of the affliction, but approbation of divine appointment? If the latter, thy faith is strong. First, It shews God hath a throne in thy heart; thou reverencest his authority, and ownest his sovereignty, or else thou wouldst not acquiesce in his orders. ' I was dumb, because thou didst it,' Psa. xxxix. 9. If the blow had come from any other hand, he could not have taken it so silently. When the servant strikes the child, he runs to his father and makes his complaint ; but though the father doth more to him, he complains not of his father, nor seeks redress from any other ; because it is his fathei-, whose authority he reveres. Thus thou comportest thyself towards God, and what but a strong faith can en- able thee? 'Be still, and know that I am God,' Psa. xlvi. 11. We must know God believingly to be what he is, before our hearts will be still. Secondly, This acquiescence of spirit, under the disposition of Providence, shews that thou dost not only stand in awe of his sovereignty, but hast amiable, comfortable thoughts of his mercy and goodness in Christ. Thou believest he can soon, and certainly will make thee amends, or else thou couldst not so easily part with these enjoyments. The child goes willingly to bed, when others, may be, ai-e going to supper at a great feast in the family ; but the mother promiseth the child to save something for him against the morning : this the child believes, and is content. Surely thou hast something in the eye of thy faith which will recompense all thy present loss, and this makes thee fast so willingly when others feast ; be sick when others are well. Paul tells us why he and his brethren in affliction did not faint, 2 Cor. xiv. 16. They saw heaven coming to
them, wliile earth was going from them. ' For which cause we faint not,
for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, woi-ketli for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.'
Thirdly, The more able to wait long for answers to our desires and prayers, the stronger faith is. It shews the tradesman to be poor and needy when he must have ready money for what he sells. They that are forehanded are willing to give time, and able to forbear long. Weak faith is all for the jn-esent ; if it hath not presently its desires answered, then it grows jealous, lays down sad conclusions against itself, — his prayer was not heai'd, or he is not one God loves, and the like ; much ado to be kept out of a fainting fit. ' I said in my haste, All men are liars;' but strong faith, that can trade with God for time, yea, wait God's leisure: ' He that believes makes not haste,' Isa. xxviii. 16. He knows his money is in a good hand, and he is not over-quick to call for it home, knowing well that the longest voyages have the richest returns. As rich ground can do without rain longer than lean or sandy, which must have a shower ever and anon, or the corn on it fades ; or as a strong healthful man can fast longer without faintness than the sickly and weak ; so the Christian of strong faith can stay longer for spiritual refreshing from the presence of the Lord, in the returns of his mercy, and discovei'ies of his love to him, than one of weak faith.
Fourthly, The more the Christian can lose or suffer upon the credit of the promise, the stronger his faith is. If you should see a man part with a fair inheritance, and leave his kindred and country, where he might pass his days in the embracements of his dear friends, and the delicious fare which a plentifiU estate would affiard him every day, to follow a friend to the other end of the world, with hunger and hardship, through sea and land, and a thousand perils that meet him on every hand, you would say that this man had a strong con- fidence in his friend, and a dear love to him, would you not? Nay, if he should do all this for a friend whom he never saw, upon the bare credit of a letter which he sends to invite him to come over to him, with a promise of great things that he Avould do for him, now, to throw all his present possessions and enjoyments at his heels, and willingly put himself into the condition of a poor pilgrim and traveller, (with the loss of all he hath,) that he may come to his dear friend, this adds to the wonder of his confidence. Such gallant spirits we read of, 1 Pet. i. 6 — 8 : ' Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice,' &c. Observe the place, and you shall find them in sorrowful plight, ' in heaviness through manifold tempta- tions ;' yet, because their way lies through the sloughs to the enjoyment of God and Christ, (whom they never saw or knew, but by the report the word makes of them,) they can turn their back on the world's friendship and enjoyments,
ABOVE ALL, TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH. 4,(39