[ 1494] The force of Justifying Faith.
AS the Earth,* 1.1 though it be made soft by those showers that fall upon it in the Winter time, and bring forth a blade, some kind of visible appearance of the Seed, that is cast into it, yet is it not thereby made fruitfull unto Man; It never yeildeth any good or perfect fruit, till it have received the sweet heat of the Sun into the bowels of it in the Spring time: Even so is it with the heart of Man.* 1.2 It may be and is oft softned by the judgments of God ••nd terrours of the Law,* 1.3 so that some beginnings of Goodnesse and Reformation may be wrought thereby, as in Pharaoh and the wicked Israelites, and in many a wret∣ched Man in the time of his sicknesse; yet all this while there is but a little blade,* 1.4 a very slender shew of Grace, till such time as Jesus the Sun of Righteous∣nesse, (like the comfortable and quickning heat of the spring) do shine upon the Soul by justifying Faith, and then it doth bring forth fruit that is good indeed, and unto God acceptable.