The Life of Faith, Title page – Table of contents
THE LIFE OF FAITH. By SAMVEL WARD Preacher of Ipswich.
The second Edition, corrected and amended. LONDON Printed by Augustine Mathewes, for Iohn Marriot and Iohn Grismand, and are to be sold at their Shops in Saint Dunstons Church-yard, and in Pauls Alley at the Signe of the Gunne, 1621.
TO THE HONOR AND VSE OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS EARLE of Suffolke, Lord of Walden, Knight of the Honorable Order of the Garter, one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuy Counsell.
THis Manual, I first consecrate to your Honor. The greatest greatnesse hath no greater honour belonging to it, then to bee an Abrech, to Persons, Books, and causes of this nature. Such Cedars hauehave their spreadth and talenesse to shelter such Fowles of the Heauen vnderunder their shadowe: And Faith is content in this vallie of vnbeliefe to receiue defence and countenance: where it rather giueth both. As Christ in that olde Allegorie of Christopher seemes to be supported by him, whome in truth hee supporteth. And verely such Bookes as hauehave life in them giuegive a longer life to their Patrons, then the stateliest Buildings and largest Moniments.
Principally I Dedicate, and Deuote it to your vse; Charitie beganne at home. I first meditated, collected, and scribled them for mine owne benefit, carryed them about me with Antoninus his title foreign, Notes for my selfe. That which with all my might in seeking I hauehave sought to attaine, is the truth and effect of that which many thinges promise, but Faith is only able to performe. Fulnesse of ioy and constancie of content in the middest of the chaunges, wane, eclypses, and fuls of all externall things, and that one day aswell as another throughout the course of a mans life in that latitude and extent whereof this life is capable. To cry out, I hauehave found it, I hauehave found it, might sauour of vanity and arrogancy: Altogether to deny it were an iniurie to the truth of Gods Spirit, Word, and Grace. Such as hauehave found out Sayling by the Compasse, the Art of Printing, or should one man discouer a speedier passage to the Indies, or meete with a speciall Cordiall in Physicke, or any lesse profitable secret, should he not iustly be sensured as enuious and iniurious to let such an one die with himselfe. What a sacriledge were it then to engrosse such a true Elixar of Spirituall life, as vponupon some proofe, I am sure these prescripts containe. The substance therefore of them, I imparted first ot my Flocke in Sermons. Nextly, considering how much I stood obliged to your Lordshippe, and what speciall vse you might hauehave of them, I translated, and copied them out in the forme wherein now I humbly commend, and earnestly recommend them to your serious perusall and thorow triall. If vponupon both, good shall bee thought the better, the more communicated, others shall accompt themselues beholding to your Honor, as the principall occasion of publication. More I would say, but I feare to spoile the elegancie of Augustine his Preface to Romanian, Lib. 1. contra Academicos.by englishing of it: Wherein is the summe of what I would say. Whither referring your Lordship, I rest, and continue as euer I hauehave done since my reference without intermission, publikely, and priuatly to pray to the Lord of Lords that you may finde all fauour in the eyes of God and man, and that all true happinesse may be multiplyed vponupon you, and yours in this life, and a better.
Your Lordships in the Lord SAMVEL WARD.
The Contents of this BOOKE.
THe Iust shall liue by his Faith. Page. 1
Christ the Fountaine, and Faith the meane of Life. 6
The third kind of the Life of Faith. page 12
The vse of Faith. 16
The first vse of Faith ot new-borne Babes, 24
The vse of Faith to young men in Christianity. 34
An inforcement of the former vse, with a reproofe of the neglect and disuse of Faith. 43
The vse of Faith to a growne Christian. 51
An obiection answered, and passage made to the life of Sanctification. 60
How Faith Sanctifies and Mortifies. 67
How Faith Viuifies. 78
How Faith vpholds life in Affliction. 86
An Epistle to the Reader pressing the vse of Faith. 100