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〃A man may have saving grace in him； and not perceive it himself； a man
may have true justifying faith in him； and not have the use and
operation of it； so far as to work in him a fortable assurance of
his reconciliation with God。 Nay； I will say more： a man may be in the
state of grace； and have true justifying faith in him； and yet be so
far from sensible assurance of it in himself； as in his own sense and
feeling he may seem to be assured of the contrary。 Job was certainly in
this case when he cried unto God； Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face and
boldest me for Thine enemy？' （Job xiii。 24。）
〃The weakest faith will justify。 If thou canst receive Christ and rest
upon Him； even with the weakest faith； it will serve thy turn。 Take
heed thou think not it is the strength of thy faith that justifieth
thee。 No； no： it is Christ and His perfect righteousness which thy
faith receiveth and resteth upon； that doth it。 He that hath the
feeblest and weakest hand may receive an alms and apply a sovereign
plaster to his wound； as well as he that hath the strongest； and
receive as much good by it too。〃Lectures upon the 51st Psalmy
preached at Ashby…de…la…Zouch； by Arthur Hildersam； Minister of Jesus
Christ。 1642。
（10） 〃Though your grace be never so weak； if ye have truth of grace；
you have as great a share in the righteousness of Christ for your
justification as the strong Christian hath。 You have as much of Christ
imputed to you as any other。〃Sermons by William Bridge； formerly
Fellow of Emmanuel College； Cambridge； and Pastor of the Church of
Christ； in Great Yarmouth。 1648。
（1） 〃There are some who are true believers； and yet weak in faith。 They
do indeed receive Christ and free grace； but it is with a shaking hand；
they have； as divines say； the faith of adherence； they will stick to
Christ； as theirs。 But they want the faith of evidence； they cannot see
themselves as His。 They are believers； but of little faith； they hope
that Christ will not cast them off； but are not sure that He will take
them up。〃Sips of Sweetness； or Consolation for Weak Relievers； by
John Durant； Preacher in Canterbury Cathedral。 1649。
（12） 〃I know； thou sayest； that Jesus Christ came into the world to
save sinners： and that Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish； but
have eternal life。' （John iii。 15。） Neither can I know but that； in a
sense of my own sinful condition； I do cast myself in some measure upon
my Saviour； and lay some hold upon His all…sufficient redemption： but；
alas； my apprehensions of Him are so feeble； as that they can afford no
sound fort to my soul！
〃Courage； my son。 Were it that thou lookedst to be justified； and saved
by the power of the very act of thy faith； thou hadst reason to be
disheartened with the conscience of the weakness thereof； but now that
the virtue and efficacy of this happy work is in the object apprehended
by thee； which is the infinite merits and mercy of thy God and Saviour；
which cannot be abated by thine infirmities； thou hast cause to take
heart to thyself； and cheerfully to expect His salvation。
〃Understand thy case aright。 Here is a double hand； that helps us up
toward Heaven。 Our hand of faith lays hold upon our Saviour； our
Saviour's hand of mercy and plenteous redemption lays hold on us。 Our
hold of Him is feeble and easily loosed； His hold of us is strong and
irresistible。
〃If work were stood upon； a strength of hand were necessary； but now
that only taking and receiving of a precious gift is required； why may
not a weak hand do that as well as a strong？ As well； though not as
forcibly。〃Bishop Hall's 〃Balm of Gilead。〃 1650。
（13） 〃I find not salvation put upon the strength of faith； but the
truth of faithnot upon the brightest degree； but upon any degree of
faith。 It is not said； If you have such a degree of faith you shall be
justified and saved； but simply believing is required。 The lowest
degree of true faith will do it； as Romans x。 9； If thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus； and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised Him from the dead； thou shalt be saved。' The thief upon
the cross had not attained to such high degrees of faith： he by one
act； and that of a weak faith； was justified and saved。 （Luke xxiii。
42。）〃Exposition of the Prophet E^ekiel； by William Greenhill； Rector
of Stepney； London； and Chaplain to the Dukes of York and Gloucester。
1650。
（14） 〃A man may have true grace that hath not the assurance of the love
and favour of God； or the remission of his sins； and salvation of his
soul。 A man may be God's； and yet he not know it； his estate may be
good； and yet he not see it； he may be in a safe condition； when he is
not in a fortable position。 All may be well with him in the court of
glory； when he would give a thousand worlds that all were but well in
the court of conscience。
〃Assurance is requisite to the well…being of a Christian； but not to
the being； it is requisite to the consolation of a Christian； but not
to the salvation of a Christian； it is requisite to the well…being of
grace； but not to the mere being of grace。 Though a man cannot be saved
without faith； yet he may be saved without assurance。 God hath in many
places of the Scripture declared that without faith there is no
salvation； but God hath not in any one place of Scripture declared that
without assurance there is no salvation。〃Heaven on Earth； by Thomas
Brooks； Preacher of the Gospel； at St。 Margaret's； Fish Street Hill；
London。 1654。
（15） 〃You that can clear this to your own hearts that you have faith；
though it be weak； be not discouraged； be not troubled。 Consider that
the smallest degree of faith is true； is saving faith as well as the
greatest。 A spark of fire is as true fire as any is in the element of
fire。 A drop of water is as true water as any is in the ocean。 So the
least grain of faith is as true faith； and as saving as the greatest
faith in the world。
〃The least bud draws sap from the root as well as the greatest bough。
So the weakest measure of faith doth as truly ingraft thee into Christ；
and by that draw life from Christ； as well as the strongest。 The
weakest faith hath munion with the merits and blood of Christ as
well as the strongest。
〃The least faith marries the soul to Christ。 The weakest faith hath as
equal a share in God's love as the strongest。 We are beloved in Christ；
and the least measure of faith makes us members of Christ。 The least
faith hath equal right to the promises as the strongest。 And therefore
let not our souls be discouraged for weakness。〃Nature and Royalties
of Faith； by Samuel Bolton； D。D。； of Christ's College； Cambridge。 1657。
（16） 〃Some are afraid they have no faith at all； because they have not
the highest degree of faith； which is full assurance； or because they
want the fort which others attain to； even joy unspeakable and full
of glory。 But for the rolling of this stone out of the way； we must
remember there are several degrees of faith。 It is possible thou mayest
have faith； though not the highest degree of faith； and so joy in the
Spirit。 That is rather a point of faith than faith itself。 It is indeed
rather a living by sense than a living by faith； when we are cheered up
with continual cordials。 A stronger faith is required to live upon God
without fort； than when God shines in on our spirit with abundance
of joy。〃Matthew Lawrence； Preacher at Ipswich； on Faith。 1657。
（17） 〃If any person abroad have thought that a special and full
persuasion of the pardon of their sin was of the essence of faith； let
them answer for it。 Our divines at home generally are of another
judgment。 Bishop Davenant and Bishop Prideaux； and others； have shown
the great difference between recumbrance and assurance； and they all do
account and call assurance； a daughter； fruit； and consequent o