Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

First, sayeth the Apostle, Abraham contrary to hope believed in hope: that is to say, there he had a constant hope, where notwithstanding he had nothing to hope after, if all things had been weighed according to the manner of this world. But, Hope is a most firm and undoubted looking after those things which we believe: So that we see that the Apostle did make faith manifest by hope, and by the certainty of hope did declare the assured constancy of faith. After that saith he, Abraham fainted not in faith, nor staggered at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith.

Firste, sayeth the Apostle, Abraham contrary to hope beleeued in hope: that is to say, there he had a constant hope, where notwithstanding he had nothing to hope after, if all thinges had been weighed accordinge to the manner of this worlde. But, Hope is a moste firme and vndoubted looking after those thinges which we beléeue: So that we see that the Apostle did make fayth manifest by hope, and by the certaintie of hope did declare the assured constancie of fayth. After that sayth he, Abraham faynted not in fayth, nor stackered at the promise of God through vnbeliefe, but was stronge in fayth.

There are two kinds of staggerings in mankind: The one is that which being overcome by evil tentations doeth bend to desperation, and the despising of Gods promises. Such was the staggering of those ten spies of the holy land, of whom mention is made in the thirteen and fourteen chapter of Numbers. The other staggering, is rather to be called a weak infirmity of faith, which also is tempted it self: that now I may not make rehearsal to you, how that in us all, by the spot of original sin, is naturally grafted a certain kind of unbelief, and that mans mind is at no time so enlightened or confirmed, but that cloudy mists of ignorance and doubtings do some times arise: yet notwithstanding, faith yieldeth not to tentation, neither is drowned nor sticketh in the of mire staggering, but laying hold upon the promised word of trueth, getteth up again by struggling, and is confirmed. So we read, that at the promise of God this came into Abraham's mind. What, shall there a Son be borne to thee that art an hundred years old? this was that infirmity, and staggering or weakness of faith. But here the Apostle commending Abraham's faith, which overcame and yielded not, teaching us also of what sort true faith ought to be, that is, a firm and most assured persuasion, saith: Abraham fainted not in faith, neither considered his own body now dead, when he was almost an hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarah's womb. Lo, this thought came into Abraham's mind. Shall a Son be borne to me that am an hundred years old? But he fainted not in faith. The faith of Abraham began not to droop by reason of this temptation. For, he considered not the weakness that was in him self, nothing answerable to the promise of God. what then? He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. That is, he gave no place to unbelief to be tempted of it: he fell not to his own reasons and doubtful inquisitions, as unbelievers are wont to do. For Gods promise being once set before the eyes of his mind, so that I say he stuck unmoveably, casting of all doubts and reasons of his own. For, faith hath no respect at all to the weakness, misery, or lack which is properly in man kind, but setteth her whole stay in the power of God.