That this obedience, which we give to God by trusting his very word, may be right obedience, it must have six conditions. First of all, it must be absolute, §1for we must (as it were) shut up our own eyes, and simply without any more ado trust god upon his bare & naked word, and suffer our selves to be led by it. In natural things experience is first, and then faith comes afterward. And Thomas following ⟨p. 12⟩nature desired first to feel, before he would believe. But God must be trusted, though that which he saith be against reason and experience. Thus Abraham believed God against all humane hope. §21The second condition is, that this obedience must be sincere. For we must trust Gods word for it self, because it is Gods word; all by-respects set apart. They, which are as the stony ground receive Gods word and rejoice in it: and yet afterward in time of temptation go awry. The reason is, because they receive the word, & rejoice in it not properly for it self, but in respect of honour, profit,2 or pleasure, which they look to reap thereby. ⟨p. 13⟩John the Baptist was a burning candle:3 and the Jews rejoiced in his light, only in respect of the novelty of it: and therefore the holy ghost saith, they rejoiced in it but for a season. §3The third condition is, that we must trust God not in a part, but in his whole word: and therefore many fail in their faith, that are con tent to trust him in his promises of mercy & salvation, but list not to believe him in his commandments and threats.§4 The fourth condition is, that we must trust God in his word, with all our hearts, that it may take deep root and be an ingrafted word.4 It is not sufficient for us to have a taste of the good word of God, and to receive it with ⟨p. 14⟩[…] ⟨p. 15⟩[…] ⟨p. 14⟩joy unless we thoroughly and soundly build and rely our selves upon it. The fifth condition is,§5 that this trusting of God must be with an honest heart, that is, with an heart in which there is a distinct and settled purpose not to sin, but in all things to do the will of God. The good hearers are they which receive the word with an honest and good heart. 5Without this can no man possibly live by faith. He that puts away his good conscience, makes shipwreck of his faith. It is godliness alone that hath the promises of this life and the life to come.6 And none can live the life of faith, but he that is a just man.
That this obedience, which we giue to God by trusting his very word, may be right obedience, it must haue sixe conditions. First of al, it must be absolute, §1for we must (as it were) shut vp our owne eyes, and simply without any more ado trust god vpō his bare & naked word, and suffer our selues to be ledde by it. In naturall things experience is first, and then faith comes afterward. And Thomas following ⟨p. 12⟩nature desired first to feele, before he would beleeue. But God must be trusted, though that which he saith be against reason and experience. Thus Abraham beleeued God against all humane hope. §21The secōd cōdition is, that this obediēce must be sincere. For we must trust Gods word for it selfe, because it is Gods word; all byrespects set apart. They, which are as the stony groūd receiue Gods word and reioyce in it: and yet afterward in time of temptation goe awrie. The reason is, because they receiue the word, & reioyce in it not properly for it self, but in respect of honour, profite,2 or pleasure, which they looke to reape thereby. ⟨p. 13⟩Iohn the Baptist was a burning candle:3 and the Iewes reioyced in his light, onely in respect of the noualtie of it: and therefore the holy ghost saith, they reioyced in it but for a season. §3The third condition is, that we must trust God not in a part, but in his whole word: and therefore many faile in their faith, that are cō tent to trust him in his promises of mercie & saluation, but list not to beleeue him in his commaundements and threats.§4 The fourth condition is, that we must trust God in his word, with al our hearts, that it may take deepe roote and be an ingrafted word.4 It is not sufficient for vs to haue a taste of the good word of God, and to receiue it with ⟨p. 14⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 15⟩
- 1Rom. 4.18.
- 2Luk. 8.13.
- 3Joh. 5.35.Ioh. 5.35.
- 4Jam. 1.••.Iam. 1.••.
- 5Luk. 8.15.
- 61. Tim. 1.19.
