Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Faith therefore, according to the definition of Paul, is in the mind a most evident seeing, and in the hart a most certain perceiving of things invisible, that is, of things eternal, of God I say and all those things which he in his word setteth forth unto us concerning spiritual things. To this definition of Pauls they had an eye, which defined Faith in this sort. Faith is a grounded persuasion of heavenly things, in the meditation where of we ought so to occupy our selves, for the assured truths sake of Gods word, that we may believe that in mind we do see those things as well, as with our eyes we do behold things sensibly perceived & easy to be seen. This description doth not greatly differ from this definition of an other godly & learned man, who saith: Faith is a steadfast persuasion of the mind, whereby we do fully decree with our selves that Gods truth is so sure, that he can neither will nor choose but perform that which he in his word hath promised to fulfil. Again, Faith is a steadfast assuredness of conscience, which doeth embrace Christ in the same sort, wherein he is offered unto us by the gospel. Another there is, which after the same manner almost defineth Faith in this sort: Faith is a gift inspired by god into the mind of man, whereby without any doubting at all he doth believe that to be most true whatsoever god hath either taught or promised in the books of both the testaments. The very same author of this definition therefore, doth extend faith to three terms of time, to the time past, the time present, & the time to come: For he teacheth to believe that the world was made by God, and what so ever the holy Scriptures do declare to have been done in the old world: also that Christ dying for us, is the only salvation of them which believe: and that by the same God at this day also, the world and Church are governed or preserved, & that in Christ the faithful are saved: Last of all, that that shall most assuredly light upon the ungodly and the godly, what so ever the holy Scriptures do either threaten or promise.

Faith therfore, according to the definition of Paul, is in the minde a most euident seeing, and in the hart a most certaine perceiuing of things inuisible, that is, of things eternall, of God I say and all those thinges which he in his word setteth forth vnto vs concerning spirituall things. To this definition of Paules they had an eye, which defined Faith in this sorte. Faith is a groūded persuasion of heauenly things, in the meditation wher of we ought so to occupy our selues, for the assured truthes sake of Gods worde, that we may beleeue that in minde we do see those things as well, as with our eyes we do behold things sensibly perceiued & easy to be seene. This description doth not greatly differ from this definition of an other godly & learned man, who saith: Faith is a stedfast persuasion of the minde, wherby we do fully decree with our selues that Gods truth is so sure, that he can neither will nor choose but performe that which he in his worde hath promised to fulfill. Againe, Faith is a stedfast assurednes of conscience, which doeth embrace Christ in the same sort, wherin he is offered vnto vs by the gospell. Another there is, which after the same manner almost defineth Faith in this sort: Faith is a gift inspired by god into the mind of mā, wherby without any douting at al he doth beleue that to be most true whatsoeuer god hath either taught or promised in the bokes of both the testamēts. The very same author of this definitiō therfore, doth extend fayth to thrée termes of time, to the time past, the time present, & the time to come: For he teacheth to beléeue that the worlde was made by God, and what so euer the holy Scriptures do declare to haue bene done in the olde worlde: also that Christ dying for vs, is the only saluation of them whiche beléeue: and that by the same God at this daye also, the worlde and Church are gouerned or preserued, & that in Christe the faythfull are saued: Laste of all, that that shal most assuredly light vpon the vngodly and the godly, what so euer the holy Scriptures doe eyther threaten or promise.