A57982:279
The trial & triumph of faithThe tryal & triumph of faith
The trial & triumph of faith: or, An exposition of the history of Christs dispossessing of the daughter of the woman of Canaan Delivered in sermons; in which are opened, the victory of faith; the condition of those that are tempted; the excellency of Jesus Christ and free-grace; and some special grounds and principles of libertinism and antinomian errors, discovered by Samuel Rutherfurd, professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews. Published by authority.The tryal & triumph of faith: or, An exposition of the history of Christs dispossessing of the daughter of the woman of Canaan Delivered in sermons; in which are opened, the victory of faith; the condition of those that are tempted; the excellency of Jesus Christ and free-grace; and some speciall grounds and principles of libertinisme and antinomian errors, discovered by Samuel Rutherfurd, professor of divinity in the University of St. Andrews. Published by authority.
London: printed by John Field, 1652
Sermon 15: 25. Then came she and worshipped him; saying, Lord help me]
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Its a sign of a sweet humbled servant, who can take a buffet,1 and yet go about his Masters service; and when a soul can pass through fire and water to be at a duty; for then the conscience of the duty hath more prevailing power to act obedience, then the salt and bitterness of the temptation hath force to subdue and vanquish the Spirit; its like Grace hath the day, ⟨p. 168⟩and better of Corruption. 2. It argueth a soul well watched and kept from the incursion of a house sin, and a home-bred corruption: for the temptation setteth on the nearest corruption, as fire kindleth the nearest powder, and dry timber; and so goeth along, Ps. 18.18. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: vers. 23. I was upright before him, and I kept my self from mine iniquity. The Devil hath a friend within us; now there be degrees of friends, some nearer of blood then other some, the mans own predominant is the dearer friend to Satan, then any other sin; if pride be the predominant, its so Satan his first-born, he agents his business by pride. 3. So it may argue, that the soul steeled and fortified with grace, taketh occasion from the sinfulness of the temptation, and the edge of it, to be more zealous and active in duties. David scoffed at by Michol, said, Isle be more vile yet: so Psal. 22.7. All that see me laugh me to scorn, they shoot out the lip, they shake the head: 8. He trusted in the Lord, &c. See here a heavy temptation, but his faith diggeth deeper, to the first experience of Gods goodness: vers. 9. But thou art he that took me out of the womb, &c. As the Church mocked with this, Sing us one of the songs of Zion, Psal. 137. raiseth an higher esteem of Zion, because Zions songs are scoffed at: Vers. 5. Let them mock Zion as they list. But if I forget Zion, then vers. 6. I pray God my tongue may ⟨p. 169⟩cleave to the roof of my mouth: So the Thief hearing Christ blasphemed, and railed on by his fellow, doth take more boldness to extol him as a King; Lord, remember me, when thou comest to thy Kingdom: Grace appeareth the more gracious and active that it hath an adversary; contraries in nature, as fire and water, put forth their greatest strength, when they actually conflict together.