(Thomas Watson, "The Lord's Prayer")
True faith is joined with holiness. As a little
musk sweetens, so a little faith purifies. Though
faith does but touch Christ—it fetches a healing
virtue from Him. Justifying faith does that in a
spiritual sense, which miraculous faith does—it
removes the mountains of sin, and casts them
into the sea of Christ's blood!
True faith is prolific. It brings forth fruit; it has
Rachel's beauty—and Leah's fruitfulness. Faith is
full of good works. It believes as if it did not work
—and it works as if it did not believe. Faith is the
spouse-like grace which marries Christ; and good
works are the children which it bears!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
True faith
(John Fawcett, "Christ Precious")
True faith transforms the temper and frame of our
souls into another image, even the image of Christ.
This is done, in some degree, in the first saving
discovery which we have of Him; so that he who
truly believes in Jesus, is a new creature.
"If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
We hence infer, that to be a real believer, is to
be a new creature. Our very tempers are changed
into Christ's holy likeness. The meek and lowly,
the devout and heavenly mind, which was in
Christ Jesus—in some degree, takes place in us.
Such is the efficacy of saving faith—that . . .
it is the vigorous root to all holy obedience;
it bears up the soul amidst the severest trials;
it strengthens it for the most arduous services;
enables it to overcome the world, and to lay
hold upon eternal life.
Faith genuinely influences all the powers of the
soul, and all the actions of the life, according to
the degree of its vigor, strength, and liveliness.
The more we live by faith in Jesus—the more
steadily we look to him—the more we shall be
transformed into His likeness.
True faith sets all things in a different light before
the eyes of the soul. It alters the view and appearance
of all the great and mirthful things of this world. The
treasures, the splendors and the entertainments of this
world—were once the most inviting objects upon which
we could look. But now we look on the world, with all
its most glittering and the richest scenes—as trifling,
poor, and despicable things. We are crucified to the
world, by the cross of Christ. We seek the things which
are above, where our Redeemer sits; and when the
world begins to flatter us again, and to appear great
and tempting in our eyes—renewed discoveries of
Christ's glory, who is the chief among ten thousand,
and altogether lovely—eclipse the splendor of all
below the skies. "This is the victory which overcomes
the world, even our faith."
