Part 2671

(1:4-9; 4:1-5; 5:6-8; 9:24-27; 10:1-5; 10:6-13; 12:1-11; 13:1-13) VIII. 2 Corinthians (3:4-11; 6:1-10; 11:19-23, 12:1-9) VIII. Ephesians (3:13-21; 4:1-6; 4:22-28; 5:1-9; 5:15-21; 6:10-17) IX. Phillipians (1:3-11; 2:5-11; 3:17-21; 4:4-7) X. Colossians (1:3-14; 3:1-7; 3:12-17) XI. 1 Thessalonians (4:1-7; 4:13-18) XII. 2 Thessalonians (1:3-10) XIII. Titus (2:11-15; 3:4-8) XIV. Hebrews (1:1-12; 9:11-15) XV. James (1:16-21) XVI. 1 Peter (2:11-20; 2:21-25; 3:8-15; 4:8-11; 5:5-11) XVII. 1 John (3:13-18; 5:4-12) XVIII. Isaiah (60:1-6) * 1 * This Gospel, as a narrative, gives us an example of faith and unbelief, in order that we may learn how mighty the power of faith is, and that it of necessity has to do with great and terrible things and that it accomplishes nothing but wonders; and that on the other hand unbelief is so fainthearted, shamefaced and trembling with fear that it can do nothing whatever. An illustration of this we see in this experience of the disciples, which shows the real state of their hearts. First, as they in company with Christ entered the ship, all was calm and they experienced nothing unusual, and had any one asked them them if they believed, they would have answered, Yes. But they were not conscious of how their hearts trusted in the calm sea and the signs for fair weather, and that thus their faith was founded upon what their natural eyes saw. But when the tempest comes and the waves fill the boat, their faith vanishes; because the calm and peace in which they trusted took wings and flew away, therefore they fly with the calm and peace, and nothing is left but unbelief. * 2 * But what is this unbelief able to do? It sees nothing but what it experiences. It does not experience life, salvation and safety; but instead the waves coming into the boat and the sea threatening them with death and every danger. And because they experience these things and give heed to them and turn not their fear from them, trembling and despair can not be suppress