Use 2. Exhortation to press us to faith. It is the commandment which we must teach : 1 John iii. 23, ' This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ ; ' and it is the work which you must practise : John vi. 29, ' This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent ; ' this is your epyop ; it is but waste time that you spend on pleasures and worldly businesses. Men think they are only to follow their callings, they make their tem- poral and worldly business their work, and so do not apply their minds to believe in Christ. Oh, consider, when there was an invitation, business would not sufler them to regard it ! Mat. xxii. 5, ' They made liglit of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.' It is not whoredom, drunkenness, and extortion, but an immoderate following of their lawful profits and pleasures — a farm, a marriage, a yoke of oxen — things plausible in their kind, and one would think necessary : Luke x. 42, ' Mary hath chosen the better part, which shall not be taken away from her : ' these things ought not to be undone. How can men sleep or work till they have cleared up their interest in Christ ? nay, in spiritual employments, closing with Christ ; the pre- eminent duty is not your work so much as your faith. The disciples in their converse with Christ bewrayed many weaknesses, but Christ was never angry with them so much as he was for their want of faith :
118 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SePw. XXIX
Luke xxiv. 25, ' 0 fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken ! ' and Mat. viii. 26, ' Why are ye so fearful, 0 ye of little faith? ' Oh, consider, to quicken you, it is the grace that bringetliGod most glory, and doth you most good. Some cry up charity, because they mistake the nature of faith — they depress it, they omit what is chief est in faith, and they speak of it as if it were nothing worth. And so others make faith a pendulous hope, and therefore cry up obedience and love.
1. It bringeth God most glory. It is notable that faith doth that to God in a way of duty, which God doth to the creature in a way of grace — it justifieth, sanctifieth, glorifieth. It justifieth, and that is a relative word, against the slanders and contempts of the world. So it is said, Luke vii. 29, ' And all the people heard him, and the publicans justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John;' it defendeth his honour and the truth of his grace. The pharisees said, It was a foolish doctrine. How a believer justifieth God against the contempt of the world and the suspicions of his own heart ! Whatever conscience saith to the contrary, the Lord is just, gracious, merciful. Unbelief slighteth God and Christ, as if he were not worth the taking ; the truth of the gos23el, as if it were not worth credit ; his worth, as if he did not deserve respect ; his power, as if he were not able to save a sinking soul ; it putteth a lie upon the whole contrivance of grace. Oh, how sweet were it if we could justify God against the prejudices of our own hearts ! they make the blood of Christ a base thing, the Spirit of Christ a weak instrument. So it sanctifieth God : Num. xx. 12, 'Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel/ To sanctifv, is to set apart for special uses and pur- poses ; so we are said to sanctify God when we give him a separate and distinct excellency from all the powers in the world. He is not a common help and saviour, none so holy and gracious ; it setteth the Lord with admiration above all created powers, for trust, fear, and dependence : Isa. viii. 13, ' Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.' When we see man is not to be trusted nor feared, but God, we set him on the highest point of eminency, aloof from the creatures. Is there any like him for pardon, for power, for holiness ? So it glorifieth God: Kom, iv. 20, ' He was strong in faith, giving glory to God.' God doth as it were receive a new being from faith ; though he be infinitely glorious in himself, yet he counteth himself glorified by the faith of the creature ; he hath a second heaven in the heart of a believer, there he dwelleth by faith, and displayeth the pomp of all his excellences. Now unbelief dethroneth God, it will not let him set up a new heaven or place of residence in the conscience.
2. It doth you most good ; your life, your peace, your glory, all hangeth upon it. Your life : Gal. ii. 20, ' I live by the faith of the Son of God ; ' you may be as well without life as without faith. So for peace, would not a man be friends with God, and live at amity with heaven ? Eom. v. 1, ' Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ; ' and for glory, 1 Peter i. 9, ' Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souIb.' Faith beginneth salvation, and heaven is but faith perfect and believing