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莱尔主教holiness-第55章

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   between faith and assurancethat a believer may be justified and
   accepted with God; and yet not enjoy a fortable knowledge and
   persuasion of his own safetyand that the weakest faith in Christ; if
   it be true; will save a man as surely as the strongest。

   (1) 〃The mercy of God is greater than all the sins in the world。 But we
   sometimes are in such a case; that we think we have no faith at all; or
   if we have any; it is very feeble and weak。 And therefore these are two
   things: to have faith; and to have the feeling of faith。 For some men
   would fain have the feeling of faith; but they cannot attain unto it;
   and yet they must not despair; but go forward in calling upon God; and
   it will e at the length: God will open their hearts; and let them
   feel His goodness。〃Bishop Larimer's Sermons。 1552。

   (2) 〃Weak faith may fail in the applying; or in the apprehension and
   appropriating of Christ's benefits to a man's own self。 This is to be
   seen in ordinary experience。 For many a man there is of humble and
   contrite heart; that serveth God in spirit and truth; yet is not able
   to say; without great doublings and waverings; I know and am fully
   assured that my sins are pardoned。 Now shall we say that all such are
   without faith? God forbid。

   〃This weak faith will as truly apprehend God's merciful promises for
   the pardon of sin as strong faith; though not so soundly。 Even as a man
   with a palsied hand can stretch it out as well to receive a gift at the
   hand of a king as he that is more sound; though it may be not so firmly
   and steadfastly。〃Exposition of the Creed; by William Perkins;
   Minister of Christ in the University of Cambridge。 1612。

   (3) 〃This certainty of our salvation; spoken of by Paul; rehearsed by
   Peter; and mentioned by David (Psalm iv。 7); is that special fruit of
   faith; which breedeth spiritual joy and inward peace; which passeth all
   understanding。 True it is; all God's children have it not。 One thing is
   the tree; and another thing is the fruit of the tree: one thing is
   faith; and another thing is the fruit of faith。 And that remnant of
   God's elect which feel the want of this faith; have notwithstanding
   faith。〃Sermons by Richard Greenham; Minister and Preacher of the Word
   of God。 1612。

   (4) 〃Some think they have no faith at all; because they have no full
   assurance。 Yet the fairest fire that can be will have some smoke。〃The
   Bruised Reed; by Richard Sibbes; Master of Catherine Hall; Cambridge;
   and Preacher of Gray's Inn; London。 1630。

   (5) 〃The act of faith is to apply Christ to the soul; and this the
   weakest faith can do as well as the strongest; if it be true。 A child
   can hold a staff as well; though not so strongly; as a man。 The
   prisoner through a hole sees the sun; though not so perfectly as they
   in the open air。 They that saw the brazen serpent; though a great way
   off; yet were healed。

   〃The least faith is as precious to the believer's soul as Peter's or
   Paul's faith was to themselves; for it lays hold upon Christ and brings
   eternal salvation。〃An Exposition of the Second Epistle General of
   Peter; by the Rev。 Thomas Adams; Rector of St。 Gregory's; London。 1633。

   (6) 〃Weak faith is true faithas precious; though not so great as
   strong faith: the same Holy Ghost the author; the same Gospel the
   instrument。

   〃If it never proves great; yet weak faith shall save; for it interests
   us in Christ; and makes Him and all His benefits ours。 For it is not
   the strength of our faith that saves; but the truth of our faithnot
   the weakness of our faith that condemns; but the want of faith; for the
   least faith layeth hold on Christ; and so will save us。 Neither are we
   saved by the worth or quantity of our faith; but by Christ; who is laid
   hold on by a weak faith as well as a strong。 Just as a weak hand that
   can put meat into the mouth shall feed and nourish the body as well as
   if it were a strong hand; seeing the body is not nourished by the
   strength of the hand; but by the goodness of the meat。〃The Doctrine
   of Faith; by John Rogers; Preacher of God's Word; at Dedham; in Essex。
   1634。

   (7) 〃It is one thing to have a thing surely; another thing to know I
   have it surely。 We seek many things that we have in our hands; and we
   have many things that we think we have lost。 So a believer; who hath a
   sure belief; yet doth not always know that he so believeth。 Faith is
   necessary to salvation: but full assurance that I do believe is not of
   like necessity。〃Ball on Faith。 1637。

   (8) 〃There is a weak faith; which yet is true; and although it be weak;
   yet; because it is true; it shall not be rejected of Christ。

   〃Faith is not created perfect at the first; as Adam was; but is like a
   man in the ordinary course of nature; who is first an instrument; then
   a child; then a youth; then a man。

   〃Some utterly reject all weak ones; and tax all weakness in faith with
   hypocrisy。 Certainly these are either proud or cruel men。

   〃Some fort and establish those who are weak; saying; Be quiet。 Thou
   hast faith and grace enough; and art good enough: thou needest no more;
   neither must thou be too righteous。' (Eccles。 vii。 16。) These are soft;
   but not safe; cushions: these are fawning flatterers; and not faithful
   friends。

   〃Some fort and exhort; saying; Be of good cheer: He who hath begun a
   good work will also finish it in you; therefore pray that His grace may
   abound in you; yea; do not sit still; but go forward; and march on in
   the way of the Lord。' (Heb。 vi。 1。) Now this is the safest and best
   course。〃Questions; Observations; etc。; upon the Gospel according to
   St。 Matthew; by Richard Ward; sometime Student at Cambridge; and
   Preacher of the Gospel in London。 1640。

   (9) 〃A man may be in the favour of God; in the state of grace; a
   justified man before God; and yet want the sensible assurance of His
   salvation; and of the favour of God in Christ。

   〃A man may have saving grace in him; and not perceive it himself; a man
   may have true justifying faith in him; and not have the use and
   operation of it; so far as to work in him a fortable assurance of
   his reconciliation with God。 Nay; I will say more: a man may be in the
   state of grace; and have true justifying faith in him; and yet be so
   far from sensible assurance of it in himself; as in his own sense and
   feeling he may seem to be assured of the contrary。 Job was certainly in
   this case when he cried unto God; Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face and
   boldest me for Thine enemy?' (Job xiii。 24。)

   〃The weakest faith will justify。 If thou canst receive Christ and rest
   upon Him; even with the weakest faith; it will serve thy turn。 Take
   heed thou think not it is the strength of thy faith that justifieth
   thee。 No; no: it is Christ and His perfect righteousness which thy
   faith receiveth and resteth upon; that doth it。 He that hath the
   feeblest and weakest hand may receive an alms and apply a sovereign
   plaster to his wound; as wel
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