3. How can you comfort yourselves in the midst of all your straits and sorrows with the unseen glory of another world ? l)o not you faint in your duty, but bear up with that courage and constancy which becomes christians : 2 Cor. iv. 16, ' We faint not,' why ? He gives you the reason of it, ver. 18, 'While we look not at the things that
TeR. 1.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 3G5
are seen, but at the things that are not seen.' This is an evidence ot our looking to things not seen, when we faint not, but go on with courage and constancy, as it becomes the heirs of the gi-ace of life, upon siglit of the invisible world. So 1 John iii. 2, ' It doth not yet appear what we sliall be ; but tliis we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him.' And so you are no more affected with the disgraces and scorns of the world than a prince in disguise, who travels abroad unknown, if he meets not with respect and reverence answerable to his quality ; he knows he is his father's heir, and this comforts him ; and the unseen glory in the world to come puts comfort and strength into your hearts.
4. How doth it work as to the threatenings of the word ? Can you mourn for a judgment in its causes, and foresee a storm when the •clouds are but a-gathering ? As Josiah had a tender heart, and trembled when the curses of the law were read : 2 Chron. xxxiv. 19, * When the king heard the words of the law, then he rent his clothes.' It is not said when he heard news of Pharaoh Necho's invasion : no, all was quiet and composed, no trouble then had a foot in bis kingdom ; ' but when he heard the words of the law, he rent his clothes,' then he is solicitous to get things redressed. This general de.'^cription that faith is the evidence of things not seen, the apostle exemplifies in the instance of Noah : Heb. xi. 7, 'By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark,' when there was no visible preparation towards the deluge ; when the world was eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, building, planting, and all things went on as they were wont to do. Are 3'ou humbling your souls and fighting in secret when anything is done to bring you or your nation in danger of a threatening? God describes a gracious heart thus — ' He trembles at my word,' Isa. Ixvi. 2 ; he not <)nly trembles at my judgment, but at my word, before the smoke or the iiame of judgment breaketh out. Alas! most men are not moved with these things till the curse of God seize upon them. They know not that they which do such things as they do are in danger of the curse of God. There are threatenings against their practices every- where, yet who lays it to heart? Ps. xc. 11, 'Who knows the power of thine anger ? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.' The word of God moveth us not till we smart in our flesh. This faith, which is the evidence of things not seen, it is to be referred to the threatenings as well as to the promises. And all our diligence and caution, our watchfulness, our humiliation, that we may avert God's judgments, ariseth from this faith.
5. How doth your heart work upon the promises in difficult cases ? Thereby God tries you, and thereby you may try yourselves : John vi. 5, 6, ' When Jesus lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he said unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat ? and this he said to prove him.' God often useth the like kind of dispensation to his people. There are many mouths, and no bread ; great troubles, and no means of escape ; this he doth to prove you, but God knows how to order this for your comfort. When we judge by sense, and reason, and outward probabilities, in such kind of extremities we are driven to our wits' end. Now faith, which lives above sense.
366 SERMONS UPOX HEBREWS XI. [SeR. V.
will be a support and strength to yonr soulf!. In such cases reason and faith, and sense and faith, come in competition. How, which way do the workings of your spirits incline — to reason, or faith? Faith can take God's word in the midst of all difficulties ; and when sense seeth nothing but hazards, wants, sorrows, then faith holds with the promise against these appearances, and rests on God whatever we feel to the contrary : Hab. iii. 17. 18, ' Though the fig-tree shall not blossom,' &c., ' yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.' Those hopes which hang upon the life and presence of the creature, when the creatures fail, they fail ; when bread and outward supplies are gone, they are lost and undone ; but the children of God have built upon a promise, and when creatures have spent their allowance, wlien they can no longer live upon bread, they can live upon the promise and word of God. Therefore God will prove him, and exercise liim with straits and troubles ; but then can he depend upon the Lord. A believer can say yea with a promise, when all the world saith no to him. The apostle saith : 2 Cor. i. 20, ' All the promises of God are in him yea, and in him amen.' The promises say yea to our hopes, and amen to our desires ; and in all difficult changes still the promises keep their note, they are yea and amen. You desire such a thing according to the will of God — Amen, saith the promise, so it shall be. May I hope for such a mercy or comfort ? — -Yea, saith the promise. Now in straits you will find the comfort of such a truth. You ask of creatures and present appearances. May I look for good ? and they answer no, but the promise still saith yea: novv^ a believer is contented with the promises, yea, though all the world say no. Christians ! there needeth nothing to your comfort but this, first to establish a regular hope, and then to trust the affirmation of the promise. Now liereby may you discern your spirits. Can you with certainty depend upon the promise, and with a quiet and calm expectation wait for the blessing of the promises in the midst of all pressures whatsoeyer? Carnal men limit God, and give laws to providence: Ps. Ixxviii. 41, ' Yea they turned back, and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.' They bind the counsels of God by their outward appear- ances: 1 Peter iv. 19, 'Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well- doing, as unto a faithful creator.' They give up their souls to God, and all their affairs to his disposal. He is faithful, and will be mindful of them, and he is a creator and hath power to help them, and this quiets and calms their souls under all providences.