There are two especially that Jesus Christ does commend for believing:1 the Canaanitish woman; and the Centurion. To the one, says he, O woman great is thy faith. Concerning the other: I have not seen such faith, no not in Jsrael. And both of these believed above hope, and under hope, when the means in view, seemed to chide them off from believing. In that eleventh of the Hebrews, many of the Saints are commended for their Faith: They had other graces, wherein they did excel: Moses was a Meek man, he is not recorded there, and commended for his meekness, but for his Faith. Sampson was a stout, and a resolute man: he is not commended there for that, but for his Faith. They had other excellent graces, but this grace of Faith is singled out to wear the Crown:2 They all obtained a good report through Faith. That wears the Crown of all other graces. And you shall find that that Faith was mingled with many weaknesses: Rahab, one of those believers, what a deal of weakness passed from her, in her believing. Yet notwithstanding, though their ⟨p. 181⟩Faith was clogged with many weaknesses, yet their Faith is commended, and most of them believing beyond means, and when all means failed: plainly speaking out this truth to us: The great acceptation that such a Faith hath with God. Beloved! this faith, believing when all means fail, and lye dead before us, turns God about; (as we may speak with reverence) and make God, of an enemy, a seeming enemy; to become our friend. If you trust unto your friend, for a kindness; he will do it because you rest on him: if you rest upon an enemy, he fails you: but if you rest on God, he will therefore do it because you rest on him, and he will become your friend by your resting on him. Oh! I have been a great and a wretched sinner: Yet notwithstanding, I know there is infinite riches of grace in Christ, and therefore says the soul, I will rest on him: yea Lord, though thou kill me, yet will I rest upon thee. I, (says the Lord) wilt thou now rest upon me, now I frown, now I chide, now I have a rod in my hand, now I have a sword in my hand to kill thee (as it were) wilt thou now rest upon me? Well, be of good comfort, thou art mine for ever: Man, or woman, go in peace, good is thy faith. This resting thus upon God, when all means fail, it melts Gods anger into love.
There are two especially that Jesus Christ does commend for beleeving:1 the Canaanitish woman; and the Centurion. To the one, sayes he, O woman great is thy faith. Concerning the other: I have not seene such faith, no not in Jsrael. And both of these beleeved above hope, and under hope, when the meanes in view, seemed to chide them off from beleeving. In that eleventh of the Hebrewes, many of the Saints are commended for their Faith: They had other graces, wherein they did excell: Moses was a Meeke man, he is not recorded there, and commended for his meeknesse, but for his Faith. Sampson was a stout, and a resolute man: he is not commended there for that, but for his Faith. They had other excellent graces, but this grace of Faith is singled out to weare the Crown:2 They all obtain'd a good report through Faith. That weares the Crowne of all other graces. And you shall find that that Faith was mingled with many weaknesses: Rahab, one of those beleevers, what a deale of weaknesse passed from her, in her beleeving. Yet notwithstanding, though their ⟨p. 181⟩Faith was clogged with many weaknesses, yet their Faith is commended, and most of them beleeving beyond means, and when all meanes failed: plainly speaking out this truth to us: The great acceptation that such a Faith hath with God. Beloved! this faith, beleeving when all meanes faile, and lye dead before us, turnes God about; (as we may speak with reverence) and make God, of an enemy, a seeming enemy; to become our friend. If you trust unto your friend, for a kindnesse; he will do it because you rest on him: if you rest upon an enemy, he failes you: but if you rest on God, he will therefore do it because you rest on him, and he will become your friend by your resting on him. Oh! I have been a great and a wretched sinner: Yet notwithstanding, I know there is infinite riches of grace in Christ, and therefore sayes the soule, I will rest on him: yea Lord, though thou kill me, yet will I rest upon thee. I, (saies the Lord) wilt thou now rest upon mee, now I frown, now I chide, now I have a rod in my hand, now I have a sword in my hand to kill thee (as it were) wilt thou now rest upon mee? Well, be of good comfort, thou art mine for ever: Man, or woman, go in peace, good is thy faith. This resting thus upon God, when all meanes faile, it melts Gods anger into love.
- 1Mat 15.28 Mat. 8 10
- 2Heb. 11.39
