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
Here is no boasting of faith without workes here is no reioycing in works without faith here is no vertue without knowledge no knowledge without temperance no patience without godlines no godlines without brotherly kindnes no kindnes among brethren without godly loue or charitie Begin with faith end in loue for faith worketh by loue so shalt thou be sure to haue the end of thy faith euen the saluauation of thy soul which is the thing that I hartely wish vnto thee me Thus do thou shalt liue thus liue thou shalt neuer Gal 5.6.1 Pet. 1.9 Heb. 12.2 die Vale in authore salutis Farewell in Christ the author finisher of thy faith Thine in the Lorde Radford Mauericke A view of Saint Peters Chaine See gentle Readers see a Chaine of peerelesse price is offered heere t' adorne your mindes withall Accept it I you praye and vse it with aduice it may you comfort bring when world threat'ns thral Iewels Gems and corrall pearles and precious stones came from the earth to earth they must againe No pleasure in this life is free from greefe grones the greatest ioyes are often mixt with paine This Chaine therfore you may accoūt as treasure sure for it hath had the triall of the fire Put case these papers heere will not long time indure yet is the ground worke sure if you desire Eternall blisse with holy saintes and Angels bright where teares and greefes are banisht farre awaye This Chaine wil keep your feet to tread the path aright vnto that blessed life that dures for aye Enclinea while your eares to heare Saint Peters voice haue faith in Christ first planted in your brest Remember next of vertues all to take the choice good knowledge will you bring to vertues rest Sobriety forthwith in heart you must imbrace dame patience must stand fast by your side Consider then to runne religions godly race that godlines with you may still abide Haue louing kindnes too vnto your brethern deare let godly loue your christian hearts enflame Ames deeds are surely good they do the needy cheare If you do this it will encrease your fame Now haue I don forsoth both tong pen are at a stay my muse is dul my vaine is dry your pardō do I pray The contents of the booke Of Faith Chap. 1. Of Vertue Chap. 2 Of Knowledge Chap. 3 Of Temperance Chap. 4 Of Patience Chap. 5. Of Godlines Chap. 6. Of Brotherly kindnes Chap. 7 Of Loue. Chap. 8 SAINT PETERS CHAINE Of Faith Chap. 1. FOr as much as there is ingrafted in the minds of al mē a natural disposition and inelimation greedily to desire such things as seeme either most faire and beautifull or else most sweete and acceptable vnto our outward sences as Eua desired the forbidden fruite because it was faire to the Gen. 3.6 3.6 eye and Adam affected the saine by too much harkening vnto the perswasions of his wife And the carnall Israelites preferred their grosse feeding in Egypt before Numb 11.4.5 heauenly Manna for that it did better relish their fleshly tast and the wicked Sodomites would grope with their hands after they were striken with blindnesse to find out Lots doore and Rahel would forgo Gen. 19.11 for a time the company of her husband for the great desire shee had vnto Leahs Mandraks which as wee may gather out of the Canticles haue a verie fragrant and 30.15 Canti 7.13 and odoriferous sauour For as much therfore I say as it is our wanton eyes our itching eares our daintie tast our fine smeling or our grosse handling that must aduise vs with their deceitfull counsell to make choyse of things that seeme most pleasant to the contentation of our seuerall senses and disordered desires what maruaill is it Mans senses deceiueable that this rich Gem and precious Iewel of faith lyeth hidden among vs regarded of so few yea despised troden vnder feete of many Is it because there is no excellent or vertuous operation in it Not so but because the vertue thereof is so diuine and precious that it cannot be comprehended by our earthly senses Our eyes are dimme they cannot see it our eares are dull they cannot heare it our tast is glutted and cannot relish it our fingers are benummed they cannot feele it our noses are stopped they can not smell it Obiection But some happily will say that faith is a spirituall thing that cannot be seene therefore the senses of our earthly bodies cannot perceiue it but the soule which is the chiefest parte of man being also spirituall hath not she power to looke into such secresies I graunt that faith is a spirituall thing which cannot be seene with our bodily eyes for it is the ground of things hoped for and the euidence of things which are not seene I graunt also that the soule of man is a spirituall Heb. 11.1 and inuisible substaunce but yet it doth not follow that she is able of her selfe to vnderstand the secresies of faith for one inuisible thing doth not alwaies know the secresies of another as for example the deuill The deuil knows not our thoghts Heb. 4.12.13 who is inuisible doth not know the secrete thoughts of man which are also inuisible but only God knowes them nothing more doth the soule vnderstand the vertue and secrete operation of faith except it bee first reuealed by the spirite of God This is proued most plainely by that saying of Saint Paul The naturall man cannot 1. Cor. 2.14 perceiue the things that are of God Nowe when the Apostle speaketh of the naturall man we must needs confesse that vnder the word man he comprehendeth both partes of man soule and body for the body without soule is not a man but a lumpe of flesh or a carkesse so thē it is plaine by the words of Saint Paul that the soule of a man vnregenerate No man vnregenerate doth know the secresies of faith doeth no more know the secresies of faith and the things that are