Let this then operate as a further inducement with us to seek faith, since none of us can get the victory without itb; and by it the very weakest on earth shall be able to remove mountains0.
Lastly, we may affirm, that its success is sure —
But for their faith, the most eminent of God's saints would have been destroyed. " I had fainted," says David, "if I had not believed6:" and Peter would have been driven away as the chaff, if our Lord had
z Luke iv. 4, 8, 10. a Jam. ii. 5. b Isai. vii. 9.
c Matt. xvii. 20. d Ps. xxvii. 13.
not secured his faith from failing6. On the other hand, we have a host of saints upon record, who, " through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought right- eousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens : women received their dead to life again ; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance ; that they might obtain a better resur- rection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and imprison- ment : they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword : they wandered about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. These all obtained a good report through faith f." Further, if we search the annals of the world, we shall not find one single instance wherein believers were ultimately vanquished. On many occasions they have been wounded, and sorelv too : even the father of the faithful himself was not so expert in the use of his shield as to ward off every blowg: but believers are secured from any fatal stroke. Our Lord himself has pledged his word that they shall never perish11; that, if they fall, they shall be raised up again to renew the contest1; and, that " Satan shall finally be bruised under their feetk."
Remarkable in this view are the expressions of the text. The idea of " quenching" the fiery darts of the wicked one, may perhaps refer to the custom of making shields sometimes of raw hides, that, in case a poisoned arrow should perforate them, the wound, which on account of the poison must otherwise have been fatal, might be healed. But perhaps the true meaning may be, that by faith we shall as completely defeat the malignant efforts of Satan, as by the ex- tinguishing of fire we shall be delivered from its
e Luke xxii. 32. ' Heb. xi. 33—39.
s Gen. xii. 12, 13. and xx. 2. h John v. 24. and x. 28.
1 Ps. xxxvii. 24. and cxlv. 14. k Rom. xvi. 20.