Ofthemeaves whereby ourfaithmay betrengthened, 54t ofour faith, theother feruing topreférue vs from doubting creajejaith,ir hear and defperation. The meanes to flrengthenand increafe our the dàligdiligent ingof faith are diuers, the firf+ is the frequent and attentive hea- óods vvord. ring ofGods word,foras this is theordinary meanes,where- by faith is begotten andbegun in vs, fo is it a chiclemeanes to flrengthen andconfirme it ; as it is that liuely fecde from which faith doth fpring, fo is it that heauenlie dewwhereby it is watered and increafed from alittle plant toa great tree: and therefore as it is not fufficient fora fruitfull harueíl, that the blade or branch íhould fprout vp, vnleffe it bee watred continuallie with fweete dew and fhowers fromheauen,and fopreferued fromdying and withering; fo ifeuer we meane to reape the ripe fruits offaith to our euerlaflingcomfort,we mull bee carefull that not onelie it take rooting, andbring forth a blade ofanoutward profeffion, but alto that it may bee watered with this heauenlie dew ofGodsword,other- wife when the funne ofafi&ion and perfecution arifeth it . will die andwither. The fecond meanes to flrengthen our faith, is diligentlie Thetecond to readeand tneditatetin Gods word, efpeciallie the Gofpell, rreanes,medi- wherein is : contained thofe fweete and gracious promifes tvavtioortd.: n Gods which aremade indefinitly vnto all who repent oftheir fins, and belceue in IefusChriti, relying and relying vponhim a- lone for their faluation .And to this purpofe our Sauiourwil- leth the Iewcs tofearch the Scriptures, becaufe they are they Iohn g. ;y. which teflifie ofhim :Iohn 5.7 9,And herebyMagid faith,that Pralina19.1o. hewas comforted inhis troubles andeuenquickned whenhe.: was dead, Praia i9.5o. The thirdme is holy conferencewith our godly"brê= Thethird thren; for hereby thofe which are fallingareconfirmed,and meanes,holie thewearie hands and. weake knees flrengthenedp as Eliphas conferace. fpeaketh,Iob.43.4.. And thofe who are weake in faith are kb4'34. comforted and cftablifhed with the godlie inflruélions, pro- fitable exhortations,and fweet confolationsofthofe who are more flrong ; and therefore the Apoftle `Paulexhorts thofe whohad attained vnto a great meafureoffaith,that they ad- mit fuch as were \'eake into their companie to be made par- takers oftheir Chriflianconferences, to theend that hereby they.
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