Page:The works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., late fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford (IA worksofrevjohnwe3wesl).pdf/356

 is purified thereby, is separated from its dross. And so is faith, in the fire of temptation; the more it is tried, the more it is purified. Yea, and not only purified, but also strengthened, confirmed, increased abundantly, by so many more proofs of the wisdom and power, the love and faithfulness of God. This then, to increase our faith is one gracious end of God's permitting those manifold temptations.

3. They serve to try, to purify, to confirm and increase that living hope also, whereunto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ''hath begotten us again of his abundant mercy''. Indeed our hope cannot but increase, in the same proportion with our faith. On this foundation it stands: believing in his name, living by faith in the Son of God, we hope for, we have a confident expectation of, the glory which shall be revealed. And consequently, whatever strengthens our faith; increases our hope also. At the same time it increases our joy in the Lord, which cannot but attend an hope full of immortality. In this view the apostle exhorts believers in the other chapter, ''Rejoice that ye are partakers of the sufferings of'' Christ. On this very account, ''happy are you; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you''. And hereby ye are enabled, even in the midst of sufferings to ''rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory''.

4. They rejoice the more, because the trials which increase their faith and hope, increase their love also: both their gratitude to God for