Secondly, The next circumstance in the text is the commendation of her faith from the matter, which was difficult — She received strength to conceive seed, and luas delivered of a child, when she was past age ; where you may take notice of the fruit of her faith, and the amplification of it The fruit of her fafth where we have the in- fluence of it, * She received strength to conceive seed ; ' and the efiect of it, ' and was delivered of a chikl ; ' The amplification of her faith, ' when she was past age.' I shall not stand opening the letter ; see what Beza, Gomarus, and Grotius say concerning the opening of that ]>hrase, et? /caTn^.o\yv a7r€pfiaTo<;. Let us observe somewhat —
VeFv. 11.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 275
1. ¥'iom the influence of her faith — ' She received strength to con- ceive seed.' Learn hence —
[1.] That though bringing forth of children be according to the course of nature, yet God hath a great liand in it. They that have children acknowledge them to be God's blessing, and that they are his gift : Ps. cxxvii. 3,'Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward.' He can make the barren to bear : Ps. cxiii. 9, ' He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.' It is notable that by God's special dispensation many precious women were a long time barren, as Sarah, Kachel, Hannah, Elizabeth, the mother of Samson. Partly to show that nature can do nothing without his power and bless- ing. Partly by these instances to facilitate the belief of the incarnation, as the lesser miraclemaketh way for the belief of the greater ; certainly that was the intent of Elizabeth bearing John just before Christ was born. If a dead womb can be fruitful, why may not a virgin conceive ? It was not tit that another virgin should have this honour, therefore this was the nearest miracle in the same kind. Partly to exercise their faith and patience, and to make w^ay for the greater increase of holi- ness. Partly that the birth might be more eminent, as Isaac, Samuel, Samson, John, &c. Well then, let them that go barren wait upon God by faith, and prayer, and patience ; either God will give children, or one way or another this comfort will be made up to you. It is not always a punishment of sin; many times it is, as God punished Abimelech, till he rendered Sarah, by this, that every womb should be shut up : Gen. xx. 18, ' For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.' Michal's scoffing at David was punished with barrenness : 2 Sam. vi. 23, ' Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.' In Israel it was a great judgment : Hosea ix. 14, ' Give them, 0 Lord, what wilt thou give ? give them a miscarrying womb, and dry breasts.' Little of eternity was known, therefore they strove to continue their memory on earth ; that is the reason why men love tlieh' youngest children, and their grandchildren because they longest preserve their memory in the world. It was a blessing of the law- dispensation ; it was a means to continue their faith ; every one hoped to be the mother of the Messiah. Well, but now eternity is mani- fested, be contented, be fruitful in holiness, and your memory shall be provided for.
[2.] Let us improve it spiritually, God can make the church fruit- ful after a long barrenness : Isa. liv. 1, ' Sing, 0 barren, thou that didst not bear : break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child, for more are the children of the desolate, than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.' And Sarah is a type of the church. Let us be fruitful in our old age, let us receive strength to conceive that immortal seed which will bring forth a better issue, whose fruit is joy, peace, and everlasting life.
[3.] Faith hath a great stroke in making way for blessings — ' By faith she received strength to conceive seed.' Means can do nothing ' without God, and God will do nothing without faith : Mat. xiii. 58, He did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.' It holdeth in all cases. The word of all instruments is most powerful.
276 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SeK. XLIV.
aud yet is said, Heb. iv. 2, ' The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.' As a medicinal drink must have all the ingredients mixed with it, or else it worketli uot, so if the word be not received in faith, a main ingredient is want- ing ; this giveth strength to the means to work. By closing with the promise she received strength.
2. From the effect of this iufluence — ' And was delivered of a child.' I observe hence —
[1.] Every promise received by faith will surely be seconded with performance. God's power is exercised when it is glorified, and they ar« sure to find him faithful that count him faithful : Luke i. 45, And blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from tlie Lord.' Therefore wait ; they that conc'eive by the promise at tbe appointed time shall see tbe birth, and it is a good forerunner of deliverance when we strongly exercise faith upon the promise that revealeth it.