of God then the body doth Moreouer if wee consider the principall parts and powers of the soule since the fall of Adam shall we perceiue any thing therin but meere darknes and ignorance What is our reason vnderstanding euen of them that haue the finest wits is it not meere foolishnes Is not our knowledge blinded Is not our freewil vtterly lost decayed Can we make choyce of any thing that is good Surely no for if the verie regenerate do but knowe in part as the Apostle saith then doubtlesse the naturall man knoweth nothing 1. Cor. 13.12 in respect of true knowledge for which cause the same Apostle speaking vnto such natural men how wittie soeuer they be in their owne conceite sayth plainely if they thinke they know any thing meaning 1. Cor. 8.2 in the misteries of God they know nothing sayth he as they ought to know Wherefore we may affirme for certaintie without any
further proofe that no man by his owne naturall reach of wit and vnderstanding can iudge of the vertues and qualities of faith but onely such as are renewed and borne againe by the spirite of God Now then as I said is it any marueil that this precious Iewel of faith is so smally estimated slenderly accoÌ„pted of in the world of meere worldly carnal men Seing they haue no skil at al to iudge of the rare vertues and operation therof neither by meanes of the outward senses of their bodies nor yet by the force powers of their souls but are altogether like vnto the Cocke wherof the fable speaketh that seeing a precious Gem or Iewell lying on the donghill wished hee had had one graine of Barley for that precious Iewell because hee knewe not the price and vertue of the same and therefore did wish for that which serued best to the satisfying of his owne appetite and desire Seeing then the case thus standeth that most people are so miserably deceiued chusing with greedie earnestnes and desire and as it were with both hands apprehending the vaine transitory things of this life make small or none accompt but euen like filthie swine trample vnder their feete Gods Treasures contemned of worldly men those precious pearles of the worde of God of faith and free saluation purchased by the bloud of Christ to the high dishonouring of Almightie God to the endaungering of their owne soules to the great scandale or offence of other to the extreme griefe of hearte of each true faithfull and godlye Christian seeing the case thus standeth I say and these premises duely considered I haue thought it meete and verily agreeing with my calling to spend a litle time in contriuing these plaine and simple treatises of faith and the fruites thereof hereafter following to this end that partly by the helpe hereof if God giue a blessing thereunto but chiefely by prayer reading and hearing of Gods word preached the ignorant sort may attaine vnto the knowledge of faith and other misteries of God by grace which wee by our owne natural knowledge and vnderstanding are not able to attaine vnto and that also these rich gifts of God as faith the rest may be the better accompted of to Gods glorie and our eternall comfort and saluation .. And because it is the minde of the holy 2. Pet. 1 5. Ghost as Saint Peter noteth that all vertues whatsoeuer shold be linked vnto faith as the verye fountaine from whence they must spring therefore I haue made this my first Chapter wherein I will God assisting me in as briefe manner as I can declare and make plaine to those whose eyes it shall please the Lord to open what an excellent and precious Iewell fayth is as also what great profit commodity we receiue by it But here first of all intreating of fayth in generall it shall not bee amisse to make knowne what faith it is whereof I will intreate for there is a certaine Morall fayth or trust which we call fidelitie that ought to be betweene man and man and euen this is a vertue worthy of commendation ther is also an Historicall faith when we onely beleeue the bare Historie whether it bee humane or diuine without any further application of it vnto our selues and this faith is also in some sort worthy of due praise and there is a Temporary faith when some doe beleeue for a time as our Sauiour saith nothing Mat. 13.21 worthie to be commended but is like vnto that faith whereof Saint Iames speaketh that is dead in it selfe to speake nothing Iam. 2.17 of that fayth which is called miraculous because it hath ceased for the most part since the time of the Apostles Now it is not my purpose to entreate of any of these seeing they are gifts common What faith it is whereunto Saint Peter wold haue vertue ioyned to the good and to the bad neither doeth Sainte Peter meane to linke his Golden Chaine with any one of them for that wold disgrace his whole worke but that fayth which I mind to speake of is supernaturall diuine and heauenly far more glorious and excellent then can be comprehended as I haue already saide by the wit and naturall vnderstanding of man But what is it wil some say that you doe so commend Wilt thou know Surely it is that which thy tongue hath vttered a thousand times when thou hast said I beleeue in God And is this such a great matter will worldlings saye to beleeue in God Doth this onely thing deserue so great praise and commendation Yea verily But here beware A Caueat least thou deceiue thy selfe in the vnderstanding of the words for there be three things almost like in words but farre differing in true sence meaning namely to beleeue God to beleeue there is a God and to beleeue in God The deuils beleeue the first and the second that God is true of his promise which is to beleeue God and they also beleeue there is one God and no more and tremble as Saint Iames saith but they Iam. 2.19 beleue not the third that is