The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher…The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher…

Observ. The strength of faith does not lie in the assurance of our Salvation, or of Gods love, or of the mercy that we desire in prayer; one may have strong faith, and yet no assurance: I say, not only faith but strong faith. This woman had no Assurance (that we read of) not assurance of the thing that she begged, that the Lord would hear her prayer; she had no assurance of it, only she hung upon Christ, and would not away. And when he put her away, she gathered in upon him: in the midst of all temptation and opposition, still she did hang upon him. So then, a man may have faith, and strong faith, although he have no assurance.

Observ. The strength of faith does not lie in the assurance of our Salvation, or of Gods love, or of the mercy that we desire in prayer; one may have strong faith, and yet no assurance: I say, not only faith but strong faith. This woman had no Assurance (that we reade of) not assurance of the thing that she begged, that the Lord would hear her prayer; she had no assurance of it, only she hung upon Christ, and would not away. And when he put her away, she gathered in upon him: in the midst of all temptation and opposition, still she did hang upon him. So then, a man may have faith, and strong faith, although he have no assurance.

And upon this account, How many are there that have strong faith, that think they have no faith at all. Some think they have no faith, because they cannot say, Christ is mine, Mercy is mine, Heaven is mine: but yet, if in the time of your temptation ye can hand upon Christ, and will not away from Christ, but will still hang upon him, still wait upon him; you have not only faith, but you may have strong faith, a great faith as this woman had. And let me tell you this for your comfort: at the last the Lord will make a report of your faith unto your own heart: Yea, he will make a report answerable to your temptation: for you may observe here, That as the wound ⟨p. 200⟩was made, so the plaster was laid. You have Three great temptations: Answerably now, the Lord Jesus Christ does testify of this woman. First of all, He answered her not a word, would not own her, would not speak to her: Now (says he) O woman. Then he said, That he was not sent, but unto the lost sheep. Now he does own her for a Sheep, and he says she hath Faith. Before he says, It is not meet to cast children's bread to dogs. This did argue that she was a Dog, one most Unworthy. Now he says, that she is most Worthy; O woman, thou hast not only faith, but thou hast a great faith, O woman, great is thy faith. So that I say, still hang upon Christ; in all your Temptations, in the midst of all your Discouragements, still hang upon Christ; and the Lord Jesus, he will not only make a report of your faith unto ye, but according as your temptations rise, so shall the report of your grace be from the Lord Christ unto your poor soul: therefore hang upon Christ.