Faith More Precious Than Gold

    FAITH MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD

    That the trial of your Faith being more precious than Gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire," &c., 1Pe 1:7.

    THERE are divers acceptations of the word pistij, Faith.

    1. Faith or fidelity, or faithfulness in keeping promise, whether respecting God or man: "Shall the faith of God be made of none effect?"

    2. It is taken for the doctrine of the Gospel: "Many were obedient to the Faith,"

    Ac 6:7.

    3. It is taken for the dictates of conscience, allowing of things indifferent in themselves: "Hast thou Faith? have it to thyself," Ro 14:22.

    4. Credence, or the belief of the history of the scriptures. "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know thou believest," Ac 26:27. This is called by some, historical or dogmatical Faith; by others, the Faith of credence.

    5. A certain and steadfast belief of some strange and wonderful effects. "These signs shall follow them that believe: "in my name they shall cast out devils," &c., Mr 16:17.

    "And though I have all Faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing," 1Co 13:2. This is called the Faith of miracles.

    6. A naked knowledge of God, joined with an outward and bare profession of the Gospel. "Even so Faith, if it hath not works, is dead," Jas 2:17.

    7. It is taken for a strong belief or confidence in prayer. "The prayer of Faith shall save the sick," Jas 5:15.

    8. It is taken for a holy, firm, and well-grounded belief, and steadfast reliance upon the merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ, for justification and eternal life; or a going out of ourselves, fetching all our hope and comfort from him, and his glorious undertakings. This is that most noble and precious grace, that is wrought in the soul by the Spirit, which is compared to Gold, &c.

    Faith is as precious as Gold, nay, more precious; tried Faith is better than tried Gold, than Gold tried or refined in the fire.

    METAPHOR.

    I. GOLD is precious in some countries upon the consideration of the scarcity of it; there is but little of it to be had, and that hard to come by. Things are esteemed precious upon this account: "In those days the word of the Lord was precious, there was no open vision."

    PARALLEL

    I. TRUE Faith is precious upon the account of the scarcity of it. Though there is great talk

    of it everywhere, it is in all people's mouths yet the right kind is very precious; few have so much as one drachm of it in their hearts; it is very hard to obtain.

    METAPHOR

    II. Gold is very desirable. Men that know the worth of it, search diligently for it; they work in mines, labour hard, undergo much difficulty to obtain it.

    PARALLEL

    II. All understanding men, who are convinced of the nature and usefulness of Faith, seek for it as for hid treasures; they endeavour to improve all opportunities for the obtaining of it.

    METAPHOR

    III. Gold must be tried. Many take that for pure Gold, that is counterfeit metal, and thereby cheat themselves, or are deceived by others.

    PARALLEL

    III. So Faith must be tried; for there is nothing men are more mistaken or deceived in. There is abundance of counterfeit Faith in the world.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Gold is tried by a touch-stone; men can soon discern if it be naught, when they prove it that way.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Faith must also be tried by the true touch-stone, viz., the Word of God. If a man fear his faith be not of the right kind, let him bring it thither; i.e. examine the nature and quality of it, by the marks laid down in the holy scriptures, and he will soon discover what Faith he hath.

    METAPHOR

    V. The best Gold is very precious, a most rare and choice thing, in respect of its own intrinsic virtue, and from hence it is so much prized and coveted by the children of men. It is called precious, from the excellent nature and worth of it. It is a most sovereign cordial.

    PARALLEL

    V. True faith is a most precious grace in respect of its own intrinsic virtue, and from hence true Christians esteem so of it. The price thereof is above rubies, it is far more precious than Gold that perisheth; which will appear by the induction of the following particulars.

    1. In respect of the names or appellations given to it in holy scripture. (1.) It is called lively Faith. (2.) It is called effectual Faith, 1Th 1:3. (3.) It is called "The Faith of God's elect," Tit 1:1. (4.) It is called "Unfeigned Faith," 1Ti 1:5; 2Ti 1:5. (5.) It is called "Faith that works by love," Ga 5:6. (6.) It is called "Faith of the operation of God," Col 2:12. (7.) It is called "Precious Faith," 2Pe 1:1. (8.) It is called "Holy Faith." (9.) It is called the "Faith of the Son of God." Its excellent names set forth its transcendent nature.

    2. Faith is precious in respect of the means of its procurement, or the price that was laid down for the obtaining of it, viz., the precious blood of Christ; for had not Christ died, we should never have had one drachm of it; it is given to us as the fruit and effect of his glorious undertaking.

