Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

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.

There are two kindes of stackerings in mankinde: The one is that which being ouercome by euill tentations doeth bende to desperation, and the despising of Gods promises. Such was the stackering of those ten spies of the holy lande, of whom mention is made in the thirtéene and fourtéene chapiter of Numbers. The other stackering, is rather to be called a weake infirmitie of fayth, which also is tempted it selfe: that nowe I may not make rehearsall to you, howe that in vs all, by the spot of originall sinne, is naturally grafted a certaine kinde of vnbeliefe, and that mans minde is at no time so inlightened or confirmed, but that cloudy mystes of ignorance and doubtinges doe some times arise: yet notwithstanding, fayth yéeldeth not to tentation, neither is drowned nor sticketh in the of myre stackering, but laying holde vpon the promised worde of trueth, getteth vp againe by strugling, and is confirmed. So we reade, that at the promise of God this came into Abrahams mynde. What, shall there a Sonne be borne to thée that art an hundred yeres old? this was that infirmitie, and stackering or weakenesse of fayth. But here the Apostle commending Abrahams fayth, which ouercame and yéelded not, teaching vs also of what sort true fayth ought to be, that is, a firme and most assured persuasion, sayth: Abraham fainted not in fayth, neyther considered his owne body nowe deade, when he was almost an hundred yeares olde, nor the deadnesse of Saraes wombe. Loe, this thought came into Abrahams minde. Shall a Sonne be borne to me that am an hundred yeares olde? But he faynted not in fayth. The fayth of Abraham began not to droope by reason of this temptation. For, he considered not the weaknesse that was in him selfe, nothing answerable to the promise of God. what thē? He stackered not at ye promise of God through vnbeliefe. That is, he gaue no place to vnbeléefe to be tempted of it: he fell not to his owne reasons and doubtfull inquisitions, as vnbeléeuers are woont to doe. For Gods promise beinge once set before the eyes of his mind, so that I say he stucke vnmoueably, casting of all doubts and reasons of his owne. For, fayth hath no respecte at all to the weakenesse, miserie, or lacke which is properly in man kinde, but setteth her whole staye in the power of God.