The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

Quest. You will say, What is that proper essential work of faith, that is the most glorious difficult work that ever was performed?

Quest. You wil say, What is that proper essential work of faith, that is the most glorious difficult work that ever was performed?

Answ. For a Creature that doth apprehend it self by Nature an enemy to God, a poor wretched defiled creature by sin, standing guilty in the presence of God, having the wrath of God incensed against it, the Justice of God crying for satisfaction, and the Law of God pronouncing an eternal Curse upon it, for a soul to see this, and be sensible of it, and yet in this condition to raise up its self, to lay hold upon the perfect righteousness of a Mediator, God and Man, and to venture ⟨p. 139⟩its eternal estate upon that righteousness, and to tender up to God by Faith that righteousness as a full satisfaction to his Justice, and as sufficient to bear off the the wrath of God from it; and notwithstanding all the pollution of its nature, yet to unite it self to the Deity, in the nearest union that ever creature was united to the Deity, except the personal Union of Christ to the Divine Nature: this is a glorious work; and no marvel though such glorious power of God be in Faith; and a Faith that can do this, may do any thing, as Christ said, If you can believe, all things are possible: so say I to every one that hath low thoughts of Faith, and think it a mean work, If you can believe, all things are possible; it is a greater thing to believe truly, than for to work miracles; a man may work miracles, and yet be damned; but justifying Faith doth so unite the soul to God that it is impossible the soul should be damned, and therefore it is a greater miracle than ever any was enabled to do; though God enables Angels to do great things, yet he never enables them to do such a glorious work as this. Besides, though people think Faith is an easy matter, yet it is the most difficult work in the world.

Answ. For a Creature that doth apprehend it self by Nature an enemy to God, a poor wretched defiled creature by sin, standing guilty in the presence of God, having the wrath of God incensed against it, the Justice of God crying for satisfaction, and the Law of God pronouncing an eternal Curse upon it, for a soul to see this, and be sensible of it, and yet in this condition to raise up its self, to lay hold upon the perfect righteousness of a Mediator, God and Man, and to venture