VeR. 1.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 371
greater, tlie business of eternal life would not be so neglected ; con- science would not be so sleepy, nor should we venture upon sin so often as we do ; tliis would put life into every exhortation you hear and read. Alas ! we press and exhort day after day ; it works not, why ? because it is not ' mingled with faith in them that hear it,' Heb. iv. 2. Wliat earnest affections of soul would there be towards God and heavenly things if we did truly believe these things.
3. The more faith depends upon the warrant of God's word, the better ; and the fewer sensible helps it hath, the more it is prized ; As Christ saith, John xx. 29, ' Blessed are they M'ho have not seen, and yet have believed.' It is the weakness of men, they will not believe unless the object of faith some way or other come under their sense. The word of God is enough.
4. Sensible things will not work, if we do not believe the word ; those that think Moses and the prophets are but a cold dispensation in com- jiarison of this, if one should come from the dead, for then they would repent and turn to God, let them read Luke xvi. 29-31. There were miracles heretofore ; faith was confirmed to sense ; God condescended to the weakness of the first age ; but yet it is said of the people of Israel, Ps. Ixxviii. 22, 23, ' They believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the door of heaven,' &c. There were ever unbelievers, and carnal wretches, let God use what dispensation he will, and there will be so still. There is more in the harmony and correspondency of scripture to work men to a sense of believing than if one should come from the dead.
5. We have need now to look after this faith, which is the evidence of things not seen, because the great reigning and prevailing sin is infidelity and unbelief ; which is seen by our cavilling at every strict truth, by our carelessness in the things of God, by the looseness and profaneness of those that would be accounted christians. Certainly, generally men take the great truths of religion for fabulous delusions, and look upon Christ as an impostor, and the doctrine of the resur- rection from the dead, and eternal life, as so many idle dreams ; else they could not cavil so at every strict truth and be so careless and profane as they are ; for these things are irreconcilable.
G. We ought to look to this faith, because none are so resolved in the great matters of faith but they may be more resolved ; no man doth so believe but he may believe more : 1 John v. 13, ' These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God.' Our assent to divine truth is not a thing that is in imncto, that consists in one indivisible point, so as it cannot be more or less ; but it is a thing that is ever growing and never so perfect as it should be, till we come to fruition. There is something ' lacking to your faith,' 1 Thes. iii. 10 ; ' therefore labour after this faith which is the evidence of things not seen.'
Ohj. While we establish a faith which is the evidence of things not seen, doth not this make way for every fancy and fond credulity ? This was the objection that Celsus brought against Origen, that faith introduced all kind of error into the world, and cast out science. I answer !
372 SERMONS urox heerewh XI. [Ser. V,
Ans. 1. There is a reason why we helieve, though we cannot always see a reason of what we do believe. Though there can be no reason given of many things that are to be believed ; yet faith sees reason enough v/hy they sliould be believed, and that is the authority and veracity of God speaking in the scriptures.
2. There is an aptitude or objective evidence in what is revealed in scripture, to beget faith in those that diligently exercise themselves, and had eyes to see it. The main truths which are delivered there are delivei'ed with such reasonableness that they assure us of the rest.
Use 5. Direction to get and increase this faith.
1. Beg the illumination of the Spirit of God to show you the truth of the word, and tlie good things ottered therein. This evidence is from the Spirit; therefore Paul prays for the Ephesiaus: chap. i. 17, 18, ' That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him : the eyes of your understandings being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and wliat the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.' You may have literal knowledge from men, but that is weak and wash}', like a golden dream of rubies ; saving knowledge is only from tlie Spirit. They difiter as strong water and running water, which have the same colour, but they differ in their taste and virtues.