monster of opinions, of the bread into the body of Christ by transubstan- tiation, overthrows at once four articles of the Creed — the incarnation of Christ, ascension, sitting at the right hand of God, and coming to judgment; for if Christ's body be so often made of a piece of bread, being in so many phices at once here upon earth, how can all these articles be true ?
Again, seventhly, These grounds of fixith have likewise a special influence in dii'ection and encouragement unto all Christian duties. A holy life is but the infusion of holy truths. AugiTstine saith well, Non bene vivitur, tibi bene de Deo non credit ur : men of an ill belief, cannot be of a good life ; whereupon the apostles' method is, to build their exhortations to Christian duties upon the grounds of Christian faith. But we must remember, that as faith yields a good life and conscience, so a conscience is the vessel to preserve the doctrine of faith, else a shipwreck of faith will follow. If there be a delighting in unrighteousness, there will not be a love of the truth ; and if we love not the truth, then there will be a preparedness to believe any lie, and that by God's just judgment, 2 Thes. ii. 12.
Eighthly. As these fundamental truths yield strength to the whole fi'ame of a Christian life, so they are so many springs and wells of consolation for God's people to draw from ; whereupon that good Prince George Anhalt (who in Luther's time became a preacher of the gospel), intending to com- fort his brother Prince John, raiseth his comfort from the last three articles — remission of sins, resurrection of the body, and life everlasting ; which, as they have their strength from the former articles, are able to raise any drooping spirit, and therefore in the greatest agonies it is the readiest way to suck comfort fi'om these benefits. But I omit other things, intending only to say something by way of preface. And thus, good reader, I com- mend this work unto thee, and both it and thee to God's blessing.
Thine in the Lord, K. Sibbes.
II. Ball on ' Faith.'
The Preface to the Reader.
Glorious things are spoken of the grace of graces (faith) in the Scrip- tures, God setting himself to honour that grace that yields up all the hon- our- unto him in Christ : who indeed is the life of our life, and the soul of our soul. Faith only as the bond of union bringeth Christ and the soul together, and is as an artery that conveys the spirit fi'om him as the heart, and as the sinews which convey the spirit to move all duty from him as head, whence St Paul maketh Christ's living in us, and our living by faith all one. Gal. ii. 20. Now that which giveth boldness and liberty to faith, is not only God's assignment of this office to it in the covenant of gi-ace to come unto Christ, and unto him in Christ, to receive grace, but likewise the gi'acious promises whereby the great God hath engaged himself as a debtor to his poor creature, for all things needful to life and godliness, until that blessed time when we shall be put into a full possession of all things we have now only in promise, when faith shall end in fi-uition, and pro- mises in performances.
Faith first looks to this word of promise, and in the promise to Christ, in whom and for whom they are yea and amen, both made and perfonned. And in Christ it eyeth God in whom it last resteth, as its proper centre and foundation ; otherwise how should we weak sinful creatures dare to have any intercourse with God that dwelleth in that light that none can attain unto, if he had not come forth and discovered his good pleasure in Christ the substantial Word, and in the word inspired by the Holy Ghost for the good
CVl ^MEMOrR OP KICHAED SIBBES, D.D.
of those whom Grod meant for to make heirs of salvation ? Now these pro- mises whereon all our present comfort and future hope dependeth lie hid in the Scriptures, as veins of gold and silver in the bowels of the earth, and had need be laid open, that God's people may know what upon good grounds to lay claim imto. Those, therefore, that search these mines to bring to light these treasures, deserve well of God's church. We commend (and not without cause) the witty industry of those that from springs remote bring rivers to cities, and by pipes from these rivers derive water to every man's house for all domestical services ; much more should we esteem of the religious pains of men that brings these waters of life home for every man's particular use, in all the passages and turnings of this life.
In which regard, I do not doubt, but the pains of this godly, painful, and learned man will find good entertainment of all children of the pro- mises that hope to inherit them, who hath with great pains, and with good evidence of spiritual understanding, endeavoured to clear most matters con- cerning faith, and likewise discovered the variety and use of the promises, with teaching Christians how to improve their riches in Christ here spread before them, how to use the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit upon all occasions, that so they might not only be believing but skilful Christians, knowing how to manage and make the best advantage of their faith and the word of faith. Which if they could do, there would another manner of power and beauty shine in their lives than doth. He is a man that hath formerly deserved well of the church, but in more special manner fitted for a treatise of this nature, as having been put to it to know by experience what it is to live by faith, having in sight for matters of this life very little whereupon to depend. Those that are driven to exercise their faith cannot but find God faithful, as never failing those that trust in him, they see more of God than others do.