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1G)m,t4..i.

The

fourth

meanes,the

vfe

of

the Sacra-

ments.

The

fifth

meanes,good

trvorkes.

The

fixtb

meaner,fer-

ment

prayer.

Ephef: z.8.

lohn

6.65.

Luke 17.5.

54:

Of

the

wanes

rrherctr

our

faith

may

be

f

rengthenetf7

41°°

ti

they

might

be

more add more

llrengthcned and

confirmed:

Rom.

r4

i.

The

fourth

meanes

is

the

hOlie vfe

of

the

Sacraments;

for

the 'Lord

hathadded thé

as feales

to the hand-writing

ofhis

coact-wit

of

grace,

to

confirme our faith in

the

full

aífurance

of

his

promifes,and

to

take

away

all

doubting.

For

whereas

the

weake

confcience

might

make

fome

fcruple, in refpeó

that

the promifes

of

theGofpel

in

the preaching

ofthe

word

are deliucred indefinitely

and after

a;

generall.manner,in

the

vfe

ofthe

Sacraments,they

are

aflìired

vnto

then

particularly

and

as

it were

by

name, and

that

not

after

fix=

obfcure

and

hidden manner,but moll

familiarlie

by

fucks

common

lignes

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

good

workes,

and

to bring

forth the fruits

of

hole

obedience;

for

hereby

our

faith

is

exercifed,and by ex-

ercife

flrengthened and-

increafed

:

whereas contrariwife

the

negle&

hereof doth

wound the

confcience,

and

fo'

quench

the

liuelie heate

offaith, that

though it

bee

not quite

extin-

guifhed,yet it

will

not

fenfibly

be

difcerned.As therefore

the

Ilrength

of

thébodie

is

increafed by exercife, and

for

want

thereof

waxeth faint

and languifheth,

and

as

the

ftomacke

is

by

outward

exercife

of

the

bodie

made

more

fit

to

per-

forme

his

dutie

of

conco6ion;

fo

our

faith

being

exercifed

in

good

workes

is

made

more

firong

and

fit

to

performe his

duty

in

applying Chrift,and the fweet

promifes

ofthe

Gofpel

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

the

free

gift

ö

f

Godas

the

Apofile

teacheth

vs,

Ephef.

2..

8.

Neither

can

-any

man come

veto

our

Sauiour

Chrifibya

liuclyfaith, except

itbe

giuen

him

of

the

father,as

himfelfefpcakcth,

Iohn.6.65.

And therefore when

wee

fee

the

finali meafure

ofour

faith,

we

are

with the

Apofiles

to

pray

vnto the

Lord

that

bee will

incrcafe

it,Luk.I7.5.

And

when

wee

perceiue

that

it

is

-griettouf

y

affauited

-with

doub-

wig