2. Because of the work of faith upon the heart of a believer. There is not only a work of faith upon the promise, but a work of faith upon the heart of a believer.
[1.] It calms the affections and deadeneth the heart to present enjoyments. Carnal affections must have things present and pleasing to sense — ' Demas hath forsaken us, having loved the present world,' 2 Tim. iv. 10 ; but faith causeth the soul to look within the veil, and acquaints us with better things than are to be seen in the world ; and so the affections are altered : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are not seen ; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.' Faith carries the soul into heaven, above the clouds and mists that are here below, and causeth it to see the glory of the world to come ; and when it looks to things not seen, things that lie within the veil and curtain of heaven, the soul is weaned from such things as are pleasing to sense. As a man that hath been looking on the sun, his eyes are so dazzled with the lustre of it, that he cannot for a while see anything else. Faith is ever accompanied with weanedness from the world, or else it could never do its office ; it gets the heart up to heaven, and then all things are easy. Worldly cares and worldly fears arise from tlie affection of carnal sense, that is all for the present ; but faith looketh to things that are to come, and so purifieth the heart from worldly affections ; it acquainteth us with better things in Christ, and so spoileth the taste of other things.
[2.] It worketh patience and waiting the Lord's leisure. That is
296 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XLVI.
another effect upon the heart of a believer. Faith and patience are inseparable, and therefore they are often coupled together : Heb, vi. 12, ' Be followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises , ' so Heb. x. 35, 36, ' Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.' Faith always worketh waiting, and quiet submission, balancing our sufferings with our hopes. Ittarrieth the Lord's leisure : the promise is sure, therefore faith is satisfied with the promise, and quietly hopeth for the performance of it ; and the promise is good, and will make amends for all ; and therefore faith is contented to wait, notwithstand- ing present inconveniences. There is longing and looking, yet tarrying and waiting , the mercy is in sure hands, and when it comes it will make amends for all your waiting ; and if the blessing be deferred, there will be more glory to God and comfort to us when it cometh. It is but fit we should tarry the Lord's leisure. They are wicked heirs that desire the inheritance before it falleth, and wish the death of their parents ; and so they are carnal that must have all things for the present and cannot wait, that would have blessings l^efore they are ready for them. God is not slack, but we are hasty, and therefore the work of faith is to calm the affections and to subdue us to a quiet waiting upon the Lord, till he accomplish all his pleasure. As Naomi said to Euth: Ruth iii. 18, ' Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall ; for the man will not be at rest until he have finished the thing this day.' So faith says to a believing soul, Be still ; he that hath begun will not rest till he hath brought this matter to pass.
Use 1. It presseth us to such a faith as will be contented, though it do not come to enjoyment — such a faith as can see that made up in the promise that is wanting in sense and actual feeling. In outward wants get such a faith ; it was the apostle's riddle ; 2 Cor. vi. 10, ' As having nothing., and yet possessing all things ; ' all things are in the promise, though nothing in actual possession. Now can you live upon a promise, and fetch life and encouragement and protection and main- tenance from thence ? Ps. xc. 1, ' Lord, thou hast been our dwelling- place in all generations.' When was this said ? When they were wandering in the wilderness without house or home ; for it was a prayer of Moses, the man of God : they found a habitation in God, when they had none in the wilderness. If we want house, food, raiment, faith can see all this in the promise. The life of faith cometh nearest to the life of heaven. In heaven, God is all in all without the inter- vention of means ; when we can see all in the promise, it is some kind of anticipation of the life of heaven, because the promise shows us what we shall find in God. Can you fetch thence house, food, raiment, life, deliverance, a legacy and blessing for your children, when you die, and are in deep poverty ?