An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

The second act of faith, is a fiducial dependence on the promise of God, and his Power, which is able to raise up the heart above all fears and discouragements, yea to represent prisons, palaces, and coals of fire, beds of roses, such a transubstantiating nature is faith of. It was faith, Heb. 11. which made Moses esteem the reproaches of Christ more than all the glory and honour which was in Pharaoh's court; especially faith as it is the substance of things hoped for. As it maketh Heaven and glory present, so it's admirably quickening and enlivening the heart of him that suffereth. It is therefore called The shield of faith, which above all, or to all (as some expound) we are to take, as if no other part of the spiritual armoury would do any good, unless we had faith, Ephes. 6. 16. Hence when Peter was to undergo Satan's winnowings, which were chiefly by persecutions, Christ saith, He prayed that his faith might not fail him, Luk. 22. 32. not his fortitude, patience or zeal, but his faith, because this is the root; the tree can never fail as long as the root is good. It was want of faith made many in times of persecution sacrifice to Idols, and deliver the Bible to be burnt. It was want of faith made Spira fall into so great an Apostasy. Thus faith is the chief grace that enableth to suffer for Christ. This makes weak, strong, and Lambs, Lions.

The second act of faith, is a fiducial dependance on the promise of God, and his Power, which is able to raise up the heart above all fears and discouragements, yea to represent prisons, palaces, and coals of fire, beds of roses, such a transubstantiating nature is faith of. It was faith, Heb. 11. which made Moses esteem the reproaches of Christ more than all the glory and honour which was in Pharaoh's court; especially faith as it is the substance of things hoped for. As it maketh Heaven and glory present, so it's admirably quickning and enlivening the heart of him that suffereth. It is therefore called The shield of faith, which above all, or to all (as some expound) we are to take, as if no other part of the spiritual armoury would do any good, unlesse we had faith, Ephes. 6. 16