A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

This was not the Faith of Abraham, that is, this alone was not so. Wherein it consisted and how it was acted we shall have occasion afterwards to declare. But what do men think of the long-suffering before described? Their Relief against it, is to trust in such a Faith as stands in no need of it. For that common Faith which most men content themselves withal, seldom or never puts them upon the exercise of patient long-suffering. It is against the actings of a lively Faith that those Oppositions arise which the exercise of that other Grace is needful to conflict withal. And I shall give some few instances of it wherein the necessity of it will be made to appear. For if I should handle it at large, all the Difficulties that lye in the way of our Profession would fall under consideration: Of Faith we shall treat afterwards. And,

This was not the Faith of Abraham, that is, this alone was not so. Wherein it consisted and how it was acted we shall have occasion afterwards to declare. But what do men think of the long-suffering before described? Their Relief against it, is to trust in such a Faith as stands in no need of it. For that common Faith which most men content themselves withall, seldom or never puts them upon the exercise of patient long-suffering. It is against the actings of a lively Faith that those Oppositions arise which the exercise of that other Grace is needful to conflict withall. And I shall give some few instances of it wherein the necessity of it will be made to appear. For if I should handle it at large, all the Difficulties that lye in the way of our Profession would fall under consideration: Of Faith we shall treat afterwards. And,

1. It is necessary with respect unto those Reproaches which the Profession of a saving Faith will expose men unto. It hath done so always, and will do so whilst ⟨p. 129⟩this world continues. And they are usually cast on Believers in so great variety on all sorts of occasions, as that it would be a long work to call over the principal of them. For they are the chief effects of the Endeavours of Satan as he is the accuser of the Brethren. I shall instance only in those of one kind. And they are those which on their Straights, Difficulties and Temptations, the world reflects upon, as if their Profession of Faith in God were vain, false and hypocritical. When men said unto David, Where is now thy God? or what is become of thy Religion and Profession, thy pretended Trust in God? he says, it was a killing Sword in his Bones, it pierced deep and pained greatly,