The Doubting Believer

A Renewed heart is a very Heaven in our little World, and Faith is the only Sun in that Heaven: The Sinner never comes to be precious, till he comes to be pious; and the value of that piety still advanceth, according to the quantity of true faith, as the Ring is the more considerable with the Diamond. I cannot conceive of a more compendious way for any Christians full and constant revenues, then this, To get faith, and still to use it: The sum or product of which would bee this, Grace and Glory, Heaven and Earth are ours.

Satan well knowes what a serviceable channell Faith is for all our traffique, either for our ship to lanch out into duties, or for Gods ship to come laden in to us with mercies: and therefore there is no Grace which he batters, & conflicts so with, as with faith: If wee weaken or shake foundations, this hath a spreading influence into the whole building: A Christians faith cannot be wronged, but presently all the spirituall frame becomes sensible of wrong and losse.

In my weake judgement, it were a great prudence to secure that, which being secured, now secures all. Nothing grows weak where faith grows strong. My Lord, This poor Treatise which I presume to front with your name, is like Aaron and Hur, who staid up the hands of Moses; So doth this Treatise indeavour to stay the hands of faith in a weak Beleever, who hath an ample estate on the shore and at land; but those waves of doubtings (when he is thrusting in) too often make him to fall back & stagger: Whence follows this great unhappinesse, That whereas his faith might have served in many precious comforts, it is (almost a whole life) imployed onely to answer fears and doubts. I humbly present the subsequent Worke to your Lordships personall use, and publique patronage. Be pleased (at your leasure) to peruse it, and regard it as the first cognizance of my thankfulnes to your Honour, for the Living which you did so freely & lovingly confer upon me, wherein I shall desire faithfully to serve your Lord and mine.

Now the Almighty God, and blessed Father, abundantly inrich your noble heart with all saving graces, and continue you long to be an instrument of much glory to himself, comfort to his Church, and good to our Common-wealth.