| VI. Faith is often tried in the Fire or Furnace of Affliction:1 Think it not strange concerning the fiery Trial, which is to try you, &c. He shall sit as a Refiner's Fire, 2and as a Purifier of Silver, &c. and purge them as Gold and Silver, &c. God this way tried Abraham's Faith, together with the Faith of many others, of whom we read, I will bring the third part through the Fire, and I will try them as Gold is tried.3
VII. Tried Gold is much better than that which is not tried, nor refined in the Fire. | VII. Faith that is tried is of wonderful value, much more to be prized than that which was never brought under Exercise How excellently did Abraham's and Job's Faith shine, when tried? The Trial of your Faith is much more precious than Gold, tho it be tried in the Fire, &c.
VII. Gold tried in the Fire is of an enriching Nature; if a Man has much of it, it enriches him greatly. We esteem him a very rich Man, that hath great Store of tried Gold in his own Possession. |
VIII. So Faith that is tried in the Furnace, is of a Soul-enriching Nature; he that hath much of this Faith is a very rich Man, a rich Saint.4 God hath chosen the Poor of this World, rich in Faith, and Heirs of the Kingdom.
[See more of the Nature of Gold, in the Metaphor Gold, where the Word of God is compared to it.
Metaphor. | Disparity.
Gold is naturally an earthy Sort of Metal, 'tis from beneath, and therefore corruptible: ⟨p. 18⟩Not with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, which perish. | Faith is a divine and precious Grace, or a supernatural thing; 'tis from above, wrought in the Soul by the Operation ⟨p. 18⟩of the Spirit of God, and therefore incorruptible; an heavenly Principle or Seed, that shall never fail, till we receive the end of our Faith, the Salvation of our Souls.
⟨p. 17⟩II. Tried Gold may make a Man renowned and great on Earth, and adorn the Body or Habitation where he dwells; but it avails not the Soul any thing; it will not enrich, or make honourable, or beautify that, &c. | II. Faith, true Faith, Faith tried in the Fire, makes Believing Men and Women renowned in Grace and Godliness, and adorns the Soul, Church, and People where it is. None shine forth in that Beauty and Splendour, as those do, who have much Faith.
III. Tried Gold may be utterly lost; a Man may have much of it to day, and none to morrow; Thieves may rob him of it, &c. | III. True Faith cannot be utterly lost.
| VI. Faith is often tried in the Fire or Furnace of Affliction:1 Think it not strange concerning the fiery Trial, which is to try you, &c. He shall sit as a Refiner's Fire, 2and as a Purifier of Silver, &c. and purge them as Gold and Silver, &c. God this way tried Abraham's Faith, together with the Faith of many others, of whom we read, I will bring the third part through the Fire, and I will try them as Gold is tried.3
VII. Tried Gold is much better than that which is not tried, nor refined in the Fire. | VII. Faith that is tried is of wonderful value, much more to be prized than that which was never brought under Exercise How excellently did Abraham's and Job's Faith shine, when tried? The Trial of your Faith is much more precious than Gold, tho it be tried in the Fire, &c.
VII. Gold tried in the Fire is of an enriching Nature; if a Man has much of it, it enriches him greatly. We esteem him a very rich Man, that hath great Store of tried Gold in his own Possession. |
VIII. So Faith that is tried in the Furnace, is of a Soul-enriching Nature; he that hath much of this Faith is a very rich Man, a rich Saint.4 God hath chosen the Poor of this World, rich in Faith, and Heirs of the Kingdom.
[See more of the Nature of Gold, in the Metaphor Gold, where the Word of God is compared to it.
Metaphor. | Disparity.
GOld is naturally an earthy Sort of Metal, 'tis from beneath, and therefore corruptible: ⟨p. 18⟩Not with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, which perish. | FAith is a divine and precious Grace, or a supernatural thing; 'tis from above, wrought in the Soul by the Operation ⟨p. 18⟩of the Spirit of God, and therefore incorruptible; an heavenly Principle or Seed, that shall never fail, till we receive the end of our Faith, the Salvation of our Souls.
⟨p. 17⟩II. Tried Gold may make a Man renowned and great on Earth, and adorn the Body or Habitation where he dwells; but it avails not the Soul any thing; it will not enrich, or make honourable, or beautify that, &c. | II. Faith, true Faith, Faith tried in the Fire, makes Believing Men and Women renowned in Grace and Godliness, and adorns the Soul, Church, and People where it is. None shine forth in that Beauty and Splendor, as those do, who have much Faith.
III. Tried Gold may be utterly lost; a Man may have much of it to day, and none to morrow; Thieves may rob him of it, &c. | III. True Faith cannot be utterly lost.
- 11 Pet. 3.12
- 2Mal. 3.2, 3
- 3Zech. 13.9
- 4James 1 5
