Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

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.

This, being now brought to an end, ¹let vs see what it is wherevpon mans fayth doth leane, and also how we may clearely perceiue, that fayth is not a vayne and vnstable opinion (as a little before we were about to saye) of any thinge whatsoeuer conceiued in the minde of man, but that it is tyed vp and contayned within boundes, and as it were certayne conditions. In the definition therefore of fayth, we sayd that fayth bendeth to Godwarde, and leaneth on his worde. God therfore and the worde of God, is the obiect or foundation of true fayth. The thing wheron a man may leane safely, surely, and without all manner doubting, must néedes be stedfast and altogether vnmoueable, which doth giue health, which doeth preserue, and which doeth fill vp or minister all fulnesse vnto vs. For this doth fayth séeke and request. But this is not else where thē in god, On God alone therefore doeth true fayth bende and leane. God is euerlasting, chiefely good, wise, iuste, mightie and true of worde. And that doeth he testifie by his workes and worde. Wherefore in the Prophets he is called a strong and vnmoueable Rocke, a castle, a wall, a tower, an inuincible fortresse, a tresure, & a wel that neuer wil be drawne drie. This euerlasting God can doe all thinges, knoweth all things, is present in all places, loueth mankinde excéedingly, doeth prouide for all men, and also gouerneth or disposeth all thinges. Fayth therfore, whiche is a confidence of Gods good will and of his ayde in all necessities, and of the true saluation of mankinde, bendeth on God alone, & cannot leane to any other creature, in whome the thinges are not that fayth requireth. And euen as God is true of word, and can not lye, so is his word true and deceiueth no man. In the worde of God is expressed the will and mynde of God: To the worde of God therfore hath faith an eye, and layeth hir groūd vppon Gods worde, touching which worde the Lorde in the Gospell sayd: Heauen and earth shall passe, but my worde shall not passe. The worde of God here is compared with the moste excellent elements. Ayre and Water are féeble and vnstable Elements: but Heauen, although it turne and moue, doth kéepe yet a wonderful and moste stedfast course in mouing, and stedfast are all thinges therein. The Earth is moste stable and vnmoueable.