A10659:742
Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…
Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life of Christ. Being the substance of several sermons preached at Lincolns Inn: by Edward Reynolds, preacher to that honourable society, and late fellow of Merton College in Oxford.Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life of Christ. Being the substance of severall sermons preached at Lincolns Inne: by Edward Reynoldes, preacher to that honourable society, and late fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxford.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Robert Bostocke, 1631
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
All the Creatures are mine, saith God, upon a thousand hills. If a thousand hills can bear corn enough, or feed Cattle enough for any poor mans relief, he need not doubt or fear; for God hath still thousands of mountains, as it were so many granaries or store-houses, in his truth and promises, for the faithful in any straits to have recourse unto. And thus faith gives us all things by entitling us to the Promises.
All the Creatures are mine, saith God, upon a thousand hills. If a thousand hills can beare corne enough, or feed Cattel enough for any poore mans reliefe, he need not doubt or feare; for God hath still thousands of mountaines, as it were so many granaries or store-houses, in his truth and promises, for the faithfull in any straits to have recourse unto. And thus faith gives us all things by entituling us to the Promises.
Against all this which hath been spoken touching the excellency of Faith, may be objected that determination of the Apostle; Now abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity, these three; but the greatest of these is Charity, 1. Cor. 13. 13. By which comparison this point touching the precedency of faith seems to be impaired. To which I answer; That the Apostle speaks of a greatness extensivè, in regard of duration, Charity being an everlasting Grace, but faith pertaining only to this life, as being requisite to the present quality and states of the Church: (for faith and fruition are opposed, 2. Cor. 5. 7. Faith looketh upon things in their promises, fruition in their real existence) but now consider faith as an instrument to lay hold on Christ, and the precious promises of life and grace in him, and consider it as a Root, a living principle to put the heart in work, to purify the conscience, to inflame the heart to spiritual obedience, and a retribution of holy love to God for all his love to us in his Son; and thus Faith exceeds Charity as the motion of the mouth in eating, which is an act that tends immediately to life, doth the motion of the mouth in speaking, which tendeth not to an end so important, nor absolutely necessary.