A57982:481
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.
14.3. Yet a little Faith is Faith. As touching a fainting Faith, its not always a weak Faith that fainteth; strong and healthy bodies may have fevers, and deliquies. For the causes of fainting ⟨p. 377⟩are, 1. The want of the influence of mercy, and of stirring or exciting Grace causeth fainting, 2 Cor. 4.1. As we are mercied, [Greek or Hebrew], we faint not; we degenerate not. It is in the bosom of Christ, and lieth about the bowels of our merciful high Priest that keepeth from fainting: If our Intercessor pray not, we faint, Luke 22.32. I have prayed that thy Faith, [Greek or Hebrew] may not be eclipsed. The moon is in a certain death, and soon in an eclipse; So is Faith under fainting. 2. Fear of wrath may cause distraction and hanging of mind, and uncertainty, where there is strong Faith, Ps. 88.14.15. Compared with v. 8, 9. As apprehensions report of God, so are we affected in believing. Yet may it be collected from Mat. 10.19. In that hour it shall be given you, that Christ holdeth the head of a fainting believer. 3. The dependence of Faith will faint, when Christ withdraweth love, though he inflict no anger. The ingenuity of Grace gathereth fear from a cloud, though there be no storm. 3. A soul dead in himself, and that cannot put out Faith in acts, for want of light and comfort, is a weak Faith. A tree in winter is a living tree. There may be life where there's little stirring or motion. 4. That Faith that seemed smallest to the man himself, is sometime in it self greatest. 1. In sad desertions there's most of Faith, and least of sense of Faith, Psal. 22.1. 2. A suffering Faith may be small to the sufferer. Many of the ⟨p. 378⟩Martyrs in their own sense were in a dead and unbelieving condition:1 Yet Christ is more commended for a suffering-faith then any,