vsually compared vnto a hand wherwith we receiue as one saith the rich almes of God if we lack this hand wee shal die for want This holy Faith the mother of repentance faith is called the mother of true repentance and repentance the daughter of faith for assoone as wee haue a true iustifying Faith presently repentaunce followeth with the fruites thereof as Saint Iohn Baptist saith Bring fourth fruit worthy of repentance This liuely iustifying faith is neuer idle Mat. 3.8 A true iustiying faith neuer idle but stil worâ—…eth by â—oue but still worketh by loue and is the roote from whence all good works do spring As the sunne cannot be without light nor the fire without heat nor water without moystnes No more can any one which hath this true iustifying faith be without good works which are the fruites thereof Therefore it is very true which Saint Iames saith that as the body without the soule is deade so faith without workes is deade in it â—am 2.17 selfe Neyther is there any disagreement betweene the doctrine of Saint Paul and Saint Iames though the one saye wee are Rom. 3.28 iustified by faith and the other by workes for Saint Paul speaketh of our iustifying before Iam. 2.24 God by faith only thorough the bloud of Christ and Saint Iames of our iustifying S. Paul and S. Iames reconciled concerning iustificatioÌ„ before men when wee make knowen to the worlde by our good workes which are the fruites of faith that wee are iustified Therefore let vs beleeue the Scripture which saith that Abraham beleeued God Rom. 4.36 and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse That wee are not iustified by the workes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ For by grace wee are saued saith Gala. 2.16 Saint Paul through faith not of our selues it is the gift of God not of workes least any Eph. 2.8.9 shuld boast which place doth cut the throte of that grosse opinion of those proud Pharisayicall Papists that ignorantly bragge Popish supererogation superabundant arrogancie and boast of their workes and merites as though they coulde merite heauen with them both for them selues and others forsooth by their works of supererogation but more rightly called superabundant-arrogancie Let vs beleeue the Apostle saying if righteousnesse came by the law then Christ Gala 2.21 dyed in vaine Let vs beleeue the truth it selfe saying when ye haue done all that yee can yet say ye are but vnprofitable seruaÌ„ts ye haue done but what was your duty to do Luk. 17.10 It is our dutie and required of vs vppon Mat. 25.41 paine of damnation to doe good workes which as Saint Paul saith God hath ordained Ephe. 2.10 that we should walke in them but not that we should trust in them to be saued for faith herein must haue the preheminence Therefore Saint Paul counteth all thinges Phil 3 8.9 losse and doung that he might win Christ and might bee found in him not hauing his owne righteousnes but the righteousnesse which is through the faith of Christ Obiection But heere some may say why doe ye alleadge so many testimonies of Saint Paul to this purpose for heseemeth to be contrarie to himselfe and though in many places hee extolleth faith yet in one place hee preferreth 1. Cor. 13. loue charitie before it for he saith now abideth these three faith hope and loue but the chiefest of these is loue True it is chiefe in respect that it doth What S. Paul meaneth by saying that faith is chiefer then loue extend it selfe farre and neare to the benefit and profit of our neighbours for faith profiteth our selues loue our neighbours and because it doth continue longer then faith and hope doth for the vse of theÌ„ both doth cease when wee haue the fruition and possession of that which wee hoped for and when we haue the end of our faith which is the saluation of our soules but loue is onely begun in this life perfected in the life to come in these respects Saint Paul saith it 1. Pet. 1 9. is cheefe Notwithstanding though wee graunt this and say further with the same Apostle that as there is no true loue without faith so there is no true faith without loue because faith worketh by loue yet it Gala. 5.6 is certaine that faith in respect of our saluation and in this matter of iustification is more excellent then loue yea loue must come after faith as an obedient daughter Loue the daughter of faith after her mother which faith doeth bring forth both hope and loue Faith then is the ground of things hoped for Hope is an vndoubted expectation of those things which are promised vnto vs of God by the meanes of Christ Loue is linked vnto them both may not be seperated from them By faith saith the Author to the Hebrus our forefathers obtained a good report Heb. 11.1.2 therefore I conclude that faith ought still to haue the preheminence in iustification for thereby are we receiued made the sonnes Faith must haue the preheminence in iustificatioÌ„ of God euen by our faith in Christ by whome wee obtaine euerlasting life This doctrine as it doth stirre vs vp to beleeue so should it stir vs vnto loue charitie which are the liuely fruites of faith and without it faith is dead in it selfe But here wee must also take heede that we doe not imagine that faith though it be a rare and singular vertue doth thereby of it selfe deserue euerlasting life for so wee should fal into error but faith is called most Christ only hath purchased heauen for vs. faith the instrument to apprehend it holy excellent or precious in this respect that it is the meane appointed by God himselfe wherby we should apprehend and receiue most holy excellent precious gifts whereof the chiefest is eternall and euerlasting life purchased vnto vs by