A10659:765
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.
Secondly, we must note that according as faith hath several workings, so Satan hath several ways to assault and weaken it. There are two main works of Faith, Obedience, and Comfort, to purify and to pacify the heart: and according unto these, so Satan tempts. His main end is to wrong and dishonour God, and therefore chiefly he labours to disable the former virtue of Faith, and tempts to sin against God. But when he cannot proceed so far, he labours to discomfort and crush the spirits of men: when he prevails in the former, he weakens all the properties of Faith: when in the later only, he doth not then weaken all, but only intercept and darken a Christians peace.
Secondly, we must note that according as faith hath severall workings, so Satan hath severall wayes to assault and weaken it. There are two maine workes of Faith, Obedience, and Comfort, to purifie and to pacifie the heart: and according unto these, so Satan tempts. His maine end is to wrong and dishonour God, and therefore chiefly hee labours to disable the former vertue of Faith, and tempts to sinne against God. But when hee cannot proceede so farre, hee labours to discomfort and crush the spirits of men: when hee prevailes in the former, he weakens all the properties of Faith: when in the later onely, he doth not then weaken all, but onely intercept and darken a Christians peace.
For understanding this point, we must note that there are many acts of faith. Some direct, that look outward towards Christ, others reflexive, that look inward upon themselves. The first act of faith is that whereby a man having been formerly reduced unto extremities and impossibilities within himself, looks upon God as Omnipotent, and so able to save; as merciful, and in Christ reconcilable, and so likely to save if he be sought unto.
For understanding this point, we must note that there are many acts of faith. Some direct, that looke outward towards Christ, others reflexive, that looke inward upon themselves. The first act of faith is that whereby a man having beene formerly reduced unto extremities and impossibilities within himselfe, lookes upon God as Omnipotent, and so able to save; as mercifull, and in Christ reconcileable, and so likely to save if he be sought unto.