Holy living in which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every virute, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations : together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion occasians [sic], and furnished for all necessities / by Jer. Taylor.

The Acts and Offices of Faith, are

1. TO believe every thing which God hath revealed to us:* 1.1 and when once we are convinced that God hath spoken it, to make no further enquiry, but humbly to submit, ever remembring that there are some things which ou•• understanding cannot fathom nor search out their depth.

2. To believe nothing concerning God but what is honourable and excellent, as know∣ing that belief to be no honouring of God which entertains of him any dishonourable thoughts. Faith is the parent of Charity, and whatsoever Faith entertains must be apt to produce love to God: but he that believes God to be cruel or unmerciful, or a rejoicer in the unavoidable damnation of the greatest part of mankinde, or that he speaks one thing and privately means another; thinks evil thoughts concerning God, and such, as for which we should hate a man, and therefore are great enemies of Faith, being apt to de∣stroy Charity. Our Faith concerning God must be as himself hath revealed and descri∣bed his own excellencies: and in our dis∣courses we must remove from him all imper∣fection; and attribute to him all excellence.

3. To give our selves wholly up to Christ in heart and desire to become Disciples of his doctrine with choice (besides conviction) be∣ing in the presence of God, but as Ideots, that is, without any principles of our own to hin∣der the truth of God; but sucking in greedily

all that God hath taught us, believing it in∣finitely, and loving to believe it. For this is an act of Love reflected upon Faith, or an act of Faith leaning upon Love.

4. To believe all Gods promises, and that whatsoever is promised in Scripture shall on Gods part be as surely performed as if we had it in possession. This act makes us to relie upon God with the same confidence as we did on our Parents when we were chil∣dren, when we made no doubt, but whatso∣ever we needed we should have it if it were in their power.

5. To believe also the conditions of the promise, or that part of the revelation which concerns our duty. Many are apt to believe the Article of remission of sins, but they be∣lieve it without the condition of repentance, of the fruits of holy life: and that is to be∣lieve the Article otherwise then God inten∣ded it. For the Covenant of the Gospel is the great object of Faith, and that supposes our duty to answer his grace; that God will be our God, so long as we are his people: The other is not Faith, but Flattery.

6. To professe publickly the doctrine of Jesus Christ, openly owning whatsoever he hath revealed and commanded, not being ashamed of the Word of God, or of any pra∣ctices enjoyned by it; and this, without com∣plying with any mans interest, not regarding favour, nor being moved with good words, not fearing disgrace, or losse, or inconveni∣ence, or death it self.

7. To pray without doubting, without weariness, without faintness, entertaining no

jealousies, or suspicions of God, but being confident of Gods hearing us, and of his re∣turns to us, whatsoever the manner or the in∣stance be, that if we doe our duty, it will be gracious and merciful.

These acts of Faith are in several degrees in the servants of Jesus: some have it but as a grain of mustard-seed, some grow up to a plant, some have the fulness of faith: but the least faith that is must be a perswasion so strong as to make us undertake the doing of all that duty which Christ built upon the foundation of believing: but we shall best discern the truth of our faith by these fol∣lowing signes. S. Hierome reckons three.* 1.2

Notes

• * 1.1

  Demus Deie aliqu••d posse quod no•• fa∣teamu•• inve∣st••gare no•• poss••. S. Aug. l. 21. c 7. de Civitat.
• * 1.2

  D••a•••• adver: Lucif.