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
others in the earth but in Heaven it is jnfallible and alwaies certaine to hold the vessell during the storme so that it cannot make shipwracke And as saith S. Augustine This hope maketh the great and horrible tempests to seeme little and the little ones none Which wee see in Iob who sayth that he hoped in God although hee saw his arme stretched out against him and ready to strike to kill him and ouerthrow him quite We see also the effect of this hope in Dauid who was neuer astonyed whatsoever aduersity befell him as may bee seene in the 27. Psalme The Lord is my light and my saluation whome shall I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whome shall I be affrayd When the wicked euen mine enemies and my foes came vpon me to eate vp my flesh they stumbled and fell Also Thou preseruest mee from trouble Psal 32. thou compassest mee about with ioyfull deliuerance Psal 62. Also My soule keepeth silence vnto God of him commeth my saluation And following In God is my saluation and my glorye the rocke of my strength in God is my trust And that which maketh this hope of the Christian man can neuer bee confounded is that it sets before it alwayes his head who is in Heaven and who can now no more be suncke by floods or deluges of water how great and fearefull soeuer they be Now though a man should be vp to the necke in water and that his head were still aboue water all the other members could not be drowned the head being eminent and floating vppon the superficies of the water also the Church in generall and euery member thereof in particular could not be drowned nor ouerflowne their head being alwayes eleuated ouer all the stormes tempests in the world which he commaundeth with a greater power then euen a King doth his subiects For the obedience which it beareth him is as suddaine as the commaundement which he giueth them which is not found among men in what degree of authoritie soeuer they bee in the world Faith is ioyned with the Spirit of regeneration FAith is also joyned with the holy Ghost The spirit of regeneration ioyned with Faith as sayth the Apostles in the Epistle to the Galathians Chap. 3. verse 2. This onely would I know of you whether yee receiued the spirit by the deedes of the lawe or by the hearing of the fayth Are yee such fooles that after yee haue begun in the Spirit yee would now end in the flesh for otherwise without the spirit Faith were not sufficient to regenerate vs and to make vs new creatures Yea without the vertue of the Spirit Fayth could not be produced nor begotten in vs as sayth the Apostle hauing the spirit of Faith according as it is written I haue beleeued therefore haue I spoken also wee beleeue and therefore wee speake Psal 116. Why he is called the spirit of Faith he calleth himselfe the spirit of Faith because he is the Authour of it For the knowledge which the faithfull haue of the promises of God commeth of the holy Ghost also doth the trust which is in the heart the which commeth of it selfe which are the two parts of Faith And euen as elsewhere this Spirit calleth it selfe the Spirit of feare of jntellegence of prudence according to the graces and gifts which hee imputeth vnto vs and produceth in vs also for this same reason doth he cal himselfe the Spirit of Faith because hee is the beginning the encreasing and the consūmation of it Now this spirit is a Spirit of life without the which Iesus Christ who is the life the way and the truth cannot reside nor dwell in vs. And although that our aduersaries thinke and say Miserable vanitie of the vnbeleeuers that it is a rashnesse and ouerwauing in the faithfull man to vaunt that hee is indued with the Spirit of God which dwelleth in him Yet neuerthelesse hee ought not to doubt but it maketh his residence in him as in his Temple As the Apostle sayth that if any haue not the Spirit of Christ hee is not his Rom. 8. and who is it that can assure vs that wee are the children of God but this Spirit of adoption Gal. 4. Effects of the spirit of regeneration by the which wee crie Abba Father And which witnesseth with our spirit that we are the children of God and by consequent his heires which is likewise the principall cause of all the good workes that we do and of all the good thoughts and affections which wee haue that this Spirit which the scripture compareth vnto water the which beeing powred vpon