting all our care vpon him: leaning and trusting assuredly to this Faith, wee ate not affrayde to die a thousand times. For this so bold an assurance of the mercie and favour of God doth make our hearts merry, glad, and light: doth also erect, raise, and even ravish vs with most sweet motions and affections towardes ⟨image 15⟩God: yea and doth so embolden the heart of the true beleeuer, that trusting to haue God on his side, hee is not afrayde to oppose himself alone against all creatures. But it is the Spirit of GOD which giveth vs this heroicall heart and stout stomacke through faith, which working effectually in our hearts, doth incyte and inflame vs to doe good. Now we haue this chearefull towardnes and forwardnesse, to the end that we might be most prompt and ready willingly and of our owne accorde to doe, tolerate, and suffer all things, whereby wee may bee obedient to so gentle and favourable a father, who through Christ hath inriched vs with so great aboundance of his graces. It can not ⟨image 16⟩possiblie bee but that in whom soever this efficacy and lyfe of fayth is, it should dayly worke, fructifie, and giue increase to God.2 Even as it is vnpossible that a fire being kindled and flaming should not giue light and cast foorth brightnesse, wherfore watch thou and take heed that thou doe not beleeue either thine owne vaine songes and sounds of faith,3 thine own foolish imaginations, or the vayne trifling stuffe of Sophisters.4 For these Sophisters haue neither wit nor wisdome. They are belly beastes borne onely to those feasts of schooles. But pray thou vnto God (who cō mandeth by his worde that light should shine out of darknesse) that hee would shyne brightly in thine heart, & that ⟨image 16⟩hee would create a true Faith in thee: otherwise thou shall never beleeue truely, though for the space of a thousand yeares thou diddest labour and study about such cogitations & imaginations, either of a faith heretofore gotten, or heereafter to be sought for.5
- 1A true definition of Faith.
- 2A lively comparison.A liuely cōparison.
- 3FanciesFancyes
- 4Blind Pastors.Blynd Pasters.
- 5Righteousness.Righteousnesse.