    3. Faith is precious in respect of the Fountain from whence it proceeds.

    4. Faith is precious in respect of the means by which it is wrought in the soul, viz., by the word and Spirit of God in a wonderful manner, even like as God "wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead," Eph 1:19-20.

    5. Faith is precious in respect of the object it takes hold of, or fasteneth upon, viz., God the Father, the Holy Spirit, but more immediately Christ crucified. "Ye believe in God believe also in me."

    6. Faith is precious in that it joins or unites the soul to Christ, it makes us one with him, as it were, flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone, a lively member of that body whereof he is the Head. It is that which ties the conjugal knot between him and every believer.

    7. It is the eye of the soul; no man without it can behold Jesus Christ, nor the fulfilling of the future promises. "Abraham by faith saw the day of Christ."

    8. Hereby a Christian is made a child of God. "To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his name," Joh 1:12. "Ye are all the children of God, by Faith in Christ Jesus," Ga 3:26.

    9. It is the only way or means God is pleased to take, to deliver the souls of men from sin, wrath, and eternal death.

    10. It is that which interests the soul in all the sweet and precious promises of the covenant of grace. See Light.

    11. It is the instrument of salvation. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved."

    12. Faith is a most excellent and precious thing, upon the account of the fruits of it, viz., life, light, peace, purging, boldness at the throne of grace, joy in the Holy Ghost, hope, and good assurance of eternal life.

    13. Faith is precious in respect of that glorious power and virtue that is in it. It is medicinal, and the most sovereign antidote and cordial in the world. (1.) It will expel poison. (2.) It will perfectly, as it applies the blood of Christ, cure a wounded conscience. (3.) It will bear up and revive a fainting spirit; "I had fainted unless I had believed." Ps 27:13. (4.) It is good against the feebleness of the knees, and weakness of the hands. (5.) It is a most excellent thing against fear, and tremblings of the heart, "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little Faith!" Lu 8:23; Mt 14:30. (6.) It is a precious remedy against the stone of a hard heart; it will dissolve it, break it in pieces, and cure the soul perfectly of it, Eze 36:26. (7.) It cures all manner of inward deadness, it may well be called "Lively Faith, or Faith of the operation of God," Col 2:12. (8.) It is good against the dimness of the eyes, it helps them that cannot see afar off. (9.) It is a most sovereign thing against evil spirits; it will resist the devil, and make him fly. (10.) It is excellent good to purge and work out all those noxious and evil humours of the inward man, cleansing and purifying the heart. (11.) It is good against the falling sickness. Believers stand by Faith, but if through a temptation they should fall, Faith will help them up again. David and Peter had not so much Faith as to keep them from falling, yet they had enough to raise them up again when they were fallen. It is an universal remedy, it cures all the diseases of the soul; so that we may say with the woman, (let the distemper be what it will) "If 1 can but touch the hem of his garment, I shall be healed."

    14. Faith is precious, because it shields and gloriously preserves the whole soul from all dangers; it is that which works with, and tends to the perfecting of all other graces in us.

    15. It was by Faith that saints, in every age of the Church, were enabled to undergo and suffer all those hard and bitter tortures and torments they met with for Christ's sake, Heb 11.

    16. It is that which helps the godly to overcome the world. "He that is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, even our Faith," l Joh 5:4.

    METAPHOR

    VI. Gold is often tried and refined in the fire; we read of Gold seven times refined: "The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for Gold," Pr 17:3.

    PARALLEL

    VI. Faith is often tried in the fire or furnace of affliction: "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you," &c., 1Pe 4:12. "He shall sit as a refiner's fire, and as a purifier of silver, &c., and purge them as gold and silver," &c., Mal 3:2-3. God this way tried Abraham's Faith, together with the Faith of many others, of whom we read, "I will bring the third part through the fire, and I will try them as Gold is tried," Ecclesiastes 13:9.

    METAPHOR

    VII Tried Gold is much better than that which is not tried, nor refined in fire.

    PARALLEL

    VII. Faith that is tried is of wonderful value much more to be prized than that which was never brought under exercise. How excellently did Abraham and Job's Faith shine, when tried. "The trial of your Faith is much more precious than Gold, though it be tried in the fire," &c 1Pe 1:7.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. Gold tried in the fire is of an enriching nature; if a man has much of it, it enriches him greatly. We esteem him a very rich man, that hath great store of tried Gold in his own possession.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. So Faith that is tried in the furnace, is of a soul enriching nature; he that hath much of this Faith is a very rich man, a rich saint. "God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in Faith and heirs of the kingdom," Jas 2:5.

