Edward Fisher (1627–1655)
The Marrow of Modern Divinity I.iii.9

Use of means for strengthening of faith.

Young Christian: O sir, I desire it [i.e. strong faith and godliness] with all my heart; and therefore, I pray you, tell me, what you would have me to do, that I may grow more strong.

Minister: Why, surely, the best advice and counsel that I can give you, is to exercise that faith which you have, and wrestle against doubting, and be earnest with God in prayer for the increase of it. “Forasmuch,” says Luther, “as this gift is in the hands of God only, who bestoweth when, and on whom, he pleaseth, thou must resort unto him by prayer, and say with the apostles, ‘Lord, increase our faith,'” (Luke 17:5). And you must also be diligent in hearing the word preached; for as “faith cometh by hearing,” (Rom 10:17), so is it also increased by hearing. And you must also read the word, and meditate upon the free and gracious promises of God; for the promise is the immortal seed, whereby the Spirit of Christ begets and increases faith in the hearts of all his. And lastly, you must frequent the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, and receive it as often as conveniently you can.

Antinomian: But by your favour, sir, if faith be the gift of God, and he give it when, and to whom he pleases, then I conceive that a man’s using such means will not procure any greater measure of it than God is pleased to give.

Minister: I confess it is not the means that will either beget or increase faith; but it is the Spirit of God in the use of means that doth it: so that as the means will not do it without the Spirit, neither will the Spirit do it without the means, where the means may be had. Wherefore, I pray you, do not you hinder him from using the means.

Young Christian: Sir, for my own part, let him say what he will, I am resolved, by the assistance of God, to be careful and diligent in the use of these means which you have now prescribed; that so, by the increasing of my faith, I may be the better enabled to be subject to the will of the Lord, and so walk as that I may please him.