A57982:433
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
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.
5. The fifth ingredient also in Faith, is, that its bottomed upon the sense and pain of a lost condition. Poverty is the nearest capacity of believing. This is Faiths method, Be condemned, and be saved. Be hanged, and be pardoned. Be sick, and be healed, Mat. 9.13. Jam. 4.7, 8. Mat. 11.28. Luke 19.10. Faith is a floor of Christs only planting, yet it groweth out of no soil, but out of the margin and bank of the lake of fire and brimstone, in regard there be none so fit for Christ and Heaven, as those who are self-sick, ⟨p. 330⟩and self-condemned to Hell. This is a foundation to Christ, that because the man is broken, and has not bread; therefore he must be sold, and Christ must buy him, and take him home to his fireside, and clothe him, and feed him. The chased man, pursued upon death and life, who hath not a way for life, but one nick of a rock; if he miss that, he is a dead man, had he a hundred lives. So is the believer pursued for blood, there is but one City of refuge in Heaven, or out of Heaven; this is only, only Jesus Christ the great rock. And it is true, its in a manner forced Faith, and forced love cast upon Christ upon a great venture; yet we may make necessity here the greatest virtue, or the highest grace, and that is to come to Christ. Satan doth but ride upon the weakness of many, proving, that they are not worthy of Christ, which is the way of a Sophist, to prove an evident truth that cannot be denied. But there's no greater vantage can be had against Sin and Satan then this; because I am unworthy of Christ, and out of measure sinful, and I find it is so, (Satan and conscience teaching me that truth, to bring me on a false conclusion) therefore ought I, therefore must I come to Christ unworthy as I am. For free-grace is moved from within it self from Gods good will, only without any motion or action from sin, to put it self forth upon the sinner; to the end, that sin being exceeding sinful, Grace may be abundantly ⟨p. 331⟩Grace; and no thanks to Satan for suggesting a true principle (Thou art unworthy of Christ) to promove a false conclusion, (Therefore thou art not to come to Christ) for the contrary arguing is, Gospel-logic. Satan's reasoning should be good, if there were no way but the law to give life. But because there is a Saviour, a Gospel, and a new and living way to Heaven: The contrary arguing is, the sinners life and happiness.