yet manifested itself in those who had become the stated followers of our Lord.]
2. That many, who have some faith, are yet much under the influence of unbelief —
[As for unregenerate men, they have no faith at all, no, not even in the plainest truths of our religion ; for though they assent to many truths, they feel not the force, nor expe- rience the vital influence of any. Nor, when faith is imparted to the soul, is unbelief altogether eradicated ; yea, it will be well if the natural principle do not, in many and very alarming instances, overcome the new-created principle which ought to
govern the whole manc Thus it was with the Apostles
in the passage before us : our Lord acknowledges that they were true believers d; but intimates that they would soon manifest, by their dereliction of him, how weak and insufficient their faith at present was. And thus it is with all, though in different degress, till they have been taught and disciplined in the school of Christ.]
3. That heavy trials will discover the state of our souls with respect to faith —
[Affliction is a touchstone whereby all our graces, and especially our faith, may be tried. If our faith be strong, we shall approve ourselves to God under the most arduous cir- cumstances : if it be weak, we shall be ready to faint at the approach of any dangers we feare, and to adopt sinful methods of attaining any ends we desire f. If we have nothing but a false faith, we shall " make shipwreck both of it and of a good conscience" as soon as ever we are brought into any storms of difficulty and temptation : if our troubles be of a spiritual nature, we shall flee from God, and reject his grace g: or if they arise from temporal things, we shall be offended with God, and condemn his providence. For the effects of weak faith we need look no further than to the passage before us. The immediate scope of our Lord's question was, to put his disciples on their guard against their remaining unbelief; and, by warn- ing them of their approaching fall, to encourage and facilitate their speedy recovery : and we may learn from their example that, if our faith be not increased in proportion to our trials, we shall surely faint in the day of adversity.]
If such truths be implied in the interrogation before us, we may well urge it upon you, II. In a way of personal inquiry —
c Gal. v. 17. d ver. 27. e Matt. xiv. 30, 31.
t Gen. xxvii. 6 — 10. s Gen. iii. 8.
Ill) JOHN, XVI. 31. [1706.
We are particularly exhorted to " examine our- selves whether we be in the faith V Let all of us then inquire into,
1. The reality of our faith —
[Before we conclude too confidently that we are believers, we should ask ourselves, Whence ive obtained our faith ? It is not a plant of nature's growth ; nor is it formed in us by human teaching. There is but one way in which it ever is or can be obtained, namely, by acknowledging our unbelief before God, and imploring him to create a lively faith in our hearts by his blessed Spirit. If we have never been " convinced of unbelief," we have not yet one grain of real faith ;. But if this inquiry be satisfactorily answered, we should further ask, Hoiv our faith operates ? If it be genuine and scriptural, it will overcome the world, and work by love, and purify the heartk. But has
it these effects? We are warned by God that " all men
have not faith1;" nor should we conclude that we have, unless we manifest it in its fruits.]
2. The degree of our faith —
[If we cannot ascertain precisely the degree of our faith, we yet have grounds whereon we may form some estimate. Are we enabled to realize the things which are invisible ? This is a very principal office of faith ; and in proportion as we are enabled to set God before our eyes, and to keep heaven in view, we may safely conclude that we have that principle, which alone can produce this effect. Do we maintain our hope tinder discouraging circumstances? This was the mark whereby the strength of Abraham's faith was so fully known™ : and, if we be strong in faith, we shall be steadfast under heavy and long- protracted trials, and " against hope believe in hope." Are we kept diligent in the ivay of duty ? It is presumption, and not faith, that leads us to relax our diligence in the use of means: the more faith we have, the greater will be our activity in every good work n. The various offices of faith are fully delineated in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews; and by comparing our spirit and conduct with that of the saints there mentioned, we may weigh ourselves in the balance of the sanctuary. In this way we may provide an answer to the in- terrogation in the text ; and, instead of boasting as though we had attained, shall learn to reply, " Lord, I believe ; help thou my unbelief."]