Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the…Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the…

¹First then for that which was good in her, in respect of God, man, and her self. For God, she is commended for her faith, for the Author to the Hebrews telleth us,² That by faith she received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a son when she was past age, because she was persuaded that he was faithful which had promised, where you see the nature of faith, it is an acknowledging of Gods faithfulness, a giving him the honour of his faith, and setting to ones seal that God is true. Faith causeth the mind of a man to submit it self to the Word of God, and to be assured that he can and will keep promise, for to the promise of God it looketh principally, and this faith will cause a man to receive power from God to do those things, which otherwise of himself he wanted all power to do. This faith will make a weak man strong, it will put fruitfulness into a barren womb, and life and strength into a dead body, it will make a barren soul fruitful in good works, and make the heart to conceive the Word so as to bring forth the fruit of good living, whereto of it self it is as unable, as a body past age is unapt to bring forth a child. Consider therefore, whether you have gotten such a faith into your hearts, as makes you fruitful of good works. If we believe Gods promises faithfully, it will sub-minister strength to produce all sorts of good works, which otherwise the heart of it self would never produce. For he that believeth Gods promises shall obtain strength from God to obey his holy Commandment, and according to the strength of it, to abound in good works of all sorts. Faith is a strong grace and puts a new power into the soul by which it shall be fit to do good works. We have more largely discoursed of the nature of faith in the Example of Abraham, who is also commended for faith.

¹First then for that which was good in her, in respect of God, man, and her selfe. For God, shee is commended for her faith, for the Author to the Hebrewes telleth us,² That by faith shee received strength to conceive seede, and was delivered of a sonne when shee was past age, because shee was perswaded that hee was faithfull which had promised, where you see the nature of faith, it is an acknowledging of Gods faithfullnesse, a giving him the honour of his faith, and setting to ones seale that God is true. Faith causeth the minde of a man to submit it selfe to the Word of God, and to be assured that hee can and will keepe promise, for to the promise of God it looketh principally, and this faith will cause a man to receive power from God to doe those things, which otherwise of himselfe he wanted all power to doe. This faith will make a weake man strong, it will put fruitfullnesse into a barren wombe, and life and strength into a dead body, it will make a barren soule fruitfull in good workes, and make the heart to conceive the Word so as to bring forth the fruit of good living, whereto of it selfe it is as unable, as a body past age is unapt to bring forth a childe. Consider therefore, whether you have gotten such a faith into your hearts, as makes you fruitfull of good workes. If we beleeve Gods promises faithfully, it will sub-minister strength to produce all sorts of good workes, which otherwise the heart of it selfe would never produce. For he that beleeveth Gods promises shall obtaine strength from God to obey his holy Commandement, and according to the strength of it, to abound in good workes of all sorts. Faith is a strong grace and puts a new power into the soule by which it shall be fit to doe good workes. We have more largely discoursed of the nature of faith in the Example of Abraham, who is also commended for faith.