    See more of the nature of Gold, in the metaphor Gold, where the word of God is compared to it.

    METAPHOR

    I. Gold is naturally an earthy sort of metal, it is from beneath, and therefore corruptible: "Not with corruptible things, as silver and Gold which perish!"

    DISPARITY

    I. Faith is a divine and precious grace, or a supernatural thing; it is from above, wrought in the soul by the operation of the Spirit of God, and therefore incorruptible; an heavenly principle, or seed, that shall never fail, "Till we receive the end of our Faith, the salvation of our souls," 1Pe 1:9.

    METAPHOR

    II. Tried gold may make a man renowned and great on earth, and adorn the body or habitation where he dwells; but it avails not the soul any thing; it will not enrich or make honourable, or beautify that, &c.

    DISPARITY

    II. Faith, true Faith, Faith tried in the fire, makes believing men and women renowned in grace and godliness, and adorns the soul, church, and people where it is. None shine forth in that beauty and splendour, as those do, who have much Faith.

    METAPHOR

    III. Tried Gold may be utterly lost; a man may have much of it today, and none to-morrow; thieves may rob him of it, &c.

    DISPARITY

    III. True Faith cannot be utterly lost. A man may lose somewhat of the strength of it; he may decay in this grace, as well as in others: but he can never lose the habit, the seed, or truth of Faith itself. "I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not," Lu 22:31-32.

    INFERENCES.

    FIRST, Information. How greatly are some mistaken about this precious and most noble grace; for we may infer from hence,

    1. That true Faith is not a simple or bare believing there is a God; the devils have this kind of Faith; they also believe and tremble.

    2. That it is not a mere or bare believing the truth of the holy scriptures. The Jews believed the scriptures, and thought by them to have eternal life, and yet were enemies to Jesus Christ.

    3. That it is not a bare believing Christ died for sinners: most ungodly people in England believe that.

    4. That cannot be a true Faith, which swearers, drunkards, whoremongers, and all other ungodly and profane persons have.

    5. That a man may leave all gross sins, and assent to many truths of the Gospel, and yet have no true Faith.

    6. Nay, that a man may be baptized, take upon him the profession of the Gospel, and suffer many things, and yet not have one drachm of saving Faith; as appears by the foolish virgins, Judas, and Simon the sorcerer, and many others.

    7. Nay, a man may seem to hear the word with joy, and yet have no true Faith. A temporary Faith, is not the Faith of God's elect, or that Faith that is more precious than Gold, &c.

    Quest. How may a man know true Faith from that which is common, and mere counterfeit?

    Answ. 1. There is in that person, who savingly believes in Christ, a true knowledge ot God, and of Jesus Christ, the true Saviour: it takes hold on the right object. "Dost thou believe on the Son of God? Who is he, Lord?" &c., Joh 9:24,35-36. "How shall they believe on him whom they have not heard?" Ro 10:14.

    2. There must be a true knowledge of, and a free and full assent and consent to the truth of that which is contained in the holy scriptures, concerning God, Christ, and salvation, and all other essential principles of true religion. It is not enough to believe as the Church believes, as some ignorantly teach and affirm:

    3. He that hath obtained true Faith, hath had his understanding enlightened, to see what his state and condition was by nature; he hath been under humiliation for sin, Ac 2:37; 2Co 7:9-12.

    4. He seeth also, that all his own righteousness will avail him nothing in point of justification and acceptation with God. Without Christ, his prayers, tears, reading, hearing, and alms-deeds, will not save him. To trust to any of these, he sees is the way to make faith void. The Jews built upon this foundation, and thereby missed of salvation, Ro 3:8, and Ro 10:21.

    5. There is in that soul where true Faith is wrought, or where the seed of it is sowed, a desire after Christ, not simply after his merits, but also after union, and intimate acquaintance with him. "Yea, doubtless, I account all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do account them but dung, that I may win Christ," &c., Php 3:8. A true enlightened soul, looks first to Christ's person, as being affected with his beauty, and sweetness of his love; and then to the goods and riches he possesseth: as a woman newly married, looks first to her husband, and then to the inheritance, or else is little better than an harlot.

