Sermon XXIX
CONCERNING THE EXERCISE AND INCREASE OF FAITH
John 4:46–54. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death, &c.
AN excellent example of faith is set forth in this text, of what sort it is, of what nature and quality, namely, that it is not a resting or idle thing, but lively and void of idleness, which goeth not back, proceedeth on, and still more and more increaseth, which if it be not done, it is no faith, but only a dead opinion of God in the heart; for a true and sincere faith, which the Holy Ghost poureth into the heart, cannot be idle; which I say for this cause, that no man be therefore secure, although he hath obtained faith, neither that he stay there. It is nothing to begin unless we increase by continual going forward, and come to greater knowledge of God; for, on the contrary side, it is the nature and quality of our adversary Satan, not to be idle, as Peter saith, Satan sleepeth not, but "goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour;" if so be that the devil is neither idle, neither sleep cometh upon him, neither shall it be meet for a Christian to be idle or put his hands in his bosom, forasmuch as he hath the devil his enemy, who is stronger than himself; for he is called the prince of the world. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places," Eph. 6:12. This prince governeth the world furiously, and fiercely rageth, and cannot suffer the prosperous success of a Christian; neither is it to his profit to be suffered of him, for an entry being made hereby, his kingdom is burst in two, and his net torn in pieces, out of which, as
much as he is able, he suffereth no Christian to escape; moreover when the fire of faith is kindled, and the flame fostered, and Satan trieth and marketh that, by and by he practiseth deceit against it, for he knoweth how much hinderance his kingdom shall take thereby: wherefore as earnestly as he can, even with all his power, he defendeth his kingdom, and laboureth to keep all in obedience to him. Wherefore it is most certain, that when a Christian hath begun to believe, by and by temptation and persecution will assail him; which if it come not to pass, it is a sign that his faith is not yet sound, and that he hath not as yet truly received the gospel; for wicked Satan hath a very sharp sight, he by and by spieth out where is a true Christian, wherefore he applieth himself wholly unto this, that he may enforce him to fall, may besiege him, and assail him on every side: for he cannot suffer that any should revolt from his kingdom. It is perilous therefore for a man to believe, for the devil is ready that he may set upon him, and overthrow him, which sometimes chanceth even to very holy men, which understand the word of God well, when they stand upright, and think themselves safe, that privy wicked fiend cometh upon them by little and little, and wrestleth with them so long, till he overthrow them, and cast them to the earth. Set before thine eyes Moses and Aaron who were guides of the Jews; they had an excellent faith, when they brought the people out of Egypt, and all the people in faith passed through the Red Sea, death, the wide wilderness, and many other marvellous things, whereby they showed their faith, but at the last they fell grievously, they fear that they shall perish with hunger.
Is it not a thing most miserable, that by so great […] show their faith, they go into death and through death, wrestle with it, and overcome it, and yet while they think themselves surest, they fall and suffer themselves to be overcome of the belly, murmur against God, and are so grievously tempted, that they fall altogether? wherefore it is not certain and sure, if one begin to believe, and doth not always more and more increase in faith. Yea, that godly man Moses, who had so great and strong a faith, did fall also when, as he should bring water out of the rock with a staff, he doubted and talked thus to the people,
Come let us see whether we can bring water out of the rock. That good Moses, who had shown so many and so great signs, falleth into reason and carnal understanding, fearing lest the incredulity of the people would hinder so great a miracle and sign; but it had behoved him to cleave fast to the word of God, and to think it higher, greater, stronger, and mightier than the unbelief of the people: that great man ws tempted, he stumbled, and was overthrown. We have like examples in the New Testament. Peter was hardy and firm in faith when he beheld Christ upon the water; he said unto him with a strong faith, Lord, suffer me to come unto thee, committing himself to the water even as to the ship, he thought assuredly that the water would bear him; then was there an excellent faith in Peter and great courage, which durst commit himself wholly unto death in the midst of the sea, reposing his hope freely and boldly in Christ; but when he thought himself most safe, a storm and tempest ariseth, he forgetteth the word, suffereth his faith to fail, and he himself also falleth, suffering Satan to pluck faith out of his heart; faith truly is a subtle and delicate thing, a small thing maketh it to stumble and fall; Satan is always watchful and circumspect, and doth by and by obtain his purpose, if we do not diligently watch. How earnestly did the common people follow Christ! they thought that he was a prophet, and did so cleave unto him, and so defend him, that the princes of the people were made astonished, neither durst they so much as lay hand on him; but when they apprehended him, proceed against him, fasten him to the cross, the people all forsake him, and come no more to him. A prophet is present, and no man any more assisteth him, but they rather cry out against him, Crucify him, crucify him; and that which is most detestable of all, his own disciples revolt from him; what is become now both of their faith and holiness? So is it at this day in our time; at the first when the gospel began to shine, the preaching thereof was acceptable and pleasant, then many seemed willing to embrace it, but when monks and sacrificing priests, nuns, &c., began to be spoken against and the mass to be confuted, all (a marvellous thing to be spoken) fell away as leaves off trees.
