Remains of that reverend and learned divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in…Remaines of that reverend and learned divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in…

The third difference is this, he that is spiritually strong, is strong in faith. The strength of the inward ¹man is faith: but the strength of the outward man is but moral strength, an habitual strength of nature: it is faith that gives strength: a man is not a strong man in Christ, or in the inward man that hath not a strong faith. Strong faith makes a man or woman strong: that is, it is that which makes a difference between a spiritual man, and a natural man: for as reason makes a difference between men and beasts, so faith makes a difference between a holy man, and a wicked man: as for example, take a Philosopher that doth excel in other things, as in humane ⟨p. 86⟩knowledge: such go beyond other men, yet in matters of faith and believing, they are as blind as beetles; and the reason is this, the one sees and doth all things by faith, but the other only by the light of nature and this is the same that the Apostle speaks of in Hebr. 11. of weak they became strong, that is, because they had faith, and ²were strong in the faith, and trusted and believed, and hoped in God, therefore they became strong, they did that which other men could not do that wanted faith. Sisera might do as great things as Gideon; but here is the difference, Gideon doth them all out of Faith, but the other doth them but from nature, and so Socrates may in worldly things, be as wise as Paul, that is, as wise in understanding, and in policy by reason of excellent outward parts as Paul: but here is the difference, Paul doth all things out of faith, but Socrates doth not: therefore the Apostle saith, 1 Tim. 4. 10. We are strong because we stand in God: that is, we have a strong ³faith in God, and that makes us to withstand all the assaults of men and devils. I say, this is that which makes a difference betwixt us and the men of the world. Diogenes may trample under his feet the things of the world as well as Moses, but Moses by faith chose rather the one then the other,