3. With respect to the word itself, or those sacred oracles wherein the gospel or the christian religion is contained, you will see the trnths there recorded cannot well be apprehended and digested without faith, because there are things written which do concern matters past, present and to come ; and all these have difficulties which can be only removed by faith.
16G THE LIFK OF FAITH.
[1.] Mailers past; as the creation of tlie world ; the providence of God towards his chnrch and people throughout all successions of fore- ^o\ng ages, till the scriptures were written and comjileted ; the keeping of the promise of the Messiah still a-t'oot till his coming in the flesh ; the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These were things of necessity to be confined to some determinate time and place , it was not necessary that Christ should be always dying and always rising, in every age and place, and in the view of every man. These things can therefore only be apprehended by faith, for we saw them not ; they are believed upon some competent and sufficient testimony.
[2.] Things present are those which concern our present duty ; sup- pose accepting of Christ and self-denying obedience, both require faith, vea, a strong faith.
(1.) The accepting of Christ for our Lord and Saviour. Now this is hard, yea, impossible to be done, without a sound persuasion of the truth of that doctrine which concerneth our redemption by Christ; for this is a rare and wonderful mystery . 1 Tim. iii. 16, ' Great is the mystery of godliness.' Those natural apostles, which are gone forth into all lands to preach up an infinite and eternal power, I mean the sun, moon, and stai's, these natural preachers are dumb and silent, say not a word concerning Christ, or God manifested in the flesh. Angels could not find out this mysteiy by all their excellency of wisdom and knowledge ; but they admire it, as they study it, and see it in God's dis- pensations to the church : Eph. iii. 10, ' To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God ; ' and 1 Peter i. 12, ' Whicli things the angels desire to look into.' Yea, the blessed virgin, when u messenger was sent from heaven to tell her of this mystery, though an extraordinary messenger, and she so nearly concerned, said Luke i. 34, ' How shall this be? ' The conception of a virgin, the death of the Son of God, who was life itself, are not matters so easily apprehended and improved, unless the Lord give us faith. How can we build upon this foundation with any confidence ?
(2.) Self-denying obedience. Men are addicted to their own wills and lusts, and will not easily suffer themselves to be persuaded to change heart and life, especially when this change is hke to cost them dear in the world, and they must forfeit those things which they see and love for a God and glory which they never saw. Naturally the s[)irits of men are yokelessand libertine : Ps. ii. 3, ' Let us break their hands asundei', and cast away their cords from us.' And when temptations come, we consult with the flesh, and so will not easily be- lieve the necessity of this self-denying obedience, but cavil and wriggle, and distinguish ourselves out of our duty. Unless a firm assent lay a strong obligation upon us, we shall cast off yoke after yoke, till we leave Chi'ist but an empty name.
[3.] Things future in the unseen world. We have to do with an invisible God, who hath propounded hopes in an invisible world. Now what shall we do without faith, which is 'the evidence of things not seen,' Heb. xi. 1. We are apt to take up with things present, and are little affected with things unseen, and above our senses. Nothing but a strong faith will engage us to look after these things, and to venture all depending upon these things.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 167
4. With respect to the party who is to receiv'e these truths, faith is necessary ; who may be considered as to his mind, heart, and life, all which are to be bettered and profited by the word.
[I.] As to his mind, which must be enlightened and awakened. Corrupt and carnal reason is such a stranger to God and heavenly things that unless the Lord give us a new light, which may direct and quicken us, we shall not much mind either Grod or heaven. Therefore for our cure the understanding must be enlightened and awakened, and it is both by faith.
(1.) Enlightened rightly to the discerning of these things : 1 Cor. ii. 14, ' The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' Supernatural matters must be discerned by a supernatural light, spiritual matters by a spiritual light ; other things are determined by sense and reason, but our light in these things is by faith, by which we see those excellent and high things which are above the reach of the natural man. It serveth for the government of the soul, as the eye for the body; by it we see God : Heb. xi. 27, ' By faith he saw him that is invisible.' Hereby we see Christ : John, vi, 40, ' That every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life ; ' and we see heaven : 1 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look not to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' Till God openeth the eye of our minds, we neither see God : Heb. xi. 6, ' Without faith it is impossible to please God ; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is ; ' nor do we see Christ : 1 Peter ii. 7, ' Unto you therefore which believe he is precious ; ' nor do we see heaven : 2 Peter i. 9, ' Keceiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.' Therefore must we mind this, to get a spiri- tual sight; seriously deal with God about it : Eph. i. 18, ' The eyes of your understandings being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what tlie riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints."