This is gathered from the text. Because faith is here laid as the foundation upon which all vertues are to be built. _Reason_ 1. Because without faith no man can please God unto everlasting life, and therefore the very vertues of unbelievers, although they be pleasing unto God in themselves, especially if a comparison be made betwixt them and vices, yet they are not pleasing unto God unto salvation, or such as that they may expect a spirituall reward from God; and therefore if a comparison be made betwixt them and the vertues of the faithfull, they may not unfitly be called, _splendida peccata_, glorious sinnes. 2. Because to the making up of vertue there is required not only good matter and forme, but also the beginning and end. Now in a heart destitute of faith there is not the beginning of Christian vertue, and from the defect of this beginning there followes also a defect, both in the end, and in the forme. The manner how faith produceth vertue, is, 1. In regard of the object which it layes hold of, because all grace and vertue is derived from Christ. 2. In regard of the effect, because faith purifies the heart of man, and so makes it fit for such operations and dispositions. 3. Because faith it selfe is an impulsive argument, moving us to labour for vertue. _Vse_ 1. This may serve to reprove those imprudent builders, that neglect faith and seeke for vertue, as if they would build the roofe of the house and not lay the foundation. 2. To exhort us, to have great care of faith, because all vertues depend upon it. Doctrine 5. _Vertue is the glory of faith._ This is gathered therehence, that it is said, it must be added to faith as something belonging to the perfection thereof. Now it is not an essentiall perfection, but complementall; not internall properly, but externall. _Reason_ 1. Because faith without vertue is not a living, but a dead faith. 2. Because vertue is the end of faith. 3. Because it is the adorning thereof. _Use_ 1. This may serve to reprove those, that boast of faith and neglect vertue, such were many even in the Apostles time, as appeares by the Epistle of _Iames_. 2. To exhort us, to give all diligence, to adde vertue to faith. Doctrine 6. _The perfection of vertue depends upon knowledge._ This is gathered from that; _To vertue adde knowledge_. By knowledge we meane, not so much that intellectuall vertue, which is properly called _scientia_, knowledge, as understanding, wisdome, and prudence, all which are signified in the Scriptures by the right _knowledge of Gods will_. Now this knowledge is necessary unto vertue both in generall and particular. _Reason_ 1. Because _virtus est habitus electivus_, vertue is an habit pertaining to election, or hath good election joyned with it. Now to this election it is required, that a man should rightly know the end, and also the meanes that lead unto the end, and the manner also how he may come to the end by those meanes.