amongst them to suffer martyrdome and the cruellest torments that the wicked could jmagine then to purchase Bishopricks and Ecclesiasticall dignities Faith is like vnto the Iron the which the more it is beaten the harder it is Seemely comparisons and more pistoll proofe The waters the more they are pressed the stronger they are and the more jmpetuous Which wee see jn the Sea betweene two rocks and in Riuers vnder the arches of a Bridge So it is with Faith the which neuer sheweth her force better then when it is pressed as the grape in the presse and the mustard seede when iâ— is brused in a morter Like to an Ayme a little tree whereof no accompt is made to burne florisheth in the desart places in hart of winter when by the sharpenesse and rigour of the season all other flowers cease and are dead also the Church of God which is a people vile and contemptible to the world and esteemed as the superfluitie â—nd sweeping of howses neuer sheweth â—t better the flower and vertue of Faith â—hen in the midst of the hard and sharp â—easons and when all other trees and plants seeme to be altogether dead Which is an admirable thing for wee see that when the weather is faire and that all the seasons do their dutie all the fruites of the earth grow and come forward to the sight of the eye But to â—he contrary Faith doth neuer prosper well but in fowle weather and when â—t seemeth that all things are contrary to â—t for it is a thing that experience alwaies and in all ages verified that the peace the rest and ease haue beene meanes to whyther corrupt and to degenerate the Church as euery man may see plainely in papistrie and that to the contrary the persecutions warres and other euill visages which it hath had of her enemies haue been the cause to make it florish Euen as we see the Larkes waxe fatte in cold weather Other good comparisons also the Church is neuer in better case then when it is set vpon by diuers tribulations and aduersities And euen as when a towne is besieged and that the enemies haue taken the counterskarfe the ditch and the rampart those that are within in retyring fortifie themselues againe and strengthen theÌ„selues with courage because they see they are more pressed to driue back the enemie and regaine that which they had gotten of them so Faith when it seeth it selfe rudely assaulted withdraweth herselfe from her dungeon and in her strong place that is to say to the grace of God and there it refresheth it selfe and taketh a new vigour to resist the enemie couragiously and to driue him backe ¶ Of things conioyned vnto Faith IT is now tyme to declare the things which are so conioyned and vnited vnto Faith that they cannot bee separated from it as are the Spirit of God Charitie Hope Slaunders of Sophists against the pure doctrine of Faith refuted perseuerance good workes because that the Schole diuines saye that Faith and good workes are things diuided so that the one may be without the other whereby they take occasion to callumniate and defame vs saying that wee preach nothing but Faith and say nothing of good workes as if they were vnprofitable and they goe farther saying that it seemes that wee would bring into Kingdomes and common wlealths a licentiousnesse and loosenesse so that euery one may haue no other rule to ordaine the state of his Life and manners but his sences and appetites Now it is very needefull to reiect and confute such a slaunder which is directly against the honour and glory of God and the health and preseruation of all Estates in the world For what were it if such a confusion were once established that euery one might liue at his pleasure and at his fancy hauing neither law nor reason to controle his manners and his actions were it not altogether to ouerthrow the order which god loueth and will haue established in all things For as sayth Philon there is nothing fayre nor pleasant in disorder and confusion Wherevpon we may inferre that there is nothing more displeasing and abhominable before God then to liue disordinately And to the contrary that there is nothing more agreeable then to see thinges well ruled and measured and altogether conformed to holy Lawes and ordinances which hee hath caused vs to publish to this effect Libertines justly detected Let vs then protest that wee will not in any wise approoue the pernicious and diuelish error of the Libertines who will liue at their pleasure without being at all subiect to blame correction and reprehension nor will not bee reprooued nor bridled in their disordinate affections could willingly wish that they were let run by aduenture after their appetites like a horse without a bridle and a shippe without a Rudder Now as for vs wee declare and protest againe before God and men that the greatest greefe and torment that we haue in our minde is to see in that manner the greatest part of men dissolute and disordered And the occasions which they giue to the Ignorant and jnfidels so to blaspheme the name of God and the doctrine which we professe as they do ordinaryly I therefore beseech the readers of this treatise that they diligently note al the reasons that are heere deducted and discoursed to shew that Faith is neuer separated from good workes no more then the fire his brightnesse and light ¶ The first thing Ioyned to Faith The holy Ghost THe first shall be taken out of that which is written in the 7. of the Gospell according to S. Iohn verse 38. Hee that beleeueth on mee as the Scripture hath sayd out of his bellie shall