VeR. 7.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 13
staggered not at the promise of God, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God/ The more faith can live upon the word of God, the better, though the things believed be neither felt nor seen ; and the less of sensible demonstration we require, the stronger the faith ever. This is true in all the objects that faith is conversant about ; I shall instance in some. The person of Christ. Many believed on him though they had never seen him in the flesh, and therefore their faith is commended : 1 Peter i. 8, ' Whom having not seen ye love, and in whom ye believe, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' It was an advantage certainly to converse with Christ personally here upon earth, but faith can embrace him in the word though it never saw him in the flesh. So for the threatenings, when we can tremble at the word; as Josiah did when he heard the curses of the law, though there were no dangers nigh ; we do not read of any actual disturbance and trouble at that time in the nation. So many times when an age is very corrupt, and things are ripe for judgment, and God giveth warning, alas ! few take it or lay it to heart ; they are not afiected with things till they feel them. Few can see a storm when the clouds are a-gathering, they securely build upon their present ease and peace, though God be angry. But in the eye of faith a sinful estate is always dangerous, and they humble themselves while the judgment is but in its causes ; as it is said, Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world, and became the heir of righteousness which is by faith.' Mark, things not seen are still matter of faith ; he saw them in the warning of God, though he could not any way else see a flood a-coming. So for God's aid and succour in a time of danger : Heb. xi. 27, * By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.' To appearance he was like to be swallowed up, being pursued by a wrath- ful and puissant king ; but the terrors of sense may be easily van- quished by those invisible succours which faith relieth upon. So in all matters of practical experience. In prosperity we have but too much confidence ; but when we are lessened in the world, and cut short, we are full of diffidence and distrustful fears: Ps. xxx. 6, 'In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.' Even a child of God, when he gets a carnal pillow to rest upon, lieth down and sleepeth securely, and dreameth many a pleasant dream, and is full of confidence ; but when God taketh away his pillow from under his head, then he is ai? diffident as formerly confident. God is the same, his promises the same, his covenant the same, the mediator the same; but we are much changed, because we look to things seen, and live upon things seen. In danger how are we troubled about protection, in deep poverty about provisions and maintenance ! If sick and nigh unto death, how Little do the promises of pardon and eternal life prevail ! In perplexed aftairs how little can we unravel ourselves, and refer the issue to God ! Faith is staggered because we cannot believe in hope against hope. Vie must have something in view and sight ; faith yieldeth no relief to us. Let me instance in a case of spiritual sense in troubles of conscience, ■when God's law speaketh him an enemy, and conscience feeleth him
14 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. X.
an enemy. How long is it ere we can bring men to any kind of hope by Christ, notwithstanding the rich and free offers of his grace, or engage them, when the cm'se of the law cleaveth to their consciences, to take God's way for cure and remedy ? because they prefer sense before faith, and the feeling of God's law that cleaveth to them maketh them exclude all hope by the gospel : Isa. 1. 10, ' Who is there among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.' The recumbency of such a soul is a notable act of faith, loving God as a friend, trusting him as an enemy. So in outward trials and difficulties, to wait for so much as God hath promised. Many trust God no further than they can see him, or have probability to expect his help, which is a limiting the holy one of Israel, Ps. Ixxviii. 41, confining him to a circle of their own making. If sense be against the promise, the promise doth them no good. Now to comfort ourselves in God when all faileth : Hab. iii. 18, 'Yet I will rejoice in the Lord ; I will joy in the God of my salvation ;' and Ps. xxiii. 4, 'Yea, though I w\alk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear none evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff doth comfort me.' To make the promise yield us that which the creature cannot, health, strength, life, peace, house and home, and maintenance for ourselves and childi-en. When we die, and have little or nothing to leave them, and all means of subsist- ence are cut off and blasted, then to live, yea to grow rich by faith, as ' having nothing, yet possessing all things,' 2 Cor. vi. 10. It is enough that God carrieth the purse for us. Many talk of living by faith, but it is when they have something in the world to live upon ; as those, Isa. iv. 1, 'Only let us be called by thy name.' So in other cases, why do the vain delights, and dignities, and honours of the world so prevail with men, that all the promises of the gospel cannot reclaim them ? yea, sell their birthright for one morsel of meat ? ' Heb. xii. 16. The life of sense is lifted up above that of faith. The soul dwelleth in flesh, looketh out by the senses, and knoweth what is com- fortable to sense, that God is unseen, our great hopes are to come, and the flesh is importunate to be pleased : 2 Peter i. 9, ' They that want these things (that is, faith and other graces) are blind, and can- not see afar off.'