A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

The third virtue for which this church is commended, is their faith. By faith here we are to understand Fidelity; which is a virtue whereby a man is faithful to God in keeping that vow and promise which he made to him in his baptism: which was to renounce and deny himself, and wholly to give up himself to acknowledge one God in three persons; and accordingly to believe in, to worship and obey the same God all his life long. In this sense is faith taken of Paul, ^(a)when he saith, That younger widows have damnation, because they have forsaken their first faith. And in the former Epistles of ⟨p. 138⟩Christ unto these churches, where he commands them to be faithful.

The third vertue for which this church is commended, is their faith. By faith here we are to vnderstand Fidelitie; which is a vertue whereby a man is faithfull to God in keeping that vow and promise which hee made to him in his baptisme: which was to renounce and denie himselfe, and wholly to giue vp himselfe to acknowledge one God in three persons; and accordingly to beleeue in, to worship and obey the same God all his life long. In this sence is faith taken of Paule, ^(a)when he sayth, That younger widdowes haue damnation, because they haue forsaken their first faith. And in the former Epistles of ⟨p. 138⟩Christ vnto these churches, where hee commaunds them to be faithfull.

1. (a)1. Tim. 5.12

¹It were to be wished that our churches and congregations, might in like manner be commended for their fidelity to God: but that cannot truly be done of us generally. It is a common thing for men to swear by their faith; but it is a rare thing to find a man to keep his faith: as will appear by this short survey of our people: For first, the greatest part in all places are ignorant of God, of his word, and of their vow to him in baptism; and also void of care to attain hereto: Now all these are unfaithful unto God. Others, though they have knowledge, yet they have no love, nor care of good things, which concern the kingdom of heaven: but all their delight is in eating, drinking, gaming, and in pastimes and pleasures: Herein they spend their time and strength, and these also have denied their first faith, & their case is dangerous: for as yet their belly and their pleasure is their god, and their end will be damnation. A third sort are termed the wise men of the world; but if we regard their fidelity to God there is nothing in them; they are worldly persons and earthly minded, such as spend both wit and strength to get wealth; like unto the mole, who is always in the earth. These also are unfaithful unto God, in regard of their vow in baptism: For as they account gain godliness, so gold is their god, and they say to the wedge of gold, Thou art my confidence. Seeing then all these be unfaithful unto God, we must hereby be admonished to remember what we have promised in our baptism: And withal have care to perform the same as we tender the salvation of our souls. For if we be unfaithful, as Paul said of the younger widows, damnation belongs unto us.