To come to the second thing, those professors which are endued with thus much grace, as to believe in Christ in a confused manner, go yet further: for this their faith, though it be not sufficient to salvation, yet it showeth it self by certain fruits which it bringeth forth: for as a tree, or a branch of a tree that hath no deep rooting, but either is covered with a few moles, or else lieth in the water, at the season of the year bringeth ⟨image 5⟩forth leaves and blossoms, and some fruit too, and that for one or two, or mo years: so one that is an hearer of the word, may receive the word, and the word as seed, by this general faith may be somewhat rooted in his heart and settled for a season, and may bring forth some fruits in his life, peradventure very fair in his own and other mens eyes: yet indeed neither sound nor lasting, nor substantial. What these fruits are, it may be gathered forth of these words, where it is said, that they receive the word with joy, when they hear it: for here may be gathered: First,1 that they do willingly subject themselves to the ministry of the word: secondly, that2 they are as forward as any, and as joyful in frequenting Sermons: thirdly, that they reverence3 the Ministers whom they so joyfully hear: lastly, they condemn them of impiety,4 which will not be hearers, or be negligent hearers of the word. Now, of these and such like fruits, this may be added: though they are not sound, yet they are void of hypocrisy. For the minds of those professors5 are in part enlightened, and their hearts are endued with such a faith, as may bring forth these fruits for a time: and therefore herein they dissemble not that faith which they have not: but rather show that which they have. Add hereunto, that a man being in this ⟨image 6⟩estate, may deceive himself and the most godly in the world, which have the greatest gifts of discerning, how they and their brethren stand before the Lord: like as the fig tree with green leaves deceived our Saviour Christ as he was man: for when in his hunger he came unto it to have had some fruit, he found none.
To come to the second thing, those professours which are indewed with thus much grace, as to beleeue in Christ in a confused manner, goe yet further: for this their faith, though it be not sufficient to saluation, yet it sheweth it selfe by certaine fruites which it bringeth forth: for as a tree, or a braunch of a tree that hath no deepe rooting, but either is couered with a few moules, or els lieth in the water, at the season of the yeare bringeth ⟨image 5⟩forth leaues and blossomes, and some fruite too, and that for one or two, or mo yeares: so one that is an hearer of the worde, may receiue the word, and the word as seed, by this generall faith may bee somewhat rooted in his heart and setled for a season, and may bring forth some fruits in his life, peraduenture very faire in his owne and other mens eies: yet indeede neither sound nor lasting, nor substantiall. What these fruits are, it may be gathered forth of these words, where it is saide, that they receiue the word with ioy, when they heare it: for here may be gathered: First,1 that they doe willingly subiect themselues to the ministerie of the word: secondly, that2 they are as forwarde as any, and as ioyfull in frequenting Sermons: thirdly, that they reuerence3 the Ministers whom they so ioyfully heare: lastly, they condemne them of impietie,4 which will not bee hearers, or bee negligent hearers of the word. Now, of these and such like fruites, this may bee added: though they are not sound, yet they are voide of hypocrisie. For the mindes of those professours5 are in part inlightened, and their hearts are indued with such a faith, as may bring forth these fruites for a time: and therefore herein they dissemble not that faith which they haue not: but rather shewe that which they haue. Adde hereunto, that a man being in this ⟨image 6⟩estate, may deceiue himselfe and the most godly in the worlde, which haue the greatest giftes of discerning, how they and their bretheren stand before the Lorde: like as the fig tree with greene leaues deceiued our Sauiour Christ as hee was man: for when in his hunger hee came vnto it to haue had some fruit, he found none.
- 11.
- 22.
- 33.
- 44.
- 5Mark, that there is a true faith, wrought by the holy Ghost, very like saving faith, yet no saving faith.Mark, that there is a true faith, wrought by the holie Ghost, verie like sauing faith, yet no sauing faith.