flowe riuers of water of life But this he spake of the Spirit which they that beleeue on him should receiue for the holy Ghost was not yet there because that Iesus was not yet glorified Whereof may be gathered that by Faith wee receiue the Spirit of God which doth regenerate and sanctifie vs in such sort that wee by his meanes are made fitte ready lightsome to all the workes which the Apostles reciteth Gal. 5. The fruite of the Spirit is Charitie joye peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse Faith meekenesse temperance against such there is no Law The same repeateth to the Ephesians That wee are his workemanship created in Iesus Christ vnto good workes which God hath before ordained that wee should walke in them Ephe. 2. And also hee sharply reproueth those that liued disordinately in the Church calling them Louers of them selues couetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents vnthankfull vngodly without naturall affection truce breakers false accusers riotous fierce despisers of them that are good traitours headie high minded louers of pleasure more then louers of of God hauing a forme of Godlinesse but denyjng the power thereof Titus 2. And declaring the end of our regeneration hee sayth that the grace of God which
but it must goe out if care bee not had to powre fresh oyle into it to preserue it also without the word of God Faith cannot subsist nor be long vnprovided for of this nouriture but it must be in prison and become as it were sluggish and finally it must dye and be altogether extinguished for wee see it happens ordinarily to those that are negligent in exercising themselues in the meditation of the word of God as it doth to the water the which although it be of cold nature is neverthelesse subceptible of the heat when it is set neere the fire but when it is taken from it first it cooleth by little and little and at length commeth to it former coldnesse and so returning to it first nature the heat quencheth and dyeth all together It followeth in the definition That Faith is an jndubitable knowledge of all things contained in the word of God as well in the old as in the new Testament Which is added to reprooue the errours of the Manicheans of Marcion and of other hereticks which did not receaue nor approue none of the bookes of the Bible but those onely which did not seeme contrary to their heresies Also for to reject the errours of the Iewes who doe not approoue the Bookes of the new Testament and likewise of the Libertines who say that men must not abide in the earth which is but for children and such as bee yet in their rudiments but that men must suffer themselues to bee conducted by I know not what fantasticall spirit the which can bring forth nothing but prodigious railyngs and such monsters as those that haue beene seene in our time in the citie of Munster in West-phalia and elswhere where these Organs and Instruments of of Satan haue been able to gather disciples together Now we must aboue all things take heed to that and altogether approue all the books in the which the spirit of God hath pleased to reveale and discouer his will and to esteeme that there is not any superfluous or vnprofitable word therein and that there is never a portion what a one soever it be in the scripture that it is dry or barren which wee experiment when after we haue prayed to God wee apply our selues attentiuely to meditate therevppon and that to contemplate the secrets and mysteries of God which are therin covered and wrapped vp wee will vnfold them like vnto a Tapistry that wee may see therin discovered the great singularity and art of the workeman who did make and weaue it It followeth in the definition that the same Faith is joyned with a true and perfect trust of their salvation propounded vnto them in the Evangelicall promise and by the grace of God which ought diligently to be obserued in the nature and essence of Faith for it sufficeth not to beleeue in God and in Iesus Christ that wee know them in their workes to admire and adore them but this knowledge which we haue of them and to depend of them in all our affaires and necessities to haue our recourse vnto them to be succoured and ayded in all dangers And finally when we haue experimented their favour and care which they haue had to helpe vs we must giue them thankes and glorifie their holy name which S. Paul teacheth vs plainly in the 3. chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians the 12. verse where he sayth By which Iesus Christ wee haue boldnesse and and entrance in with confidence by Faith vnto him Also in the Epistle to Hebrews chap. 4. All the faithfull are exhorted to goe with boldnesse vnto the throne of grace that we may obtaine mercy and find grace to helpe in the time of need Iesus Christ also in S. Iohn exhorting the Apostle to beleeue in him Iohn 14. and in God his Father doth not meane to exhort them onely to know the essence or the will of the one or the other but also to put their whole trust in them And when in Esay chap. 28. it is sayd That who so euer beleeueth in God shall neuer bee confounded It ought not to be vnderstood only of the knowledge which we ought to haue of the certainty and verity of the doctrine and word pronounced and preached but also of the trust vnto the which such a knowledge doth conduct vs to referre our selues with all our affayres to God and to his providence Which Dauid teacheth vs in many places as in the 2. Psalme where hee exhorteth the Princes