5 And the Apostles said unto the Ix>rd, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might flay onto this sycamine tree, Be thou plneked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea ; and it should obey you.
7 But which of you, having a ser- <raiit plowing or feeding cattle, will aay vnto him by and by, when he is eome from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith i may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken ; and after- ward thou shalt eat and drink }
9 Doth he thank that servant be- cause he did the things that were commanded him } I trow not.
10 Bo likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, "We are unpro- fitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
226 EXF08IT0RT I^OUeHTS. .
Let us notice, in these verses, the important request which the apostles made. They said unto the Lord, '' Increase our faith."
We know not the secret feelings from which this request sprung. Perhaps the hearts of the apostles failed within them, as they heard one weighty lessoa after another fall from our Lord's lips. Perhaps the thought rose up in their minds, " Who is sufficient for these things P Who can receive such high doctrines ? Who can follow such a lofty standard of practice?" These, however, are only conjectures. One thing, at any rate, is clear and plain. The request which they made was most' deeply important : " Increase our faith."
Faith is the root of saving religion. " He that oometh unto God must believe that he is, and that he ia a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. xi. 6.) It is the hand by which the soul lays hold on Jesus Christ, and is united to Him and saved. It is the secret of all Christian comfort, and spiritual prosperity. Ac- cording fx) a man's faith will be his peace, his hope, his strength, his courage, his decision, and his victory over the world. When the apostles made request about faith, they did wisely and well.
Faith is a grace which admits of degrees. It does not come to full strength and perfection as soon as it is planted in the heart by the Holy Ghost. There 19 " Uttle" faith and "great" faith. There is "weak" faith and "strong "faith. Both are spoken of in the Scriptures. Both. are to be seen in the experience of God's people. The more faith a Christian has, the more happy, holy, and iiseful will he be. To promote the growth and progress of faith