    6. But did I say, a desire after Christ? Be not mistaken, to think that every desire after him is a sign of true Faith. (1.) It is a fervent desire; such desire him more than all the world. That soul pants after him, and union with him, more than after heavenly glory. It greatly endears Christ to the soul. "He is the chiefest of ten thousand," Song 5:10; Ps 73:25. (2.) It is such a desire, as in a hungry man, nothing will satisfy him but bread; so nothing will satisfy a true believer, but Christ, the Bread of life.

    7. If a man hath true Faith, he knoweth the time when he was without it; he knoweth he was once blind, and without God and Christ. I will not say, he knows the very instant when God wrought it in his soul; but he can say with the man whose eyes Christ opened, "Whereas I was blind, I now see," Joh 9:25.

    8. And not only so, but he knows the way and means by which he obtained it, viz., either by hearing, or reading, or meditating on the Word of God; either in the free tender of Christ to sinners in general, or to dejected, burthened, and heavy-laden sinners, in particular.

    9. Faith is usually obtained of God in a constant and laborious seeking and crying to him for it. What pains hath it cost you, sirs? Precious Faith is not easily attained to. What conflicts have you found within? Satan ever makes strong resistance, there is nothing he strives to obstruct or hinder more.

    10. What love to God hath thy Faith wrought in thee? True Faith works by love. "Mary believed, and loved much."

    11. Hath thy Faith purified thy heart? Hast thon seen its horrid filth and pollution?' And dost thou long after purity? not only to have thy sins pardoned, but also purged away, and the power and dominion thereof destroyed?

    12. What alteration in the course of thy life hath Faith wrought? Faith made Jordan go back. There is a turning the whole man to God, a glorious change in every faculty, in heart, and also in life. "Half my goods," saith Zaccheus, "I give to the poor," Lu 19:8. And in the Acts it is said, "Those that used unlawful arts, burned their books," Ac 19:19. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature," 2Co 5:17.

    13. Faith leads the soul to receive Christ in all his offices, not only as a Saviour, but also as a Sovereign: not only as a Priest, to die, and appease the wrath of God for us, but also as a prince, to rule and reign in us.

    14. What obedience therefore flows from thy Faith? Dost thou boldly and visibly profess Jesus Christ, following him whithersoever he goeth; not closing in with one of his precepts only, but obeying all of them from thy heart, which thou art convinced of, and knowest to be thy duty. "Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all thy commandments," Ps 119:6.

    15. What peace hath Faith brought to thy soul? "Being justified, by Faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ," Ro 5:1.

    Secondly, From what hath been noted we may infer, there is an absolute necessity of Faith,

    1. In respect of Gospel-revelation. "Without Faith it is impossible to please God," Heb 11:6.

    2. There is no salvation without it, Ro 3:26. Thou must be beholden to another for a righteousness, because thou hast broken the law, that pronounceth the curse against thee; thou hast none of thy own that will be accepted in the sight of God. "He that believeth not shall be damned." "Unless that ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins," Joh 8:24.

    3. There is a necessity of Faith, because all boasting is excluded. God's design in our salvation is, wholly to exalt his own free grace. It is of Christ's procurement, and thou must go unto him for it, or go without it.

    Thirdly; If faith be much more precious than Gold, then labour for it above Gold; be not contented with a little of it, but wisely provide yourselves with good store. Grow in Faith, get a strong Faith.

    Quest. Will not a small or weak Faith save us, as well as a strong?

    Answ. Yea, if it be of the right kind, though never so small, the person that hath it, is as fully justified, as if he had the greatest degree and measure of it. Yet it concerns thee to get a strong Faith, for these reasons following:

    1. Because thou mayest meet with strong assaults and temptations from Satan, and thou hast no way to resist him but by the shield of Faith, and it may be a little Faith will not be sufficient to withstand those exercises and assaults thou mayest meet with.

    2. Because God expects much Faith of those he hath afforded much means unto: "I looked that it should bring forth grapes," Isa 5:4; God looks for fruit, answerable to the cost and charge he hath been at with a people, or a particular person.

    3. Because God may bring you into such a condition, that you may have nothing else to live upon, "The fig-tree shall not blossom, neither fruit be in the vines," &c., Hab 3:17. That is a time for the saints to live by faith; and if their faith be small, what will they do then?

    4. Because as thy Faith is more or less, so will thy inward peace and joy be in Christ Jesus. He that hath but a small degree of faith, is often at the foot of the hill, and under doubtings and becloudings in his own spirit.

    5. Because such as have but little faith, will find the way to heaven harder, and more difficult, than they who have much of it, or are strong in Faith. Weak folks are hard put to it to get up a high bill.

