Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

directed them to do. Faith influenced Noah. Perhaps a century before the deluge, God announced that tremendous judgment, and commanded him to build the ark. At that time, and probably for many succeeding years, no indications of the flood were seen. Seed-time and harvest, suminer and winter, pursued their usual course. Sun and moon, and all the heavenly bodies, moved in their accustomed order. But God had spoken, and assured of God's faithfulness and veracity, Noah prepared for the dreadful day, which he was sure would come. He built the ark-the day of destruction arrived-but he was safe. Of Abraham, the father of the faithful, it is added, "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out not knowing whither he went."h "He knew not whether the people would be friends or enemies, kind or cruel." Whether sorrow or comfort awaited him in that strange land. But assured of the wisdom and goodness of God, he confided fully in the promise that God made him. God had commanded him to forsake his country. This was sufficient. Wherever he might roam, God would be his guide. This was enough to render him safe and happy.

§ 4. In the account given by the word of God respecting faith, it is represented as producing effects similar to those which sight would produce. What sight is with respect to this world, faith is with respect to the next.

As faith in regard to eternal things, is similar to sight with respect to those of time, so it produces effects exactly similar. Were the Christian to see the Son of God expiring for his sins, what more could sight effect, than lead him to abhor himself, to hate his sins, and to yield himself a living sacrifice to his crucified Lord? All this faith effects, wherever it is genuine. Were the glories of eternity unveiled to the believer's eye, and the bliss of heaven presented to his sight, what more could the sight effect, than lead the soul to seek its portion above, to slight the trifles of time, and to feel and act as a pilgrim upon earth? Where faith is possessed, all this will be effected; not with feelings as lively, or perceptions as vivid, as those produced by sight, but the choice will be as real, and the affections as truly turned to heaven, and fixed and centring there.

(h) Heb. xi. 8.

I

[blocks in formation]

Were the scenes of eternal judgment, or the dark prison of eternal misery, presented to the Christian's sight, what could it effect more than lead him earnestly to flee from the wrath to come, and to prepare to render his last account? And this too faith effects on all that feel its saving power.

Were a dying Saviour, a blissful heaven, the awful judgment-throne, and a miserable hell, presented together to the Christian's view, what more could the sight effect, than lead him so earnestly to flee the dreaded evil, so devoutly to seize the proffered good, that, compared with this, health, and liberty, and friends, and life, should seem things of no account in his esteem? Could sight do more than lead him to resign all these, and to choose pain, and bonds, and death, so that he might but win Christ and heaven? All this faith has done; and done not only in one solitary instance, but in millions of instances. It has been supposed that since Christianity arose, not less than fifty millions of martyrs have laid down their lives for its sake. Thus even when sufferings or death are in the way, faith still leads the true Christian forward. It is an unseen heaven that he seeks, an unseen hell that he dreads, an unseen God that he loves, and an unseen Saviour to whom he resigns himself. Yet, while all that in his esteem is most dreadful or most alluring is unseen, he avoids or pursues these unseen things, with a resolution as strong, and a heart as decided, as that of the most inveterate worldling, who is pursuing the visible objects of earth and time. It may rather be said, with a stronger resolution and a firmer decision. For let almost certain death stand between the worldling and his object, and he shrinks from the pursuit; but he, whose faith is genuine, strengthened from above, will not shrink from the pursuit of Christ and heaven, though painful bonds, or certain death, obstruct his way.

In the illustrations of the effects of faith, which have already been adduced from the word of God, it is plain that its effects were such as sight would have produced. Had Noah seen the deluge, could he have done more than build the ark? Had Abraham seen the country to which God would lead him, and beheld even a thousand attractions, could he have yielded a more ready obedience to the divine command ?

In the case of Moses what could sight have done, which faith did not effect? Could he have suffered with more reso

SIMILAR TO THOSE OF SIGHT.

87

lution? could he have chosen God as his portion with more decision? could he have sought eternal rest with more patient perseverance? He suffered, he acted, he endured, as seeing him who is invisible, and seeing the things that are unseen.

The same were the effects of faith on the holy host of confessors, who were tortured, were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; who wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy.

Surely the faith of these sufferers accomplished all that could have been accomplished if they had beheld their " God in glory," and their wished-for home. Could they, who died martyrs that they might obtain a better resurrection, have done more than die, if all the solemn and triumphant scenes of that resurrection had been exhibited to their view? Could they who met death in a hundred horrid forms, or wandered in the dens of wild beasts, more desolate than they-could they have endured more constantly if the world they sought had been continually before their eyes? Faith was indeed to all these the substance of things hoped for. They all endured as seeing things invisible.

[ocr errors]

In accordance with this view of the effects of faith, the Christian is described as walking by faith. "We walk by faith, not by sight." The idea suggested appears to be, that the Christian pilgrim pursues his journey to eternity with his heart, and soul, and affections, and actions, directed by those solemn objects which are as yet unseen. He goes forward step by step, influenced solely in his choice, and heart, and conduct, not by the visible objects, which charm the deluded eyes of worldly men, but by the invisible realities of an everlasting state.