Again, when princes also were touched, the gospel suffered greater persecution, and did by little and little daily decrease. Moreover Satan is not idle, whereupon he stirreth up heresies and schisms, for how many sects have we hitherto suffered? He sleepeth hot, he will stir up greater mischiefs, also he never resteth, but looketh about, and trieth every way, that he may bring the matter to that pass, and prevail so far that no sound doctrine may remain in the church, but that if all Germany be diligently viewed, a sermon may no where be found, wherein the word of God is truly preached, as it was before. He goeth about to extinguish and abolish all the doctrine of Christ now increasing, for he cannot bear it, it is not an easy thing to avoid so great an enemy, he lieth in wait, and vieweth all places, and so diligently bestirreth himself, that even the learned fall, and the elect, and stumble, as Moses, and Peter, with the rest of the apostles. We think ourselves safe, and live securely, no man considereth, no man hath a care of the word. We should pray and beseech God, that he would vouchsafe to preserve the gospel, and make his holy name to be spread and published more abroad, but no man is touched with care hereof, no man prayeth that it may have good success; wherefore it is to be feared, that at the last it will come to pass, that God will suffer Satan and us to run together into one, then shall we be in a desperate state, for he will easily throw us to the ground, when we are come into so great misery by our own slothfulness and default. Satan moreover can so set forth the matter by seditious spirits, that men shall think it to be just; as the Arians were persuaded, that their opinion was sound, but the Christian humbleth himself, taketh nothing rashly upon himself, but with an humble heart saith thus unto God: Most gracious God, although I know that the cause which I favour is just, yet without thy help I am not able to maintain it, thou therefore help me, otherwise I shall be cast and overthrown. He is indeed certain of his cause even as Peter was on the water, who could not be surer, when the water did bear him; for he knew no let or hinderance; but when the wind was great, and the water troubled, he perceived what was wanting in him; which is thoroughly to be received into our mind, and considered of us; for although the certainty of our cause be confirmed, strengthened, and
ratified with plain sentences of the scripture, yet it is by the might, counsel, and power of God, that we are defended, and Satan our chief adversary and enemy repressed; which is therefore done that God may stir us up to watch, and keep us in awe, that we may always be watchful, and cry unto him: Lord, help us, and increase our faith, for without thee we are able to do nothing.
Our heart must be always so disposed, as though we began to-day to believe, and always so affected, that we desire and labour to go more and more forward; for that is the nature, force, and quality of faith, that it always increaseth and waxeth stronger: Satan, as it is a little before mentioned, neither is idle nor resteth; if he be once overthrown, he riseth again; if he cannot enter in by the door, he endeavoureth to steal in behind, and if this be not permitted him, he breaketh in through the roof, or entereth in through a hollow place digged under the threshold, for he doth earnestly follow his work, until he come in; he useth many deceits and practices; if he prevaileth not by one, he taketh in hand another, and doth that so long until he hath obtained his purpose. Man is a weak and miserable thing, as Paul saith, 2 Cor. 4:7, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels," &c. I am more frail than a pot compared to the potter, and a pot is a very weak thing, inasmuch as it is easily broken, and whatsoever is in it is spilt. Now Satan when he knoweth how great a treasure faith is, kept in a frail pot (that I may so speak) he is in a great rage and fury, and saith thus unto us; I will touch thee, I will break thy pot, thou hast a great treasure, which I will spill; so God setteth the silly pot in the midst of his enemies, which should utterly perish, even in a moment if he did not defend it, for it may quickly be shaken and broken in pieces, yea, if it be but bitten of a viper it perisheth. And it is not hard for Satan even in one moment to waste and destroy a whole country. Wherefore that vexeth him, that God dealeth with him so simply, setting a silly pot against him, when he notwithstanding is so great a prince, and the most mighty ruler of this world.
