Sacramental meditations upon divers select places of scripture

Thirdly: This is a disease under which all Christians do labour more or less. There is not a heart so holy in all the world, but is in some degree tainted and infected with this disease. And this hath been evident, not only in ⟨p. 144⟩all Christians of all sizes, but in all the acts of their faith. Jobs faith triumphed in cap. 13. 15. yet had its eclipse and fainting fit, in cap. 19. 20. Abraham was a most renowned Believer, a great pattern and example of faith; oh, how high a pitch did his faith mount to, in Gen. 22. 3. and yet there was a time when it fainted, and failed him as at Gerar. Gen. 20. 2, 9, 10, 11. David in Psal. 27. 1. 23. was not like David in 1 Sam. 27. 1. The faith of Peter shone out like the Sun in a glorious confession, Matth. 16. 16. and yet was not only beclouded, but seemed to be gone down and quite set in Matth. 26. 69. though it afterwards recovered it self.

Fourthly: 'Tis not this or that degree of unbelief that damns a man, but the power and dominion of it that damns him. Indeed your comfort much depends upon the strength of your faith, but your salvation depends upon the truth of it. Most Christians come to Heaven with a weak and doubting faith, but few with their sails filled with a direct and fresh wind of assurance.

Forthly: 'Tis not this or that degree of unbelief that damnes a man, but the power and dominion of it that damnes him. Indeed your comfort much depends upon the strength of your faith, but your salvation depends upon the truth of it. Most Christians come to Heaven with a weak and doubting faith, but few with their sails fill'd with a direct and fresh wind of assurance.