3. They were baptized in the cloud and sea, because by submitting to God's command they gave up themselves to God's direction and the conduct of his providence by this initiating act, that he should lead them through the wilderness unto Canaan, and the land of pro- mise ; as we pass through the waters of baptism, that we may give up ourselves to be led through this world, which answers to the wilderness, to heaven, to Canaan, the land of promise, to be commanded and governed by him till he brings us to our rest.
Thirdly, Applicatively, with respect to the use for which the apostle brings these instances ; and it is to confirm believers in the faith of Christ, though they Avere sorely jnished at, and endured great sufferings for Christ's sake. These examples of faith, which the apostle produces, serve for a double use — either to show the nature of that faith by
6 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LXIII,
which the just do live, or else to commend the excellency of that faith, that we may get it, and exercise it, and be eminent in it ; and so these instances of faith are of use in all ages, when the miraculous dispensa- tions are ceased.
But now this instance that we have in hand serves not only for one of these ends, but for both uses — to show the true nature of faith, and also to commend the excellency of it. Therefore —
1. I shall show what is the nature of faith, which we may learn from this instance.
[1.] Faith inclined them to obey God's command, and upon obedience to expect the mercy promised : Go through the Red Sea and you shall be saved. Now this is the common nature of all faith : Ps. cxix. 66, ' Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.' This is the great business of faith, as the Israelites were to obey God, and to wait for his salvation out of this imminent danger.
[2.] For the command, faith gives courage to obey God in the most difficult cases, h we be bidden to go into the Red Sea, we must not forbear ; for none of God's commands must be disputed, how contrary soever they be to flesh and blood. If God will command Abraham to take his only son, and offer him for a burnt-offering, he must not stick at it : Gen. xxii. 2, ' Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt-offering.' If God commands us to sell all, that we may have treasure in heaven, we must not murmur as the young man did : Mark x. 22, ' He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.' We must give up our lives and all our comforts into the hands of Clnist, and nothing must be abated ; whatever God commands we must do, though it be never so difficult.
[3.] For the promise, the Red Sea was as a grave to them in visible appearance, and for a considerable lime they walked every moment in the valley of the shadow of death. But this is the nature of faith, it teaches us to depend upon God's promises in the greatest extremities. Going down to the Red Sea is as our going down to the grave, yet the promise of eternal life is sure to us, and the belief of it is required of all christians: Jolm xi. 26, 'Whosoever liveth, and believetli in me, shall never die;' that is, never wholly die; 'belie vest thou this?' Faith can find a way to salvation through the great deep, and a passage to life through death and the grave ; it can see a heaven when we are in the midst of the Red Sea. This passage through the Red Sea had a respect to baptism, and we are said 'to be buried with Christ in bap- tism,' Col. ii. 12. Now, among other senses implied in the phrase, one great sense is our willingness to die, out of a confidence to enjoy life in heaven, though they are killed all the day long.
2. This instance doth very much commend to us the excellency of this grace of faith, which was so necessary to believers in that age, when they were exposed to such great suft'erings. Now, how it is manifested from this instance.
[1.] God's promise produces its miraculous effect through faith, and not otherwise. God could do it, whether the Israelites did believe, yea or nay ; but their faith must concur : ' Through faith they passed through the Red Sea.' The apostle doth not mention the mercy, or
YeR. 29.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 7
the power of God, but their faith. It is true the supreme original cause is the goodness and power of God, but the means is faith. So 1 Peter i. 5, ' Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation,' When we rest upon his word, who is faithful and able to save to the uttermost, then the power of God is exercised for us : Mark ix. 23, ' If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth ; ' that is, then thou art capable of having the glorious power of God exercised on thy behalf, beyond the ability of nature. On the contrary, nothing but unbelief puts an impediment in God's way: Mark vi. 5, 6, ' He could do no mighty works there,' &c., and ' he marvelled at their unbelief ; ' there was no occasion or opportunity, for where faith is wanting, how can the power of God be owned and seen ? Now, since the promise of God produces its glorious effect by the means of faith, so that our faith must concur, this doth mightily commend faith.