How to live, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps…How to liue, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps…

Thus much of the conceiving ⟨p. 17⟩of faith: now follows the Reign of faith. The reign of faith is, when it bears rule & sway in heart and life. For where faith is, there neither thought, will, affection, nor lust reigns, but faith alone. It reigns by two actions. First of all it moves & makes us to attend on the calling of God, & yield subjection to him in all his commandments. Paul saith,¹ that faith establisheth the law: and one reason is; because it makes us do that which the law prescribes. Again Paul saith, that his weapons are spiritual and mighty, bringing every thought in subjection to God. Now these mighty weapons are the word of god,² preached and believed. He ⟨p. 18⟩that is borne of God can not sin,³ because the seed of God remains in him, that is, the word mingled with faith.⁴ Noah his faith made him build an Ark at Gods commandment:⁵ after it was made, to enter into it, and not to dare to come out of it till he had warrant from God. Abraham's faith made him forsake his country and kindred at Gods commandment, and go, he knew not whether. And that good obedience may be performed to every commandment of God, faith works two things in us,⁶ memory, attention. Memory, whereby Gods word is laid up in the heart; that it may be drawn out to use when occasion shall be offered. ⟨p. 19⟩Attention is, when faith makes us seriously to consider and to believe that the commandment of God is a commandment not for form but in truth, and that it doth indeed pertain to us. An example of both these actions of faith we have in Joseph, who when he was tempted to folly of Potiphars wife, answered,