Faith, though weak, yet rewarded; And why so? [ 1241]
THey that did look on the brazen Serpent but with one eye, yea, but with half an eye, were as well and as fully cured of the deadly stings of the fiery Serpents,* 1.1 as those that beheld it with both: And again, suppose that a Prince be disposed to bestow on sundry and severall Malefactors, a pardon of grace, or some precious Iewels, (as signalls of his civill respects) unto meer beggars; Is not the one as fully acquitted from his offences, and the other made as actually rich by the possession of such Jewels, though but received with a palsie-shaking hand, as they that receive them with one that is more strong and lusty: Even so the case is here; Hast thou (whosoever thou be) but a dimmish,* 1.2 darkish faith, a weak, waterish eye of faith; yet, for thy comfort, if it be such an one as doth look up to Christ, and onely to him, for Salvation; such a hand as doth reach out unto Christ, and the pardon of lins offered in and by him; and dost clasp it about him with all thy feeble strength, Make not doubt but that thou art justified in the sight of God, and dost stand clearly acquitted from all thy sins, and shalt be healed from the dead∣ly stings thereof; for it is the possession of the Iewell, not the strong holding of it, that made those beggars rich; and the Kings pardon relieveth none but such as are wil∣ling to accept of it, and plead to it; and so it is not our strong or weak faith, that is our Righteousnesse, and full discharge before God, but Jesus Christ and his obedience, that is it that doth all; This only is required on our part, that we accept of Christ offered in the Gospel, and relye on him for full Righteousnesse and Redemption; all which a weak and feeble faith doth as truly and intirely (if not more) as the strongest;* 1.3 Nay, which is yet more for the comfort of such as are weak in faith, and cannot yet in an express and explicite manner believe on Christ; they have Christ, and enjoy him unto Righteousnesse, and the pardon of all their sinnes and trans∣gressions committed.