Sect. 9 — Use of means for strengthening of faith.
Sect. 9 — Use of means for strengthening of faith.
Neo. O sir, I desire it with all my heart; and therefore, I beg you, tell me what you would have me do, that I may grow stronger.
Evan. Why, surely the best advice and counsel that I can give you, is to exercise that faith which you have, and wrestle against doubts, and be earnest with God in prayer for the increase of your faith. “Because,” says Luther, “this gift is in the hands of God alone, who bestows when, and to whom he pleases, you must resort to him by prayer, and say with the apostles, ‘Lord, increase our faith,’” Luke 17.5. And you must also be diligent in hearing the word preached; for just as “faith comes by hearing,” Rom. 10.17, so it is increased by hearing. And you must also read the word, and meditate on the free and gracious promises of God. For the promise is the immortal seed by which the Spirit of Christ begets and increases faith in the hearts of all his people. And lastly, you must frequent the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, and receive it as often as you conveniently can.
Ant. But by your favour, sir, if faith is the gift of God, and he gives it when, and to whom he pleases, then I conceive that a man’s using such means will not procure any greater measure of it than God is pleased to give.
Evan. I confess, it is not the means that either begets or increases faith; but it is the Spirit of God in the use of means that does it. So that, just as the means will not do it without the Spirit, neither will the Spirit do it without the means, where the means may be had. Therefore, I beg you, do not hinder him from using the means.
Neo. Sir, for my own part, let Antinomian say what he will, I am resolved, by the assistance of God, to be careful and diligent in the use of these means which you have now prescribed — so that by increasing my faith, I may be better enabled to be subject to the will of the Lord, and walk in such a way that I may please him.