Now it would grieve me, if I being strong and valiant, any man should set upon me with a reed; surely I being moved with anger would break the reed in pieces; for I had rather that he would set upon me with a spear, sword, and armed on all parts. It grieved stout Goliah, that David durst come unto him unarmed, only with a staff; so it greatly grieveth the devil that God will suppress him by flesh and blood; if some stout spirit should resist him, it would not grieve him so much, for that troubleth him above measure that a silly worm, a frail pot, should come to despise him, an earthen vessel against a most mighty prince. God hath laid up this treasure, saith Paul, in a miserable and weak vessel; for man is a weak creature, by and by moved to wrath, to covetousness, to pride, &c., so that Satan may easily shake and break the vessel; for if God would permit him, he would forthwith break it all to pieces. Now all this is done, saith Paul, that we may know that not by our own power but by the power of God, we are preserved from all evils, and especially from the force and fury of Satan, who goeth about like a roaring lion, desiring to bruise and break the weak vessels and frail pots; and that we may hereby also be stirred up to be watchful, and to lift up our eyes toward heaven, and pray unto God, that he will vouchsafe to increase and defend our faith, and preserve the vessel by his strength.
Thus have we an entrance unto our text; it remaineth that we now consider the same in order. The Evangelist saith thus: "There was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum." It falleth out with many other men also, that they have their children sick; but that which he saith afterward is to be marked: "When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death." Here faith beginneth and trusteth in Christ. Now that he had faith the gospel declareth: for he heard of Christ how he healed the sick, thereupon his heart was set upon him, and he resorteth unto him, thinking thus: If he helpeth all men he will also help me, and will heal my son. He counteth Christ for such a man as is able to help men, and hopeth and promiseth to himself all goodness from him; and that indeed is a true Christian heart which
cleaveth fast unto God. If that this ruler had stood in a place or way having two paths, doubting with himself, he had not gone unto Christ, but his heart would have been thus affected: He helpeth others indeed, but who can tell whether he will help me also? Howbeit he doth not thus doubt of Christ, but riseth and maketh haste unto him.
This is the beginning of faith; now ye shall see how Christ meeteth him on the other side, and answereth otherwise than he thought for, that his faith might be tried, and thus he saith unto him: "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." Christ said also to Peter, Matt. 14:31, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Peter undoubtedly had faith, and did believe in Christ, whereupon he committed himself to the water, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and began to be drowned; so in this place, that good man heareth a good report of Christ, that he helpeth every man, which he believeth, and therefore resorteth unto him. But when he heareth that Christ denieth to come, he stumbleth, and his faith faileth, fearing that Christ would not come unto him. This is as it were an assault and sore blow, here his new begun faith beginneth to be tempted. It was a hard saying, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe;" which saying doth so tempt him, and bring him into doubt, that he almost falleth. Satan standing at his back, saith unto him: Get thee home, look to thy business, for he will not help thee; notwithstanding the ruler did not by and by leave off, but prayed the Lord, "Sir, come down ere my child die." Here his faith began to be in danger and fail, but God doth not forsake him, but lifteth him up again and saith unto him, "Go thy way; thy son liveth." If the ruler had not had faith, he would not have requested Christ to come to his son; what therefore doth he want? Even this; he believed if Christ came to his house, he could then help his son; if he did not come, he could not help him. Neither did his faith extend so far, as to believe that Christ even being absent could heal the sick; but it behoved that he should have a higher faith. Wherefore Christ lifteth him up, and setteth him in a higher state, and saith unto him, "Go thy way, thy son liveth." Here he first ascendeth from his former faith, whereby
he believeth that Christ could heal being present, and cometh to a higher faith, so that now he believeth the word: for if he had not believed the word he would not have left Christ, neither would have departed from him, until he had come with him to his house. By having laid hold on the word, he cleaveth unto him by faith, for his son is at home, and Christ is with his father; wherefore the father receiveth this word in his heart, and thinketh with himself after this sort. My son is sick, but I shall find him whole; which faith was contrary both to reason and experience. Reason would have thought thus: when I came from my son he was sick, as I did leave him, so shall I find him. But faith saith otherwise; it resteth only in the word, and trusteth wholly unto it, neither doubteth it that any thing will fall out otherwise than a word speaketh, "Go thy way, thy son liveth." This is a right and strong faith, when a man leaveth sense, wisdom, reason, and trusteth wholly in the word of God. Christ saith, "Thy son liveth;" and he saith within himself, Without doubt it is true I shall so find it. So faith remaineth not idle, nor resteth, but increaseth, and goeth forward.
