The Christian in Complete Armor - Choice Extracts!

down. Faith relieves the soul in prayer, of that which oppresses it; whereas
the unbelieving soul still carries about it the cause of its troubles, because it
had not strength to cast forth its sorrows and roll its cares upon God.
Weak faith. Weak faith will as surely land the Christian in Heaven, as strong
faith; but the weak, doubting Christian is not likely to have so pleasant a
voyage there, as another with strong faith. Though all in the ship come safely
to shore — yet he who is all the way seasick has not so comfortable a voyage
as he who is strong and healthful.
As melancholy men delight in melancholy walks, so doubting souls most
frequent such places of Scripture in their musing thoughts as increase their
doubts.
"Why are you fearful, O you of little faith!" (Matthew 8:26). You see the leak
at which the water came in to sink their spirits: they had "little faith." It is not
what God is in Himself — but what our apprehensions at present are of God,
that pacifies and comforts a soul in great straits. If a man fears the house will
fall on his head in a storm, though it be as immovable as a rock — yet that
will not ease his mind until he thinks it so.
Bold faith. "I will never leave you, nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) — there is
the promise; and the inference, which he teaches us to draw by faith from
this, follows (verse 6), "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper." We
may boldly assert it in the face of men and devils, because He who is
almighty has said it.
Faith is a pilgrim-grace; it travels with us to Heaven, and when it sees us safe
got within our Father's doors, it takes leave of us.
Holiness and happiness. "He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy" (Ephesians 1:4). Mark, not because He
foresaw that they would be of themselves holy — but that they should be
holy; this was that which God resolved He would make them to be. Consider,
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