[2.] It sanctifies, or is the Spirit's great instrument in sanctification. For, Acts XV. 9, it is said, 'Purifying their hearts by faith.' It is faith that promotes purity and sanctity. It is the first stone in the spirit- ual building : 2 Peter i. 5, ' Add to your faith virtue,' &c. Faith is made the bottom of all, as that which gives life and strength to all the rest ; without which virtue would be nothing but a little dead and cold morality, however it is cried up in our age, if not enlivened by the love of God in Christ, and hopes of eternal glory, as it is when it pro- ceeds from faith. Christ prays, Johnxvii. 17, ' Sanctify them through thy truth.' We are sanctified by the truth of the gospel. But now what makes the gospel operative but faith ? 1 Thes. ii, 13, ' Ye re- ceived it, not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.'
[3.] It glorifies ; because they that believe eternal life so as to seek after it, and that whatever it cost them, they shall have it. You may always observe, in all God's dispensations (^f grace and favour, he would do nothing for men till they believe ; he could not, or rather would not, do it for them. We find it true of God's dispensation to the old church, and in the life of Christ upon earth — Can you believe ? Mark ix. 23, ' If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.' So it is true of eternal life. But then this belief is sup- posed to be operative, and that we are resolved to take the way God hath appointed. As soon as we believe, we have a right and title: John V. 24, ' He that heareth my words, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life.' And when we verify our faith by taking God's way, though others neglect it, then our right is con- firmed : Mat xix. 28, ' Ye that have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.' Take regeneration either for a new state of the church (as some few do), when all things are new in the church, and old things are passed away, you shall be elders in the church (so some expound it) ; but I think properly and principally it is taken for the regeneration at the last day, when we shall have new bodies and new souls ; then we shall have all that our hearts can wish. When our service is over, we shall receive the end of our faith : 1 Peter i. 9, ' Pieceiving the end of our faith, tlie salvation of our souls.'
Use. Let this commend faith to us, which is the great grace ; we must still exercise it in this world. Where we know God by hearing, faith is of use to us ; when we know him by vision and sight, the use of it ceases, but the fruit remaineth, for sight is the fruit of faith : John XX. 31, ' These things are written, that ye might believe that
VeR. 31], SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. -13
Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.' You shall have life in his name if you will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. All that I shall press you to is a faith like Rahab's. Rahab heard the rumours of God's gracious works for Israel, and of his judgments upon their enemies, and upon this she owns the true God, and rims hazards for his people. '
1. You have heard that God hath sent his Son into the world to save sinners; believe it, and believe it strongly ; h6re is the grand truth you must live by.
2. This God hath given a law of grace, that we may be partakers of these benefits. Possibly the S})ies might inform Rahab of God's giving a law upon Mount Sitiai ; for it is not likely she would join herself so suddenly to Israel, if she knew not what laws they should live by. If that be uncertain, we are sure the Lord hath given a law of grace from Mount Zion, or the new covenant, wherein God hath showed us how we shall attain eternal life. Now heartily consent to stand to this covenant.
3. Upon this faith be sure to demonstrate by some real effects that it hath prevailed in your heart. For if you believe God's great pro- mises, what do you venture upon them ? Surely we do not believe great things if we do nothing to obtain them. I ever look upon this as a truth, that there is much more of unbelief in neglect than there is in humbling trouble or despairing fears. For the troubled person believes indeed the covenant of God, but he cannot make out his "title, therefore he lies under despairing fears. The neglecter showeth that he accounts these things a fable, else he woukl more look after them, and exercise himself self-denyitigly in godliness : 2 Peter i. 5, 10, 16, compared together ; ver. 5, ' Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue,' &c. ; ver. 10, ' Give diligence to make your calling and election sure;' ver. 16, ' For we have not followed cunningly-devised fables, <fec. They that do not give diligence to grow in grace, they that do not give diligence by all self-denying acts to make their calling and election sure, they count the gospel a fable, and neglecting their duty, they show themselves to be unbelievers.