a drie Land causeth the seedes to spring and fructifie which we are cast vppon it As sayth the Apostle Gal. 5. That the fruite of the Spirit is Charitie ioye peace a patient Spirit Louingnesse goodnesse Loyaltie softnesse Temperance How also should wee resist the flesh with the lustes and workes thereof that is to say adulterie whoredom filthinesse jnsolencie jdolatry prisonings enmitie strife spitefulnesse anger quarrels diuisions sects enuies murders drunkenesse gluttonie and other like things which cannot inherit the Kingdome of God were it not for the vertue and force of this Spirit wherewith wee are armed how also could we hould firme against so many temptations assaults which are continually presented vnto vs by Satan the world tyrants hereticks hipocrites other enemies of the Church if we were not clothed with this vertue Also who would comfort vs in the middest of so many aduersities and tribulations wherewith our poore life is besieged whiles wee liue in this world were it not this comforter which is giuen vs of the Father by the meanes of his Sonne Iohn 14. How also in the desarts of this world should we be able to finde and follow the straight way if it were not shewed vs by the Spirit and if it did not guide vs to keepe vs from straying moreouer hauing our spirits our reason our sences wrapped vp in darknesse how could wee without this Spirit know the truth without the which wee cannot bee saued Iohn 15. How also should wee be able to reioyce and haue peace and tranquilitie in our consciences amongst so many occasiōs that we haue to be sorrowfull seeing so many disorders and confusions which are in the world manifest contempt of God in the most part of those with whome we liue so many blasphemies so many sacrileges so many ingratitudes so many jmpieties and abhominations if this spirit did not jnteriorly vphold vs and did not fill our hearts with joye in the middest of so many sorrowes griefes and lamentations which euery day bringeth vnto vs 1. Cor. 12. Also how could wee open our mouthes to confesse the name of Iesus and to sing the prayses of God if it were not opened vnto vs by the Spirit as sayth Dauid Psal 51. Deliuer mee from bloud O God which art the God of my
sorts 1. This word signifieth Faith by reason of the conuenience of them and because that true Fatth comprehendeth assured knowledge and trust Heb. 6.11 We desire that euery one of you should shew the same care for the full assurance of hope vntill the end 1. Pet. 3.18 Be alwaies ready to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of thâ— hope that is in you 2. Sometime it designeth the goods hoped for Gal. 5.5 Wee through the spirit wayte for thâ— hope of righteousnesse through Faith Colloss 1.5 For the hope sake which is layd vppe for you in heauen whereof yee haue heard before by the word of truth Titus 2.13 Looking for that blessed hope and appearing of that gloly of that mightie God c. 3. It is taken for the support and ayde which man perswadeth himselfe to finde in God or in his creatures Psal 65.6 Thou art the hope of all the endes of the earth and 142.6 I haue sayd thou art my retreat my hope or my portion Esay 20.5 They shall be confounded by reason of Cus which is their hope or that which they looke vppon This word properly taken signifieth a durable affection of heart raised by God by the which wee wayte for the good things difficult but possible to obtaine and such as not without cause wee desire to obtaine The Principall efficient cause of Hope is God who giueth it to his elect Rom. 15.13 c. Thâ—ss 2.16 Now as our Faith by the meanes of the word preached and heard commeth of the fidelitie and truth of God if you consider the neerest cause for certaine Hope proccedeth of Faith for being certaine of Gods truth wee giue credit to his word in the which hee promiseth vs excellent things in hope to receaue them at the time prescribed to giue them Heb 11.1 The Apostle sheweth the obiect of our Hope to wit saluation in heauen saying that wee are saued by Hope that the Hope which is seene is not Hope for why should any man hope for that which hee seeth Rom. 8.23 Whereby wee gather that Hope regardeth the things absent and to come also that it consisteth in the trust which wee haue to obtaine and possesse those things according to the decree and promise of God The subiect of Hope is such a one as that of Faith the which hath Hope for effect and