the death passion and resurrection of Christ euen by his righteousnes and obedience Of this eternal and euerlasting life our faith grounded vppon the promises of God doth most certenly assure vs and then by hope which is also the childe of faith we doe with patience waite for the accomplishment and performance thereof For those ioyes which one day we shall haue in perfect possession How faith and hope are distinguished wee doe now enioye by faith and hope the which may thus bee distinguished the one from the other Faith doth apprehend things present and hope things to come by things present I meane also eternall life which may be said to be present in respect that we haue some feeling and tast of it in this life in respect of the certainty of Gods counsell and will touching the saluation of his elect that cannot be altered Therefore the Scripture vseth often times the present tense for the future the time present for the time to come as Christ
needes confesse mine owne great insufficiency and want of skill first that I cannot looke into the secrecie of so deep a mistery as faith is next that I cannot think sufficiently of the vertues thereof much lesse can I with pen or toung disclose make knowen the same for the benefite of others To the end therfore that I may promise no more then by Gods grace I may be able to perform of this matter I wil speak very little of my selfe seeing I know little or nothing onely I will collect into a short summe the substance of that which the holy Ghost himself hath vouchsafed to set down in the praise and commendation of faith of those that haue beene endowed with so rich a Iewel Plinie Galen Hypocrates others that write of the nature vertue operation of trees plantes hearbes of the nature of beasts birdes fishes mettals and precious stones do labour by all meanes possible to make knowen to the worlde the secrecy of natural thinges for the preseruation of the health of mans body being otherwise vnknowen to the most part of people their labours are worthy of great praise yea surely it serueth greatly to the setting forth of Gods glory who hath made nothing in vaine for All thinges serue to set forth Gods glory who hath made nothing in vaine what tree is there whose roote barke leaues or fruit either some or all of thē are not medicinable what hearbe or weede is there which hath not his proper vertue operation howe many medicines are there taken from birds beasts fishes and from euery part of thē within and without all kinds of mettals may be vsed in drinks and potions as gold siluer tinne lead steel iron What shoulde I speake of the shelles of fishes of pearles corrales and precious stones are not some of them cordiall for the heart others most soueraigne for the eyes for the heade and stomacke and for euery parte of mans body All these thinges are knowen All earthly medicines serue onely for our mortal bodies in this life but faith is a medicine for soule body here for euer I neede not stande vpon them sauing that it maketh thus much for my purpose that all these forenamed things and whatsoeuer els that may be named in the world do all serue but for the preseruation of mans mortall body and that in this life But this precious iewel of faith whereof we speake serueth both for the preseruation of mans soule body in this life and for their eternal saluation in the life to come Who then hearing of such a precious iewel woulde not sell all that euer he hath to buy it Nowe the rare vertues and operation of Faith were not so commonly knowen before our sauiour Christ came in the flesh only a few did account of it as Abraham and others both before and in the time of the Faith more plainely reuealed since the Gospell then before Lawe but now since the Gospel hath been preached faith hath been openly reuealed now it hath beene highly commended and extolled What meant our Sauiour Christ when he would shew the vertue and power of his Godhead in working of his cheefest miracles and healing all kind of diseases euermore to say thy faith hath made thee whole thy faith hath saued thee surely it was Christ himselfe that healed them yet Mat. 9. 22. Marke 10. 52. he attributeth the same to the faith of them that were healed therby to shew the excellency of Faith and that except they did beleeue had faith they could not be healed There be three thinges to be considered Three things especially in the Gospel serue to the extolling of Faith in the Gospell which make very much to the extolling of Faith The one is that Christ did helpe a great many for their own faith Another that he healed some of their bodily diseases for the faithes sake of others The third is that want of Faith in some was a great hinderance vnto Christ that oftentimes he could not doe that good which otherwise hee woulde These three points may be shewed briefely by examples for the first sorte wee haue these examples The foule leaper that came vnto Christ in Mat. 8.2 the eight of Mathew shewed his faith plainly in this saying vnto him if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane to whome Iesus answered I will be thou cleane and immediately his leprosie was cleansed Another example we haue in the ninth of Mathew of that woman which had been diseased with an issue of bloud twelue years 9. 