Such are the various effects produced in us also by a similar cause —
[The weakest faith, if truly sincere, will bring us to Jesus with reverence and humility ; and will make us urgent with him to bestow upon us his benefits. Nor shall we regard any trouble in seeking him, provided we at last obtain the desired blessings : but if our " hope be deferred, it will make our heart sick." We shall become impatient, if the pardon which we seek be not instantly sealed upon our consciences, or the victory we solicit be suspended for a while in dubious conflict. We shall be ready to dictate to Jesus both the time and man- ner of his interference, and to limit his powers according to our own narrow apprehensions of them. When our faith is strengthened, we shall rest more simply on his declarations and promises. We shall not, like Zacharias, want a sign to con- firm them, or, like Rebekah, use sinful means of hastening their accomplishment3. We shall be willing to let him work in his own way. Though we see not his word yet accom- plished, nor know in what way it shall be fulfilled, yet we shall be satisfied, and content to wait till he shall clear up to us what is dark and intricate b. Our expectation will be patient, and our confidence in him assured. Like Abraham, we shall not stagger at his promises, but give him the glory of his faithfulness and omnipotence0.]
Nor does God fail to distinguish these different degrees of faith by different tokens of his approba- tion. This will appear while we observe,
II. The more we exercise faith, the more evidence of its efficacy and acceptance will God vouchsafe unto us —
The experience of the nobleman well illustrates this truth —
[His faith while it was yet weak, prevailed for the ob- taining of the mercy he desired. Jesus kindly overlooked his impatience, and granted him even more than he had asked. This was a rich reward of faith. But when the nobleman returned home in full expectation of finding every thing true which Jesus had declared, his faith received a yet stronger confirmation from the account which the servants gave him ; and the more minutely he inquired into the circumstances of his son's recovery, the more fully was he convinced that it had been effected by the invisible agency of the Lord Jesus. By
a Luke i. 18. Compare Gen. xxv. 23. and xxvii. 8 — 10. b Isai. xxviii. 10. c Rom. iv. 20.
1623. J the nobleman's son cured. 319
this was his faith yet more abundantly confirmed, insomuch that both he and all his family became Disciples of Jesusd.]
The same may be traced in the experience of all believers —
[The smallest degree of true faith will surely bring them the pardon of their sins, and whatever is absolutely needful for their salvation. " If their faith be only as a grain of mustard-seed, it shall remove mountains:" but, if they be strong in faith, they shall see the glory of God in a far more conspicuous manner e. They may not indeed immediately see God, as it were, in the act of working ; but they shall see frequent reason to exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" When they come to compare events with the promises of God, they will be constrained to acknowledge and adore his good providence. They will see how indebted they have been to his gracious interposition for many deliverances from danger, sup- ports in trouble, and victories in their spiritual warfare. They may indeed, like Joshua himself, be so stumbled for a moment by some dark dispensation, that they shall almost doubt whether they have not been under a delusion f. But like him, they shall be enabled to look back for a series of years, to recount the mercies of the Lord, and to bear testimony to his unalter- able truth and faithfulness g. Upon a review of their lives, they shall have as clear evidences of a divine interposition in their favour, as if they had seen a miracle wrought before their eyes. Nor shall they hesitate to declare with the holy Apostle, " He that hath wrought us to the self-same thing is Godh."]