and great Lords to do homage to Iesus Christ saying Serue the Lord in feare reioyce in trembling Kisse the Sonne least he be angry and yee perish in the way when his wrath shall suddainly burne Blessed are all they that trust in him And in the 3. Psalme at the end thereof Saluation belongeth vnto the Lord and thy blessing is vpon thy people And in the 5. Psalme And let all them that trust in thee reioyce and triumph for euer and couer thou them And in the 32 Psalme Many sorrows shall come to the wicked but he that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compasse him And in the 25 Psalme Let me not be confounded I trust in thee but let them be confounded that trangresse without cause And in the 34 Psalme The Lord redeemeth the soules of his Seruants and none that trust in him shall perish Wee may see by these percels and jnfinite others which are in the Scripture that this terme of Faith is not simply taken onely for the knowledge of the truth of the word of God but principally for the trust hope and assurance which we have of the effect of the promises of God of his grace and favour of the loue and affection which he beareth vs and of his care of vs and of all our affaires to conduct them happily according as our good and salvation requireth It followeth that this Faith is propounded vnto them in the Evangelicall promise by the grace of God Wherevpon we must note two things first that the subject and principal foundation vpon the which Faith is built is not the Law nor the commandements which propound nothing else but a curse vpon those that transgresse them nor yet the threatnings which propound nothing but the wrath of God to those that withstand them which may rather affright and astonish then comfort and assure wherefore the faithfull man must not haue a regard to the Law or to threatnings of God to assure himselfe of his grace and by consequent of his salvation which dependeth thereon but he must keepe his eyes fixed vppon the promise of God which is the ground and the foundation wherevpon the whole building and edifies of his Faith may rest and be well vpheld which is the cause that the Apostle sayth in Romaines the 10. That Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God to wit the woord of Faith the which was preached by the Apostles And in the 4. hee sayth it more expresly Therefore by
darknesse which cannot in any wise comprehend the light and the sences vaine and giuen to all Vanitie 1. Cor. 2. Which is the cause for the which it is written Mat. 16. that there is none but the Spirituall man that is able to know iudge and discerne spirituall and diuine things and that the flesh and bloud cannot comprehend them and much lesse raise and teach them which is the cause why Dauid sayd Psal 36. With thee is the well of life and in thy Light shall wee see light Psalm 92. And also An vnwise man knoweth it not and a foole doth not vnderstand this And yet elsewhere Psal 25. What man is he that feareth the Lord him will he teach the way that he shall choose Examples We see that in all the examples of the faithfull which the Scripture doth propound to vs as well in the old as in the new TestameÌ„t Which we may note first in Adam Adam who hauing been shamefully driuen out of the earthly paradise and depriued of all the pleasure which there he had without hauing any more hope to recover it againe was notwithstanding raised againe by the promise which God made him Genes 3. so that hee was not drowned in despaire although hee had great and most ample occasions seejng that because of his rebellion and disobedience hee was fallen jnto an jnfinite miserie and so pittifull and lamentable estate that it was jmpossible to comprehend and expresse it For considering as it is very likely the darknes that was entered into his spirit the disorder in his heart the vanity that had seased on his sences and in generall the corruption that was spred ouer all his members seejng besides that hee was no more so to familiar with God as hee was woont and that his presence was fearefull vnto him and hee was astonyed at his word seejng also the curse which vppon his occasion was powred not onely vppon all the earth the which although it was tilled brought forth nothing but weeds and thistles but also vppon all the elements and all the creatures the which by his meanes were falne and brought to seruitude and corruption seejng also the disorder which at once was entred into his house and his eldest sonne of whome perhaps he hoped the restitution of the ruines which had happened vnto him to haue risen against his yonger brother and to haue slaine him cruelly without hauing any cause neither true nor apparant all this together was it not sufficient to câ—st him headlong into a gulfe of despaire and to take all hope from him euer to get out of it if he had not been vpheld by the Faith of the promise which God had made him But looking vpon it jntentiuely and closing his eyes from the consideration of all other thinges that might abate or beat him downe hee remayned firme in the perswasion which he had conceaued in his heart of the veritie and certitude of the promise which God had made him and combated by this meanes all the jmaginations and all the discourses which his reason then blinded could propound vnto him to cause him to doubt thereof Noe likewise Second example in Noe. after God had advertised him that within 120. yeares he was determined to drowne the world had as may well be thought many fansies