as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we also believe, and therefore speak.
The afflictions and dangers to which the apostle was ex- posed, were adapted to discourage and even to drive him to desj^air. He, however, was not discouraged ; but ha^ ing the same faith which of old animated the Psalmist, he also, as Da- vid did, proclaimed his confidence in God. Our version omits the connecting particle, 8e, which expresses the contrast be^ t ween what follows and what precedes. 'We are delivered unto death, hut having,' &c. The same spirit of faith. " The spirit of faith " may be a peri^^hrase for faith itself; or the word spirit may refer to the human spirit, and the whole mean ' having the same believing spirit.' It is more in accordance with scriptural usage, and especially with Paul's manner, to make spirit refer to the Holy Spirit, who is so often designat- ed from the effects which he produces. He is called the Spirit of adoption, Rom. 8, 15 ; the Spirit of wisdom, Eph. 1, 17 ; Spirit of grace, Heb. 10, 29 ; Spirit of glory, 1 Pet. 4, 14. The apostle means to say that the same blessed Spirit which was the author of faith in David he also possessed. Accord- ing as it is icritten^ i. e. the same faith that is expressed in the passage where it is written, ' I believed, therefore have I spoken.' "This is the language of David in Ps. 116, 10. The Psalmist was greatly afflicted; the sorrows of death com- passed him, the pains of hell gat hold of him, but he did not despair. He called on the Lord, and he helped him. He de- livered his soul from death, his eyes from tears, and his feet from falling. David's faith did not fail. He believed, and therefore, in the midst of his afflictions, he proclaimed his confidence and recounted the goodness of the Lord. Paul's experience was the same. He also was sorely tried. He also retained his confidence, and continued to rely on the promises of God. The apostle follows the Septuao-int in the passage quoted. The Hebrew expresses the same idea in a rather dif- ferent form. " I beheved/or I speak." In either way, speaJc- ing is represented as the effect and proof of faith. See Alex- ander on the Psalms.
We also believe^ therefore we also speak. As Paul's faith was the same, its effect was the same. The faith of David made him proclaim the fidelity and goodness of God. The iiiith of Paul made him, despite ail the suffering it brought upon him, proclaim the gospel with full assurance of its truth