would have tlie whole tree fniitful, we think we do enough to water the root, knowing what the root sucks from the earth, it would soon disperse into the branches. Thus, that sap and fatness, faith, which is the radical grace, draws from Chiist, will be quickly diffused through the branches of the other graces, and tasted in the pleasantness of their fruit.
Thirdly, Faith defends the Christian in the exercise of all his graces. ' By faith we stand,' Rom. xi. 20; as a soldier, under the protection of a shield, stands his ground, and doth his duty, notwithstanding all the shots that are made agair:st him, to drive him hack. When faith fails, then every grace is put to the run and rout. Abraham's simplicity and sincerity, how was it put to disorder, when he dissembled with Abimelech concerning his wife ? And why, but because his faith failed him ? Job's patience received a wound when his hand grew weary, and his shield of faith, which should have covered him, hung down. Indeed no giace is safe, if from under the wing of faith; therefore to secure Peter from failing from all grace, Christ tells him, ' he had prayed thht his faith should not fail,' Luke xxii. 32. This was the reserve that Christ took care should be kept, to recover his other graces, when foiled by the enemy, and to bring him ofi' that encounter, wherein he was so sadly bruised and broken. It is said, that Christ could ' not do n.any mighty things in his own covnitry, because of their unbelief,' Matt. xiii. 58. Neither can Satan do any great hurt to the Christian, so long as faith is upon the place. It is true he aims to fight faith above all, as that v.hich keeps him from coming at the rest, but he is not able long to stand before it. Let a saint be never so humble, patient, devout, alas ! Satan will easily pick some hole or other in these graces, and break in upon him when he stands in the best array, if faith be not in the field to cover these. This is the grace that makes him face about, and take him to his heels, 1 Pet. v. 9.
Fomthly, Faith alone procures acceptance with God for all the other graces and their works. ' By faith Abel offered that excellent sacrifice,' to which God gave such a gracious testimony, Heb. xi. 4. When the Christian hath wrought hardest in a day,' and hath spun the finest, evenest thread of obedience at the wheel of duty, he is afraid to carry home his work at night with an expecta- tion of any acceptance at God's hands for his works' sake. No; it is faith he makes use of, to present it through Christ to God for acceptance. We are said, 1 Pet. ii. 5, ' to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ;' that is, by faith in Christ; for without faith, Christ makes none of our sacrifices acceptable. God takes nothing kindly but what the hand of faith preserits; and so prevalent is faith with God, that he will take light gold, broken services, at her hand; which, were they to come alone, would be rejected with indignation. As a favourite that hath the ear of his prince finds it easy to give his poor kindred entertainment at the court also ; so Joseph brought his brethren into Pharaoh's presence with great demonstrations of favour shewn them by him for his sake. And Esther wooed Mordecai into a high preferment in Ahasuei'us's court, who upon his own credit could get no farther than to sit at the gate. Thus faith brings those works and duties into God's presence, which else were sure to be shut out ; and pleading the righteousness of Christ, procures them to be received into such high favour with God, that they become his delight, Prov. xv. 8, and as a pleasant perfume in his nostrils, Mai. iii. 4.
Fiftldy, Faith brings in succours, when other graces fail. 'Two ways the Christian's graces may fail ; in their activity, or in their evidence. First, In their activity. It is low water sometimes with the Christian. He cannot act so freely and vigorously then, as at another time when the tide runs high, through divine assistances that flow in upon him ; those temptations which he could at one time snap asunder, as easy as Samson did his cords of flax, at another time he is sadly hampered with, that he cannot shake them off. Those duties which he pei forms with delight and joy, when his grace is in a healthful plight, at another time he pants at, as nmch as a sick man doth to go up a hill, so heavily doth he find them come off". Were not the Chi-istian, think you, ill now on it, if he had no comings in, but from his own shop of duty ? Here now is the excellency of faith, it succours the Christian in this his bank- rupt condition. As Joseph got over his brethren to him, and nourished them out of his granaries all the time of famine, so doth faith the Christian in this
ABOVE ALL, TAKING THE SlUELI) OF FAITU. 437