4. Because God would bring us back again in the same way that we went off and departed from him, that so the return might be the
436 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [IsA. LIII. 11.
more satisfactory, that we might see tlio defects of nature repaired and made up in Christ. We went off by unbelief. Eve distrusted the truth of God, and therefore God will brinjij us about again by faith. To this day the heart is loosened from God by unbelief. Diffidence is the first step to apostasy: Heb. iii. 12, 'Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in de- parting from the living God.' And ftiith is a drawing near to God, even to such a degree of nearness as a union. We are not only made like to Christ, as by other graces, but one with Christ. Thus the point is proved.
I shall now a little clear the point to you by dispatching these two questions : —
First, What faith is that justifieth ?
Secondly, How it justifieth ?
First, What faith is ? It is not every faith, — not a general assent or loose acknowledgment of the articles of religion ; but there is a faith which, to distinguish it from all others, is called justifying faith. It may be defined thus : — It is a grace wrought in our hearts by the Spirit, by which the soul doth rest and cast itself upon Christ, tendered to us in the offer of God, fur pardon and acceptance. I will not stand examining every part of this definition, but shall endeavour to discover to you the nature of it by the several acts and effects of it, beginning with the lowest, whilst it is but a seed, as a grain of mustard- seed, in some small and weak beginnings, planted in the heart. St Mark saith, chap. iv. 31, ' The kingdom of God is likened to a grain of mustard-seed.' Very small and inconsiderable is the first work oi grace ; but we must not despise the day of small things, nor neglect the soft waters of Siloah. And therefore —
First, To begin with the acts : — There are some implicit acts, and some explicit and formal acts. Since I am willing to give you the whole nature of faith, it will not be amiss to reflect upon these things.
1. The implied acts of faith are two.
[1.] A sight of ourselves, which faith supposeth, and the curse of God due to us. Man is a lazy creature, and will not apply himself to any religious care till he be spurred on by his need of Christ. Christ safth, 'The wliole need not the physician,' Mat. ix. 12. The stung Israelites looked up to the brazen serpent; and those that were ' pricked in their hearts ' cried out, ' What shall we do ? ' Acts ii. 37. ' I sat alone because of thy hand, for thou hast filled me with indig- nation,' Jer. XV. 17. It maketh the soul sensible that it is no easy matter to deliver ourselves from the wrath of God. Men slight mercy till they need it, and are careless of the great salvation till God affect them with a sight of their sin and his own wrath. We are like Israel in Egypt, not easily weaned from the flesh-pots, till the burdens be doubled, and wrath presseth to anguish.
[2.] A sense of our inability to help ourselves. Believing im- plieth that a man hath given up all his vain confidence. How should we lean upon Christ, whilst we fancy we have props and supports of our own to bear u}) the soul ? The Corinthians did not care for Paul when they were full, and ' reigned as kings without him,' 1 Cor. iv. 8. No more do sinners for Christ that are full of self ; they can
ISA. LIII. 11.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 437
be merry and happy, and keep their church, and do no harm, and all without Christ : Hosea xiv. 3, ' With thee the fatherless findeth mercy,' i.e., those that were destitute of all helps and supplies. Paul could not look upon Christ as gain till he saw the loss that was in his carnal endeavours, Phil. iii. 8. His care to relieve his soul was a greater incumbrance to him.
2. There are formal explicit acts of faith, and they are : —
[1.] Knowledge of Christ, his goodness and excellency ; how satis- fying and how proportionable an object he is to the soul : John iv. 10, ' If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that speaketh unto thee,' &c. The first act is an apprehension of Jesus Christ ; but I have spoken of that largely.
[2.] There is desire. The soul thirsteth after Christ with such a restless desire as will not be satisfied but with an enjoyment. It is compared to the panting of a chased hart : Ps. xlii. 1, ' As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, 0 God.' In the Hebrew it is the chased she-hart, appetite in females being most impetuous and impatient. And it is expressed by hungering and thirsting : Mat. v. 6, ' Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.' They are such volumin- ous and large desires that can in no wise endure check and restraint. Nothing in the world can give quiet and content to the mind pos- sessed with them. The soul is sick of love for Christ, till it be stayed with his flagons, and comforted with his apples. Cant. ii. 5 ; the soul desireth him in the night season, Isa. xxvi. 9. And it is said, Ps. Ixiii. 1, ' My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.' They would have him rather than all things in the world.