Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 17:6

6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye might say unto this sycamine-tree, Be thou plucked up by the roots, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Matthew hath in Effect the same ch. 17.20. tho he saith you might say unto this Mountain. See the Notes there I cannot be of their Mind who think that our Saviour in this, and the Parallel place, speaks only of a Faith that work[illegible: 1 letter] Miraculous Operations. The object of which must be a Divine Revelation or Promise made to particular Persons, that they shall be able to do things (by the Power of God) out of, and beyond the ordinary course of Nature. I do believe that in both Texts our Lord designs, to shew the great honour he will give to the exercise of the Grace of Faith. So as nothing which shall be for the honour of God, and the good of those that exercise it, and which God hath promised shall be too hard, or great an atchievment for it; yet will it not thence follow, that if we had Faith, that is a full persuasion, that God would do such a thing by us, and a rest and confidence in God relating to it, we might remove Mountains, or cast Sycamine-trees into the Sea, for no such Faith in us now could have a Promise for the object, so as such a Persuasion would be no Faith, but a meer Presumption. But there are other things as difficult, for which all believers have Promises. Sin shall have no Dominion over you. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you, &c. and there are duties to be performed by us, as hard in the view of our Natural Eye, as removing Mountains, amongst which this of forgiving Injuries, is not the least, especially to some Natural tempers. But (saith our Saviour) do not think it impossible to do, you have said well to me, Lord increase our Faith, for if you had Faith as a grain of Mustard-seed, either so small as a grain of Mustard-seed, (if true) or so lively and working, that had such a principle of Life in it, as a grain of Mustard-seed, you might do any duty, resist any Temptation, mortifie any Corruption, and you that have a Power given you, and a Promise made you for working Miracles, might say to this Sycamine-tree, be removed, &c.