22. who thrusting in among the presse of people to touch but the hem of Christ his garment was presently healed to whome Christ said thy faith hath made thee whole And in the fourteenth of Mathewe it is said that 14.36 many were healed by touching of Christs garments because they beleeued that he was able to heale them Another example wee haue of two blind men in the ninth of Mathew which cried after Iesus to be healed 9.22 but hee first asked them whether they did beleeue that hee was able to heale them not that Christ was ignorant whether they did beleeue or not but to shewe vnto them and others that he woulde not helpe them except they did beleeue and they saide yea Lord then saide Iesus according to your faith be it vnto you and presently their eyes were opened The like example wee haue of blinde Bartimeus in the tenth of Marke which cried after Iesus Mark 10 52 whome hee called the sonne of Dauid to haue mercy on him neuer ceased crying till Iesus called him and opened his eyes saying vnto him thy faith hath made thee whole Many such examples there are in the Gospell but for breuities sake I passe them ouer Likewise there want no examples of them that our sauiour hath healed for the faithes sake of others I will also produce a fewe of them The Centurions seruant in the eight of Mathew that lay sicke at home of a palsie Mat 8 5 and was greeuously payned because his mayster beleeued that Christ was well able to heale him if he did but speake the worde onely was cured of his disease the selfe same houre the faith of his maister greatly commended Another example we haue in the ninth of Mathew of a man that was sicke of the palsie also and being not able to goe was borne of foure men and let downe in his 9.2 bed by coardes through the roofe of the house wherein Iesus was and Iesus seeing their faith sayde to the sicke of the palsie take vp thy bed goe home to thine owne house Another example wee haue of Iairus a ruler of the sinagogue which came vnto Mark 5.22 Christ as Marke saith for his daughter when she was at poynt of death and as Mathew Mat 9 18 saith she was deade before hee spake with Iesus who
saith Hee that beleeueth hath euerlasting life And Saint Paul saith by grace ye are saued Ioh. ◠36 Ephe. 2.8 By things to come I meane the accomplishment and performance of our saluation which in this life we doe patiently waite for and expect by hope therefore hope is sometimes vsed in the same sence that faith is as in the eight to the Romaines Saint Paul saith we are saued by hope that is by Rom. 8.24 hope our faith is supported and wee are comforted til we haue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules Againe this difference is betweene faith and hope that faith doth imbrace and apprehend Wherein faith and hope agree the promises of things and hope the things whereof the promises are made onely in this faith and hope agree that they haue alwaies respect vnto one and the selfe same benefits As for example when Abraham Gen. 17.19 was promised to haue a sonne in his olde age he did verily beleeue it but with hope did expect the performance thereof many yeares He was promised also the land of Canaan to him and his seede he did verily Gen. 17.8 beleeue it should be accomplished but yet hee did onely enioy the same by hope Thus we haue seene briefely the difference betweene faith hope and loue as also how they agree in one but of loue we shalspeake more God willing in the last Chapter Now let vs proceede a little further in our purpose to shew the excellencie and worthines of faith whereby we are assured of things inuisible as though wee saw them Things inuisible are plainely seene with the eyes of faith-Heb 11.3 with our bodily eyes if not more assured Through faith wee vnderstand the world was made by the word of God so that the things which we see are not made of things which did appeare Through faith we are assured of our election before the foundations of the world were laide God hath chosen vs saith Saint Paul in Christ before the foundation of the Ephes 1.4 world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue Through faith wee are assured of our reconciliation with God for God was in Christ saith the Apostle and reconciled 2. Cor. 5.19 the world vnto himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them Through faith wee are assured of our redemption iustification and sanctification Ye are of him saith Saint Paul in Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 1.30 who is made vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Through faith we are assured of our adoption that wee are the sonnes of God The spirite Rom. 8 16 beareth witnesse vnto our spirites saith the Apostle that wee are the children of God Through faith wee are assured that wee haue the spirit of God Know ye not that the 2. Cor. 13.5 spirite of Christ dwelleth in you except ye be reprobates Through faith wee haue the true knowledge of God and of Christ and in the ende euerlasting life This is life eternall to know God the father and whome hee hath Ioh. 17.3 sent Iesus Christ Lastly through faith we are assured that nothing shall separate vs from the loue of God for those whome God once loueth to Ioh. 13.1 the ende he loueth them I am perswaded saith Saint Paule that neither death nor Rom. 8.38 life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor thinges to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our If we haue faith nothing can separate vs from God Lord. See thē the excellency of faith which may yet againe be considered fower maner of waies In respect of God in respect of our neighbours in respect of our selues in respect of the deuill and of the world In respect of God we feele peace of conscience Being iustified by faith wee Rom. 5.1 haue peace towardes God through Iesus Christ our Lorde Wee haue hope of the glorie to come Wee haue accesse vnto the 8.21 Heb. 4.16 throne of grace In respecte of our neighbours we haue mutuall concord godly loue and charitie In respect of our selues wee haue