A cloud of faithful witnesses, leading to the heavenly Canaan, or, A commentary upon…A cloud of faithfull witnesses, leading to the heauenly Canaan, or, A commentarie vpon…

A third sort there are, who yet go further, and knowing the vanity of this opinion; that a mans fidelity in his dealing with men, should be his faith, to commend him unto God; they hold & know, that true faith, is to believe their own salvation in the blood of Christ: and these are to be commended in respect of the former. But herein they fail; that coming to receive, they bring not with them a lively faith: for, it is not only required in a communicant, that he profess the faith of Christ aright▪ but a worthy receiver must look to his own heart, that his faith therein, be a living faith, such as worketh by love, and shows it self by obedience. Now herein, many that have good knowledge do grievously offend, That howsoever they make a show of faith, in an orderly and religious carriage of themselves on the Communion day; yet when that time is a little past, they return to their former sins again, never else having any care (nay, not so much as making any show) of laying away their sins, save only at the receiving of the Lords supper. And thus do too many of those, who make a fair profession. These men bring faith in profession, but yet their faith is dead; for, if it were a lively faith, it would purify their hearts, & cause a change in them from evil to good, and from good to better, every day more and more. But blessed be God, by whose mercy it comes to pass, that there are some in his Church, who come with such a faith, and thereby communicate acceptably to God, and fruitfully to themselves. Yet we must confess, they are but few in comparison. But as for all the other three sorts of people, they sin grievously, because they bring not the hand of a lively faith, to receive those things which their God offereth unto them. We therefore in this example are admonished, to celebrate & receive the Lords supper in such sort, as Moses did; namely, in faith: and that not in an idle, or dead, but in a lively faith; which may, both before and after the receiving of this sacrament, bring forth good fruits, to the reforming of ⟨p. 439⟩our lives, in continual obedience, for Gods glory, and our own comfort and salvation in Christ.

A third sort there are, who yet goe further, and knowing the vanitie of this opinion; that a mans fidelitie in his dealing with men, should bee his faith, to commend him vnto God; they hold & know, that true faith, is to beleeue their owne saluation in the blood of Christ: and these are to bee commended in respect of the former. But herein they faile; that comming to receiue, they bring not with them a liuely faith: for, it is not only required in a communicant, that hee professe the faith of Christ aright but a worthy receiuer must looke to his owne heart, that his faith therein, be a liuing faith, such as worketh by loue, and shewes it selfe by obedience. Now herein, many that haue good knowledge doe grieuously offend, That howsoeuer they make a shew of faith, in an orderly and religious carriage of thēselues on the Cōmuniō day; yet whē that time is a little past, they returne to their former sinnes againe, neuer els hauing any care (nay, not so much as making any shew) of laying away their sinnes, saue onely at the receiuing of the Lords supper. And thus do too many of those, who make a faire profession. These men bring faith in profession, but yet their faith is dead; for, if it were a liuely faith, it would purifie their hearts, & cause a change in them from euil to good, and from good to better, euery day more and more. But blessed be God, by whose mercy it comes to passe, that there are some in his Church, who come with such a faith, and thereby communicate acceptably to God, and fruitfully to themselues. Yet wee must confesse, they are but fewe in comparison. But as for all the other three sorts of people, they sinne grieuously, because they bring not the hand of a liuely faith, to receiue those things which their God offereth vnto them. Wee therefore in this example are admonished, to celebrate & receiue the Lords supper in such sort, as Moses did; namely, in faith: and that not in an idle, or dead, but in a liuely faith; which may, both before and after the receiuing of this sacrament, bring forth good fruits, to the reforming of