Faith overcomes the world.-Faith produces love."_ Faith insures holy obedience."-Faith promotes inward purity as well as outward obedience.-Faith is a source of peace and comfort.P-Faith gives energy to patience, and promotes perseverance. Faith is a shield. The warrior's shield protected his body, and warded off the thrusts and blows of his enemy; so faith protects the Christian warrior.

(i) Heb. xi. 35-38. (k) 2 Cor. v. 7. (7) 1 John v. 4. iv. 19. 1 Pet. ii. 18, 20, 26.

(m) 1 John ii. 7. 1 Pet. i. 8. (n) John xiv. 15, 23. Gal. v. 6. Jarnes (0) Acts xv. 9. Gal. iii. 26. 1 John iii. 2, 3. (p) Rom. xv. 13. (g) 1 Pet. i. 3. 2 Pet. iii. 14. 1 Thess. v. 8.

88

THE NOMINAL CHRISTIAN URGED TO

It is a breast-plate. The breast-plate, as the word suggests, was designed to guard the breast, and thus protect the vital parts, and especially the heart. This is the place of faith, and while faith is possessed, the heart will be engaged for God, its affections will still turn to him, and the humble believer, safe in this impenetrable breast-plate, will be kept by the power of God through faith to final victory and full salvation.-Faith produces spirituality of mind and affection.-Faith can be exhibited only by its fruits. "Show me thy faith without thy works." Do it if thou canst. It is beyond thy power to do so.-Faith cannot exist without being productive of the fruits thus described. This is extremely evident from observing, that in the most solemn manner, the Son of God declares, that those only shall enter heaven who do his Father's will, and yet that with equal certainty salvation is promised to every believer. The inference is clear; every believer will do the will and hearken to the precepts of God.

Need we wonder that the faith which produces such effects, and with which the most valuable blessings are connected, is described as precious faith; and have we not reason to unite in the frequent prayer of the apostles, Lord, increase our faith!

§ 5. Are you a believer? You have borne the name of Christian; but most who bear that sacred and abused name, are practical unbelievers. If you have been one of the careless and the formal, permit me to ask, should you fear a threatening dagger? should you dread to swallow a bowl of poison? You know you would; but why? have you ever felt the miseries inflicted by a dagger or by poison? you have not. Why then would you fear them? because you believe, on the testimony of others, the dreadful effects of daggers and of poisons. You avoid them through faith. A greater than mortals, a greater than angels, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, declares that you are a lost creature, and tells you of scenes of misery to which sin leads, more dreadful than the most dreadful here. Of a world where eternal horror reigns;-where miseries beyond description dwell ;-where, could they inflict a second death, daggers and poisons would be blessings indeed;-blessings fought for more earnestly than crowns on (r) 2 Cor. iv. 18. 2 Cor. v. 6-8. 1 Thess. i. 9, 10. (s) James ii. 18. (t) Matt. vii. 21. Mark xvi. 16. Acts xvi. 30,

CONSIDER HIS WANT OF FAITH.

89

earth!-He tells you of an eternal hell, which sin has merited, and to which sin is sinking you; and do you believe? O! if you did, you would flee from the wrath to come.

A friend tells you of some important good that you may obtain ;-you follow it. Of some pleasures you may enjoy; -you pursue them. Why? because you believe his word, and believe they will increase your satisfaction. Perhaps you are ill.-An acquaintance tells you of a medicine that is an infallible antidote to your disorder: you take it. Why? have you ever tried its virtues?—No: but you believe him who has. In all these cases you are a believer, and faith leads you to pursue desired good.

God tells you in his word that, pitying your misery, and concerned for your happiness, he gave his best Beloved to suffer in your place. This divine friend calls you to follow him, and assures you that eternal life is the heritage of his disciples. The joys of earth are only like gliding shadows or departing dreams of joy. Heaven alone possesses the fair reality. Every thing fades here; nothing fades there. Here time is short; but there, cternity how long! Yet in this moment must that eternity of bliss be gained, or never be obtained. Now would the Saviour make you an heir of heaven; but beyond the grave he will never extend to you a pitying, helping hand. All this he declares to you in his word. You profess, perhaps, to believe it all, and, oh dreadful !—you slight it all. Do you believe him? What infatuation! what want of common sense to suppose you do! No! if you did you would flee to the shelter of his cross, and find salvation there. No! if you did believe him, you would not prefer earth to heaven, and a moment to eternity. No! if you did believe him, you would not continue dying of sin, and careless of the great Physician. And while you neglect him, what are you but a practical infidel? You may talk of eternity and prefer time before it, but not believe in eternal life, as the gift of God through Jesus Christ, and think of eternal life, without feeling that time is a dream, and life a vapour. If this earth could be hung on one side of a balance, and a speck of dust be laid in the other scale, would the dust weigh down the world? Sooner would it do so, than time be preferred to eternity, by him who cordially believes what the blessed Scriptures say about his wretchedness, and his only remedy !

« FöregåendeFortsätt »