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Faith Legacy vs. Self-Destructive Pride
William Gurnall on how faith quenches Satan’s fiery dart of pride: Faith reminds the Christian of the exploits of former saints, who have renounced the world's honor. These saints refused to prostitute their souls by selling themselves into sin. Faith clearly calls the roll of Scripture saints and the exploits of their faith so that the Christian may be stirred by the same gallant spirit. This was plainly the apostle's design in recording these saints' choices along with the trophies of their faith (Heb. 11). 'Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us (Heb. 12:1) What courage it puts into the soldier to see the man beside him run into the face of death! Elisha, having seen the miracles God worked by Elijah, smites the waters of
'O God, You are the God of the valleys – the smallest of saints, as well as of the mountains – the more famous heroes. Does not the same blood run in the veins of all believers? Were they victorious, and shall I be the only shaking, to cower under my burden of corruption without shaking it off? Help me, my God!' Faith says, 'Awake, Christian! Prove that you are kin to these holy men, that you are born of God as they were, by your over your victory over the world.' (Vol. III, pp.116-117) |
