372 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SeR. LIII.
abilities of grace and present supplies : Phil. iv. 13, ' I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me;' Eph. vi. 10, 'My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' It is the pov/er of God that carrieth us through : 2 Peter i. 3, ' The divine power giveth us all things pertaining to life and godliness.' So also for things to come. The resurrection is a very riddle to nature, that life should spring out of death, that the way to go upward is to go downward to the grave, that our dust shall be severed from common dust, and every flesh shall have his own body — riddles to nature. But that which doth facilitate, and makes the belief of it easy, is the mighty power of God : Phil. iii. 21, ' Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.' This is that which supports the soul in an expectation of the blessed resurrection. Therefore the Sadducees that denied the resurrection, Christ tells them, Mat. xxii. 29, ' Ye err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.' The scriptures show what shall be, and the power of God what may be. So for all public promises, for the calling of the Jews ; when a man considers how obstinate and hardened they are in their prejudices against Christ, who would think the Jews should ever be called ? Nay, when we con- sider still how that people are scattered up and down in the world, we know not what is become of the ten tribes, the remnant of them ; yet it is said, ' God is able to graft them in again.' So for the avenging of antichrist ; when we consider how antichiist is supported with the interests, and power, and force of princes, and how the nations wonder after the whore, we cry out. How shall these things be accomplished ? Rev. xviii. 8, ' Her plagues shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be utterly burnt with fire ; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.' Still we are referred to the power of God ; so that the life and vigour of faith is very much concerned in the belief of God's power. And he that believes the first article of the creed, ' God, the Father Almighty,' — will easily believe all the rest. It is put in the front to show how all those things shall be accomplished — ' The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life ever- sting.'
[2.] Let me show you how difficult it is to believe his power. Do but consider what our foolish thoughts do most of all dash themselves against, clearly at the power of God, for men never doubt but in case of danger and difficulty. When things go on happily, then they are secure ; but as soon as dangers and difficulties arise, they are full of fears, suspicions, and distrust. What should be the reason, but only doubting of God's power ? Observe the instances of scripture, and jon shall find the greatest stumblings of unbelief have always been at God's power ; as in Sarah : Gen xviii. 12, ' After I am old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also ? ' she urgeth the difficulty ; so Moses : Num. xi. 21, 22, ' There are six hundred thousand footmen, and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat for a whole month together. Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice them ? or shall the fish of the sea be gathered together for them to suffice them? ' so Ps. Ixxviii. 19, 'Can the Lord prepare a table in the wilderness ? ' It is not will the Lord, but can the Lord do it ? There
VeR. 19.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 373
•we dnsli our unbelieving thought. So 2 Kings vii. 2, 'If the Lord should make windows in heaven, might this thing be ? ' So the virgin ]\Iary, when the message was brought to her by the angel, that she should conceive Christ in her womb, and her substance should be assumed and sanctified, and concur to the making up of the person of Christ, she replies, Luke i. 34, ' How can this be ? ' Men deceive themselves when they think they doubt of the will of God ; their main hesitancy, and sticking, is at the power of God. So when Christ came to raise Lazarus, saith Martha, John xi. 39. 'He stinketh by this time, for he hath been dead four days ; ' as if it were past the power of God to raise him up. And thus we do, we can easily believe the power of God in the theory. A man may draw out a fluent discourse of the omnipotency of Cod, and yet not be able to confute his own unbelief. To make a practical improvement of the power of God in time of dis- tress and danger, that is no easy matter, And it ariseth, partly, from the imperfection of our understanding. A young child does not know his father's strength. We are poor weak creatures, and cannot conceive fully of the perfections of God ; we know not what the power of God can do for us. And partly, because we are inured to principles of sense, and regard the ordinary working of second causes ; therefore if there be any rub in God's way, we stumble presently. And partly, be- cause there is such a deep and sti'ong sense of present danger and difficulty that all actual thoughts of God's power are shut out when we are put upon temptation, and the soul hath not liberty to think of it ; therefore it is we dash here most against God's power.