And from hence take out the difference ⟨p. 258⟩of faith, both divine and humane. Humane faith doth adhere to the mans person, give credence, believe his word, and honour him for the speakers sake. But Divine faith contrariwise doth clean fast to the Word, which is God himself; and doth believe, put affiance, and reverence it, not for the speakers sake, but doth perceive the word so certainly, that no man can remove him from it. Such were these Samaritans of whom we read Joh. 4. That at the first indeed they were by the voice of a Damsel excited to hear Christ; but after the hearing of him, they said to the woman, We do not now believe for thy word sake, but for that we have known him to be that Saviour of the World. On the contrary side, so many as gave faith to Christ, moved with his person and miracles, all of them again fell away when Christ was crucified. So always it hath been, and so it must be at this day, unless the Word of it self do clearly manifest it self ⟨p. 259⟩to the heart, and (as it were) captivate the same, in such sort as that they perceive the certainty thereof to be such, as by no means they can thence be drawn, yea if the whole World, all the Angels, all the Powers of Hell do say to the contrary; nay if God himself should say otherwise, as oftentimes he is wont to tempt his Elect, as seeming to appear unto them as if he intended to utter things contrary to his former promises. Which fell out with Abraham, when he was commanded to offer his son Isaac: as also to Jacob in his conflict with the Angel; and with David, when he was pursued by Absalom. Such faith doth persist immovable, both in life and in death; as well in Hell as Heaven; neither can it by any thing be dejected, for that it is founded upon the sole and bare word of God, without all respect of persons. With such Faith these shepherds were replenished. These things Luther.
And from hence take out the difference ⟨p. 258⟩of faith, both diuine and humane. Humane faith doth adhaere to the mans person, giue credence, beleeue his word, and honour him for the speakers sake. But Diuine faith contrariwise doth cleane fast to the Word, which is God himselfe; and doth beleeue, put affiance, and reuerence it, not for the speakers sake, but doth perceiue the word so certainely, that no man can remooue him from it. Such were these Samaritans of whom we read Ioh. 4. That at the first indeed they were by the voice of a Damsell excited to heare Christ; but after the hearing of him, they said to the woman, We doe not now beleeue for thy word sake, but for that we haue knowne him to bee that Sauiour of the World. On the contrarie side, so many as gaue faith to Christ, moued with his person and miracles, all of them againe fell away when Christ was crucified. So alwaies it hath been, and so it must bee at this day, vnlesse the Word of it selfe doe clearely manifest it selfe ⟨p. 259⟩to the heart, and (as it were) captiuate the same, in such sort as that they perceiue the certaintie thereof to be such, as by no meanes they can thence be drawne, yea if the whole World, all the Angels, all the Powers of Hell doe say to the contrarie; nay if God himselfe should say otherwise, as oftentimes hee is wont to tempt his Elect, as seeming to appeare vnto them as if he intended to vtter things contrarie to his former promises. Which fell out with Abraham, when he was commanded to offer his sonne Isaac: as also to Iacob in his conflict with the Angell; and with Dauid, when he was pursued by Absalom. Such faith doth persist immoueable, both in life and in death; as well in Hell as Heauen; neither can it by any thing be deiected, for that it is founded vpon the sole and bare word of God, without all respect of persons. With such Faith these shepheards were replenished. These things Luther.