patience in afflictions reioycing in Rom. 5.3 tribulations ioye in the holye Ghost dying vnto sinne liuing vnto righteousnesse In respect of Sathan our faith fighteth for Ephe. 6.16 vs against his temptations and in respect of the world wee doe by little and little ouercome it This is the victorie which ouercommeth the world euen your faith 1. Ioh. 5.9 What should we say more If thou haue faith all things in heauen and earth make for thee if thou want faith al things in heauē earth hel make against thee if thou haue All thinges make for the faithful as al things make against the infidels faith thou art rich without any other thing if thou want faith thou art poore possessing al other things if thou haue faith thou maiest bee bolde as a Lyon if thou want faith thou wilt tremble at the shaking of a leafe if thou haue faith thou needes not feare the Faith a strong fort against our enemies force of thine enemies but for want of faith the heartes of people faint within them The wicked flie saith Salomon and no man pursueth them contrariwise the faithfull will say with Dauid God is our hope Pro. 28.1 and strength a helpe in troubles ready to bee founde Therefore will wee not feare Psal 46 1.2 3. though the earth remoue and though the mountaines fall into the depth of the Sea the hils shake at the surges of the same Againe Dauid saith though thousands had Psal 3.6 hemd me in on euery side yet would I not feare And againe I will say vnto the Lord O my hope and my fortresse he is my God Psal 92.1.2 in him will I trust surely hee will deliuer thee from the snare of the hunter and from 3. the noysome pestilence he will couer thee vnder his wings and thou shalt bee safe vnder 4. his feathers his truth shall be thy shield and buckler thou needst not bee affraid of the terror of the night nor of the arrowe that flyeth by day nor of the pestilence that 5. walketh in the darkenesse nor of the plague One faithfull man better in fight then a thousand infidels that destroyeth at the noone day a thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hande but it shall not come neere thee Behold then I beseech you the 6. force of faith blessed is the man that hath 7. the Lord for his God Psa 144.15 Now hauing hitherto heard the excellencie of faith and what profit we receiue therby it shall not be amisse to note for our further comfort and consolation what worthy praise commendation the Scripture hath alwaies giuen vnto faithfull men and women what
great actes and wonders haue beene wrought by them through the force of faith First concerning these faithful ones which liued before the comming of Christ it hath pleased the holye Ghost to make a long Catalogue of the chiefest of them in the eleauenth Chapter of the Epistle to the The faith of our auncestors commended Hebrues to this end that we shuld haue their examples euer before our eyes nay to teach vs that if they were so faithful in the time of the law much more should we be in the time of the Gospel I wil only note the examples By faith Abel his offering was accepted Heb. 11.4 before God By faith Enoch was translated from earth into heauen By faith Noe his 5. family were saued in the Arke By faith Abraham 7. came out of his own countrie being 8. tried offered vp his only begotten sonne By faith Sara cōceiued when she was fowerscore 11. ten yeeres old By faith Isaack blessed 20. Iacob and Esau concerning things to come By faith Iacob when he was a dying 21. blessed both the sonnes of Ioseph By faith Ioseph when hee dyed gaue commaundement 22. of his bones By faith the parentes of Moyses hid 23. him three months because they saw he was a proper childe not fearing the Kings commandement By faith Moyses himselfe whē he came to age refused to be called the son 5. of Pharaos daughter chusing rather to suffer aduersitie with the children of God then to enioye the pleasures of sin for a season By faith he forsooke Egypt and feared not the 27. fiercenes of the King for he endured as hee which saw him that is inuisible By faith he ordained the Passeouer and the effusion of 28. bloud least he that destroyed the first borne should touch them By faith Moyses and the children of Israel passed through the 29. red sea as by the dry land which the Egyptians assaying to doe were drowned By faith the walles of Iericho fell downe after 30. the Israelites had compassed them about seuen daies By faith the harlot Rahab was 31. not destroyed with the rest in Iericho because she receiued the spies peaceably To 32. be short by faith Gedeon Barack Samson By faith our forefathers in bat tell haue had the victorie Iephte and Dauid fought valiantly the Lords battels and had the victorie By faith Samuel Elyas Elisha and other of the Prophets together with them before named haue subdued kingdomes wrought 33. righteousnesse obtained the promises stopped the mouthes of Lyons quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword of weake were made strong waxed 34. valiant in battell turned to flight the armies of the strangers By faith women as the woman of Sareptha 1. Kin. 17.22 the Shunammite receiued their dead children restored vnto life by Elias and Elisha 2. Kin. 4.32 Through faith other also were racked 35. and would not be deliuered that they might receiue a better resurrection Some other were stoned hewen a sunder 36. O the crueltie of tyrants were tempted were slaine with the sword others wandered vp and downe in sheepes skins and in Goates skins being destitute afflicted and tormented whom the world was not worthy of they wandered in wildernesses mountaines 37. and Dens and Caues of the earth and these all through faith obtained