The faith of Abraham was not only a living faith, but also perpetual, as James (besides others) doth manifest. For although it was tossed with many tentations, yet did it not at any time totally quail. This quality of the faith of Abraham doth demonstrate both Moses in the story of him, as also the Apostle, Romans, 4. Now whosoever are justified, are justified by no other faith then that whereby even Abraham the Father of all faithful was justified, as the Scriptures every where do teach. Hereupon he is called the Father of the faithful; because whosever are the son of the promise, and do believe that faith may be imputed unto them for righteousness, they both do believe in the same Saviour Christ and God as Abraham did, and by the very same, that is, like faith as he did, and it is requisite that they should so believe. There-upon the Lord Jesus denied ⟨p. 94⟩the Jews to be the sons of Abraham, who boasted themselves to be Abraham's sons: and for what cause? because they did not the works of Abraham, that is, for that they neither believed in him, nor with the same faith that he did. James also doth convince such as have a dead faith, without works, not to be justified as Abraham was justified; and why so? for that they were n•• endued with the same, that is, like faith as Abraham; faith, I say ••• king by love. As James therefore doth evict that not to be true and justifying faith, which is dead, for that it is not like to Abraham's faith in this quality, which is, that it have life; it is likewise evicted, that such a faith as is not perpetual but temporary, is not a true and justifying faith: and why? because it is not like to the faith of Abraham in that other essential property, which is, that it be perpetual. And that perpetuity is as an essential property to justifying faith, and (faith) ⟨p. 95⟩leading to life eternal, as life is; from hence is made manifest: for that as they cannot be saved not having faith; so neither can they who have not the same perpetual. For temporizers are neither grateful to God, nor in state of salvation; and whosoever shall persevere unto the end, he only shall attain salvation. Therefore it cannot be a true, justifying, and saving faith, except it be both living and permanent.
The faith of Abraham was not onely a liuing faith, but also perpetuall, as Iames (besides others) doth manifest. For although it was tossed with many tentations, yet did it not at any time totally quaile. This qualitie of the faith of Abraham doth demonstrate both Moses in the story of him, as also the Apostle, Romans, 4. Now whosoeuer are iustified, are iustified by no other faith then that whereby euen Abraham the Father of all faithfull was iustified, as the Scriptures euery where doe teach. Herevpon hee is called the Father of the faithfull; because whoseuer are the sonne of the promise, and doe beleeue that faith may be imputed vnto them for righteousnesse, they both doe beleiue in the same Sauiour Christ and God as Abraham did, and by the very same, that is, like faith as he did, and it is requisite that they should so beleiue. There-vpon the Lord Iesus denied ⟨p. 94⟩the Iewes to be the sonnes of Abraham, who boasted themselues to be Abrahams sonnes: and for what cause? because they did not the works of Abraham, that is, for that they neither beleiued in him, nor with the same faith that hee did. Iames also doth conuince such as haue a dead fayth, without workes, not to be iustified as Abraham was iustified; and why so? for that they were n•• endued with the same, that is, like faith as Abraham; faith, I say ••• king by loue. As Iames therefore doth euict that not to bee true and iustifiing faith, which is dead, for that it is not like to Abrahams faith in this quality, which is, that it haue life; it is likewife euicted, that such a faith as is not perpetuall but temporary, is not a true and iustifying faith: and why? because it is not like to the faith of Abraham in that other essentiall property, which is, that it bee perpetuall. And that perpetuity is as an essentiall property to iustifying faith, and (faith) ⟨p. 95⟩leading to life •ternall, as life is; from hence is made manifest: for that as they cannot bee saued not hauing faith; so neither can they who haue not the same perpetuall. For temporizers are neither gratefull to God, nor in state of saluation; and whosoeuer shall perseuer vnto the end, he onely shall attaine saluation. Therefore it cannot be a true, iustifying, and sauing faith, except it bee both liuing and permanent.
