Christ the fountain of lifeChrist the fountaine of life

Secondly, there is something wanting in their approvednesse of the habit of faith, something wanting in the gift and grace of faith. The Apostle prays for the Colossians, That as they have received Christ they would so walk, and that they might be rooted and established in him. Many of them were not so rooted and established in Christ as they stood in need to be, not able to exclude and banish those doubts, and fears, and cares of spirit, that sometimes accompany believers, even those that believe already on the name of Christ, yet there is something wanting in the root of their faith; for look as you see it is with a Plant, that is grafted into a Stock, it doth not forthwith take root, but a little matter will soon unsettle it; so is it in this case, a man may in some measure be implanted into Christ, and yet for a time be marvellously unsettled, and far off from that rootedness which God looks our faith should grow unto, and so in a building, it at the first framing may be so green, as that yet it is not settled upon the foundation, but it would have a time to be dried and withered, that it may stand the firmer on the foundation without shrinking, and be more fit for a mans dwelling, so is it sometimes with the faith of a Christian man, he may be knit to Christ, and may have a place in Christ, but his mortar may yet be green, and may be easily shaken with wind and weather of temptation, and not be yet rooted and established; there may want such holy confidence, and assured persuasion of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, as we had need to be lifted up unto a further increase of faith, which this Epistle, and such other Doctrines as these be, are wont to work in them.

Secondly, there is something wanting in their approvednesse of the habit of faith, something wanting in the gift and grace of faith. The Apostle prayes for the Colossians, That as they have received Christ they would so walke, and that they might be rooted and established in him. Many of them were not so rooted and established in Christ as they stood in need to be, not able to exclude and banish those doubts, and feares, and cares of spirit, that sometimes accompany beleevers, even those that beleeve already on the name of Christ, yet there is something wanting in the root of their faith; for looke as you see it is with a Plant, that is grafted into a Stock, it doth not forthwith take root, but a little matter will soone unsettle it; so is it in this case, a man may in some measure be implanted into Christ, and yet for a time be marvellously unsetled, and farre off from that rootednesse which God lookes our faith should grow unto, and so in a building, it at the first framing may be so greene, as that yet it is not setled upon the foundation, but it would have a time to be dryed and withered, that it may stand the firmer on the foundation without shrinking, and be more fit for a mans dwelling, so is it sometimes with the faith of a Christian man, he may be knit to Christ, and may have a place in Christ, but his morter may yet be green, and may be easily shaken with wind and weather of temptation, and not be yet rooted and established; there may want such holy confidence, and assured perswasion of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, as we had need to be lifted up unto a further increase of faith, which this Epistle, and such other Doctrines as these be, are wont to work in them.