good 38. report Thus the holy Ghost doth beginne and thus hee doth conclude this his Catalogue in commending the fayth of our auncestors 39. that liued before the comming of Christ Now then let vs note also a fewe examples out of the new Testament and so draw to an ende for I must needes confesse that the aboundant Doctrine which the Scripture affordeth concerning faith hath caried me much further then I purposed at the beginning Notwithstanding seeing fayth is Faith the principall Iewel of S. Peters Chaine the principall Iewell of our whole worke pardon me if I bee somewhat long in this Chapter I will endeuour to bee the briefer in all the rest By faith in the olde Testament wee heare how Sara conceaued and brought foorth Isaack according to the naturall generation of mankinde but by faith in the new Testament the Virgine Marie conceaued the Sonne of GOD by the ouershadowing of the holy Ghost without the naturall helpe of man Mat. 1.18 By faith her cousen Elizabeth acknowledged the Virgine Mary to be the mother of our Lord when also the babe Iohn Baptist sprang in her wombe By faith Ioseph Luke 1.45 the supposed father of Christ did take Marie vnto his wife when before hee had thought to put her awaye priuily By faith he and his wife fled into Egypt to preserue Mat. 1.19 the babe Iesus from the tyrannie of Herod By faith the Shepheards leaue their flockes 2. 21. in the fielde to see poore Iesus lying in a Luke 2.16 Manger who returning backe againe glorifie GOD for that they had sene and heard and publish the same to others By faith the wise men came from the East Countries to Ierusalem and from thence to Bethlem where they worshipped the childe Iesus notwithstanding his pouertie and Mat. 2.1 offer vnto him gifts golde frankencense and Myrrhe By faith holy Simeon tooke Iesus in his armes when Marie came vnto Ierusalem to be purified according to the lawe and hee Luk. 2.27 said Lorde now lettest thou thy seruant to 28.29 depart in peace and so foorth Then Simeon Verse 34. also blessed them and saide vnto Mary This childe is appointed for the fall and rysing againe of manye in Israell and for a signe which shall bee spoken against yea and a 35. sworde shall pearce thy soule that the the thoughtes of many hearts may bee opened By faith likewise at the same instant Anna the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe 2.36.37.38 of Aser which was of a great age and had liued seuen yeeres with a husband from her virginitie but was a widdow fower-score and fower yeeres seruing God in the temple with fasting and prayer night and day she I say comming vp then at the same time confessed likewise the Lorde and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Ierusalem By faith Iohn Baptist when hee came to age went out into the wildernesse to prepare Mat 3.1 the way of the Lord before him By faith he Baptiseth the people in the floude Mat. 3.5 Iordan as many as did repent and beleeue in Christ who was then at hand By faith Ioh. 1.29 hee pointed out with his finger the Sonne of God saying Beholde the Lambe of God which taketh awaie the sinnes of the world 41. By faith Andrew the Disciple of Iohn Baptist brought his brother Simon Peter vnto Christ saying We haue found the Messias which by interpretation is Christ By faith Philip perswadeth Nathanael to come
vnto Christ saying vnto him Beholde wee haue 45. found him of whome Moyses did write in the lawe and in the Prophetes By faith Nathanael sayth vnto Iesus thou art the Sonne of God thou art the Kinge of Israell 49. because Christ said hee saw him vnder a fig-tree By faith Simon Peter and the Sonnes of Zebedee leaue their fishing and Mat. 4.18 21. nettes to follow Iesus after that hee had tolde them that he would make them fishers of men By faith Mathew the customer left all his Mat. 9.9 gaine to follow Iesus By faith Sainte Paul Saint Steuen and all the Apostles of Christ 2. Cor. 11. endured all labours and daungers imprisonment 23 mockings scourgings death it selfe Acts. 7.59 for the name of Christ and for the worke of the ministerie By faith infinite Martyrs and the Saints of God since the time of the Apostles haue done likewise By faith Zacheus made this protestation from his heart Luk. 19.8 saying Behold Lord the halfe of my goods I giue to the poore and if I haue done anye man wrong I restore him fowerfolde to whom Christ answered This day saluation is come into thine house By faith the good Mat. 8.10 Centurion said that Christ was able to heale his seruant with his onely worde of whose faith Christ himselfe gaue this commendation that he had not found so great a faith no not in Israel By faith the poore woman of Canaan saide vnto Christ that it was lawfull for Mat. 15.28 dogges to eate vp the crummes which fall from their Masters table whose fayth also Christ highly cōmended saying vnto her Woman great is thy faith bee it vnto thee euen as thou wilt But what stand I to reckon vp more examples to this purpose let vs looke vp into the starres of heauen and if we be able to number them then may wee also bring into a The starres of heauen and the faithfull children of Abraham innumerable reckoning all the true sonnes of Abraham registred in the booke of Gods remēbrance for their strong and stedfast faith in the promises of God made vnto Adam Abraham and the rest of Gods elect since the beginning of the worlde These examples which I haue noted and manye other which of purpose I omit are surelye written for our learning that wee through patience Rom. 15.4 and comforte of the Scripture might haue hope Last of all the great and glorious titles wherby the faithfull are called in the Scripture How the faithful are named in the Scripture make not a little to the commendation of this faith whereof wee speake The faithfull are called the sonnes of God the sonnes of light liuing stones the temple of the holye Ghost the bodye of Christ the housholde of God the fellow Cittizens of 2. Cor. 6. 