fellow during the whole course of this present life Faith is the proper goods of the elect of God who accepâ— Iesus Christ for their onely sauiour anâ— mediator To them then belongeâ—… Hope the which sayth the Apostle Heb. 6.19 wee haue as an anchor oâ— the soule both sure and stedfast and â— entreth into that which is within the vaile The forme of our Hope is the trust which the holy Ghost giueth vs that wee shall not be tempted beyond our strength that the afflictions shall be mitigated that God will deliuer vs from all euils and daungers and will saue vs in his heauenly Kingdome The end is to stay vntill that according to the good pleasure of God wee be put in possession of the good things which he hath promised vs. If he be slack wayte thou saith Abacuck chap. 2. vers 3. for he will not faile to come and will not tarry Let vs then conclude of all that hath been sayd A definition of christiaÌ„ Hope that Christian Hope is a gift of God the Father to all the elect in Iesus Christ by the holy Ghost for the vpholding of their Faith consisting in a trust to obtaine the goods to come by the vertue of the which the same elect are assured that one day they shall be freed from all euils to enioye those goods in the Kingdome of heauen Her faire priuiledges In the writings of the Prophets and Apostles are found many goodly priuileges of this true Hope Wee will note some of them 1. It trusteth in God alone who is called the Hope of his people and Dauid in sundry places protesteth that hee hath put all his Hope in him 2. Remembring that malediction and curse is pronounced in the 17. Chap. of Ieremie against him that setteth his Hope in man and who taketh the flesh for his arme it taketh heede carefully of trusting in creatures 3. It is our Helmet against the mortall strokes of Satan as the Apostle speaketh of it 1. Thess 5.8 saying let vs be sober putting on the brestplate of loue and of the hope of saluation for an helmet 4. It is the Faithful coÌ„panion of afflictioÌ„ for righteousnesse and the ioye of the Faithfull as sayth S. Paul Rom. 5. 12. Experience bringeth Hope Also reioyce in Hope 5. It is confirmed by the remembrance of the goods receiued of God and by the reading of his word It conducteth vs to heauen it is liuely and immortall it vpholdeth vs inuincible it deliuereth vs from the feare of men maketh vs happie as infinite testimonies and examples verifie 6. Let vs adde that as there is but one Fayth also we haue but one hope You are called sayth S. Paul Ephe. 4.4 In one Hope of your vocatioÌ„ Also there is but one onely body one onely Spirit one onely Lord one onely Faith one Baptisme one onely God and Father of all one holy Ghost and one celestiall inheritance Wherevnto God of his mercie bring vs. FINJS A TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY Then speciallie of the workes and exercises of the children of God THe Charitie of Christians towards God and their neighbours The excellency of christian Charitie that Charity which the Apostle calleth the end of the commaundement 1. Tim. 1.5 which commeth of a pure heart of a good conscience and of a faith vnfained is surely a precious guift of the Lord besides this heauenly wish Peace be with the brethren and charitie with faith from God the Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ Ephe. 6.23 Besides it is called the fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 The fruit of the Spirit is Charitie ioye peace patience benignity goodnes loyaltie gentlenes temperance There we see a stately and diuine band of the Mother and her eight daughters Thirdly Charitie commeth of Faith for Charitie loueth and jmbraceth that which Faith sheweth maketh known vnto her so that Faith is as it were the Mother of Charity and of these two heauenly vertues commeth hope wherof we haue already spoken This Charitie whereof we speake is attributed to those whome closed and conioyned with that spirituall knot which S. Pauâ— calleth The bond of perfectnesse Colos 3.14 doe studie to keepe me Vnity of the spirit by the bond of peace Ephe. 4.3 forbearing the one the other in Charity and whome the same declareth that they appertaine to Iesus Christ Whose whole kindred is named in heaueÌ„ earth Ephes 3.15 These brethren kindred are those that by Christ haue in one selfe-same Spirit Entrance to the Father Ephe. 2.18 Wherevppon hee concludeth and sayth You are then no more strangers and