Not the faith of a devil
Second, it is not the faith of a devil, though that faith goes much further. The devil believes there is a wise and powerful God, kind to reward and just to punish. He also believes that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ, the Savior of the world. We hear him say it in plain words: I know who you are, the Holy One of God. That is Luke 4:34. We cannot doubt that this unhappy spirit believes every word that came from the mouth of the Holy One, and everything else written by those holy men of old. About two of them he was forced to give this testimony: these men are servants of the Most High God, and they show you the way of salvation. So the great enemy of God and of man believes this much, and trembles while he believes it. He believes that God was made known in the flesh. He believes that God will tread every enemy under his feet. He believes that all Scripture was given by the inspiration of God. That is as far as the faith of a devil goes.
1872 text
2. Nor, secondly, is it the faith of a devil, though this goes much farther than that of a heathen. For the devil believes, not only that there is a wise and powerful God, gracious to reward, and just to punish; but also, that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ, the Saviour of the world. So we find him declaring, in express terms, "I know Thee who Thou art; the Holy One of God" (Luke 4:34). Nor can we doubt but that unhappy spirit believes all those words which came out of the mouth of the Holy One, yea, and whatsoever else was written by those holy men of old, of two of whom he was compelled to give that glorious testimony, "These men are the servants of the most high God, who show unto you the way of salvation." Thus much, then, the great enemy of God and man believes, and trembles in believing, —that God was made manifest in the flesh; that he will "tread all enemies under his feet;" and that "all Scripture was given by inspiration of God." Thus far goeth the faith of a devil.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1872 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1872 panel is the public-domain sermon. Its disputed lines were checked against the University of Toronto scan of the forty-four sermons: a public robber, a common harlot, sons of perdition, the Romish delusion, and Popery.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 1. Saint Mary's, Oxford, 18 June 1738. Ephesians 2:8.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Salvation by Faith, 1872 wording (English · The whole sermon, divided to match the reading)
- Checked print Forty-four Sermons, University of Toronto scan (English · Checked the robber, harlot, perdition, Romish, and Popery lines)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.