Now therefore to take our first beginning of faith: it is manifest that faith is the first beginning, and foundation of all the Christian life. For faith maketh us to believe, that almighty God is our creator, our governor, our redeemer, our sanctifier, our glorifier, to be short, our beginning, and our last end. Faith is that which teacheth us, that there is another life after this, and that there shall be a general judgement of all our works: and that we shall receive either everlasting glory for the good, or else everlasting pain for the evil. And it is clear, that the faith and belief men have in these things bridleth their hearts, and cause them to stand in awe, and to live in the fear of God. For if faith were not among us as a mean to bridle and direct us herein, what (trow ye) would become of the life of man? And therefore the Prophet said: That the just man liveth by faith: not that faith alone is sufficient to give us life: but because faith (by means of the representation and consideration of those things that it teacheth us) provoketh us to refrain from sin, and wickedness, and to follow virtue, and goodness. And this is the cause why the Apostle willeth us to take faith as a shield against all the fiery darts of the enemy. For certainly, there is no better shield against the darts of sin, than to call those things to mind, that faith hath revealed unto us against the same.
Wherefore that this faith may work this effect in us, it is very requisite that we do some times ponder and consider in our minds with good attention and devotion such things as our faith teacheth us. For if we do not so, it seemeth that our faith shall be unto us, as it were a letter closed up, and sealed: in which although there come notable important news of very great sorrow, or joy: yet it moveth us not at all, neither to the one, nor to the other, no more than if we had received no letter at all. And the reason is, because we have not opened the letter, nor considered what things are contained in it. Now what thing could be said more aptly, or more to the purpose, touching the faith of the wicked and dissolute Christians? For surely there can not be things of great terror, and joy, than those are, which our faith declareth unto us. But the wicked Christians because they do never open this letter, to see what things be contained in it, (I mean hereby, because they do never think and meditate upon these mysteries of our Christian faith, or if they think upon them, they pass them over very lightly, and in great haste,) they cause not in them this manner of motion, and alteration, to wit, of joy, or of fear. Wherefore it behooveth us some times to open this letter of our faith, I mean, the mysteries thereof, and to read the same very leisurely, and to consider with good attention, what things are taught us in the same: the which is done by means of the exercise of consideration. For it is consideration that openeth that which is locked, and unfoldeth that which is folded together, and maketh that clear unto us, which is otherwise dark, and obscure. And so by illuminating our understanding with the greatness of the mysteries of our faith, it inclineth our will, (so farforth as appertaineth to the office of consideration) to conform our life to the same. This office of consideration almighty God figured very notably in the law, when among the conditions that were required in the clean beast, he assigned this for one, that the beast should chew the cud, to wit, the meat that it had eaten before. Now it is certain, that it was little to the purpose, whether the beast were clean, or unclean, and surely almighty God made little accompt of that: But his meaning was, to represent unto us in that clean beast, that be spiritually clean, (to wit, of the just and righteous persons) that are not content only to care such things, as appertain unto almighty God, in believing them by faith, but after they have eaten them, they do also chew them by means of consideration, in searching and pondering the mysteries which they believe. And after they have understood the meaning and excellency of them that distribute and divide this meat unto all the spiritual members of the soul, for the sustentation, and repairing of the same.
Insomuch that if we mark this matter well, we shall find, that it fareth in this case, as in the seed of a tree, which although it do virtually contain within it the substance of the tree, yet hath it need of the virtue and influence of heaven, and of the benefit and moisture of the earth, to cause the virtue that is inclosed in the seed, to some forth to light, and to grow up by little, and little, and wax a tree. Even so in like manner we say, that although faith be the first seed, and original of all our weal, yet must it needs be holpen with this benefit of consideration, that by the same, and by means of charity, the green and fruitful tree of good life (which is virtually contained therein) may grow, and come to light.
OF PRAYER AND MEDITATION 