Exercise Your Faith by Samuel Ward

Introduction: Samuel Ward lived from 1577 to 1639. Ward, a moderate Puritan himself, was a student of the Puritan William Perkins and always remained favorable towards Puritanism, even when Puritanism was not a popular position and despite Ward's remaining a staunch royalist.

So that when you want to get anything out of your wayward heart, set your faith to work, and you will be sure to obtain it. The power of God will secretly empower your heart, infusing it with a pliable willingness, and making your will lamb-like, and dove-like. All this it does by fetching its efficacy from the life and death of Christ, from that mighty power whereby Christ raised himself from the dead, cured all the diseases, and performed his miracles. This transforms the heart of man, and creates new principles of action in him. Prove this power in the mortifying of your flesh to sin, and in making your spirit alive to holiness.