scudderpage276

faithful wife, to be forced by one stronger than she; yet if you give not full consent unto them, and suffer not your heart to follow them, your husband Christ will not impute these forced evils unto you.

Yet, let none by this take liberty to offend Christ in the least thing, for though Christ love you more tenderly and more mercifully than any husband can love his wife, yet know, he does not dote on you; he can see the smallest faults, and will sharply, though kindly, rebuke and correct you for them, if you do them presumptuously. But he esteems none to break spiritual wedlock, so as to dissolve marriage, but those whose hearts are wholly departed from him, and are set upon, and given to something else, Heb. iii. 12. If you thus look into the nature of faith, I speak to a soul troubled for sin, you may know and feel that you have it.

(4.) True faith may be discerned by its effects.

You may know a lively faith likewise, by most certain consequences and effects, I mean not comfort and joy, which are sometimes felt, and sometimes not; but by such effects, which are most constant, and more certain, and may be no less felt than joy and comfort, if you would search for them; amongst others, I reckon these:

1. You may know you have faith by your grieving for, and opposing of the contrary; if you feel a fight and conflict between believing and doubting, fear and distrust; and in that combat you take part with believing, hope, and confidence, or at least desire heartily that these should prevail, and are grieved at heart, when the other gets the better; if you feel this, do not say, you have no feeling. Do not say, you have no faith.

This conflict, and desire to have faith, gave proof, that the man in the gospel, who came to Christ to cure his child, had faith. I believe, Lord, saith he, Lord, help mine unbelief, Mark ix. 24. Do not say, as I have heard many, This man could say, I believe; but we cannot say so. I tell you, if you can heartily say, Lord, help my unbelief, I am sure, any of you