A Body of Practical Divinity

Resp. If you have Faith, tho but in its Infancy, be not discouraged. For, (1.) A little Faith is Faith, as a Spark of Fire is Fire. (2.) A weak Faith may lay hold on a strong Christ: A weak Hand can tie the Knot in Marriage as well as a strong. She in the Gospel, who but touched Christ, fetched Virtue from him. (3.) The Promises are not made to Strong Faith, but to True. The Promise doth not say, He who hath a Giant-faith, who can believe God's Love through a Frown, who can rejoice in Affliction, who can work Wonders, remove Mountains, stop the Mouth of Lions, shall be saved; but whosoever believes, be his Faith never so small. A Reed is but weak, especially when it is bruised, yet the Promise is made to it, Matth. 12.20. A bruised Reed he will not break. (4.) A weak Faith may be Fruitful. Weakest things multiply most. The Vine is a weak Plant, but it is Fruitful. The Thief's Cross, which was newly converted, was but weak in Grace; but how many precious Clusters grew upon that tender Plant! Luke 23.40. He chills his Fellow-Thief, Dost not thou fear God? He Judgeth himself, We indeed suffer justly. He believes in Christ when he said, Lord. He makes a Heavenly Prayer, Remember me when thou comest into thy Kigdom. Weak Christians may have strong Affections. How strong is the first Love, which is after the first planting of Faith! (5.) The weakest Believer is a Member of Christ, as well as the strongest; and the weakest Member of the Body Mystical shall not perish. Christ will cut off rotten Members, but not weak Members. Therefore Christian, be not discouraged: God who would have us receive them that are weak in Faith, Rom. 14.1. will not himself refuse them.

Resp. If you have Faith, tho but in its Infancy, be not discouraged. For, (1.) A little Faith is Faith, as a Spark of Fire is Fire. (2.) A weak Faith may lay hold on a strong Christ: A weak Hand can tie the Knot in Marriage as well as a strong. She in the Gospel, who but touch'd Christ, fetch'd Vertue from him. (3.) The Promises are not made to Strong Faith, but to True. The Promise doth not say, He who hath a Giant-faith, who can believe God's Love through a Frown, who can rejoyce in Affliction, who can work Wonders, remove Mountains, stop the Mouth of Lions, shall be saved; but whosoever believes, be his Faith never so small. A Reed is but weak, especially when it is bruised, yet the Promise is made to it,