The Godly Man's Picture

SECT. II.

2. The godly man is a man acted by Faith;^{1 †}as gold is the most precious among the metals, so is Faith among the Graces. Faith cuts us off from the wild Olive of Nature, and inoculates us into Christ: Faith is the vital artery of the Soul, Hab. 2. 4. The just shall live by his Faith. Such as are destitute of Faith, though they breathe, yet they want life; Faith is the quickener of the Graces; not a Grace stirs, till Faith sets it awork; Faith is to the soul, as the animal spirits are to the body, they excite lively operations in the body; Faith excites Repentance; it is like the fire to the Still which makes it drop. When I believe Gods love to me this makes me weep that I should sin against so good ⟨p. 29⟩a God: Faith is the Mother of Hope; first we believe the Promise, then we hope for it: Faith is the Oil which feeds the Lamp of Hope; Faith and Hope are two Turtle-graces, take away one, and the other languisheth. If the sinews be cut, the body is lame; if this sinew of Faith be cut, Hope is lame; Faith is the ground of Patience: He who believes God is his God, and all Providences work for his good, doth patiently yield up himself to the Will of God; thus Faith is a living Principle.

2. The godly man is a man acted by Faith;^{1 †}as gold is the most precious among the metals, so is Faith among the Graces. Faith cuts us off from the wild Olive of Nature, and inoculates us into Christ: Faith is the vital artery of the Soul, Hab. 2. 4