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lous, well-affected Peter, "that he had prayed for him, that his faith ſhould not fail," whilſt he thought himſelf capable of cleaving to him, even unto death. But when he found himſelf capable of denying him, his ſole conſolation lay in the prayer of his Redeemer," that his faith ſhould not fail." An untried profeſſor is a very dubious character, therefore God has very wiſely joined religion with the croſs, and afflictions with faith; for faith cannot live in it's exerciſe without it's fights and conflicts. Now, where would be the trial, if faith did always triumph over it's opponents? It would blunt the edge of the enemy's ſword, and extract the bitterness from affliction; ſo that, in very deed, the affliction ſuſtained, would not anſwer the end propoſed, as to bring forth our unbelief to open light. The foundation of all faith and ſtrength, victories and triumphs, lies in felt weakneſs. Jacob theſhes no mountains to powder, till he feels himſelf a worm; and the moment he feels himſelf reduced to that fate of nothingneſs, he commenceth a new threſhing inſtrument, having teeth. Samfon can never overthrow the houſe of Dagon, till he himſelf, in his own perſon, is entirely in the power of the Pailiſtines; but once totally deprived of perſonal excellency, he lays hold on the power of Omnipotence, and works the deſtruction of his enemies. Aficions are the ſciſſars, which ſhear away perſonal ſtrength, excellency, and ſuppoſed capacity for doing good, or withſtanding the power of the Philiſtines in our own perſons. Whilſt we can go out, and ſhake ourſelves, and break the withes with which our ſins have attempted to bind us, we fhall ſmile at Delilah's web, and aſcribe the whole excellency to our own graces, inſtead of that grace which is in Chriſt.
