The exchange between the Evil One and the Christian as the shield of faith is employed to beat back all the fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16) by Richard Sibbes
SATAN: Thou art a great sinner;
CHRISTIAN: Christ is a strong savior
SATAN: thou has no faith, no love;
CHRISTIAN yes, a spark of faith and love;
SATAN: Christ will not regard that;
CHRISTIAN: yes, he will not quench the smoking flax;
SATAN: this is so little and weak, that it will vanish and come to naught:
CHRISTIAN: nay, but Christ will cherish it, until he as brought judgement to victory.
And thus much for our comfort we have already, that even when we first believed, we overcame God himself, as it were, by believing the pardon for all our sins; notwithstanding the guilt of our own consciences, and his absolute justice. Now having been prevailers with God, what shall stand against us if we can learn to make use of our faith? (Vol. 1 p.98) The Bruised Reed
