Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

For being overpassed, and as it were contemned of the Lord, she wavereth not in faith, but following him, and hearing also that the lord was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, she goeth on to worship him. Moreover, being put back, & as it were touched with the foul reproach of dog, she goeth forward yet humbly to cast her self prostrate before the Lord, requesting to obtain the thing that she desired. She would not have persevered so stiffly, if faith had not ben a certification in her believing mind and heart. Wherefore, the Lord moved with that faith of hers, cried: Woman, great is thy faith, be it done to thee even as thou wilt. It is manifest therefore, by all these testimonies of the holy Scripture, that Faith is a steadfast and undoubted persuasion ⟨p. 37⟩in the mind and hart of the believer.

For being ouerpassed, and as it were contemned of the Lorde, she wauereth not in faith, but following him, and hearing also that the lord was sent to the lost shéep of ye house of Israell, she goeth on to worship him. Moreouer, being put back, & as it wer touched with the foule reproch of dog, she goeth forwarde yet humbly to cast her selfe prostrate before the Lorde, requesting to obtaine the thinge that she desired. She would not haue perseuered so stiffely, if fayth had not ben a certification in her beléeuing minde and harte. Wherefore, the Lorde moued with that fayth of hirs, cryed: Woman, great is thy fayth, be it done to thee euen as thou wilte. It is manifest therefore, by all these testimonies of the holy Scripture, that Faith is a stedfast and vndoubted persuasion ⟨p. 37⟩in the minde and hart of the beléeuer.

This, being now brought to an end, ¹let us see what it is whereupon mans faith doth lean, and also how we may clearly perceive, that faith is not a vain and unstable opinion (as a little before we were about to say) of any thing whatsoever conceived in the mind of man, but that it is tied up and contained within bounds, and as it were certain conditions. In the definition therefore of faith, we said that faith bendeth to Godward, and leaneth on his word. God therefore and the word of God, is the object or foundation of true faith. The thing whereon a man may lean safely, surely, and without all manner doubting, must needs be steadfast and altogether unmoveable, which doth give health, which doeth preserve, and which doeth fill up or minister all fullness unto us. For this doth faith seek and request. But this is not else where than in god, On God alone therefore doeth true faith bend and lean. God is everlasting, chiefly good, wise, just, mighty and true of word. And that doeth he testify by his works and word. Wherefore in the Prophets he is called a strong and unmoveable Rock, a castle, a wall, a tower, an invincible fortress, a treasure, & a well that never will be drawn dry. This everlasting God can do all things, knoweth all things, is present in all places, loveth mankind exceedingly, doeth provide for all men, and also governeth or disposeth all things. Faith therefore, which is a confidence of Gods good will and of his aid in all necessities, and of the true salvation of mankind, bendeth on God alone, & cannot lean to any other creature, in whom the things are not that faith requireth. And even as God is true of word, and can not lye, so is his word true and deceiveth no man. In the word of God is expressed the will and mind of God: To the word of God therefore hath faith an eye, and layeth her ground upon Gods word, touching which word the Lord in the Gospel said: Heaven and earth shall pass, but my word shall not pass. The word of God here is compared with the most excellent elements. Air and Water are feeble and unstable Elements: but Heaven, although it turn and move, doth keep yet a wonderful and most steadfast course in moving, and steadfast are all things therein. The Earth is most stable and unmoveable.