Thus Christ dealeth with us also; he suffereth us to be tempted, that we may increase in faith; if in the end of our life, when we must die, we shall have but a spark of such faith, we shall be in a good case, as Christ saith unto his disciples, Matt. 17:20, "If ye have faith, as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." A grain of mustard-seed is but a small thing, but he that hath faith agreeable to the smallness of this grain, shall be saved. Neither must we so much consider this, that our faith is little, but we must look unto this, we must have regard unto this, that the grain of mustard-seed do remain, and be not eaten up of the birds; that Satan pluck not faith out of our hearts. We must not look how little the faith is, but we must regard and take heed that faith be not taken away. Peter had faith upon the sea, and therefore was he carried by the water, that he should not be drowned; if he had so persevered in faith, he might well have walked a hundred miles upon the sea, but when he failed in faith, he began to be drowned. So
Moses had a strong faith, but he fell from it. It consisteth not in the strength or slenderness of faith, that we do stand, but in persevering and remaining faithful. It may be that he shall persevere in faith, which hath but a slender faith, and he that hath a strong faith shall fall and doubt. Moses and Peter had an excellent faith, so that Moses by faith did lead the people through the midst of the sea and death, and Peter without doubting went down out of the ship into the sea; but they fell from their faith, howbeit God raiseth them up quickly again. But the thief on the cross, having once laid hold of faith, continued constant.
Now God therefore suffereth it to be thus, that he may bring down rash arrogancy, that we do not gloriously extol ourselves, but always remain in fear and awe; for when temptation cometh upon us, we do forthwith fall into error if God do not assist and strengthen us, of which thing we may see a very goodly similitude in a tree, which in the spring-time buddeth and openeth itself, so that it doth as it were become white by reason of the blossoms. A shower falling upon it, many of the blossoms are shaken off, and the frost also doth much more consume them; afterward when the fruit beginneth to spring forth, some great wind blowing, much of it being newly come forth, falleth down, and when it waxeth ripe, the caterpillar cometh, which with other worms gnaweth and spoileth it so much, that scarce the twentieth part, yea, scarce the hundredth part, many times remaineth. The same cometh to pass with the hearers of the gospel: in the beginning thereof every one coveteth to be a true Christian, every one liketh of it very well, and the first fruits thereof are very pleasant; but when wind, a shower, or temptation cometh, all fall away from it by companies; afterwards sects and seditions arise, which like unto worms and cankers gnaw and infect the fruits of the gospel, and so many false opinions spring up, that very few do persevere in the true profession of the gospel: we have here, thanks be given to Almighty God, the word of God plentifully taught; we are delivered out of the deep and great darkness; but we, forgetting the word, are made weak, we live, having no care of the word, for it is not savoury unto us: but when hereafter false prophets shall break in
with their corrupt opinion, and Satan also shall violently assail us, finding us idle, and the house swept and garnished, he will bring with him seven other spirits worse than himself, and the end shall be worse than the beginning: which things, if they do so fall out, let us not therefore be quite discouraged, but let us rather instruct one another, that we may learn to cleave unto God, and pray unto him, and say, Merciful God, thou hast given unto me to become a Christian, give unto me also that I may persevere, and become daily richer in faith. Although the whole world did resist, and every one conspired to destroy the gospel, yet will I be nothing moved, but, by thy divine help, will depend on the gospel. But, to return again to the ruler: ye have heard that his faith was very notable and excellent; he heareth the word, "Thy son liveth;" he believeth it and goeth away giving honour to God; he receiveth the only word, he trusteth wholly unto it: hereupon God dealeth so graciously with him, that he restoreth health unto his son, raiseth him up, and strengtheneth him in