18 Luk. 16.8.1 Pet. 2.5.1 Cor. 6.19 Eph. 1.23 2.6 1. Pet. 2.9 the Saints a royall Priesthoode a holy nation a peculiar people Wherfore seeing we haue heard so great commendation of faith and faithfull people what maruaile is it that the Scripture euerye where doeth exhorte vs vnto faith and that Christ himselfe and all his Apostles did take so great paines to bring the world vnto the obedience of faith by the preaching of the Gospell and reioce in nothing more then to heare see how that the Churches of God where the Gospell hath beene preached did continue in their faith Therefore Saint Paule in the first to the Romanes did thanke God that their faith Rom. 18. was published throughout the world And Coloss 1.2 in the first to the Collossians hee beginneth thus To the saintes and faithfull brethren in Christ and by and by he saith We giue thankes to God since we heard of your faith 3. in Christ Iesus And againe in the seconde Chapter hee saith I reioyce to behold your Chap. 2. 5. order and stedfast faith in Christ And in the first to the Thessalonians and first he saith 1 Thess 1.2 We giue God thankes for you without ceasing remembring your effectuall faith And in the second to Timothie first he calleth 3 to remembrance the vnfayned faith which 2 Tim 1.5 dwelt first in his grandmother Lois and in his mother Eunice And to Philemon hee writeth thus I giue thanks when I heare of Phile. 1.4 5. thy loue and faith What doth all this signifie vnto vs but that this saith whereof wee speake is most excellent in the sight of God and man Hence commeth it to passe that the same Apostle doth so earnestly exhort vs vnto this 1 Cor 16 13. faith to abide in it Stand fast in the faith saith he quite you like men and be strong Againe hee saith Proue your selues whether 2.13.5 ye are in the faith Againe We walk by faith and not by sight Againe Aboue all Ephes 6 16 1 Tim. 1 5 6.11 12 take the shielde of faith wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Againe The ende of the commandement is loue out of a pure harte and of a good conscience of faith vnfained And vnto Timothy he saith But thou O man of God follow after righteousnes godlinesse faith loue patience meekenes and so forth Faith must fight for vs. 2. Tim. 1.13 By and by hee saith Fight the good fight of faith Againe keepe the true patterne of the wholesome wordes which thou hast hearde of mee in faith and loue in Christ Iesus Againe hee bids vs to doe good vnto all but especially to them that are of the housholde Tit. 2 2 of faith And to Titus he saith let the elder men be sound in the faith And in the Epistle Heb 4 2. Gods word profiteth not without faith 11.6 to the Hebrewes it is saide that Gods worde profiteth vs not except it bee mixt with faith And without faith it it is impossible to please God For a conclusion therefore Christ himselfe saith Bee faithfull vnto the death I wil giue thee the crown of life What tounge then can expresse the Reuel 2.10 excellencie of faith and the profite wee receiue by it Contrariwise all woe and miserie is theirs that haue not this faith for All woe is theirs that haue not faith Rom. 14.23 without faith whatsoeuer wee doe is sinne whether we pray reade sing eate drinke labour or whatsoeuer wee doe without this faith I say it is sinne Iannes Iambres are compared with the reprobates that want 1 Tim. 3.8 2 Tim. 1.20 faith Hymeneus and Alexander are noted with eternall infamie because they made shipwracke of their faith For want of faith the man in the Gospel that presumed to come to the wedding was bounde hande and foote and cast into vtter Mat. 22.12 13. darkenes there shall be weeping gnashing of teeth Finally as vnbeleefe was the cause that so many thousands died in the wildernesse and
saluation therefore none but Gods elect do beleeue Here further we learne that faith is not giuen vs in respect of any righteousnes merite Faith is not giuen for our owne worthines or desert that is in vs but of God his free mercy as well to the Iewes as to the gentils to the Grecian and to the Barbarian to the bond and to the free to male and female wheresouer throughout the whole world dispersed as many as be elected vnto saluation Now although man knoweth not the time No time set when wee shal be called when yet certaine it is that euery one of the elect shal be called one time or other according as God in his diuine prouidence hath appointed For as he chooseth whom he wil so those whome hee hath chosen hee calleth vnto faith by the ministerie of his word and effectual working of his holy spirit when it pleaseth him vnlesse by his secret worke according to his euerlasting counsel and election hee call them in their infancie to himselfe out of this world before they come to yeeres of discretion Heereuppon it is that he calleth some in their youth some in their middle age and some not before olde age some at the dauning of the daie some at the Math. 20. 