The last point is this — ^ Obs. 4. It ivas by faith in the use of means that the walls of Jericho fell doivn.
If they had not depended upon God in their going about seven days, the walls had stood still. It was by faith they did it ; and it was a great faith that, using such a ridiculous stratagem as this, to go about the walls with rams' horns, they should think the walls would fall. It might shake their faith, and likewise expose them to the scorn of those of Jericho within, there- fore it was a great faith in them. Not that all had faith, for certainly divers of them were unbelieving persons ; but Joshua their captain, and some others of them, had faith, and all of them had hope of the best. It was faith that believed this in this unlikelihood of second causes, for there is the strength of faith ; when second causes are weak, then faith is strong.
THE RUIN OP MYSTICAL JEKICHO. 467
Abraham's faith was the stronger by reason there was more indisposition in the second causes, in Sarah's womb to conceive a child ; for her womb was dead ; in the course of nature she could not conceive. Therefore it is said by Saint Paul, Rom. iv. 20, ' He being strong in faith, gave glory to God :' strong faith gives glory to God. So here was a strong faith, because the means were weak, or none at all ; for these means had nothing in themselves to work such a glorious effect as this, that the falling of the walls should follow. It was but a means adjoined. That it should be done by such a poor thing as this, it was the strength of faith. But was it the strength of faith in itself ? Could faith do this ?
Oh no ; but that which that faith lays hold on doth, that faith is said to do. God honours the grace of faith by terming that to be done by it that he doth himself; for it was the power of God, the goodness of God to them, and the justice of God against the sins of these people, that over- turned the walls of Jericho. Faith, it was but an empty hand to lay hold upon this power. It was the grace, whereby they went out of themselves, and denied themselves, and gave glory to God, in accomplishing the truth of his word, and his wisdom, and power, and justice. So God did it. But it is said to be done by faith, because, as I said, God honours faith thus much. What strength God and Christ hath, when faith lays hold on them, faith hath that strength, because it builds upon them. Faith sets a man upon God and Christ, and upon the truth of God. Hereupon it comes to be so victorious and conquering a grace as it is, because it carries us to that that doth all. By faith they did this.
But here were other graces likewise that sprang from faith, that helped them also. There was a great deal of patience to go about after that silly fashion with rams' horns seven days together. Here was patience, and perseverance, and hope. But, as I said before, because faith doth enliven all other graces, it gives life to all, and stirs up all, therefore that is named. In the whole chapter the exercise of other graces is attributed to faith, because they draw strength from that to quicken them all, and to stir them all to their several offices. Strengthen faith, and strengthen all other graces whatsoever. Thus yon see we have briefly gone over these four main things.
Now, let us by way of proportion raise them higher, and make use of them to other things. To give a little touch. The walls of Jericho represent to us many things.
1. Tlie hingdovi of Satan in general, the poicer of the devil in himself and in his instruments, who hinders what he can, our coming out of Egypt to Canaan. He labours to come between us and heaven ; to hinder us all he can by all means. He hath walls of many kinds ; the strength of tyrants, the subtilty of heretics. What a world of ado was there to bring Israel out of Egypt ! God was put to it, as it were, to work so many miracles to bring that poor despised people out of Egypt, to bring them through the Red Sea. When they were in the wilderness, what ado was there to bring them thence ! what opposition ! And then when they came to Jordan, what miracles were wrought ! The division of the waters by the ark com- ing through ; and then the first, the frontier town, that was, as it were, the key to let in all and to stop all, Jericho, the first town for the entrance into Canaan. There was opposition made when they would have entered into Canaan. It is no easy thing to come out of Egypt and to enter into Canaan. It is a mighty work to bring a poor Christian out of the kingdom of Satan, to bring him out of spiritual Egypt through the wilderness of
468
THE RUIN OF MYSTICAL JEEICHO.