XX.
The greatest measure of faith is a full perswasion of the mercie of God.* 1.1 For it is the strength and ripenes of faith, Rom. 4.20.21. Abraham not weake in faith, but being strengthened in the faith, was fully perswaded, that he who had promised was able to doe it: This full assurance is when a man can say with Paul, I i 1.2 am perswaded that neither life nor death, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. And least any should thinke, this saying is peculiar to Paul, he * 1.3 testifieth of him∣selfe that for this cause he was receiued to mercie, that he might be an example to them which after should beleeue in Christ to life eternall: and the whole Church, in the Cant••. vseth the same in effect: saying, k 1.4 Loue is as strong as death, iealousie is as cruel as the graue, the coales thereof are fierie coales, and a vehe∣ment flame. Much water cannot quench loue, neither can the flouds drown it: if a man should giue all the substance of his house for loue, they would contemne it.