faith, neither suffereth him to stick in doubt or infirmity, but establisheth him, and maketh him strong, and causeth him to go forward and increase: neither doth God delay until he cometh home, but declareth unto him, being yet in his journey, the health of his son, sending his servants to meet him, that they might bring him good news, and say, thy son liveth; for God cannot defer or delay. Where there is a sincere heart, which trusteth in him alone, all other things being left, looking only unto the word of God, there God cannot hide himself, but revealeth himself, and cometh unto such a heart, and maketh his abode there, as the Lord saith, John 14. Now what can be more joyful than for a man to give credit to the word of God, and to be plucked from it by no affliction or temptation, but to shut his eyes against every assault of Satan, to lay aside human sense, understanding, reason, and wisdom, and to say daily in his heart, God hath spoken it, he cannot lie? I say nothing is more joyful than such a faith; for whatsoever we ask of God with such a faith, we receive it more abundantly of him, than ever we desired it, and God is sooner present with us, than we had thought. Hereupon the Evangelist useth so many words, even unprofitable, as it appeareth unto us, as these: "And the man believed the word that Jesus had
spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, thy son liveth. Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend; and they said unto him, yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, thy son liveth." All which tendeth unto this, that we should know, that if we believe in the Lord, he will give us abundantly whatsoever we shall pray unto him for.
The conclusion the Evangelist maketh as followeth, "and himself believed, and his whole house." He so increased in faith, that he did not only ascend from a low state to a higher, but he brought others also unto faith; he had surely an effectual faith, which did not rest idle and slothful in the heart, but did break forth, so that whosoever were in his house were brought unto faith; for this is plainly the nature of faith, this is the quality of it, to draw others into it, and burst forth, and apply itself even unto the work of love, as Paul witnesseth, Gal. 5. That faith which worketh by love is effectual, for it cannot keep silence or be idle, as David saith, Psalm 116, which place Paul applieth to the faithful, 2 Cor. 4:13, "I believed, and therefore have I spoken." Faith can do no other, for it is enforced to speak, neither can it keep silence, inasmuch as he that is endued with it endeavoureth to profit his neighbour; this ruler had faith for himself, but it doth not remain in him alone, but breaketh forth. For without all doubt he declared to his family, how he came unto Christ, and received comfort of him, which they also believed; so we also, when we believe, must open our mouth and confess the grace which God hath showed unto us; which is the chief and most excellent work of faith, that one instruct another in the word; for Paul saith, Rom. 10:10, "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." If we be ashamed of this word, it is a certain argument of a very light and uncertain faith. We see therefore that there is no difference with Christ between the strong and the weak in faith, for a little faith is faith also. He therefore came into the world that he might receive to himself, bear, and sustain the weak. If he was so impatient as we are, he would by
and by say unto us, Get thee from me, I will none of thee, because thou believest not in me: but this is greatly to be commended, when one can handle the weak gently, and do not deal rigorously with them, and repel them by impatience; for although they be weak today, the hour may come when they shall receive the word more abundantly than we: thus we ought to instruct and teach one another, that we may depend on the word of God; for if we continue sticking on in the word, we shall be strong enough for the devil; for we glory of the word, although we are but weak. Unto Satan, who is able even in one hour to overthrow us all, all men should be even as a feather, which he would be able to remove away, how and when he will, yea, even with his breath: but if we believe, that feather is made more heavy unto him than the hill Olympus; for a Christian beareth Christ in himself, and Christ is heavier than heaven and earth. Thus much may suffice concerning this text.