[4.] Because of the many experiences of his faith fulness, the saints have been witnesses of God's fidelity : Ps. xviii. 30, ' The word of the Lord is tried.' Never any had to do with God, but they have beeii witnesses of his truth. There is more than letters and syllables in the promises ; there is comfort, support, life and peace in them : it hail been cast in the fire, and come out again. His promises are tried promises ; believers have not only been tried with troubles and dark afflictions, but the promises have been put to trial, and all the saints- may come in as witnesses of Gods faithfulness : Ps. xxii. 4. 5, ' Our fathers trusted in thee ] they trusted, and thou didst deliver them, they cried unto thee and were delivered ; they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.' Pray mark, howit isrepeated, — ' They trusted in thee ; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them,' they were willing to make trial of. God ; they trusted, and trusted, and trusted, and still they kept up their trusting, notwithstanding they were exercised with troubles. Whei:/ the first trust was ready to be broken otf they continued the act of theiD trust, and waited upon God, and he did deliver them. All that haver made trial of God will come in for witnesses. Did God disappoint. Abraham, or David, or any of the patriarchs ? and God is where he- was. Hitherto in the story of our own lives we may come in as witnesses^- for God against our own unbelief, and may plead our own experience, that not one word hath failed of all that he hath promised. Now no wonder if faith that is thus founded on God's truth and faithfulness, grows up to firm persuasion.
2. The other foot that faith stands upon is God's power : 2 Tina, ic 12, ' I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he- is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.' This is the ground of our dependence on God, the Lord is able to make good his word to the full : so Kom. iv. 21, ' Being fully persuaded that
302 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XLYI, '
what he had promised he was able also to perform ; ' his sufficiency to make good his word was the ground of his faith. God hath made known his will in his promise ; now all the doubt is about his power, and indeed unbelief stumbles there. How can this be ? is the language of unbelief. But faith is persuaded of the absolute power of God, that God that made heaven and earth out of nothing can accomplish what he hath promised. And therefore it is notable, when the apostle in this chapter would lay down the strength of faith, first he begins with the creation : ver. 3, ' By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." This one article of faith helps us to believe all the rest, for if we believe the creation, then we may easily believe that he is able to accomplish all we trust in him for.
Thirdly, The third act of faith in and upon the promises is ciaTracrdfievoi,, ' They embraced them,' or saluted them, and hugged them, — Ob, these are dear precious promises ! This will yield Canaan, this will yield a Messiah, this heaven ; as a man maketh much of bills, and bonds, and conveyances, and keeps them charily. Now in this act of faith I shall observe several things : —
1. I observe that faith is an act of the will, as well as of the under- standing. There is in faith adherence as well as assent, and embracing as well as persuasion. Faith looketh upon the promises not only as true, but as good ; they are ' yea and amen,' 2 Cor. i. 20. They are ' great and precious promises,' 2 Peter i. 4. Faith in scripture is not only expressed by sight but taste. The promises are as food to the renewed soul, and faith is a spiritual taste ; it is a feeding upon the promises with delight. The trial of the soul is by affection ; they that are all notion, and have no affection have no faith. Certainly if you did believe the promises that are so good, and so true, you would be more affected with them, you would entertain the promises with respect and delight, though you do not receive present satisfaction ; for where faith is, there is love and delight in the things believed. We think we are persuaded, but where is our love and comfort ? for this necessarily follows, they saw them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them.
2. I observe the order and method here laid down by the Holy Ghost, for these things follow one another in a very natural order, sight makes way for persuasion, and persuasion for delight. Sailors at sea, when they see land afar off, shout and make towards it with joy ; so when the soul sees that blessing at a distance, it stirs up actual rejoicing in God, because of his word. There would be no embracing if there were no sight ; the eye affecteth the heart, and according to the strength of conviction and persuasion, so is the strength of affection to the blessings promised. Therefore if you would have more lively affections to the promises, you must oftener think of them and be more firmly persuaded of them. Think of them oftener, the oftener the soul is in heaven the more joy, a man cannot take comfort in that whereupon he doth not often meditate. The mind must engage the heart, and serious thoughts must make way for these embracings. God's method is first to enter upon our judgments and consideration, and then to ravish the heart, the great things of the covenant do enter upon the mind, and then they affect and ravish the heart. And be more firmly persuaded of the promises ; if men were persuaded of them, they would