The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatisesThe dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises

And therefore Faith doth purge the heart of lust and corruption, which may hinder our spiritual growth. Faith cuts off the suckers from the Tree, which doth eat out the heart of the root, and hinder the growth of the Tree. Faith takes the Child from the Dug, which consumes the Parent. Faith will separate a man from his lust, and will not suffer a corruption to hang upon us, to hinder our spiritual growth.

And therefore Faith doth purge the heart of lust and corruption, which may hinder our spiritual growth. Faith cuts off the suckers from the Tree, which doth eat out the heart of the root, and hinder the growth of the Tree. Faith takes the Child from the Dugge, which consumes the Parent. Faith will separate a man from his lust, and will not suffer a corruption to hang upon us, to hinder our spiritual growth.

2. Faith doth put a man into a Soul-fattening-pasture. The whole Word of God is the Pasture for Faith. The Word of God is objectum Adaequatum, the Even and Adequate object of Faith. There is the only walk of Faith; which, though it be an enclosed Pasture, a Field enclosed, a Pasture paled in: yet there is enough in it to satisfy Faith. We shall not need to stray any whither else for want of Pasture; here we may go in, and go out, and find Pasture; we shall not need to feed upon stubble and straw of humane traditions: here's enough in it to nourish us up to eternal life. — The Scriptures are perfect, and able to make perfect the man of God to every good work, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. Here is Milk for Babes, and meat for stronger men. — Here the tallest Elephant may swim, and the poorest Lamb may wade. Great and small, strong and weak may find nourishment in the Scripture.¹ Here we may find nourishment for our Knowledge, for our love, for our zeal, patience, humility, and all our Graces. They are able to make a man wise to Salvation. They nourish our Obedience.