in God which is as much as to embrace him for our good God and to rest repose our selues on him and his worde onely which is that true iustifying faith wherof I speake So then we must take heed as I said that we do not deceiue True faith beleeueth in God our selues thinking we beleeue verie well if we beleeue God and beleeue there is a God which thing indeede we ought also to do but we must goe further to beleeue in God that is to acknowledge him for our good God Sauior this is ment by saying I beleeue in God I beleeue I say not another for me for euery one shall be saued by his owne faith and not by anothers as the Prophet Habacuk saith The iust shall Haba 2.4 liue by his owne faith Furthermore to beleeue in 〈…〉 to beleeue in God the Father in Goâ—â—he son in God the holy Ghost three persons in trinity one God in vnity of esseÌ„ce And is it then so easie a matter to beleeue the trinity in vnity the vnity in trinity No verily flesh bloud doth not reueal these things vnto vs as Christ said vnto S. Peter Mat. 16.17 but onely God himselfe both by the outward preaching of his worde by the inward working of his holy spirit Wherfore Galat. 5.6 a true liuely and iustifying faith which euermore worketh by loue may bee thus A definition of a true liuely faith defined namely that it is a most certain sound perswasion of Gods great good will fauour towardes vs grounded vpon the truth of his free promises made vnto mankinde in his sonne Christ Iesus reuealed vnto vs by the preaching of his word and sealed in our harts by his holy spirite Thus then hauing briefly and plainely shewed what
faith it is wherof I minde to entreat as also how it is defined knowen I will now God willing proceede in my purpose to shew as much as in me lyeth out of the treasury of Gods word the excellency goodnes of this faith what rare vertues are to be found in it and the The preaching of Gods word the meanes to bring vs vnto faith mightie working and operation thereof to this end that neither so precious a iewell as faith is nor the meanes whereby we may attaine it I meane the preaching of Gods word may be so much despised and What titles are giuen vnto faith Mat 7 6 conteâ—â—â—d of wicked worldlings as it is First it maketh not a little to the commendation of this faith that the holy ghost by the mouth of Sainte Peter doth call it precious for writing to the dispersed Iewes which were conuerted to the faith 2. Pet. 1.1 he beginneth his second epistle thus SimoÌ„ Peter a seruant and an Apostle of Iesus Christ to you saith he that haue obtayned like precious faith with vs by the righ teousnesse of our God and Sauiour Iesus Iude 20 Christ And Saint Iâ—de in his epistle doth call it most holy saying And ye brethren edifie your selues in your most holy faith Now wee know the holy Ghost doth not delude or deceaue vs as men vse to do many times in giuing glorious names and titles to thinges that are of no great value but calling faith precious and most holy it is to signifie vnto vs that it is a most rare and singular iewel of great price estimation Faith a iewel of great price that so we shold esteem account of it for no sooner can we heare of Gems pearles and precious stones but presently wee are rauished with the desire of them Therefore the Scripture oftentimes vnder the names and titles of precious things that we most account of in this life doth comprehend heauenly euerlasting treasures as in the 7. of Mathew our Sauiour Christ saith Giue not that which is holy vnto dogs meaning his holy blessed worde neither saith he cast ye your pearles before Mat 6 20 swine And a little before in the sixt Chapt. seeing howe greedily wee desire worldly treasure 13.14 biddeth vs to lay vp treasure in heaueÌ„ And in the thirteenth of Mathew hee first compareth the kingdom of heaueÌ„ to a treasure hid in the fielde which being found we should sel all that we haue to buy that field 45 and againe in the same place considering how marchants do venture their goods and We ventur much for worldly but very little for heauenly treasure liues and vndertake all dangers by sea and by land to seek for gold pearls the like hee draweth this seconde similitude saying The kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ is like vnto a marchaÌ„t man that seeketh good pearles who hauing found a pearle of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it And not onely is the word of God and faith and other such meanes to bring vs vnto heauen comprehended vnder these terrene and earthly similitudes but euen heauen it self with all the beauty glory thereof as in the 21. of Reuelat 2â— the reuelation doth plainely appeare 9 10 Come saith the Angel vnto S. Iohn I wil shew thee the bride the Lambes wife then the Angell shewed vnto him in the spirite from an high mountaine the great cittie 11 holy Ierusalem descending out of heauen from God hauing the glory of God and her 11. shining was like vnto a stone most precious and so forth Then he speaketh of the wals 12. of the twelue gates theÌ„ of the situation proportion of the cittie howe it was foure square that the length and the bredth and the height of it were equall then hee commeth 16 to the building saying that the wall 18 was of Iasper and the cittie of pure gold that the foundations of the walles of the citie were garnished with all maner of precious stones and nameth twelue of them the first 19 was of Iasper the second of Saphir the third of a Chalcedony the fourth an Emeraude and so forth After hee saith that the twelue gates were of twelue pearles and euery 21. gate of one pearle that the street of the cittie was of pure gold as shining glasse The scripture comprehendeth heauenly things vnder earthly similitudes Now who seeth not