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[ 7] Fayth is no slight dreamynge ima∣gination or meanyng of God, but fay¦the is a liuely confidence in the mercy¦fulnes of God, promysed and plente∣ously declared in Christe oure Lorde. Also promysed in other sygnes as the Sacramentes are.
He that beleueth ryght, hangeth
vpon the scripture, whiche speaketh of iudgement, wrathe, and also of the mercyfulnes of God, and hangeth there on so earnestlye, that he there in trusteth in all necessities, and also dy∣eth thereon.
Suche a fayth, is the ryghte Chri∣sten fayth, whiche bryngeth with her the Christen loue. For through faythe vnderstandeth man, the aboundante and inestimable loue of God, towar∣des vs, whereby hys herte is fyrste moued and getteth peace, and is kind∣led with the fyre of Godly loue, that he for suche mercyfulnes doth ioyful∣ly geue thankes and becometh wyllin¦ge to please God, agayne also so to serue hys neyghboure, and the com∣maundementes to fulfyll. Vvhatso∣euer is not done in faythe, the same is wicked and synne, where as the mercye of God is not founde in suche wyse, there is surely despy∣synge of GOD, that he is not re∣garded, nor sette by, or there is ha∣tred.
Fayth bringeth alwayes her fru∣tes with her, that is, good workes, and wheras no workes of charitie are she∣wed, there is nothynge elles but a de∣ad, fayth. A christen man shall before all thynges praye for fayth, whereby he may do ryght good workes. Much to bable of good workes, or vnderta∣ke to do the same, before that fayth be there, is as moche as to bynde the hor∣se behynde the plough. Much the wor¦ke or do withoute fayth, is to take gre¦at paynes and laboures for noughte, and with the sicke woman to spend all hys substaunce amonge the Phisiciās and yet for all that remayne sicke styl. Vvhat power fayth hath, is descry∣bed in these places here after follo∣wynge. Genesis. xv. Roma. iij. iiij. xiiij Galacas. iij. Ephes. ij. Math. vi. viij. ix. xvij. xxi. Marci. v. ix. xi. Luce. viij. xi. xviij. xix. Iohannis. iij. iiij. vi. vij. viij. And i. Iohannis. iij. iiij. v. Act iiii. xvi. and in many places more besydes.
Fayth bryn∣geth lo∣ue with her.
Ro. xiiij
Good workes.
Iaco. ij
Lu. xviij
Lu. viij
Power of faith.