The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

And then again in the fifth place, You should above all labour to be rich in faith, because of all graces in the soul of man, faith makes him most lively and active.

And then againe in the fifth place, You should above all labour to be rich in faith, because of all graces in the soule of man, faith makes him most lively and active.

There's no grace, I say, no grace in the soul of man that makes him so full of life and action, as the grace of faith. ⟨p. 258⟩Faith is the Primum Mobile, the first pin, the first wheel ¹that moves all the golden wheels of obedience. In Heb. 11. you read what those Worthies did, they left their Country, their kindred, upon a bare command of God. Faith hath Rachel's eye, but Leah's womb, it makes souls very fruitful in ways of well-doing. Faith is as the spring in the Watch, that moves the wheels; not a grace stirs, till faith sets it on work. Faith is like Solomons virtuous woman, that sets all her maidens to work. Faith sets joy on work, Abraham desired to see my day, and saw it, and rejoiced. Faith sets love on work, It works by love, Gal. 5. 6. It sets hope on work, Rom. 8. 24, 25. It sets godly sorrow at work, Zech. 12. 10. It sets patience at work, I believe that God is wise and loving, and what he does is out of some noble design to do my soul good, this spins out patience. Faith fits a man to do, to suffer, to wait, to walk, &c. therefore labour above all to be rich in faith.

There's no grace, I say, no grace in the soule of man that makes him so full of life and action, as the grace of faith.