how that the holy Ghost vnder the semblances and similitudes of gold precious stones and pearles which wee account our cheefest treasure here on earth doth signifie thereby farre more glorious excellent thinges such as saint Paule 1 Cor. 2.9 saith no eye hath seene no eare hath heard nor can be conceiued by the hart of man the ioyes which God hath prepared for vs in heauen Well then to returne to our purpose hath God himself fattributed such worthy titles to our faith as holy most precious surely then it is so let vs not doubt of it the vse that we shoulde make thereof is this that hauing it in some great measure we must account of it as a most precious iewell and not forgo it for any golde if wee haue but a little let vs pray the Lord to increase it if wee haue none at all let vs earnestly seeke it and to that end let vs make more account of Gods word and the preaching thereof then heretofore wee haue done for that with praier vnto God is the Without Faith we are most miserable onely meane to come by it otherwise if wee euer want it let vs assuredly knowe our state to be most miserable accursed notwithstanding wee haue all other riches and treasure in the worlde This doctrine wee learne in that our faith is called most holy precious Now let vs see how the thing it selfe that is faith doth agree with those excellent tytles which are giuen thereunto for it is not without great cause doubtlesse that S. Peter doth cal the faith of Gods elect precious and S. Iude most holy seeing they together with the rest of the Apostles had not onely heard the same so much praysed and commended by our sauiour Christ but also had seene by experience the rare vertues operation thereof And if euery herbe that groweth in the whole garden of this world euery gem precious stone that lieth hidden in the bowels of the earth be worthy of praise coÌ„mendations for the seueral particular operations vertues in euery of them how much more praise commendation is there to bee giuen vnto this rich Gem precious Faith hath all vertues in itselfe iewell of faith seeing a thousand folde more excellent vertues then are to be found in all kinde of hearbes and precious stones though they be innumerable are aboundaÌ„tly to be found in this one and onely iewell of faith But here I must
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
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
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
so fewe entred into the lande of Canaan so vnbeleefe and want of Vnbeleefe the cause that so fewe entred into the promised land Heb. 3.19 faith is the cause that so many shal die eternally in the worlde to come and bee condemned vnto the bottomles pit of hell For this is the last conclusion almost of the whole Bible spoken by him that shal iudge both quick and dead The feareful vnbeleeuing saith he that is all such as haue not this true iustifying faith whereof we haue all this while intreated shall bee cast into Reuelat. 21.8 the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone For the auoyding of which endlesse torments let vs betime bewaile our own blockishnes that hitherto haue so little esteemed of this so precious a Iewell of Faith let vs learne to make more account of Gods word then heretofore wee haue done let vs pray the Lorde to forgiue vs that is past and to increase this holy faith in vs for time to come so shall wee bee blessed here for euer And so much concerning the excellencie of faith and the vtility or profit we receiue by it Nowe it shal be necessary for vs to consider before we conclude this Chapter from whome this faith commeth that is whose gift it is and to whom it is giuen to this end that none may imagine faith to be a naturall gifte common to all seeing it is giuen onely to them whose names are written in the booke of life First that faith is the gifte of God I think Faith the gift of God none will denie and therefore I shall not neede to stande long about the proofe thereof When Saint Paul saith we are saued by grace through faith presently he saith Not of our selues it is the gift of God Ephes 2.8 Sainte Iames saith euery good giuing Iam. 1 17 euerie perfect gifte is from aboue and commeth downe from the father of light that is from God which is called the light that none can attaine vnto but faith is a good and perfecte gifte therefore surely it commeth from God Againe Saint Paule writing vnto the Philippians saith Vnto you it is giuen Phillip 1.29 through Christ to beleeue therefore to beleeue is the gift of God Againe in the twelft to the Hebrewes the holy Ghost exhorteth vs to runne with patience the race that is set Heb. 12.1.2 before vs looking vnto Iesus the authour finisher of our faith Therefore faith must needes bee the gift of God Moreouer when the Apostles of Christ doe pray the Lorde to increase their fayth Luk. 17. 5 they doe thereby plainly shew that faith is the gifte of God Againe Paule planteth Apollos watereth by preaching of Gods 1 Cor. 3.6 worde but God giueth the increase that is faith to beleeue Many such places there are but these may suffice Nexte nowe that this excellent gifte of faith is not common to all appeareth by this one saying of Saint Paule vnto the Thessalonians 2 Thess 3 2 All men haue not faith Therefore To whom faith is giuen in what measure it is a thing most necessarie to be considered to whom this faith is giuen and whether it bee giuen to all in a like measure or not Here first of all wee are to consider of the giftes of God howe some are temporall some eternall some common with the good and bad some giuen onely to Gods electe The giftes that are temporall are all things that pertaine to the vse of this present life yea and life it selfe is a temporall