As gold is most precious among metals, so is faith among the graces. Thy faith has saved thee,' not thy tears. Though unbelievers breathe, they want life. First we believe the promise, then we hope for it. If faith did not feed the lamp of hope with oil, it would soon die.
Love takes possession of glory, but faith gives a title to it.
Faith carries away the garland from all the other graces. Men think, as long as they are not drunkards or swearers, it is no great matter to be unbelievers. This is the gospel sin, it dyes your other sins in grain. Unbelief is a Christ-reproaching sin. This is a high contempt offered to Christ, and is a deeper spear than that which the Jews thrust into his side.