II. What of faith is manifested by it ? All kinds of faith — (1.) Assent ; (2.) Consent ; or (3.) Confidence.
1. Assent ; for we must believe the truth with a divine faith before we can suffer for it ; a probable human faith will not be sufficient. How can we endure all those afflictions and trials for supernatural things, which merely depend upon divine revelation, unless we be firmly persuaded of the truth of them ? The cause for which we suffer is the gospel ; the comfort and support which we have in suffering is the hope of eternal life. Now both adherence to the cause and the hope of the reward are built upon assent, and receive their strength from the strength of assent : Acts xiv. 22, ' He exhorteth them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.'
2. Consent, or fidelity to Christ in our covenanted duty, Mat. xvi. 24. In great afflictions we are tried whether we love anything above Christ : Mat. x. 37, ' He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.' The resolution of this consent is the thing tried, whether pre- pared to endure anything for Christ's sake, Acts xxi. 13. It is easier to discourse of patience than to exercise it in time of trial ; as it is easier to build a castle in time of peace than to defend it in time of war. Unless we overcome the devil, world, and flesh, as well as renounce them, we cannot be faithful to Christ ; unless we more and more get this deadness to the world, weaken this softness, delicacy, and impatiency of the flesh, <fec.
3. Confidence, or relying upon God's promises, which are our great support in all troubles and tribulations. Two sort of promises — (1.)
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That God will enable you to bear them ; (2.) That he will graciously reward them. First, enable you to bear them, 2 Tim. i. 12, 2 Tim. iv. 18, 1 Cor. x. 13. Thus faith supporteth us. Secondly, that he will graciously reward them. Christianity is nothing else but a life of faith and hope, quickened by future promises ; especially in our afflicted estate. Faith receiveth all its strength from a sense of the world to come, Kom. viii. 18, 2 Cor. iv. 17. A heart in heaven is fortified against all evils below. When we are suffering with the church militant, if we can but look up to the church triumphant, we shall see all made up to us that we can lose or suffer here. III. The reasons.
1. Faith is the grace that is most struck at in our tribulations; therefore they are called ' the trial of our faith/ James i. 3, Sokl/jucov 7rt'o-Te&)?. And when Christ telleth Peter that Satan had desired to winnow him as wheat, he saith, ' I have prayed that thy faith fail not/ Luke xxii. 32 ; that is, be not conquered by his terrors, so as utterly to forsake the faith. Satan's spite is at faith, and God permitteth it for the trial of our faith ; and therefore if a man know the strength and vigour of it in time of tribulation, then ordinarily he hath a clearer proof of the truth and strength of that grace than at other times.
2. It is the grace that is of most use to us in such times. Nothing can bear us up but faith : 1 Peter v. 9, ' Whom resist, steadfast in the faith ; ' adhering to the truths of the gospel, and depending upon the promises thereof, that we neither quit our duty nor our confidence: Eph. vi. 16, 'Above all, taking the shield of faith/ &c. As long as our belief is firm, we are guarded as with a shield. The shield defendeth the body and all other pieces of the armour, and beateth back those violent and piercing temptations whereby Satan would shake our con- stancy. It engageth the almighty power of God and Christ for us, and is the life and vigour of all other graces. Three benefits we have by it—
[1.] It keepeth us, that we do not for these things question the love of God : Isa. xlix. 14, ' But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me.' Thus did the people lament themselves in the time of their long and tedious captivity, as if God had no regard to them. So Ps. lxxvii. 9, • Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? ' We think God hath no love, no fatherly care over us, or question our adop- tion, Heb. xii. 5.
[2.] Take no sinful course for our escape: Ps. cxxv. 3, 'Let not them put forth their hand to iniquity ; ' ver. 5, c As for them who turn aside to crooked paths, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity/ It should not shake our constancy, and persuade us to do as wicked men do : Isa. xxviii. 16, 'He that believeth shall not make haste ; ' Heb. xi. 35, ' Not accepting deliverance,' with the displeasure of God and hazard of conscience.