gifte because it is decreed that wee must all die The benefite of the aire the benefite of the earth the benefite of the water the benefite of the Sunne and firmament and all the creatures in eyther of them are temporall giftes seruing onely for the vse of man in this life and common to the good and to the bad as Christ saith that God our Father causeth the Sunne to shine vpon the euill and the good and the raine to fall vpon Mat. 5 45 the iust and vniust Againe the giftes of the minde as wisedome reason knowledge memory learning and the like are all temporal giftes togither with the giftes of healing of prophesying Temporall gifts and working of miracles as Christ saith in the seuenth of Mathewe Many will say vnto mee at the day of iudgement Lorde Lorde haue wee not by thy name prophesyed and by thy name cast out Deuils Mat 7 22 by thy name wrought many great miracles and then I will professe to them saith Christ I neuer knew you depart from mee all ye that worke iniquitie 23. Againe other accidentall giftes as we say of the body as health strength beautie riches honors and the like are all terrene and temporall giftes and no man can certenly iudge thereby whether the possessors Eccles 9. 1. No man cā certenly iudge by the hauing or not hauing of temporal blessings whether he be beloued or hated of God Spirituall gifts thereof bee eyther beloued or hated of God And that is the meaning of Salomon when hee saith No man can know whether hee bee in the loue or hatred of God meaning by the hauing or not hauing of these earthly and temporall giftes Nowe on the other side the giftes that are heauenly are faith loue ioy peace meekenes temperance patience godlines Iustification sanctification adoption glorification and finally eternal and euerlasting saluation all these giftes are giuen onely to such as God hath elected to bee heyres of saluation according as Sainte Paule saith Rom. 8 29 Those which God knewe before hee also predestinated to be made like to the image of his Sonne those whome hee predestinated them also hee called Whome he called them also he iustified and whome 30 hee iustified them also hee gloryfied So then it is certayne that Faith and all these other heauenly giftes are gyuen onely to the chosen and elect people Tit. 1 1 of God for which cause faith is called by Saint Paule the faith of Gods electe Againe it is said in the Actes of the Apostles that so many as were ordained to eternall life beleeued and so were saued Againe all Act. 13. 48. Eph. 2.8 that are saued are saued by grace through faith therefore so many as are saued haue faith and none other No man commeth vnto me saith Christ but those the father Iohn 6 44. Mat 13. 11. Faith is a mistery draweth And to his disciples hee saith To you it is giuen to knowe the misteries of the kingdome of heauen but to others it is not Againe faith is a chiefe part of the misterie whereof Saint Paul speaketh Therefore to some it is giuen to haue faith to some it 1 Tim. 3.16 is not Againe Christ saith in the tenth of Iohn Ye beleeue not why because ye are Iohn 10 26 not of my sheepe that is none of those who are elected vnto
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
vs for faith is as before is noted the A Similitude hande wherewith wee apprehende and laie sure holde vppon the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus And euen as a lyttle childe maye as truelye holde a golde ring or precious iewell wyth his litle and weake hand as a giant with all the force of his hande and fist beeing one and the selfe same ring so the merits of the sonne of God bee one and the same whether our faith bee weake or strong to apprehend them This then beeing as wee haue sayde the least measure of faith when wee haue an earnest desire to bee saued and yet haue not the full assurance of our saluation it is then our dutie daily to praie the Lord to increase our faith till we come by little and little vnto the greatest measure which wee shall not haue at the first but in some continuance of time when wee haue bene well practised in repentance for as soone as wee haue the least measure of faith repentance will also appeare in some measure When therfore I saie we haue some time bin well practised in repentance and haue had diuerse experiences of Gods loue towards vs in Christ then afterwardes will appeare in our hearts the fulnesse of perswasion which is the ripenesse and strength of faith For this is the greatest measure of faith when anie one daylye increasing in faith comes to be fully perswaded of Gods loue in Christ The greatest measure of faith towards himselfe particularly of the forgiuenes of his owne sins This I suppose is the greatest measure of faith how be it I am still perswaded that there is no mans faith so strong but it is No mans faith so strong but it is sometimes shakeÌ„ sometimes shaken with the winde of doubfulnes Thus are wee come now at length thorough Gods assistance to the concluding shutting vp of this discourse of faith being the foundation of our whole worke wherein wee haue seene what true faith is what excellent vertues and operation it hath what great profit and commoditie we The summ of the first chapter receiue by it that many of our forefathers haue bene renowned for their faith lastlie whose gift it is to whom it is giuen and in what measure Now to him that is of power to establishe vs according to the gospell of Rom. 16 Iesus Christ by the reuelation of the mistery 25. which was kept secrete since the world began 26. but nowe is opened and published among all nations by the scripture of the 27. prophets at the commaundement of theeuerlasting God for the obedience of faith To God I say onely wise be all praise and honour and glorie thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Praier for faith and the increase thereof O Almightie God and omnipotent creator Lord of heauen and earth the giuer of all good things from whence euerie good perfect gift doth proceed and by whose mercifull goodnes it is augmented and increased within vs I beseech thee of thine infinite clemencie to plant deeply in my soule that most sweet root of faith and to water it continually with the dew of thy heauenly grace that it may spring and bud forth into the greene and liuelie branches of a godly life with peace of conscience and ioye in the holie Ghost and that the seed thereof so soone as it is ripe may fall downe againe into the garden of my heart to the further increase of the same til it growe vp into that great tree of euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour To whome with thee O father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glorie for euer Amen OF VERTVE IN GENERALL CHAP. 2. THE order and course of nature being duly obserued doth make this plaine vnto vs that though there bee manye and innumerable thinges in this worlde yet that euery thing hath a certaine head root fountaine beginning from whence each particular is deriued For when God which is the cause of nature woulde shew forth in the theatre of this world the surpassing excellencie of his wisedome not onely in creating all things of nothing but also in gouerning and preseruing all things that were created that they might continue and indure out the time which he had appointed The Scripture saieth that God did make euerie thing according to his kinde withall did put certaine seedes of thinges in the Gen. 1 12 The course of natural things continued by Gods prouidence tiâ— the ende oâ— the world things themselues wherby there might be a propagation or continued course of things from generation to generation so long as the world should indure Right so Gods mightie power and infinite wisedome doth no lesse plainelie appeare in things supernatural I meane in the gifts of the mind wherwith he doth beutify adorne the soule of man for it is God that giueth both the beginning increase of al Faith the roote of vertue vertue and goodnes Now the beginning of vertue in vs is faith which God doth first plant in the hart of man faith then may be coÌ„pared vnto the roote froÌ„ whence doth arise the stemme of vertue Vertue in generall breaketh out into particular branches as knowledge temperance patience and the rest and euery branch bringeth foorth fruit according to his kind Therfore Saint Peter writing vnto such as were conuerted vnto 2. Pet. 1. 5 the faith willeth them to ioyne therevnto vertue saying Ioine vertue with your faith whereby doubtlesse he meaneth that they should endeauour to lead a ciuill honest life as euery one had receiued the measure of faith and to the end they shoulde not thinke it a matter indifferent he biddeth them to giue al diligence therunto euen to ioyne vertue with their faith because by throgh their faith in Christ God had giuen them all things that pertaine vnto life and godlines through the knowledge of him By flying â—he corrupâ—…oÌ„s of this â—orld wee â—aw neervnto God that had called them vnto glory vertue wherby most precious promises were giueÌ„ vnto them that by them they should bee partakers of the godly nature in flying the corruption which is in the world through lust So that now wee see what must bee the chiefe and principall care of all those that haue receiued this excellent gift of faith wherof we haue spoken in the former chapter Namely to giue all diligence to ioyne vnto our faith vertue that so our faith may appeare by our honest liuing godly conuersation Wherefore in this chapter wee must speake of vertue in generall being the second lincke in Saint Peters Chaine afterward come to her particular branches Vertue in generall is obedience to Gods commaundements wrought in Gods children what vertue is from whome we haue it by the spirit of sanctification directed or referred to the glorie of God and accepted of him in Christ Iesus And to speake plainly whatsoeuer thing
Nature giueth vnto age estimation and authoritie but meekenesse of heart is the glorie of youth and age and giueth vnto them both dignitie and honour That may rightly be called genterie that is begun continued and ended in true humilitie according to our english prouerbe A gentleman hath gentle conditions It is the saying of a sage man that the higher any one is in authority so much the more gentle and lowly should he behaue himselfe and that nothing is more seemly or commendable for a prince or noble man thē the vertue of gentlenesse meekenes and humilitie For the gentle and lowly minded man cannot lightly be hated Vertue specially learning Humility maketh a man beloued with humility hath aduanced many men vnto great honor dignitie agreeable to that saying of Salomon Before honour goeth humilitie and againe The reward of humility is life riches and glory Man is in nothing Prou. 15.33 22 4. more like vnto God then in gentlenesse humilitie The vertue of humilitie saith one encourageth to attayne truely the Law of God and maketh apte vessels to receiue the spirit of God according to this saying of Dauid Them that be meek wil God guide Psal 25.9 in iudgemente and teach the humble his way Therefore the prophet Dauid knowing the great vertue of humilitie maketh this protestation of himself in one of his Psalms Psal 131. Lorde saith hee I am not highe minded I haue no proude lookes but on the contrary my soule saith hee is euen as a wayned childe meaning that hee was humble in heart as a child And surely the example of a childe is We must learne humilitie of children very forcible to teach vs humilitie therefore Christ himselfe vsed the same example vnto his Apostles when in pride of hart they demanded who shoulde bee greatest in the kindome of heauen Then Iesus called a little childe and set him in the middest of his disciples and saide vnto them Verely I Mat. 18.1.2 say vnto you except ye bee conuerted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen but contrariwise Whosoeuer shall humble himselfe as this little childe the same is the greatest in the kingdome of heauen See then what a precious vertue humilitie is and to what great honour it preferreth vs euen to be the greatest in the kingdome of heauen Humility preferreth vs to the greatest honour Galat. 