1. I answer, because it discerneth by a clearer light and apprehension. Faith is the eye of the soul. A beast liveth by sense, a man by reason, and a chiistian by faith. By sense a beast discerneth what is con- venient and inconvenient to their manner of life ; reason guides ordinary men in their choice and course of aftairs ; but faith is the light of a chris- tian in the whole business of this life, but chiefly in his worship. Now the discerning work of faith is conversant both about God as the object of worship, and about the work itself ; in short, to represent the tinith of God's being and the worth of God's service.
[1.] To represent to us the truth of God's being: faith 'seeth him that is invisible,' Heb. xi. 27. Every natural man is an inward atheist, because he wants the light of faith; he cannot see God, therefore ho does but serve God as he would serve an idol ; all their worship is cus- tomary, and done in obedience and conformity to the common practice. As the scoffer said of the worship of God, Eamus ad communem errorem — Let us go to the common error and mistake. Certainly their hearts are not touched with the sense of God's being; and therefore the first and general act of faith in and about duties of worship is wanting.
VeR. 4.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 467
which is to keep the heart aweful by a clear sight and apprehension of God : Heb. xi. 6, ' He that coraeth to God must believe that he is/ Tlie great work of faith, and that which is the foundation of all, is to help us to proper thoughts and conceptions of God — a thing which wicked men can never attain to ; for though they are able to discourse of God's attributes, though they have a naked model and idea of the truth of religion, yet in worship they know not how to raise their hearts into a due cippreiiension of God. But as the heathens abused their ryvoicxrov &eov, and their practical thoughts in worship were gross carnal imaginations, Rom. i. 22; so do these, they never have fresh and aweful thoughts of God. Now this troubles the children of God when faith is drowsy, and they are not able to form proper and becoming tlioughts of God in tlieir worship and invocation ; so that this first thing is of great advantage and putteth a difference between worship and worship. Faith keeps God in the view of the soul.
[2.] Faith discerns the worth of his service. When we look upon duty with a carnal eye, the soul is prejudiced, and we consider it as a sour ta^k and rigid exaction, and so the soul drives on very heavily. Now faith convinceth of the worth of divine service, and representeth more of privilege than of burden in it. In the eye of faith, service is an honour and duty a privilege : Ps. Ixxiii. 28, ' It is good for me to draw near God.' Maik, it is not only meet or just, but good. Faith sees a great deal of excellency and sweetness and privilege in it: and so it makes reason and the sanciified judgment to issue forth a practical decree, 'It is good,' which sways and determines all the operations of the soul. The first inquiry of the creature is, What is lawful? then, What is possible ? then, W^hat is profitable ? Do not leave these questions to the decision of human reason, then you will quickly be discouraged ; but put the controversy into the hands of faith, and that will judge it is good, sweet, and easy : Ps. xix. 10, ' Thy testimonies are more to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than the honey and honey-comb.' A carnal man may understand the nature and necessity of duty, but he is not convinced of the worth of it. Faith is an affective light ; it determines all practical cases on religion's side, and leaves a spiritual esteem upon the soul : Ps. Ixxxiv. 1, ' Oh ! how amiable are thy tabernacles, 0 Lord ! ' Oh ! when shall these be the workings of our spirits? Faith seeth that duty is a reward to itself, that here the noblest faculties are exercised in the noblest work; and therefore if there were no other reward, if there were no heaven, they find such pleasure in the duty that it were allurement enough of itself ; as a martyr, when he came to die, said he was sorry that being to receive so much wages, he had done so little work. This makes the soul bend all its strength and all its power in seeking of God. The children of God do duties in another manner, because they look upon God and duty with other eyes.
2. Faith receives a mighty aid and supply from the Spirit of God, Faith plants the soul into Christ, and so receives influence from him ; it is the great band of union between us and Christ, and the hand whereby we receive all the supplies of Jesus Christ. Christ lives in us by his Spirit, and we live in him by faith. Until faith come, there can be no vital influence. Wicked men's gifts may be elevated ; God