3 4 5 6 third houre some at the sixt houre some at the eleuenth houre so long as the time of this present life indureth and this light of grace continueth so long the time lasteth of the heauenly calling Let no man or woman therfore despaire Let none despaire of their calling for he that is not called to day may be to morow or doubt of their saluation that are not yet effectually called for they knowe not howe soone they may be only let euerie one praie that when God doth call we may bee ready to yeelde our obedience especially let not the preachers and ministers of Gods word be discouraged though in a long time they see little fruit or their labors for faith many times which is planted by their preaching Faith many times couered as fire in the ashes doeth lie close hidde and couered as the fire in the ashes one daie when God will it shall breake out into flames of charitye and godlynes at least wise if the Gospell which we preach bee hidde it is hid to 2. Cor. 4. 3 them that perish as many as are ordained vnto saluation shall at one time or other yeeld their obedience and so eternally bee saued But because it falleth out often A comfort for weaklings times that manye of the deare children of GOD are verye much grieued yea almost plunged in the pitte of desperation when they heare that none but such as haue faith shall bee saued because they themselues doo not feele the heate of faith so effectuallie as they desire Therefore I haue thought it verye necessarye before I conclude brieflie to shewe that there are diuerse measures of faith some He that hath the least measure of true faith shal be faued greater and some lesser and that the least measure of faith if it bee true fayth sufficeth vnto saluation so shall none of Gods children I hope bee discouraged when sathan shall cast into their mindes the littlenes of their faith First euerie christian must holde for certaine that which Saint Paul teacheth in the fourth to the Ephesians namely that there is one Lord and one fayth next Ephe. 4. 6 it is behoofefull for vs to knowe that this one faith is giuen to the faithful in diuers sundrye measures according as Saint Paule saith in the twelfth to the Romanes That Rom. 12.3 euerie one must vnderstande according to sobrietie according as God hath dealt to euerie man the measure of faith to some a greater measure is giuen to some a lesser Also the fruites of faith are not in all The fruites of faith are not alike in all the faithfull the faithfull a like as namely one fayth full man and woman hath and may haue more knowledge more loue more feare of God more hope more patience more brotherlie kindenes and so foorth then another hath according as hee hath receiued a greater measure of faith but yet the measure of faith by the good prouidence of God is so distributed and deuided that there are none of Gods elect to whome is giuen lesse then may suffice vnto saluation for the measure of faith doth contayne this in it selfe that there is a sufficient portion to euerie one hee that hath the lesser measure shall haue saluation with him that hath the greater And doubtlesse it is done by the speciall counsell and prouidence of God that one hath a greater measure of fayth then another for God hath so moderated all those thinges by his wisedome that to those whom hee hath appointed to endure many great battels hee hath giuen a larger portion of faith As to Ahraham Isaack To those whom God wil try most hee giueth most faith Iacob Moses Dauid and the like whom when hee would try by many trybulations and temptations he vouchsafed to bestow vppon them a greater measure of faith not that therby they should attaine vnto saluation rather then other that haue lesser gifts of faith but that they should serue to the furthering of Gods glory and that they might bee examples to those that are more infirme and weaker Now if any would knowe what the least measure of faith is that any man or woman can haue surely it is this when a man of an What the least measure of faith is humble spirit by reason of the litlenes of his faith doth not yet feele the assurance of the forgiuenes of his sinnes and yet is perswaded that they are pardonable and with his heart prayeth God that hee would pardon and forgiue them Now that such a one hath faith it is perceiued by the good desires Esa 57.17 and prayers which he maketh because such prayers and desires are testimonies of the spirit of God whose property is to stirre vp a longing and a lusting after heauenly Good praiers a token of true faith Rom. 8.26 thinges with sighes and groanes for Gods fauour and mercy in Iesus Christ and where the spirite of Christe is there is Christ dwelling and where Christ dwelleth 2. Cor 13.5 there is true faith howe weake so euer it be Moreouer faith though it bee but lyttle is the gifte and working of God proued by this saying of the Apostle Saint Paule that it is God that worketh both Phil. 2.13 the will and the deede therefore whosoeuer hath this good will and desire in him it is certaine that there is the presence and working of Gods holie spirite Nowe wee must not iudge of the grace of God by the absolute perfection or quantitie of faith but onely by the foundation whereuppon it resteth which foundation is the merites the obedience satisfaction and righteousnesse of the sonne of God imputed vnto