5.22 True humilitie and gentlenesse of minde is a cheefe fruit of the spirite of God The fruite of the spirte saith Saint Paul is loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenes meeknesse and so forth Therefore is it that the same Apostle doth so earnestly exhort vs Collos 3 12 13. vnto humilitie As the elect of God sayth hee holy and beloued put on tender mercy kindnesse humblenesse of mind meekenes long suffering Thus wee see how humilitie is both commanded commended vnto vs. Now let vs a little consider howe that as God in his iustice hath euermore throwne downe the proude so in his mercy hee hath exalted the humble and Examples how God hath exalted the humble Numb 12.3 meeke Moyses that man of God among all his vertues is commended for nothing more then for his humilitie and meekenes for he is saide to bee the meekest man vpon earth and see how hee was exalted of God When his father and mother had left him by the Exod. 2.3.4 5. riuers brinke among the bulrushes God caused him to bee taken vp aduanced him to the court of Pharao and after made him a prince and a gouernour ouer his owne people Little Dauid the sonne of Ishai because hee was little in his owne eyes and as wee haue heard before humble in heart as a wained Psal 78 70 71 childe therefore God did exalte him tooke him from following the Ewes great with yong and aduanced him to the kingly throne Neyther haue we onely examples of men but also of women as of Esther that of a poore captiue hauing nor father nor Ester 2 17. mother aliue onely a good kinseman Mordecay was by God aduanced to be the wife of a King What inould we speak of the humilitie low estate of the virgine Mary who notwithstanding was chosen by God himselfe to bee the mother of Christ This great working of God in throwing downe the proude and exalting the lowly doth that holy Virgine well note in her song of reioycing when she saith My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirite reioyceth in God my sauiour by Luk. 1.46 and by she sheweth the reason For he hath looked on the poore degree of his seruant scattered the imaginations of the proude He hath put downe the mightie from their seates and exalted them of lowe degree The verie same thing doth Hanna the mother of Samuel note in her prayer saying 1 Sam. 2.7 8. The Lord maketh poore and maketh riche bringeth lowe and exalteth hee rayseth the poore out of the dust lifteth vp the begger from the dunghill to set them among Princes and to make them inherite the seat of glorie Hence is it that Saint Paule faith though 1 Cor. 1 27 28. to another purpose that God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weake things of this world to confound the mightie things vile things things which are despised hath God chosen things that are not to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence but according as it is written hee that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Ierem 9.24 Thus we haue seene how God doth euermore exalt them that are humble and lowly in their owne eyes Let vs therefore make much of humilitie But yet to proceede a little further if we wil haue examples of humilitie then let vs come to the example of The chiefest example of humilitie all examples euen to the example of Christ Iesus the Sonne of God Which example Saint Paule doth propose vnto vs in the second to the Philippians saying Let the same Philip. 2.5 mind bee in you which was in Christ Iesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God but hee made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruant was made like vnto men and was found in his shape as a man he humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse wherefore God hath highly exalted him and so forth Now we must not only learne by the example of Christ to be humble and lowly in We must learne by the example of Christ to be humble both in prosperitie and aduersitie 1. Pet. 2.21 22.23 prosperitie but also in aduersitie when we shall suffer any thing for his sake for here in saith Saint Peter hath Christ left vs an example that we should follow his steps who
her but pride thrusteth her downe ouer the staires or greeces shee can haue almost no place to rest in but either in the streets or in some poore labouring mens houses yea the verie beggers do scorne her companie shee runs from the countrie to Shee is suffered to run the country for want of entertaynement the court from the court to the country can hardly get any seruice if she be intertained for a while she is put away againe without a quarters warning nay sometimes on a suddaine without an houres warning so rigoriouslie is she dealt withall in many places surelie it is maruell that shee tarrieth one yeere in this countrie sauing that I suppose Temperance well vsed in no country other countries giue her so ill or worse intertainment then we Wel Saint Peter yet counselleth vs to entertaine her and to keep her when he saith ioine with your knowledge temperance Vse temperancy in your diet temperancy in eating temperaÌ„cy