I have done with the Occasion, I come now to the Matter and Drift of this Epistle: [And exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints.] In which there is a necessary duty pressed; and these two Circumstances are notable; the Act, and the Object; the Act is to contend earnestly, 'tis but one word in the Original, [Greek or Hebrew], but 'tis a word of a vehement signification, and therefore fitly rendered to contend earnestly. 2. The Object of this contention, which is, [the faith once delivered to the Saints.] *Faith may be taken either for the doctrine of faith, or the grace of faith; both are too good to be lost, either the word which we believe, or faith by which we believe; the former is intended, faith is taken for sound doctrine, such as is necessary to be owned and believed unto salvation, which he presseth them to contend for, that they might preserve it safe and sound to future ages. Now this faith is described, 1. By the manner of its conveyance, [Greek or Hebrew]; 'tis given to be kept, †'tis not a thing invented, but given; not found out by us, but delivered by God himself, and delivered as to our custody, that we may keep it for posterity; As the Oracles of God in the ⟨p. 144⟩Old Testament, were delivered to the Jews to be kept by them, Rom. 3. 1. 2. By the time of its giving out to the world; the doctrine of salvation was given but once, as never to be altered and changed, once for all. 3. The Persons to whom, [to the Saints,] so he calleth the Church according to the use of the Scriptures, or else by Saints is meant the holy Apostles, given to them to be propagated by them. I shall first speak of the Object, before I come to the duty it self; and because the description here used will agree both to the grace of faith, and the doctrine of faith, though the doctrine of faith be mainly intended, yet give me leave a little to apply it to the grace; if it be a diversion, it shall be a short one.
I have done with the Occasion, I come now to the Matter and Drift of this Epistle: [And exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints.] In which there is a necessary duty pressed; and these two Circumstances are notable; the Act, and the Object; the Act is to contend earnestly, 'tis but one word in the Original, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, but 'tis a word of a vehement signification, and therefore fitly rendred to contend earnestly. 2. The Object of this contention, which is, [the faith once delivered to the Saints.] *Faith may be taken either for the doctrine of faith, or the grace of faith; both are too good to be lost, either the word which we believe, or faith by which we believe; the former is intended, faith is taken for sound doctrine, such as is necessary to be owned and believed unto salvation, which he presseth them to contend for, that they might preserve it safe and sound to future ages. Now this faith is described, 1. By the manner of its conveyance, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; 'tis given to be kept, †'tis not a thing invented, but given; not found out by us, but delivered by God himself, and delivered as to our custody, that we may keep it for posterity; As the Oracles of God in the ⟨p. 144⟩Old Testament, were delivered to the Jews to be kept by them, Rom. 3. 1. 2. By the time of its giving out to the world; the doctrine of salvation was given but once, as never to be altered and changed, once for all. 3. The Persons to whom, [to the Saints,] so he calleth the Church according to the use of the Scriptures, or else by Saints is meant the holy Apostles, given to them to be propagated by them. I shall first speak of the Object, before I come to the duty it selfe; and because the description here used will agree both to the grace of faith, and the doctrine of faith, though the doctrine of faith be mainly intended, yet give me leave a little to apply it to the grace; if it be a diversion, it shall be a short one.
- *Fides est duplex, •i•es q•ae cred•tur, & •ides qua c••d• •u•.
- †•liquid tibi •r•ditum non a te inventum aliquid quod ac•epis•i, non exa•i•asti, &c. Vincensius Lyrinensi•.