blessednesse of the righteous and godly 1. Tim. 4 8. that they haue as Saint Paule sayth the promise of this life and that that is to come The eight and twentie Chapter of Deuteronomic is ful of those blessings which the godly shall haue and of the curses that shall Deu. 28.2 fall vppon the wicked All these blessinges shall fall vppon thee and ouertake thee if 3. thou be godly Blessed shalt thou be in the 4. Cittie and in the field Blessed shall bee the 5. fruite of thy bodye and the fruite of thy ground the fruite of thy Cattell the increase 6. of thy Kine and the flockes of thy sheepe Blessed shall be thy basket and thy dough Blessed shalt thou bee when thou commest in and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out c. Then turning to the wicked and vngodly hee sayth Cursed shalt thou bee in the Vers 16. Cittie and in the fielde Cursed shall be thy basket and thy dough Cursed shall bee the 17. fruite of the bodye and of thy land the increase 18. of thy Kine and the flockes of thy sheepe Cursed also when thou commest in and cursed also when thou goest out and 19. so forth The same thing doth Dauid shewe in the first Psalme when hee saith that the Psal 1. 3. Godly shall bee like a tree planted by the riuers side that will bring forth her fruite in due season his leafe shall neuer fade looke whatsoeuer he doth it shall prosper but contrariwise he saith The wicked shall verse 4. bee nothing so but they are like the chaffe which the winde scattereth away from the face of the earth therefore the wicked shall not stand in iudgement nor the vngodly 5. in the assemblye of the righteous for the Lorde knoweth the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked shall perish So likewise Salomon saith Blessings 6. are vpon the head of the righteous but iniquitie Prou. 10.6 shal couer the heade of the wicked The memoriall of the righteous shall bee blessed but the name of the wicked shall 7 rotte Therefore Dauid saith againe the Psal 11. 5 Lord will trie the righteous but the wicked and him that loueth iniquitie doth his soule abhorre Againe hee saith vpon the wicked God shall raine snares fire and brimstone 6. storme and tempest this shall bee their Gene. 19.24 portion to drinke Which thing wee know hee did vppon the beastly and wicked Sodomites and the Cittyes there about Neyther shall the punishmente of the wicked and saith Dauid in this life but the Psal 9. 17. No end of punishment to the wicked neither in this life nor in the life to come wicked after this life shall bee turned into hell and all the people that forget God O then beloued sith the case is so that the godly are so exceedingly blessed both here and for euer and the wicked so miserably accursed in this life and in the life to come let vs speedily forsake our sins wickednes lest Gods curses come speedily vpon vs and let vs assuredly knowe that if we feare God and loue godlinesse wee shall bee blessed a thousand fold whereof wee haue many examples in the scriptures of such as for their faith and godlinesse haue beene blessed before vs. Abell for his faith and godlinesse his Examples of such as God hath blessed for their faith and godlines Gene 4.4 5.24 7.1 offering was accepted of God when cursed Caynes was reiected God himselfe giuing testimony with Abell that hee was righteous Enoch for his faith and holinesse was taken vp into heauen for he was reported of that he had pleased God Noah for his faith and godlinesse was saued in the Arke when all the world besides except his familie perished in the water Lot seruing God among wicked and vngodly 19.16 people was saued aliue when Sodom and Gomorra were burned with fire and brimestone Abraham for his faith and godlinesse 12 2.3 was blessed of God aboue all them that liued before him So Isaak Iacob and the Patriarkes Heb. 11.9 heyres with him of the same blessing What should we speake of Elias Elisha Samuel and all the rest of the prophets which for their faith and godlines are so renowned in the scripture What shoulde I Luk 1.6 make mention of Zacharias the father and Iohn Baptist the sonne the one is saide to Mat. 11.11 Luk 2.25 Act. 10.2 6.5 2 Cer. 1 12. 4.2 1 Thess 2.10 Women also commended for their faith godlines 2. Pet. 3.5 Gen. 27.46 Exod. 15.20 Iud 5 1 Ester 4 16 Luk. 1 6 1 30. be iust before God walking in all the commandementes of God without reproofe the other that hee was the chiefest among womens children Adde hereunto holy Simeon good Cornelius Saint Stephen Saint Paule and all the rest of the Apostles of whom as Saint Paule saith The worlde was witnesse and God also howe holily howe iustly and vnblameably they walked before God And not onely doth the scripture commend men but womeÌ„ also for their faith godlines as Saraa Rebecca MyriaÌ„ Debora Ester Elizabeth the virgin Mary Martha and Mary the sisters of Lazarus Marye Ioh. 11.5 Luk. 8.3 Mark 16.1 Act. 9. â—9 14. 14.15 2 Tim. 2.1.5 Act. 18.2 Rom. 1 6. Magdalene and Ioanna the wife Chusa Herodes stewarde Susanna and many others which ministred vnto Christ of their substaunce Mary the mother of Iames and Salome and others that bestowed cost on Iesus being deade of Dorcas Lydia Lois and Eunice the grandmother mother of Tymothie of Priscilla Phebe and the elect Lady to whom 2 Ioh. 1. Iohn writeth with infinite other which to repeate at large woulde be more tedious then profitable All these both men women haue beene wonderfully blessed of God for their faith for their holines for their religion for their zeale and godlinesse and are most worthy examples for vs to followe of what calling sexe or degree soeuer wee God wil blesse them that be godly bee If wee be faithfull holy zealous religious and godly as they were then surely God will blesse vs as hee did them For God is one and the same stil I am God saith hee I chaunge not in euerie nation Mala. 3.6 Act. 10.35 hee that feareth God and worketh righteousnes is accepted with him who will rewarde euery one according as hee sheweth forth his faith by his good workes That is as saith Sainte Paule to them Rom. 2. 7 which by continuance in well doing seeke glorie and honour and immortalitie eternall life but vnto them that are contentious 8 and disobey the truth and obey vnrighteousnesse shall bee indignation and wrath Tribulation and anguish shall be vpon euery foule that doth euil 9. vpon the Iew first and also the Gentile but to euery man that doth good shall bee 10 glorie and honour