Doct 3. There is one thing more in the text, and that is the bene- fit which affords us this point, that the rewards of faith are excellent and glorious. Eahab is an instance of this also, for when she by faith entertained the spies in peace, ' she perished not with them that be- lieved not ; ' that is, she was not destroyed with the Canaanites. Let us a little see her privileges.
1. From a child of the devil, she is made a daughter of God, and adopted into God's family. And so, if you be sincere in the faith of the gospel, you shall be also ; the Lord will take you for his children, that were the children of wrath before : John i. 12, ' To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.'
2. From a citizen of Jericho she is reckoned among the people of
YeR. 31.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS Xf", 41
Israel, and incorporated into the body of God's churcb : Joshua vi.25, * She dwelleth in Israel even unto this day.' So, if we have the sincere faith, we are not only of the visible church of professing christians, but are reckoned among the elect, and have onr names written in heaven ; that is a matter of great joy : Luke x. 20, ' Kejoice in that your names are written in heaven ; ' for this is a ' better name than of sons and daughters,' Isa, Ivi. 5, — a name that shall continue to all eternity.
3. We find, when there was a destruction of all the rest, she was not destroyed with the Canaanites, but God by his servant Joshua took great care for her preservation. So believers ai-e saved from everlasting destruction: John iii. 16, 'Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.' They are not involved in the wrath and destruction which shall light upon the unbelieving and impenitent world. This is the portion of all those that fly to the true God, and to the communion of the true church. If it be sure that the unbelieving world shall perish (as sure it is, as sure as God is true), then it is a great mercy we shall not perish with them. Certain it is that all that come not out of the apostasy shall perish forever. But we that are willing to retm-n to our duty to God, to trust God, and trust his promises, and take his way, blessedness will be our portion.
4. Another privilege which Eahab had was, that she was honour- ably married to a prince in Israel, and one of the ancestors of Christ, namely, to Salmon, father of Boaz : Mat. i. 5, ' And Salmon begat Boaz of Kachab.' Laying all ends together, we certainly find it is the same Eahab, that Salmon married her, who was one of the spies, a head and prince of Israel. Thus God can heap honour upon those that trust in him : her name is mentioned in the genealogy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Xow they that sincerely believe have a better marriage, they are married to Christ himself: Kom. vii. 4, ' Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law, by the body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.* They are taken into a nearer relation to him, our covenanting with him being a kind of marringe. If we believe as Kahab did, we shall have the reward Eahab had. But how can we reconcile the two apostles ? Paul ascribes it here to her faith, but James to her works : James ii. 25, ' Was not Eahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out another way ? ' Here is no contradiction ; the apostles fairly agree together, for they speak not of the same faith. Paul speaks of the lively, James of the dead faith ; Paul speaks of the faith working by love, and so she was justi- fied by faith, but James s])eaks of an empty naked profession of faith without works; so that a man is not justified by an empty faith with- out works. A dead faith little profits us, but a living faith makes us obedient to God, and ready to every good work ; that justifies us, and qualifies us for this blessed and glorious reward.
But let us see the general case. What are the privileges and the rewards of faith ? (for hitherto we have only considered them with respect to Eahab). It justifies, sanctifies, glorifies.
42 SERMONS UPON HEBKEWS XI. [SeR. LXV.
[1.] It justifies: Eom. v. 1, 'Being justified by faith, we have peace ^\'ith God.' 0 sinners ! do you know Avhat it is to be condemned by the law of God? for sinners impleaded, and that justly, in the court of God's. justice, and to be condemned to everlasting wrath ? If you did, then you would see that it is a mighty privilege to be justified, to be accepted with God, and freed from the deserved condemnation, or that dreadful punishment which sin hath made our due. Now, this generally in scripture is ascribed to faith.