Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

What is the efficient cause of Faith?

God himsefe, working freely, and giuing faith to whome hee will, euen of his owne free good will. Iohn. 6.29. This is the worke of God, that yee beleeue in him whom he hath sent. Act. 16.14. God o∣pened the heart of Lydia, so that shee attended vnto the things which Paule spake. Rom. 12.3. God hath dealt to euerie man the measure of faith. Phil. 1.29. It is freely giuen vnto you for Christs cause, not onely to beleeue in him, but also to suffer for his sake.

The causes together with God the father, are the son and the holy Ghost, for (as it is said in another place) The workes of the Tri∣nitie without are diuided. Luk. 24.32. Christ opened the minde of his disciples, that they might vnderstand the Scriptures. And Heb. 12.2. Looking vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith. 2. Cor. 4 13. We haue the spirit of faith, that is to say, we haue faith by the inspiration and gift of the same holy spirit.

The workmen together with God, are the ministers of the worde. 1. Cor. 3.5. Who is Apollo and vvho is Paule, but the Mi∣nisters by vvhome, that is by vvhose preaching ye beleeued?

The instrumentall cause of faith, is the hearing of the word of God, by the which word the holy Ghost vttereth his power, Ro. 10.17. Faith is by hearing, hearing by the word of God. Esa. 57.19, And Act. 10.44. VVhile Peter spake these vvords, the holy Ghost fell on alll them, which heard the vvord. Furthermore, another instrumen∣tall cause is, the beholding, and vse of the Sacraments. And to this end God ordained a ministerie in his Church, yet so as no force is to be attributed either to the Ministers that speake, or vnto the words themselues, or to the Sacraments; forasmuch as they haue no other effect, but only to represent vnto our minds those things for the declaring whereof they are applyed by the ordinance of God, but the force and power of thema 1.1 commeth onely from God, and there is but one and the same installer of man into life eternall, who was the Creator of him vnto this life temporall, 1. Cor. 3.7. Neither hee that planteth is any thing, neither he that wate∣reth, but God vvhich giueth the increase. And Cha. 15.19. I haue la∣boured more then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God, which is with mee, or which vvas present vvith mee. And so the voice of the preacher outwardly serueth, Christ speaketh vnto vs inwardly, by his holy spirite. Hence it is, that the Gospell is called the po∣wer

of God. Rom. 1.16. And Esa. 53.1. The arme of God, that is to say, the instrument of God, truely mightie, and powerfull to sa∣uation.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Mark, 16 20 1 Cor, 12, 6