in his mind which might make him doubt thereof as the length of the time the clearenesse of the dayes the temporall prosperitie which continued vppon the whole earth the mocking of those that jeasted at this threatning when he foretold it them in the name of God besides all which things he might thinke that God who was jnfinitely mercifull and patient and who jnduced by his onely goodnes had created the world and with it endued man with his owne jmage and likenesse could neuer be brought to that poynt to vndoe and cast downe such a building as that was Yet neverthelesse he persevered in believing stedfastly Gods threatnings the which to avoyd he built the Arke according to his commandement to saue himselfe and his family and the seed of all the creatures of the earth Wherein we see when having closed his eyes to all the considerations that might divert him he setled himselfe at the only word of God by the Faith whereof hee was saued as sayth the Apostle from the deluge which drowned the world Abraham bejng very aged receiued a promise from god by the which he assured him that he should haue a child by his wife Sara who neverthelesse was barren and besides vncapable to conceaue as well by reason of her age as of naturall meanes which failed her for conceaving Neverthelesse this patriarke closed his eyes at all this and had no regard to his body already benummed seejng hee was almost an hundred yeares old nor yet to the matrix of Sara already benummed and made no doubt of the promise of God in mistrust but was strengthened by Faith Rom. 4. and believed in hope against all hope giving glory to God and knowing certainely that hee that had promised him was also able to doe it Dauid bejng arriued in Sauls campe 4. example in Dauid who was affrighted with the fierce words and threates of this jnorme and fearefull Gyant Golyah 1. Sam. 17. who with his looke onely made all Israels campe to tremble was mooved with a zeale of the glory of God whome hee saw blasphemed with the barking of this Mastiffe and presented himselfe couragiously to revenge the opprobrie of Israell and vndertooke to kill him without regarding his youth nor the little experience which he had in warre nor that hee was naked and without defensiue weapons nor to the weakenesse of his body nor on the other part to the greatnesse of the Gyant nor to the force and strength of his armes nor to the armour wherewith he was clad and covered nor to the buckler nor to the speare nor to his fierce and cruell countenance approached to him without any astonishment with his sling and a stone the which he hit right in the forehead of this great Colosse whose head hee cut off with his owne Sword and broght it as a trophy into Israels armie If men consider what was the occasion of so faire and glorious a victory which he brought backe vppon such a mighty enemie they will find that it was the Faith onely which hee had in the name of God and by the which shutting his eyes to the consideration of all the things that might moove or turne him froÌ„ such an enterprise he setled himselfe in the only preswasion which he had of the verity of the promise of God and of his assistance vnder the conduct whereof he doubted not at all to affront his enemie Fift example in Iosua and Caleb The spies which were sent by Moyses into the land of Canaan to the end they should bring him and the Princes of Israell word what was the scituation therof what
thy pittie towards me to the end I may be able to acquite my selfe Those also that trust in their riches Against the trust in Riches shew thereby that they are jnfidels and that their trust is vaine as was that of him spoken of in S. Luke Luc. 12. who hauing reaped and gathered a great abundance of all sorts of fruits sayd to his soule That it might rest and that it had goods inough for many yeares and that for this reason it should not care nor feare that the goods could faile And as he made these discourses in his mind hee was adjourned to appeare that present hower before the judgement seat of God to giue an accoÌ„pt of his administration Which is an example that sheweth vs plainely that all the trust that men set in their riches honours strength wisedome might and credite is vaine and deceitfull And as sayth the Prophet Esay 28. Against the hope in the Arme of the flesh That such people take lying to ground their hope vppon the which saith Iob may be compared to a cobwebbe which may be violated by the onely sleight of a Flye Let it not then bee therein nor in the arme and all the glory of the flesh that men settle their hope For that to speake properly is nothing else but to conceaue wind and after to bring forth some storme Which we see in the people of Israell which set their hope sometimes in the strength of the Egiptians Esay 20. somtimes in that of the Assirians wherin they haue alwayes beene deceaued and haue experimented in the end that this hope was pernicious vnto them and like vnto a Reed vppon the which a man cannot leane Esay 30.31 but he putteth himselfe in hazard to fall and there will come foorth a splintor to hurt and pricke his hand In the 20 Psalme the Chuch speaking of her selfe and her enemies sayth Some trust in Chariots and some in horses but we will remember the name of our God They are brought downe and fallen but wee are risen and stand vpright By the things which haue been spoken of it appeareth that there is nothing more contrary to the faith of a christian man nor that is more damageable vnto