A57982:480
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.
If a gracious temper of meekness like Christ was not the predominant element of grace in Moses, yet it was in a great measure in him, he bearing the name with him, who best knoweth names, and things, of the meekest man in the earth: Yet in that which was his flour, he proved weaker then himself, and spake unadvisedly with his lips. Our highest Graces may meet with an ill hour. Job by the testimony of the Holy Ghost is patient, Ye have heard of the patience of Job. And, Chap. 3. We have heard of the cursing passion of Job also. Believing is like sailing, which is not always equal,1 often strength of wind will blow the ship twenty miles backward. 2. The smallest measure of Faith. The minimum quod sic, is sincere adherence to Christ. Not that negative adherence simply,2 by which some one may say, I dare not for a world quit my part in Christ, or give up with him. Natural spirits may have a natural tenderness, by which they dare not quit Christ, and give up with him. Yet there's no saving faith in natural spirits, but there's in the believer some positive adherence under, or with the negative, by which there's a ⟨p. 376⟩power of love and kindness, making the soul to cleave to Christ: There may be great weakness with this, and great failings, and yet faith unfeigned. We have need of much charity to these that are weak in Faith. A reed, a broken reed may grow; and Christ will not break it. A buried believer is a believer; if Christ have a near relation of blood to a piece of blew clay, and the dead corps of a believer; seeing in his flesh there's the seed and hope of a resurrection, as the seed and hope of harvest is in rotting, and dying grains of Wheat, sown in the cold earth, as is clear, Psal. 16.9. 1 Cor. 15.42, 43, 44. Much more the relation of mercy remaineth in Christ, toward the wrestling, deserted, and self dead believer. Now this smallest measure of Faith, may consist, 1. With much ignorance of God, as it was with the believing Disciples, who continued with Christ in his temptations, confessed him, believed and adhered to him, when many went back, and departed from him,