M.  Cannot these things also be in the devils, or in wicked men?

      S.  Nothing less.  For ^tthough they fear or rather with horror do dread God as most mighty and righteous, for that they know he will take vengeance of their ungodliness, yet can they neither have any trust in his goodness and mercy toward them, or any recourse to his grace, nor enter into any endeavour to obey his will.  Therefore their faith, although they doubt not of the truth of the word of God, is called ^ua dead faith, for that like a dry and dead stock it never bringeth forth any fruits of godly life, that is, of love to God and charity toward men.

      M.  Give me then, out of that which thou hast hitherto said, a definition of that same lively, true, and Christian faith.

      S.  ^xFaith is an assured knowledge of the fatherly goodwill of God toward us through Christ, and an affiance in the same goodness, as it is witnessed in the gospel; which faith hath coupled with it an ^yendeavour of godly life, that is, to obey the will of God the Father.

      M.  Thou hast sufficiently declared what thou meanest by the terms of “faith” and “believing.”  Now go forward, and tell me in as apt words as thou canst, what thou understandest by the name of God, which followeth next in the Creed.

      S.  I will do the best I can, good master, as my wit and ability will serve me.  I understand that there is ^zone nature, or ^asubstance, or soul, or mind, or rather ^bdivine Spirit (for diversely have wise men, both heathen and Christian, termed God, where indeed by no words he can be properly termed) ^ceternal, without beginning and end, ^dimmeasurable, ^euncorporal, invisible with the eyes of men, of ^fmost excellent majesty, which we call God, whom all peoples of the world ^gmust reverence and worship with the highest honour; and in him, as in the best and greatest, ^hto settle their hope and affiance.