*6. Now faith (supposing the scripture to be of God) is πραγμάτων ♦ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων, the demonstrative evidence of things unseen, the supernatural evidence of things invisible, not perceivable by eyes of flesh, or by any of our natural senses or faculties. Faith is that divine evidence, whereby the spiritual man discerneth God, and the things of God. It is with regard to the spiritual world, what sense is with regard to the natural. It is the spiritual sensation of every soul that is born of God.
♦ “ἔαγχος οὑ βλπομένων” replaced with “ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων”
7. Perhaps you have not considered it in this view; I will then explain it a little further.
Faith, according to the scriptural account, is the eye of the new-born soul. Hereby every true believer in God, _seeth him who is invisible_. Hereby (in a more particular manner, since life and immortality have been brought to light by the gospel) he _seeth the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ_; and, _beholdeth what manner of love it is, which the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we_ (who are born of the Spirit) _should be called the sons of God_.
It is the ear of the soul, whereby a sinner _hears the voice of the Son of God and lives_; even that voice which alone wakes the dead, _Son, thy sins are forgiven thee_.
It is (if I may be allowed the expression) the palate of the soul: for hereby a believer _tastes the good word, and the powers of the world to come_; and _hereby he both tastes and sees that God is gracious_, yea, _and merciful to him a sinner_.
It is the feeling of the soul, whereby a believer perceives, thro’ the _power of the Highest over-shadowing him_, both the existence and the presence of him, in whom _he lives, moves, and has his being_; and indeed the whole invisible world, the entire system of things eternal. And hereby, in particular, he feels _the love of God shed abroad in his heart_.
*8. _By this faith we are saved_ from all uneasiness of mind, from the anguish of a wounded spirit, from discontent, from fear, and sorrow of heart, from that inexpressible listlessness and weariness, both of the world and of ourselves, which we had so ♦helplessly laboured under for many years; especially when we were out of the hurry of the world, and sunk into calm reflection. In this we find that love of God, and of all mankind, which we had elsewhere sought in vain. This we know and feel, and therefore cannot but declare, saves every one that partakes of it, both from sin and misery, from every unhappy and every unholy temper.
♦ “helplesly” replaced with “helplessly”
“Soft peace she brings, wherever she arrives, She builds our quiet, as she forms our lives; Lays the rough paths of peevish nature even, And opens in each breast a little heaven.”
9. If you ask, “Why then have not all men this faith? All at least who conceive it to be so happy a thing? Why do they not believe immediately?”
We answer, (on the scripture hypothesis) _It is the gift of God_. No man is able to work it in himself. It is a work of Omnipotence. It requires no less power thus to quicken a dead soul, than to raise a body that lies in the grave. It is a new creation; and none can create a soul anew but he who at first created the heavens and the earth.
*10. May not your own experience teach you this? Can you give yourself this faith? Is it now in your power to see, or hear, or taste, or feel God? Have you already, or can you raise in yourself any perception of God, or of an invisible world? I suppose you do not deny, that there is an invisible world: you will not charge it in poor old _Hesiod_, to Christian prejudice of education, when he says, in those well known words,
Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, whether we wake, or if we sleep.
Now, is there any power in your soul, whereby you discern either these, or him that created them? Or, can all your wisdom and strength open an intercourse between yourself and the world of spirits? Is it in your power to burst the veil that is on your heart, and let in the light of eternity? You know it is not. You not only do not, but cannot (by your own strength) thus believe. The more you labour so to do, the more you will be convinced, _it is the gift of God_.
*11. It is the _free gift_ of God, which he bestows not on those who are _worthy_ of his favour, not on such as are _previously holy_, and so _fit_ to be crowned with all the blessings of his goodness: but on the ungodly and unholy; on those who till that hour were _fit_ only for everlasting destruction; those in whom was no good thing, and whose only plea was, _God, be merciful to me a sinner_. No merit, no goodness in man precedes the forgiving love of God. His pardoning mercy supposes nothing in us but a sense of mere sin and misery: and to all who see, and feel, and own their wants, and their utter inability to remove them, God freely gives faith, for the sake of him _in whom he is always well pleased_.