Man. To the very same.
Faith. I hope then we shall have your good company.
Man. With all my heart.
Faith. Come then, let us pass the time in discoursing of things profitable.
Man. It is very acceptable to me to talk of good things. I am glad I have met those that incline to so good a work. For, to speak the truth, there are but few that care thus to spend their time, but rather to speak of unprofitable things. And this hath been a trouble to me. For what is so pleasant as to talk of the things of God? Who would not delight to talk of miracles, wonders, and signs, which are so sweetly penned in the holy scripture?
Faith. But, to be profited by the things we talk of should be our chief design.
Man. Without doubt. And what so profitable as to talk of these things? Of the vanity of earthly things, and the excellency of things above? Or more particularly, of the insufficiency of our own, and the need of Christ’s righteousness? Of the necessity of the new birth, repentance, faith, and prayer, and all the graces of the holy Spirit?
Faith. I am glad to hear this from you.
Man. Alas, for want of this it is that so few understand the nature of faith, and the necessity of an inward change, in order to eternal life: but ignorantly live in the works of the law, by which no flesh can be justified. But indeed a man can receive nothing except it be given him from above. All is of grace, not of works.
Faith. Well then, what shall we discourse of now?