(3.) Unbelief is a leading sin. It is the breeder of sin. Qualitas malce vitcB inithnn sumit ab hijidelilate. Unbelief is a root-sin, and the dcA-il labours to water this root, that the branches may be fruitful. (1.) Unbelief breeds haidness of heart ; there- fore they are put together, Mark xvi. 14., Christ upbraideth them with their unbelief and hardness of heart. Unbelief breeds the stone of the heart ; he who believes not in Christ, is not affected with his sufferings, lie melts not in tears of love. Unbelief freczeth the heart ; first it defiles and har- dens. (2.) Unbelief breeds profancness ; an unbeliever will stick at no sin, — neither at false weights, nor false oaths. lie will swallow down treason ; Judas was first an unbeliever, and then a traitor, John vi. 6k He who hath no faith in his heart will have no fear of God before his eyes.
(4.) Unbelief is a wrath-procuring sin ; it is mimica salutis, Bern. John iii. 18. Jam condemnatus est, dying so, he is as sure to be condemned as if he were so already, John iii. 36., " He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." He who believes not in
the blood of the Lamb, must feel the wrath of the Lamb. The Gentiles that believe not in Christ wil. be as well damned as the Jews who blaspheme him. And if unbelief be so fearful and damnable a sin, shall we not be afraid to live in it ?
2d. Above all graces, set faith a work on Christ: John iii. 1.3., " Tliat whosoever be lieveth in him should not perish." Eph. vi. 16., " Above all, taking the shield of faith." Say as queen Esther, " I will go in unto the king : and if I perish, I perish." She had nothing to encourage her, — she ven- tured against law, — yet the golden sceptre was held forth to her. We have promises to encourage our faith, John vi. 37., " He that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." Let us then advance faith by an holy recumbency on Christ's merits. Christ's blood will not justify without believing: they are both put together in the text, " Faith in his blood." The blood of God, without faith in Christ, will not save. Christ's sufferings are the plaster to heal a sin-sick soul, but this plaster must be applied by faith. It is not money in a rich man's hand, thouffh offered to us, will enrich us, unless we receive it : so it is not Christ's virtues or benefits will do us good, unless we re- ceive them by the hand of faith. Above all CTaces, set faith on work; remember this grace is most acceptable to God, and that upon many accounts.
(1.) Because it is a God-exalting grace; it glorifies God, Rom. iv. 20., Abraham being strong in faith, gave glory to God. To believe thiit there is more mercy in God, and merit in Christ than sin in us, — and that Christ hath answered all the demands and challenges of the law, — and that his blood hath fully satisfied for us, — this is in a high degree to honour God. Faith in the Mediator brings more glory to God, than martyrdom, or the most heroic act of obedi- ence.
(2.) Faith in Christ is so acceptable to God, because it is such a self-denying grace i it makes a man go out of himself, renounce all self-righteousness and wholly rely on Christ for justification. Faith is very hum- ble, it confesseth its own indigence, and i lives wholly upon Christ. As the bee sucks
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sweetness from the flower, so faitli sucks all its streiigtli and comfort from C'lirist.
(3 ) Faith is a grace so acceptable to God, because by faith we present a righ- teousness to God, which doth best please him ; we bring the righteousness of Christ into the court, which is called the righte- ousness of God, 1 Cor. V. 21. To bring Christ's righteousness, is to bring Benja- min with us. A believer may say, " Lord, it is not the righteousness of Adam, or of the angels, but of Christ who is God-man, that I bring before thee." The Lord can- not choose but smell a sweet savour in Christ's righteousness.
Use 2(1. Trial. Let us try our faith. There is something that looks like faith, and is not. Pliny saith, there is a Cyprian stone, which is in colour, like a diamond, but it is not of the right kind : there is a false spurious faith in the world. Some plants have the s:ame leaf with others, but the herbalist can distinguish them by the root and taste ; something may look like true faith, but it may be distinguished several ways.
(L) True faith is grounded upon know- ledge; knowledge carries the torch before faith. There is a knowledge of Christ's o- rient excellencies, Phil. iii. 7. He is all made up of love and beauty. True faith is a judicious intelligent grace, it knows whom it believes, and why it believes. Faith is seated as well in the understanding as the will. It hath an eye to see Christ, as well as a wing to fly to him. Such therefore as are in vailed with ignorance, or have only an implicit faith, to believe as the Church believes, have no true genuine faith.