in your drinking temperancie in your sleeping temperancy in your Wee must vse temperance in all things gesture walking temperancy in your apparell temperancie in your delights and recreation temperancie in your wordes temperancie in your deeds temperancy in all your appetites and desires In one worde without this vertue of temperance al things wil be out of order and good temper if this Without temperance euery thing will bee out of temper good order lincke of temperance be broken Saint Peters Chaine will neuer holde Much more might bee saide but I study breuitie God grant this litle which hath bin spoken maye be aduisedly read well ruminated and better digested so shall all other vertues bee the rather accounted of to Gods glory and our saluation A praier for Temperance O Most holy and eternal God which art all holines and paritie it selfe and hatest all iniquitie vncleannes vouchsafe vnto me I earnestlie beseech thee this grace that as thou hast made mee a reasonable creature and indued me with wit and vnderstanding so I may haue a speciall regard to keepe a godlie moderation in all the actions of this life that I may neuer breake the bonds of temperance by ouermuch eating drinking sleeping playing or by any filthie and vngodlie liuing whereby I shoulde shewe my selfe in life and conuersation worse then brute beasts that haue no vnderstanding but that I may rather denie all vngodlines and worldly lusts and study to liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who hath commaunded vs in his holy word to take heed least when he come vnto iudgement our hearts be not ouercome with surfetting and drunkennes cares of this life so to suffer this day to come vpon vs vnawares For which cause good Lord I beseech thee grant vnto me that vertue of sobriety and temperancy that I may both spend and end my dayes in such necessary dutyes as thou hast commaunded mee to the glory of thy name comfort of my conscience thorough Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Of Patience The fift Chapter IT seemeth to some desiring to see farre countries a matter of no lesse ease then pleasure to saile ouer the seas from one land to another so long as the ship is caried with a good wind and in fayre weather for then the mariners sing Sayle wee merie mariners then the marchantes play and sporte then the souldiers passengers be sleeping and snorting vnder the hatches but when the wind begins to turne when the weather begins to be foule when blustering blastes arise when the surges and waues of the sea tumble ouer the shippe when wee are wet head and eares then our hartes beginne to saile vs then our courage asswageth then What wee purpose in prosperitâ— aduersity we forget 〈…〉 vs then 〈◊〉 itselfe threatneth vs then euerie man 〈◊〉 himselfe backe againe in the place from whence he came and the desire which before we had to see strange countries is nowe cooled asswaged and abated Right so it â—alleth out in the desire which we haue to see the new Ierusalem that heauenly cuntry we begin to back our selues in Reue 21.10 the ship of vertue wee hope to saile thither vpon the seas of pleasure wee haue happily at the beginning a good gale of wind fair weather but before wee are come three leagues at sea before wee haue forgotten our frends and fellowes that we left behind vs there ariseth a mighty wind cruel tempest the wind of aduersity begin to blow the waues and surges of trials and temptations come vpon vs yea death and persecution assaileth vs then wee wish our selues at home in our owne countrie againe then our desires to that heauenly cuntry begins to wax cold few there be that keep on a straight course till they come to the hauen of rest How excellent therefore is that saying of the spirit of God in the tenth to the Hebr. Heb. 10.36 Ye haue neede of patience that after yee haue done the will of God ye might receiue the promises So we that are sayling ouer the Without patience we can neuer come to the hauen of rest feas of this world haue need of patience to endure the surging waues of trial temptations lest with the children of Israel wee desire to returne backe againe when we are in the middest of our iourney Wherefore S. Pet. hauing tried by experieÌ„ce these things 1. Pet. 16. assone as he hath exhorted vs vnto Temperance presently biddeth vs to ioyne thereunto patience knowing very well that no sooner can we begin to treade the path vnto a godly vertuous and temperate life but presently we shal be subiect to infinite trials and tribulations according to this scripture that saith As many as will liue godly in â— Tim. 1. 12 Christ Iesus shal suffer persecution and affliction therefore in good time addeth exhortation vnto patience saying Ioyne with your temperance patience vse that as a remedy what troubles soeuer come vpon you for liuing godly and vertuously Patience then is a vertue whereby wee What true patience is the vse theÌ„reof obey God in suffering aduersitie so that we do nothing contrary to the commandement of God but by faith acknowledge him to be neere vnto vs with his helpe eyther to mitigate or els to deliuer vs from that present aduersitie wee are in yea patience and good beleefe in God maketh man victorious The meanes to retayne patience is to haue a cleare conscience and a good cause for the which wee suffer for true patience as one saith is when the cause is iust and the end profitable and necessary How beit wee must also suffer with patience aswell the corrections for our faultes as also troubles wrongfully inflicted vppon vs of men This patience surely is a notable vertue Patience is best tried when we are wrongfully afflicted by men pertayning as well to
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