Sibbes - Houston-Packer Collection BX9318.S45 L5 1638

Chrifi beleervedon in the World. all, belayed on in the World. It fhould ftirre us up tomake much ofthis Faith, above all graces to defire it. And beinga Myf}ery,and fo excellentagrace, we had need to difcerne whether we have it, or no ; therefore I will touch a few evidences, force ofthemout of the -Text. Fiat , if you belecve, it-comes ufually after Preaching: We fee here, Preached to the Gentiles ; and then, Beleeved on in the world. Whenèe came thyFaith? Ifnot by the Ordinance ofGod,thou may@ft expeEt it to be a ballard Faith, it hath not a right beginning ; efpecially,ifitbe joyned with contempt of Gods Ordinance , it is no Faith, but a prefumptuous conceit; Preaching, and Beleevin,,heregeeone after another : There- fore, examinehow thyFaithwas wrought in thy heart. Againe,(as I fayd) Faithbeinga Myfterie, in regard offuch a world ofoppofition betweene the heart ofman, and Chrif , Satan helping the unbeleeving heart;here muff needsbea ftrife and conflift with Faith. Therefore,thofe men that never had confliawith their owneunbeleeving heart, that never had confliCwith Satans temp- tations,they never had Faith: for it isa Myftery to have Faith ; it is with oppofirion, and con- flié}; no grace bath the like confli&, and op- pofirion from Satan : for Satan aymes, in all firmes , to (hake our Faith and affiance in Gods love : As God aymes at the llrengthening inf Faithabove all; fo the Devil!hat-es it, above all, M 2 and "'daisofFaith How it is bred, By Con9ift.

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