CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

3.¹ This general nature of faith hath two excellent properties put together in one place, Heb. 11.1. It's there called The substance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen. It's [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew]; We shall not dispute, Whether this be a definition of faith, it's enough that two differential marks are given of it; And

3.¹ This general nature of faith hath two excellent properties put together in one place, Heb. 11.1. It's there called The substance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen. It's 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; We shall not dispute, Whether this be a definition of faith, it's enough that two differential marks are given of it; And

1. 13. Its the substance of things hoped for &c.

First, It's the substance of things hoped for, concerning which word learned men say divers things, but it may comprehend these particulars; First, that Faith is not an empty flying fancy, for so Aristotle useth [Greek or Hebrew], as opposite to [Greek or Hebrew], some manifestation merely, as the colours of the Rainbow, or of birds feathers, when the Sun shines. These have but an intentional being, there is no real, solid being in them, but faith is the substance of things hoped for; and certainly this is greatly to be endeavoured after, that thy faith be a real substantial thing, how many mens faith are but fickle fancies, and uncertain notions, and therefore with their dogmatical faith, they are like the Apostle James his man without faith, tossed up and down with every wave,