Well, then, that which the apostle intendeth here is not the interior and elicit acts of faith, but the exterior and imperate ; for the drift of his prayer is, that God would enable them to ride out the storm of those troubles which came upon them for the gospel's sake. And a christian, in judging his condition, will better discern it in the external acts than the internal ; for —
(1.) The upright cannot always discern the interior acts, or the strength of them, but the exterior are more sensibly and visibly brought forth in the view of conscience. God seeth what is in our hearts, but we see it not till the effects manifest it. The sap is not seen when the apples and fruits do visibly appear. Look, as we judge of the sound- ness of men's repentance by the fruits thereof, otherwise men may be deceived, and think there is a change of mind when there is not. When John suspected the pharisees, Mat. iii. 8, he saith, ' Bring forth fruit meet for repentance.' Yea, to men of better temper than they, the apostle exhorted them to repent, and turn to God, and to do ' Works meet for repentance,' Acts xxvi. 20. So we judge of men's fear of God not by the internal elicit act of reverence, but by departing from evil, Prov. viii. 13. Of their love by their obedience : John xiv. 21, ' He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ; ' and 1 John v. 3, ' This is the love of God, that we keep his com- mandments/ So of their faith, by their holy and heavenly walking. There is no faith in them that live an unsanctified life ; but where men set their faces heavenward, make it their business to please God, here is true faith ; they have received God's testimony, and therefore upon the encouragement of his promises continue with patience in well-doing.
(2.) Hypocrites will pretend a strong faith, be ready to challenge them of injustice and injury that shall question their belief of the
VlB. 11.] SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIAN3 I. 317
doctrine of salvation by Christ ; but they deny in their practice what they assert in their words : Ps. xiv. 12, ' The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.' Atheism is a heavy charge, but how is it made good? Partly by their sins of commission : ' They be corrupt and abominable.' Partly by sins of omission : ' There is none that understands and seeketh after God.' It is not facing it out with big and stout words, that they are no atheists, and saying they do certainly believe there is a God ; what could they do more in a way of sin, or less in a way of duty, if there were no God ? So Ps. xxxvi. 4, ' The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, There is no fear of God before his eyes.' The current of a man's life and actions doth best expound and interpret his heart. Every considerate man may collect from their actions they have no true sense of the being of God ; for they are not watchful over their own ways, and their actions are so absolutely contrary to God's laws, threats, and promises, yen, to all that is known of God, that certainly they do not believe there is a God, or are not in earnest when they think and speak so. It may be their mouths are not let loose to that boldness openly to deny or question God's being ; but their dealings are so false and detestable, that a man may certainly conclude they never expect to be accountable to God for what they do. So for the belief of Christianity, many seem to believe as christians, but live as infidels ; nominally they are christians, but really deny the faith: John viii. 31, ' Then said Jesus to those Jews that believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my dis- ciples indeed.' There are disciples in name and disciples indeed. Some take up the current opinions of the country where they live upon human credulity, but they have no force and efficacy upon them to change their hearts or lives. They talk as honourably of Christ as others do ; but Christ will not take compliments for service, nor words for practice : Mat. vii. 21, ' Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my Father.' Or as it is, Luke vi. 46, ' Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say ? ' Now how shall we con- fute men's confident presumptions and boastings but by their lives ? Fornication, drunkenness, gluttony, oppression, covetousness, are not the works of faith, but of that fleshly mind that possesseth men in their apostasy from God ; and therefore the surest note will be holy conver- sation and godliness.
II. Then may we conclude that the pleasure of God's goodness is fulfilled in us —
1. Because true grace is of an operative and vigorous nature, and if it lie idle in the soul, it is but an image and shadow of grace, some- thing that looketh like it, but is not it. As, for instance, faith is but a dead opinion unless it break out into practice : James ii. 14, 'What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith. and hath not works ? Can faith save him ? ' Talk as much of faith as you will, yet no man will believe that you are in earnest, and indeed look for salvation by Christ, when you plainly take the way that leadeth to hell. Faith is but a cold approbation of the ways of God, or some ineffectual liking of that course, which is overborne by a contrary bias, or love to earthly things: Eom. ii. 18, 'Thou