Let this consideration then operate on all, and stir us all up to seek faith. Let us not hastily con- clude that we possess this principle ; for " all men have not faithp." "Faith is the gift of Godq:" nor can we have it, unless it have been given us from above. O that all would seek it at the hands of a reconciled God ! Beloved brethren, be not satisfied with " the girdle of sincerity," or " the breast-plate of righteousness," or " the greaves of Gospel peace :" they are all good and useful in their place ; but it is faith, that gives even to them their chief strength ; and it is faith, by which alone you can ever be vic- torious. Does the world tempt you ? " this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith r." Does corruption harass you ? you must " purify your heart by faith8." Do your graces languish ? It is faith alone that will set them to work in a way of love1. And lastly, does the devil as a roaring lion threaten to devour you ? It is by being steadfast in the faith that you must resist and vanquish himu. Think then of the use and efficacy of faith ; and pray to our adorable Saviour in the words of his Apostles, " Lord increase our faith x."
In the next place we observe, that its application is easy —
A shield is easily transferred from one position to another as occasion may require : and faith also quickly moves to the protection of any part that is attacked. We do not say, that it is an easy thing to produce faith ; for it requires no less power than that which was exerted in raising Christ from the dead, to create faith in the heart y. But when a per- son has faith, then, we say, it is easy for him to apply it for his defence. Suppose that our head were attacked with subtle heresies, and we had nothing but reason to counteract the temptation ; how weak, how tardy, how uncertain would be its operation ! The greater part of mankind would not
p 2 Thess. iii. 2. <J Phil. i. 29. r 1 John v. 4.
s Acts xv. 9. l Gal. v. 6. u 1 Pet. v. 8, 9.
* Luke xvii. 5. > Eph. i. 19, 20.
2131.1 THE christian's shield. 485
have either time or ability to follow Satan in all his arguments ; nor would those of the strongest intel- lect ever arrive at certainty ; they could rise no higher than opinion at the last ; while those of inferior talents would be lost in endless perplexity. Suppose again that our heart were attacked with some fiery lust, and we had no better defence than that which reason could afford; would passion listen to the voice of reason ? As well might we attempt to extinguish flames that were consuming our house, by a slight sprinkling of water with the hand, as to stop the course of our passions by the efforts of unassisted reason. But in either of these cases, one single word from Scripture will suffice. How was it that our great Captain repelled the fiery darts that were cast at him ? " It is written ;" " It is written ;" " It is written2." Thus he fought; and his vanquished enemy fled from before him. Thus also must we fight ; and by opposing to our enemy this shield, the weakest and most ignorant is as sure of victory, as the strongest and most intelligent. In some respects the poor and ignorant have an advantage over the rich and learned ; because they exercise faith, for the most part, in a more simple manner ; whereas the others are ever trusting, more or less, to their own reason : and it is expressly with a view to confound the pride of reason, that God has given this supe- riority to the poor, and " chosen them, in preference to others, to be rich in faith a."