Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Wherein ye greatly rejoice; that is, in the sure prospect which ye have of possession, yea, even now, in the actual enjoyment by faith, see Ephesians 2:6, of this promised inheritance, both by gift, and by purchase. And, though now sometimes hard put to it, by the temptations, and trials of Satan and the world, heaviness is induced; yet the consciousness, that the issue is not doubtful, but sure victory over all must be the end, bears the soul up in the strength and grace of Christ Jesus.
I beg the Reader not to overlook what the Holy Ghost saith on this subject, (for it is a blessed testimony), concerning the trial of faith, in the children of God; that it is more precious than of gold that perisheth. It is a sweet comparison, and most wisely chosen, to shew the superiority of faith to gold. For though gold, if it be pure gold, when put into the hottest fire, will lose nothing, and come out the brighter; yet it will gain nothing by the process. The same quantity thrown into the furnace, it will be well if it come out, more it cannot. But not so by faith. True faith, the faith of God's elect, will be increased tenfold by the trial; and the oftener it is tried, the greater both in quantity and in quality, it will become. Let the Reader attend to this distinction, and learn to bless God the Holy Ghost for so gracious a testimony. And if he be a child of God, let him learn moreover, the great grace and condescension of a faithful God in Christ, in bringing him to such trials, My Brother! Be assured of this one most certain truth: The Lord can never try your faith, but he affords you thereby an opportunity, both to try, and to prove his love and faithfulness. David knew this so well, that he cried out, under his sharp exercises: I know, 0 Lord, that thy judgments are right; and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me, Psalms 119:75. And you cannot but know, that every skirmish with the foe, the Lord designs for your comfort, and his own glory. Sometimes by enabling you to resist the devil, you are led to see, that he flees from you. Sometimes, when he comes in like a flood, you discover Christ's strength made perfect in your weakness; and the Lord the Spirit lifts up Christ a standard against him, Isaiah 59:19. And even in those fiery darts of his which wound, and when in grappling with the foe, for the time the poor buffeted soul seems to give way, and fall under; even then, the soul, which is strong in the faith, shouts victory in the blood of the Lamb, and cries out, even as he falls: Rejoice not against me, 0 mine enemy; when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me, Micah 5:7-8. Oh! it is blessed, it is precious, yea, much more precious than of gold that perisheth, when faith is tried, though with tire. For the child of God is an infinite gainer, and the Lord God of his tried child will make it ultimately appear in the end, that his Almighty hand was in it, when it is found unto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.