1G)m,t4..i. Thefourth meanes,thevfe ofthe Sacra- ments. The fifth meanes,good trvorkes. The fixtb meaner,fer- ment prayer. Ephef: z.8. lohn6.65. Luke 17.5. 54: Ofthe wanesrrherctr ourfaith maybe f rengthenetf7 41°° ti theymight be more add more llrengthcned and confirmed: Rom. r4 i. The fourthmeanes is the hOlie vfeoftheSacraments; for the 'Lord hathadded thé as feales to the hand-writing ofhis coact-wit ofgrace, to confirme our faith in the full aífurance ofhis promifes,and to take away all doubting. For whereas theweake confcience might make fome fcruple, in refpeó that the promifesoftheGofpel in the preachingofthe word are deliucred indefinitely and after a; generall.manner,in the vfe oftheSacraments,theyare aflìiredvnto thenparticularly and as it wereby name, and that not after fix= obfcure and hidden manner,but moll familiarlie by fucks commonlignes as are fiibieel to the fentes, and with the reach of the fhal- lowefl capacitie. A fift meanes to confirme Our faith, is to bee continually conuerfaut in goodworkes, and to bring forth the fruits of holeobedience; for herebyour faith is exercifed,and by ex- ercife flrengthened and-increafed : whereas contrariwife the negle& hereof dothwound the confcience, and fo' quench the liuelie heateoffaith, that though it bee not quiteextin- guifhed,yet it will not fenfiblybe difcerned.As therefore the Ilrength ofthébodie is increafed by exercife, and for want thereofwaxeth faint and languifheth, and as the ftomacke is byoutward exercife of thebodie made more fit toper- forme his dutie ofconco6ion; fo our faith beingexercifed ingoodworkes is made morefirongand fit to performe his duty inapplying Chrift,and the fweetpromifes oftheGofpel vnto vs, and without this fpirituall exercife it waxeth faint and the firength thereof abateth. The lafi meanes--to flrengthen and increafe our faith is continual! and lenient prayer; for faith is not in our owne power, but is thefreegift ö fGodas theApofile teachethvs, Ephef. 2..8. Neither can -any man come veto our Sauiour Chrifibya liuclyfaith, except itbe giuenhimofthe father,as himfelfefpcakcth, Iohn.6.65. And therefore whenwee fee the finali meafure ofour faith, we are with theApofiles to prayvnto theLord that bee will incrcafe it,Luk.I7.5. And when weeperceiue that it is-griettoufyaffauited-withdoub- wig
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