    6. Because it is a strong Faith that glorifies God most, as it appears in respect of Abraham. "He being not weak in Faith, considered not his own body being dead--- He staggered not through unbelief, but was strong in Faith, giving glory to God," Ro 4:19-20.

    Quest. But what is the cause that some Christians are so weak in Faith?

    Answ. 1. Some are but just brought forth, lately converted, they are like new-born babes: can you expect a child in a cradle, should be as strong as such as are twenty or thirty years old?

    2. Perhaps some have but little Faith, because they want the means of it, which others have; it may be they have more law preached to them than Gospel, more terror from Sinai, than joy from Mount Zion.

    3. Again, some may be weak in Faith, because they pore more upon their inward corruptions, than they meditate on Christ's righteousness, more on their own emptiness, than on Christ's fulness. They see their debts, but have not their eyes upon their Surety, who hath discharged and blotted all out.

    4. Others may have little Faith, because they do not improve that which they have, they are not industrious traders, they do not labour after, and cry to God for more Faith. The way to grow rich, is to be diligent. "Lord, increase our Faith."

    5. Some have no more Faith, because they give way to temptations, and let their inward corruptions too much prevail. Weeds will hinder the growth of precious flowers: self-love, worldly pleasure, pride, and passion, choke and obstruct its growth. Faith is a tender herb.

    6. Perhaps Christians have no more, because they mind not those precious grounds and encouragements, which God in his mercy hath offered for the increase, strengthening, and growing of Faith.

    Quest. How may I know a weak Faith from a strong?

    Answ. 1. A weak Christian, one weak in Faith, looks more within than without, grounds more on the good desires and heavenliness of his affections, than the covenant and promise of God: now a strong Christian looks to Christ. "Because I live, ye shall live also," Joh 14:19. It is not because my affections live, my obedience lives, or I have life, in obedience, or performance of external duties, but because Christ lives, "by whom I live," Ga 2:20.

    2. A weak Christian consults more the power of the enemy, than he doth the strength of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit; and is much acted by sense, in respect of means, how this or that should be done: "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" Ps 78:19. But a strong saint believes in hope against hope; a strong Faith takes up in the power, grace, and sufficiency of God: "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what man can do unto me," Ps 118:6.

    3. A weak Faith grows weaker and weaker, and ready to let go its hold at every discouragement. If a corruption or temptation prevail, all his hope of heaven is almost gone presently. Thus it was with Peter, "Help, Lord, I perish." But strong Faith is rather strengthened thereby; as appears by the woman of Canaan. You may judge of a strong Faith by its power over the enemy. "I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one," 1Jo 2:14.

    4. A weak Faith is much for doing, that so he may have peace and comfort within: "What must I do," &c., Ac 16:30. And as his obedience to God is kept up, so is his comfort; not but that great peace is to them that keep the law, and that are found in the way of obedience. But a strong Faith, in all it doth, is kept up by Christ's doing, by Christ's obedience; he sees his acceptation comes in through the Lord Jesus' undertaking for him.

    5. A weak Faith is subject to rest too much upon the means, and outward ordinances. He performs duty, and is found in the appointments of Christ, because of the fat and sweet of them, or some present comforts of the Spirit in the performance of them, rather than because commanded of God, and to manifest his obedience and subjection unto him; and if he meet not with his expectation, he is ready presently to faint, and be discouraged, and concludes the ordinances do not belong to him, or he is not a converted person, &c., or else thinks wholly to neglect them for time to come.

    6. A weak believer is ready to judge of his justification, by his inward sanctification. When he finds eminent power over sin, then he begins to conclude he may be in a saved state; though I do not say, that a man is actually justified, before he may be in some measure or degree made holy; where the one is, the other will follow, as the effect the cause.

    Quest. How may a weak Faith or hand be strengthened, and feeble knees confirmed?

    Answ. 1. Consider a weak Faith is precious, a little gold is gold, a little water is water: thou art a believer, though thou art but a weak believer.

    2. A weak Faith, being true, may in time prove strong, and grow to be a great Faith.

    3. Though thou hast but a weak Faith, it will save; doubtless some weak eyes beheld the brazen serpent, and were healed.

    4. Weak Faith, if it be true, shall never fail totally, nor be taken away: He that is the author of it, will likewise be the finisher. "Being confident of this very thing, that he that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it to the day of Jesus Christ," Php 1:6.