by William Romaine
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
The design of this little Treatise is to display the glory and all-sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to encourage weak believers to glorify Him more, by depending and living more upon His all-sufficiency. Whatever grace He has promised in His Word—He is faithful, and He is almighty to bestow; and they may receive it from Him freely by the hand of faith.
This is faith's use and office, as a hand or instrument, having first received Christ, to be continually receiving out of Christ's fullness. The apostle calls this "living by faith"—a life received and continued, with all the strength, comforts, and blessings belonging to it, by faith in the Son of God.
He also mentions the work of faith, its working effectually in the hearts and lives of believers, through Christ's strengthening them, and its growing in them, yes, growing exceedingly, from faith to faith, by the power of Him who loves them.
This is the subject.
Every genuine Christian has obtained this true faith, given them of God, and wrought in their hearts by His Word and Spirit. All Christians meet with many difficulties every day to try their faith, and to hinder them from depending continually upon the Lord Christ for all things belonging to life and so godliness. By what means these difficulties may be overcome, is plainly taught in Scripture, is clearly promised, and is attained by faith—which becomes daily more victorious, as it is enabled to trust that He is faithful who promised.
The strengthening of faith I have had all along in view, hoping to be the means, under God, of leading the weak believer by the hand, and of removing hindrances out of his way, until the Lord thoroughly settles and establishes him in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
But I must admonish the reader, that I do not expect this result merely from what I have written. It is too high and great a work for any mere man. Faith is the gift of God. And he alone who gives it, can increase it. The author of the faith, is also the finisher of it. We do not use the means to set the Lord of all means aside. No, we use the means that we may find him in them. It is his presence which makes the use of them effectual. By this, and this only, can any reader of this little book be rendered stronger in faith.
Being well assured of this, I have therefore looked up to him myself, and it will be for your profit also, reader, to look up to him in prayer for his blessing. Entreat him, of his grace, to countenance this feeble attempt to promote his glory and his people's good. Beg of him to make your reading of it the means of your growth in faith, and to accompany it with the supply of his Holy Spirit to every believer into whose hands it may fall. And forget not, in your prayers and praises, to remember the Author.
April 30, 1793.
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Table of Contents
Preface
Introductory Essay
The Life of Faith
The Walk of Faith
The Triumph of Faith