On Faith.

in cold and nakedness, besides the other things that cling to me daily, namely the anxiety for all the churches: who is weak, or I am not also weak? Who is offended, and I do not burn? This, O Lodewijck, is the almighty power of faith, with which power, being armed, he was able to do all things through the same One who strengthened him. If it is now such that we have the same powers to obey, then we may truly attribute faith to ourselves; if it is not so, then let us not pretend to have what we lack, so that there does not happen to us what happened to the man who dreamed he had found a treasure, but after waking up found that he did not have a penny.

Lod. I have indeed, O Diederick, dreamed that I overflowed with faith, and now, being examined through your arguments, I find myself, with the whole world, completely void of faith, for I do not believe the powers of faith are in me, nor do I perceive them in the world.

Diederick. That you are void of faith, O Lodewijck, is indeed to be lamented, but that you, now that you are such, see yourself as such, is not only not to be lamented, but also to be rejoiced over,

Means for the removal of unbelief.

just as sickness is unpleasant, but the knowledge of the sickness ought to be pleasant, considering that the sickness, unless it is known, cannot be healed.

Lodewijck. By what means or by what medicine, then, shall this sickness of my unbelief be healed?

Diederick. The hindrances to faith must be removed.