3G THE STRENGTH OF FAITH.
by the mercy -seat lie hides that which is the strength and power of sin, as to its guilt and tendency unto punishment. The apostle calls this " mercy-seat/' rb iXagr^piov, Heb. ix. 5. That word is used but once more in the New Testament, and then Christ is called so, Rom. iii. 25, or ov rrposkro 6 Qsbg '/Xaffryjpiov, — "whom God hath proposed as a mercy-seat." Christ alone is that mercy-seat by whom sin, and the law from whence sin hath its rigour, is hidden. And from that typical institution is that expression in the Old Testament, " Hide me under thy wings," — the wings of the cherubims, where the mercy- seat was ; that is, in the bosom of Christ.
Now, saith the Holy Ghost, thus to hide, to cover, to pardon sin by Christ, is the glory of God, wherein he will be exalted and ad- mired, and for which he will be praised. Give him this, and you give him his great aim and design. Let him be believed in, trusted on, as God in Christ pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin, — so recon- ciling the world to himself, and manifesting his glorious properties therein, — and he hath his end.
Should I now proceed to show what God hath done, what he doth, and will do, to set up his glory, it would make it evident, indeed, that he aimed at it. His eternal electing love lies at the bottom of this design. This is the tendency of it, — that God may be glorified in the forgiveness of sin. The sending of his Son, — a n^stery of wisdom, goodness, and righteousness past finding out,— with all that, by his authority and commission, he did, suffered, and doth, was, that his name might be glorified in this thing. Hath the new covenant of grace any other end? Did not God on purpose propose, make, and establish that covenant in the blood of his Son ; that whereas he had, by his works of creation and providence, by the old covenant and law, given glory to himself in other respects, he might by this glorify himself in the hiding of iniquity ? The dispensation of the Spirit for the conversion of sinners, with all the mighty works ensuing there- upon, is to the same and no other purpose. Wherefore doth God exercise patience, forbearance, long-suffering towards us, — such as he will be admired for to eternity, — such as our souls stand amazed to think of? It is only that he may bring about this glory of his, — the covering of iniquity and pardoning of sin.
Now, what is it that on our part is required, that this great design of God for his glory may be accomplished in and towards us? Is it not our believing, and steadfastness therein? I need not stay to ma- nifest it ; nor yet give farther light or strength to our inference from what hath been spoken, — namely, that if these things are so, then our believing and steadfastness therein is exceeding acceptable to God.
3. For the last demonstration of the point, I shall add the consi- deration of one particular that God useth in the pursuit of his glory,
THE STRENGTH OF FAITH. 37
before mentioned ; and that is, his institution and command of preach- ing the gospel to all nations, and the great care he hath taken to pro- vide instruments for the propagation of it, and promulgation therein of the word of his grace, Matt, xxviii. 19, " Go preach the gospel to 'all nations;' — 'to every creature/" Mark xvi. 15. What is this gospel, which he will have preached and declared ? Is it any thing but a declaration of his mind and will concerning his gracious accep- tation of believing, and steadfastness therein?' This God declares of his purpose, his eternal, unchangeable will, — that there is, by his ap- pointment, an infallible, an inviolable connection between believing on Jesus Christ, the receiving of him, and the everlasting fruition of himself. This he declares to all ; but his purpose to bestow faith effectually relates only to some : they " believe who are ordained to eternal life." But this purpose of his will — that believing in Christ shall have the end mentioned, righteousness and salvation in the en- joyment of himself — concerns all alike. Now, to what end hath the Lord taken care that this gospel shall be so preached and declared, and that to the consummation of the world, but that indeed our believing is acceptable to him?
But I shall desist from the pursuit of this demonstration, wherein so many things offer themselves to consideration, as that the naming of them must needs detain me longer from my principal aim than I am willing'.
SERMON II.
The use of the point insisted on is, to encourage to the duty so com- mended and exalted; or, it contains motives unto steadfastness in believing the promises. Amongst the many that are usually insisted on to this purpose, I shall choose out some few that seem to be most effectual thereunto : —
Use 1. We shall begin with the consideration of God himself, even the Father; and that declaration of his love, kindness, tenderness, readiness, and willingness to receive poor believers, which he hath made of himself in Christ Jesus. According as our apprehensions are of him, and his heart towards us, so will the settlement of our souls in cleaving to him by believing be. We are, amongst men, free and easy with them whom we know to be of a kind, loving, compas- sionate disposition ; but full of doubts, fears, and jealousies, when we have to deal with those who are morose, peevish, and froward. En- tertaining hard thoughts of God, ends perpetually in contrivances to fly and keep at a distance from him, and to employ ourselves about