the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Golden Treasury
Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith, 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Many would be converted and become believers, if they did not presumptuously pretend to it, thinking they were no heathens, but had faith already. For such as have actually faith, often doubt whether they have any or not; and those that are without, imagine that they have enough. But faith is only wrought in the souls of those who are deeply humbled by a thorough conviction of the greatness and heinousness of their sins, confessing themselves not only with their lips, but with a true sense of their hearts, to be the chief of sinners, and looking upon themselves as the most unworthy of all creatures.
Without this repentance we do not enter through the right gate, and our faith is a false imagination. For faith is the greatest and most difficult thing even to a child of God; it receives Christ into the heart and overcomes the devil, world, and all sins, which is not so easily done. Therefore, if the generality of people had true faith, nothing would be easier than that. For what can be easier than to conceive thoughts and imaginations of any thing? Then there would be no need to pray for faith, to strive and examine ourselves; consequently, these words were superfluous in the bible. For such a faith has every one, even the most wicked. But they deceive themselves, for faith is said to be the victory over the world. And if the first Christians had need to examine themselves, how much more have we?
Therefore, the best and safest way is, to pray earnestly for that faith which has boldness, and triumph even in death.
