A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

§. 3. If Satan be driven from this hold, he solicits to fear, because many doubts and motions of distrust arise in the heart;¹ as if there could be no faith where there are so many doubts. And it cannot be denied, but motions to distrust argue faith to be weak, which is a want that many of Gods people do bewail in themselves, ⟨p. 173⟩and for which they do well-nigh despair in themselves.² Notwithstanding let not any be out of heart, for the small and scanty measure of his faith, if he have true faith, well-rooted. For faith may be true and lively, that is but weak and small. For difference in degrees doth not vary the nature of well-rooted affiance. And God requireth the truth of faith, but it is not necessary, that it be perfect in degree. If a Prince should proffer a pardon to a malefactor upon this condition only that he receive it, would he question his Sovereigns bounty and grace, because he put forth a palsy-shaking hand? To doubt of Gods mercy because our faith is feeble, is rather to rely upon our faith then upon the Lord. It is not the excellency and great measure of faith that doth make us righteous before God, but Christ whom faith doth receive and apprehend: which a weak faith can do as well as the strongest. They that did look on the brazen serpent but with one eye, yea but with half an eye were as well and fully cured of the deadly stings of the fiery serpents, as those which beheld it with both. As a small and weak hand is able to receive an alms as well as a stronger and greater: so our faith though feeble, doth receive Christ as truly and effectually for the salvation of the believer, as the greatest and most strong. In the manner of receiving there is some difference [for the more firm our confidence, the greater is our comfort] but in the truth none at all. Again it is not faith, but Christ received by faith that nourisheth to life eternal. Meat reached to the mouth by a trembling hand sustaineth the body no less, then if it were applied by an arm of strength; the goodness of the nourishment receiving no change or alteration from the external instrument of application: so here Christ is the same to them that receive him truly, though it be done in one with more, in another with less strength of affiance.