A commentarie vpon the most diuine Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes Containing for matter, the degeneration of our nature by Adams Fall; and the restauration thereof, by the grace of Christ. Together with the perfection of faith, and the imbecillity of workes, in the cause of iustification of elect sinners before God. For forme and maner of handling, it hath the coherence and method, the summe and scope, the interpretations & doctrines the reasons and vses, of most texts. All which, are set downe very familiarly and compendiously, in forme of a dialogue, betweene Tlmotheus [sic] and Silas, by Thomas Wilson, one of the six preachers in the cathedrall church of Canterbury.

DIAL. XI.

Verse 19, 20, 21.

And he not weake in Faith, considered not his owne bodie now dead, when he was almost an hundred yeare olde, neyther yet the deadnesse of Sarah her wombs; hee doubted not at the promise thorow vnbeleefe, but was strong in faith, and gaue glory to God, being fully assured, that he which had promi∣sed, was able to performe it.

Tim.

WHat was the drift and end of this Text?

Silas

To praise the faith of Abraham by these few Reasons. First, by setting downe the hinderances of his faith, as the deadnesse of Abrahams body, and of Sarah her wombe. Secondly, by opposing to it the con∣trary, which is vnbeleefe. Thirdly, by the measure of his Faith, which was a strong and full assurance. Lastly, by the end of his beleeuing, which was, the giuing of God the glory.

Tim.

What is meant heere by being weake in Faith?

Silas.

Sometimes Faith is put for the Doctrine belee∣ued, Rom. 14, 1. then to be weake in Faith is to be rude and ignorant of the truth, and not to be weake, is to be verie expert and skilfull. But faith is heere put for the guift of faith, and by not being weake in faith, he mea∣neth that he did strongly beleeue God. This speech is a

figuratiue kinde of speech, when one meaneth more then he expresseth, as Psal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. 17. not to despise, is put for to hold in great account.

Tim.

What were the hinderances which might haue trou∣bled and hurt Abrahams faith?

Sil.

The deadnesse of his owne body and of Sarahs wombe, which he did not consider; that is, he thought not these things so able to hinder the promise of God, as Gods power was able to fulfill the thing promised: neither did he reason by vnbeleefe against the promise of God, saying he mocks me, or it will come to nothing.

Tim.

What was the instruction from hence?

Sil.

This{is} a strong faith yeeldeth not to such lets which discourage or daunt it: but breaketh thorough, and ouer∣commeth, them all, bee they neuer so many and so great: whereby the faithfull are to be admonished of their duty, which is, to striue against the impediments of their faith, not to yeeld.

Tim.

What thing is contrary to faith?

Sil.

Vnbeleefe, by which is meant either a meere priua∣tion of faith, when there is none at all: as in Turkes and Iewes, and wicked men: or a defect in beleeuing, where∣by one beleeueth a thing faintely, through infirmity of faith. Vnbeleefe if it bee a meere absence of faith, then it breedeth that wauering, where of Iames speaketh, Iam. 1. 7. if it be but a defect of beleese, then it engendreth doubting such as is here spoken off.

Tim.

But had Abraham no doubting at all, touching the thing which he beleeued?

Sil.

Yes, on euery side doubting offered it selfe, but when hee looked to the will and power of God, hee was certaine of the promises and subdued doubts arising; for it is impossible that any man should so beleeue as to bee freed from all doubting; because euery mans faith hath in∣firmities in it.

Tim.

Whence happeneth this infirmity of faith vnto godly men?

Sil.

It commeth two wayes; first, by want of knowing well such thinges as are to bee beleeued: example in the Iewes, Rom 14. 21. Secondly, by not constantly and firmely cleauing to such things as they know well; as Peter when he walked on the water, knew Christ wold haue him come to him, but did not closely hold to Christs words.

Tim.

What should this worke?

Sil.

Earnest prayer vnto God to encrease and stablish our faith.

Tim.

Now tell vs of the measure of Abrahams faith what it was?

Sil.

It was not a little and weake faith, but a strong and great faith, such a faith as fully assured him of the thing promised to him. This word, full assurance, is fetched from shippes, which against winde and waues, are yet with full and strong saile carried vnto the hauen: so Abraham by the strength of his faith, ouercame al waues of doubts bea∣ting against his minde.

Tim.

What may be obserued from hence?

Sil.

That in euery true faith there is an assurance and perswasion of that which it beleeuth, but not a full assu∣rance, for this is proper to a strong faith. Secondly, that weake Christians should not be discouraged, because they be not fully assured, so as they striue towards it: for the mea sure of true faith is differing, and God lookes not to the quantity, but to the trueth of faith.

Tim.

What is the end whereunto faith tendeth?

Sil.

It is the glory of God, because our faith giueth vn∣to God a witnesse of his great power, truth and goodnes, euer contrary to our reason and sence.