Let us think we when we are troubled with our sins that Christ has this in charge from his Father, but he still not ‘quench the smoking flax’ until he has subdued all. This puts a shield in our hands to beat back ‘all the fiery darts of the wicked’ (Eph. 6.16). Satan will object, ‘You are a great sinner.’ We may answer, ‘Christ is a strong Savior.’ But he will object, ‘You have no faith no love.’ ‘Yes, a spark of faith and love.’ ‘But Christ will not regard that.’ ‘Yes, he will not quench the smoking flax.’ ‘But this is so little and weak that it will vanish and come to nought.’ ‘Nay, but Christ will cherish it, until he has brought judgment to victory.’ And this much we have already for our comfort, that, even when we first believed, we overcame God himself, as it were, by believing the pardon of all our sins, notwithstanding the guilt of our own conscience 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?

Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2011), 123.