That the leali faith is accep- table to God. Alattimz. zo, Alatrh. :;,i9. Mark.9.z4.. §.Sec`. 5. Tbat faith dotb rot iuftifie l'it as it is a mike or faeultie in vs,but as an in/trum:nt which applieth Chri!t vnto vs. 111 5 5 4 That afmalland rreake faithmay bea truefaith. in.regardofit, for he rvill not breare the6rufed reed,nor quench thefmoking fax tillhee bringforth iisdgement vntoviffory, a bimfelfe hath fpoken, Matt 2.20. He will not contemne the 'call meafure áfhis own gracewhichhehath bellowedvpon vs ; for though it be in neuerfo'fmall a quantifie, 'yet ifitbe true,it is hisown gift,andhis ?sftsarewithout repentance,nei.. ther Both he euer contemne that whichhimfelfe bath giuen, nor take it away after it is once bellowed; nay rather tohim that bath"hallbegiuen ntillhe harmabundance: he that recei- ued flue talents fhail receiuefluemore,yea and hee that hath but one,ifhe doe not hide it,but vfe it tohisntallersglorie, fhalbe accepted& haue his talent doubled. We reade in the Scriptures that Chrifi reproued force fortheir fmall faith,but yet we neuer reade nor heard that he reie&ed 8z call offany, though their faith were neuer foweake ifit were true,nonot him whocriedout in thefenfeofhis own weaknes;LordThe- lieue, help thoumy vnbelecfe.And therfore ifwith him, we find a true faith in vs,at leaíl in forremeafure,and thoughit be ex- ceedingly mingledwith doubting and affaultedwith infide litie, yet:ifwee can withthis man earneflly pray the Lord to helpe our vnbeleefe, and with theApofiles hearth crie out OLord increafe myfaith, theLordwilitaccept of ily rhartie delire, andgrant our requefl which is madebyhis'owne rit in vs,and that according vnto hisowne will. Thirdlie, weemull vnderfiand that faith doth not iuflifie xnd faue v-s by it felfe, as it is a vertue or facultie ofthemind and hart,-cr in refpeaofit owne excellencie, quantifie, and worthine{fe,(for what were this but to embrace againe the do&rine ofthePapifls whichwe haue reiedled,and to feeke foriuf{ihcation in our felues, and for our owne merits and worthinefre ? )but as an inílrument, wherebywe layholdof, and applyvnto our felues Chrifl Leftts,w ith his rightcoufraes andmerits, bywhich onelie wee appeare iufl before God; now a weak faith astruly,though not fo powerfully,doth ap prebendand applyChrifl Iefus,and all his merits and obedi- encc,2sa.flronger faith; etten as a frnail and weake hand ifit be able to reach vp the meate to the mouth,doth as well per- : £atnae it duty for the nourifhment ofthebody as oneofgrea- ter
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