Ans. 1. As to Christ, there is a sight of Christ past, present, and to come, which still belongeth to faith.
(1.) Past : To see him whom we have not seen, that is, so to be affected with his miracles and acts of mediation as if we had seen him in the flesh, is still the work and exercise of our faith. So the apostle telleth the Galatians, chap. iii. 1, ' Before whose eyes Christ Jesus hath been evidently set forth crucified among you ; ' that is, before you he
172 SEKMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26.
bath been convincinj2;ly declared, as if he were set before your eyes nailed to the cross. We should receive Christ as it were crucified in the midst of us ; and the more lively and impressive thoughts we have of this in the word and sacraments, the stronger is one's faitli. We do so believe it, and our hearts are so warmed by it, as if it were all done before our eyes. Such evidence and conviction should we have as to warm our hearts.
(2.) Present '. To see him so as to make him the object of our love and trust : John vi. 40, ' And this is the will of him that sent me, that he that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.' There is a clear sight of Christ still necessary to believing ; we must see him and know him spiritually. Though he be removed from us within the curtain of the heavens, yet we must see him, and such worth and excellency in him as may draw off our hearts from other things ; see him so as to believe that he is at the right hand of God, negotiating for us, that we may trust ourselves and our all in his hands. Stephen said, Acts vii. 56, 'Behold, I see the lieavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.' He saw the Lord Jesus as' in a posture of readiness to assist and help him ; that was by extraordinary vision, for it is said, ' The heavens opened.' But faith doth the like in its degree and proportion. Especially must we see him at the right hand of God ready to receive us when we die.
(3.) Future : We must see him ; that is, be assured of his second coming, and thoroughly persuaded that we shall see him ; as Job, chap. xix. 25-27, ' For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand in the latter days upon the earth ; and though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God ; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold him.' At the resur- rection we shall get this sight and blessed vision of God. Now failli must overlook all impediments to assure ourselves of this.
Ans. 2. There are other objects about which the vision of faith is exercised, as the glory and blessedness of the world to come. Faith is the perspective of the soul, by which it can see things at a distance as present. It can look beyond and above the world, and draw unspeak- able joy from the hope of eternal life. Moses, Heb. xi. 26, ' Esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt ; for he had respect to the recompense of reward,' eVe/SXeTrey ; he looked to it. The glory of the world to come is represented and set before us in the promise ; we see it clearly there : Heb. vi. 18, ' That by two im- mutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us ; ' Heb. xii. 2, ' Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.' To this we should look, and see it as if it were before our eyes, that we may not be allured or terrified by the things that are before our eyes. But of this I have already spoken in the nature of faith. (See Sermons on Heb. xi. 1.) Only let me advi.se you now to keep the eye of faith clear, that Christ and heaven may be always in view. The devil seeks to shut it : 2 Cor. iv. 4, ' In whom the god of this world hath blinded the eyes of them which helieve not,
SERilOX UPON JOHN YIII. 26. 173
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.' He doth it by the world, deluding" and bribing the flesh, and enchanting the mind with worldly felicity, so that God and heaven are forgotten, and that necessary care which we should use in preparation for it is neglected and omitted. But it is opened by the Spirit : Eph. i. 17, 18, ' That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and reve- lation in the knowledge of him ; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.' And therefore we should always pray for this spiritual eyesalve, that we ' may have a due sense of the world to come fresh and strong upon our hearts.