him then to put his trust in himselfe or in the other creatures nor which sooner precipitateth those that ground rely thervpoÌ„ that presume that by their means they might obtaine that which they desire and pursue for it is of God onely that the euents of our counsels bee they happie or vnhappie depend by reason whereof it is most requisite for vs to humble our selues alwaies vnder the mighty hand of God and acknowledge that all our felicite cannot depend of any other thing 1. Pet. 5. then of him and of his onely prouidence ¶ The other extremitie of Faith which is the sixt which is contrary to it THe other exttemitie of Faith is mistrust Mistrust directlie contrarie to Faith which is also contrarie to it to wit when wee mistrust and doubt of the truth of the promises of God and that wee thinke that therevppon wee ought not to assure our hope Whereof we haue a notable example in the King Achaz who hauing vnderstood that Razin King of Siria and Phaceas sonne of Romelea Esay 7. were leagued against him to destroy him and to substitute another in his place beganne to tremble like to the leaues of Trees when they are shaken by the wind insomuch that hee could not settle nor rest his minde what admonition soeuer the Prophet Esay made him and what assurance soeuer hee gaue him that their enterprise should come to nothing and that they were but smoaking firebrands whereof should come nothing but smoake Yet notwithstanding that all this that was sayd vnto him came from God it could not assure him nor make his minde peaceable Although that for the confirmation of the promise that God made him hee preposed an offer vnto him to demaund what signe hee would were it in Heauen or in Earth to assure him and to take away all the mistrust which hee had But hee would not yeild which did greatly offend God and was cause of the misfortunes and miseries which befell him afterward This mistrust proceedes of diuers causes 1. Cause of Mistrust Sometime it commeth of the length of the tyme which God setteth to accomplish and execute his promises as we see in Ieremie That the vnbeleeuers which were among the people said what wee haue so long looked for the peace and prosperitie which was promised vs by the Prophets and behould wee see nothing but troubles and confusion and that our affaires goe alwaies worse and worse which is the cause for the which the Prophet sayd Psal 125. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the ritghteous least the righteous put foorth their hand vnto wickednesse 2. Cause That commeth also sometimes of the violence and great impetuositie of the tempests the which present themselues before our eyes and which maketh vs often to forget the remeÌ„brance of things wherewith wee should bee vpheld and sustained against the force of such stormes whereof wee haue a notable example in S. Peter Mat. 14. A notable example Vnto whome Iesus Christ walking vppon the waters of the Sea commaunded him to come out of his boate and to come to him vppon the waters which hee did But when hee was in the mid way and that the windes began to rise and the waues to swell hee beganne to be affraide and to sincke into the water because that hee did not any more remember the words of Iesus Christ in the which if he had altogether setled himselfe the superficies of the water had alwayes been to him as a plancke and hee should haue gone vpon it as vpon the Land which is firme and solide But hauing forgotten it and euen doubting of the truth and certainty thereof hee began to sincke in the water in daunger to be drowned That was the cause to make him crye to Iesus Christ that hee would saue him and that hee was in daunger to perrish wherevpon Iesus Christ to make him knowe the cause thereof said vnto him Oh man of little Faith why hast thou doubted As if hee should haue sayd vnto him that the occasion of the daunger wherein hee found himselfe was that hee had not altogether assured himselfe of the word which he had spoken vnto him And to this purpose may bee fitted the apologie of the Hart A fit comparison to this effect vnto whome all the other beasts reproued his feare shewing him that being armed and furnished with such weapons and defences as were the hornes which he bare he ought to present himselfe couragiously to the combat against the most furious and saâ—agest beasts that could be found to whome hee answering sayd that they had reason to reprooue and tax him but that it happened vnto him because â—ee found himselfe
in daunger and heaâ—ing the crying of the dogs hee had quite forgot his strength bethought himselfe of nothing but to flye Remedie So happeneth it often to many faithfull who forgetting all their forces as the grace fauour promise and presence of God which ought to assure them they thinke of nothing but the perill which â—hey see and of their owne weakenesse The which causeth them to bee runâ—wayes and cowards It commeth also sometimes 3. Cause when we see no meanes whereby that which â—s sayd vnto vs can come to passe For being sensuall as wee are wee alwayes regard that which our sences can comprehend and as wee see the affaires disposed wee judge of the effects As wee may see in the example of Philip to whome Iesus Christ commaunded to cause that great multitude of people that followed him to sit downe Iohn 6. that he might giue them to eate Phillip answered Example in Phillip Two hundreth peniworth of bread would not suffice them if euery one should take neuer so little As if it had been impossible for Iesus Christ to nourish them without the ordinarie meanes This is common to all and euen to the wisest who can neuer perswade themselues that any thing can bee done if they doe not see that the meanes is disposed therevnto And neuerthelesse wee haue so many examples to the contrarie in the Scripture That is to say Remedie that God without ordinary meanes hath don his workes as in the beginning without matter without workmen and without tooles he built the world and all the creatures therein contained to shewe his omnipotencie and to assure our Faith by that meanes to the end it might rest vpon the onely word of God without disputing and discoursing in her mind of the meanes and of the fashion which God will make his worke but that shee content her selfe with his holy word remitting it selfe altogether vnto him or the manner how he will effect it This mistrust commeth also of the diâ—ersitie of the vsage of God to his serâ—ants 4. Cause and to those that dishonour and â—laspheme him Because that seeing â—hem so hardly intreated notwichstanâ—ing that they endeauour to obay him â—nd to do their dutie to serue him to â—he contrary those that despise him aâ—ound in all sortes of goods to be gentâ—y vsed to haue all their eases Examples Yea ofâ—en to be better then they can wish â—…en this temptation commeth to assaile â—he children of God who say as it is written in Malachi Malachi 3. That men serue God in vaine and what profit if wee â—eepe his obseruation and if wee liue â—n sorrow for the Lord of hosts Now wee say happie are the proud and euen those that do wickedly are praysed and if they tempted God they were deliuered Then those that feare the Lord â—pake one to the other and the Lord harkned and heard and hath written the memoriall booke before him for those that feare the Lord and that think vpon his name Remedie They shall be mine saith the Lord of hostes when I shall gather the treasure together and I will pardon them so as euerie one pardoneth his sonne that serueth him Conuert you and you shall see the difference betweene the iust and the infidels betweene the seruant of God and him that serueth him not This same temptation came to Dauid as it appeares in the 73. Psalme Yet God is good to Isreall euen to the purâ— in heart As for mee my feet were almost gone my steppes had well neere slipt for 〈◊〉 feared at the foolish when I saw the prosperitie of the wicked For there are no band in their death but they are lustie and strong c. It may also proceed from elsewhere 5. Cause That is to say when God seemeth to bee asleepe in our afflictions and to haue no care to mitigate them or to deliuer vs from them As we see in the complaynt which thâ— Church maketh Surelie for thy sake anâ— wee slaine continually Psal 44. and are counted â— sheep for the slaughter vp why sliepest thoâ— O Lord awake be not farre off for euer Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our miserie and our affliction For our soule is beaten downe vnto the dust our bellie cleaueth to the ground When God also sheweth himselfe angrie 6. Cause and his visage inflamed with chollor against his Church and that he seemeth rather â—n shew to be a roaring Lyon then a Father most benigne and kind then we tremble and haue our minds troubled with mistrust As wee see in the 77. Psalme I did thinke vppon God and was â—roubled I praied and my spirit was full of â—nguish Thou keepest mine eies waking I was astonied and could not speake Then â— considered the dayes of old and the yeres â—f ancient time I called to remembrance my song in the night I communed with nine owne hart and my spirit searched diâ—igentlie Will the Lord absent himselfe for euer and will he shew no more fauour Is his mercie cleane gone for euer doth â—is promise faile for euermore Against â—uch temptations Remedie the which are the vioâ—entest most furious that can bee presented to a faithfull man wee ought to gather all our forces together and hardeÌ„ our selues against such hard assaults arme our selues with the promises which God hath made vs and oppose them against them as that which is writen in Iosua Iosua 1. I will not leaue nor euer forsake thee Esay 49. And in Esay Although that the Mother should forget the fruit of her wombe I will not forget thee saith the Lord for I beare thee engrauen on the backe os my hand And that which is in S. Iohn Iohn 10. I hold my sheepe in my hand who shall take them from mee Is not my Father greater then all And I my Father are but one Also they shall not perish eternally Wee ought to call such promises to mind and take them to sustaine vs and to relye vppon them against the great sleights temptationâ— which happen vnto vs and to say with Dauid Psal 23. The Lord is my shepherd I shal not want He maketh mee to rest in greenâ— pasture and leadeth me by the still waters He restoreth my soule and leadeth me into the pathes of righteousnes for his namâ— sake Yea thought J should walke through the valley of the shaddowe of death I wiâ—… feare no euill for thou art with me thy roâ— and thy staffe they comfort mee Thoâ— doest prepare a table before me in the sight of mine aduersaries thou doest annoynt mine head with oyle and my cup runneth ouer And we ought alwayes to hold this for resolute that God what visage and countenance soeuer he sheweth vs neuer changeth but continueth all one as it is written in the 120. Psalme They shall waxe old as doth a garment as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed But