to sight, and has respect entirely to things which are beyond the reach of mortal eyes. It looks upon an unseen God ; even as Moses did, who feared not the wrath of Pharaoh, because " he saw him that is invisible'^." This great and adorable Being it beholds, and contemplates all his glorious perfections. It sees all his mind and will in the book of revelation : it recog- nises his superintending providence in all events : it regards him as inspecting continually the most hidden recesses of our souls, and noting every thing in the book of his remembrance in order to a future judgment.
Faith also views an unseen Saviour as the supreme object of his people's love, and the only foundation of all their hopes ^. It beholds him dying for their sins, and rising again for their justification : yea, it sees him interceding for them at the right hand of God, and preserving for them that peace which by their sins and infirmities they would soon forfeit. It enters into the whole of the Saviour's work and offices, surveying them in all their extent and variety; and particularly regards him as the fountain of life to all his people ; as having in him- self all fulness of spiritual blessings treasured up for them, and imparting to them continually out of that fulness according to their several necessities.
Faith views an unseen heaven also. It soars and penetrates into the very paradise of God, and surveys the crowns and kingdoms which God has there prepared for all that love him. There it beholds that glorious tabernacle which the soul shall inhabit as soon as this earthly house shall be dissolved : and in the promises recorded in the written word, it sees the pos- session of that glory assured to every believing soul, assured by an everlasting covenant, and by the oath of a " God that cannot lie."
Such are the objects of faith! and such the objects on which the Christian's eye is continually fixed !]
By these he regulates the whole of his hfe and conversation —
[These are the things which draw forth his regards ; and in comparison of these all earthly things are but as dung and dross. For these he sighs, and groans, and weeps, and strives : to obtain an interest in them is more to him than ten thousand worlds. Whatever will endanger the loss of these, he flees from, as from the face of a serpent : and whatever has a ten- dency to secure his interest in them, he labours incessantly to perform. In these all his affections centre : his hopes and fears, his joys and sorrows, all terminate in these : and, in exact proportion as he is enabled by faith to realize and apprehend
<' Heb. xi. 27. '^ 1 Pet. i. 8,