A grain of mustard-seed or, the least measure of grace that is or can…A graine of musterd-seede or, the least measure of grace that is or can…

Sundry persons by the Evangelists are said to believe, which had only seen the miracles of Christ, and as yet had made no further proceedings, but to acknowledge Christ to be the Messiah; and to submit themselves to him & his doctrine, which afterward should be taught. On this manner the woman of Samaria believed, and many of ⟨p. 46⟩the Samaritans upon her report: and a certain ruler, by reason of a miracle wrought upon his son, is said to believe, and all his household. Joh. 4. 42. 52. When our Saviour Christ commended the faith of the Apostles, terming it a rock, against which the gates of hell should not prevail, it was not the plentiful knowledge of the doctrine of salvation: for they were ignorant of many articles of faith, as namely of the death, resurrection, ascension, and kingdom of Christ: but because they believed him to be the Son of God, & the saviour of mankind, and they had withal resolved themselves to cleave unto him, and the blessed doctrine of salvation ⟨p. 47⟩which he taught, though as yet they were ignorant in many points. The holy Ghost commendeth the faith of Rahab when she received the spies. Now this her faith was indeed but a seed and beginning of lively faith: for then she had only heard of the miracles done in Egypt, and of the deliverance of the Israelites, and was thereupon smitten with fear, and had conceived a resolution with her self, to join her self to the Israelites, and to worship the true God. Now these and the like, are termed believers, upon just cause: for though they be ignorant as yet, yet their ignorance shall be no continuing or lasting ignorance: and they have excellent