riches, or the honours of the world, he has accom- plished his purpose, and effectually alienated their hearts from Godf.
Now these also are as " fiery darts," which, if they once enter into the soul, will burn up all the good that is within it, and destroy it utterly.
But faith is as useful to protect the heart, as to defend the head. As it obviates every difficulty that may perplex the understanding, so it wards off every thing that may intimidate or defile the soul.
To the temptations that assault the will, faith opposes the importance of eternal things : ' Be it so ; I must endure much if I will adhere to my purpose of serving God: but what shall I have to endure if I do not serve him ? It is not a matter of mere choice, but of absolute necessity ; for " what shall it profit me if I gain the whole world, and lose my own soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soulg?" Let me not then hear of difficulties ; for if Nebu- chadnezzar's furnace were before me, it were better to suffer martyrdom at once with the Hebrew Youths, than to renounce my allegiance to Godh. With respect to the hopelessness of my case, nothing but destruction can result from despair : for " to whom can I go, if not to Him who has the words of eternal life1?" God helping me therefore I will go forward ; and if I perish, I will perish k at the foot of my Redeemer's cross, crying for mercy as the chief of sinners.'
Then to the temptations that assault the affec- tions, faith opposes the excellency of eternal things : ' True ; I might enjoy the pleasures of sin ; but would they equal the pleasure of serving God, and especially those " pleasures which are at his right hand for evermore?" Are not "the unsearchable riches of Christ," together with " the honour that cometh of God," sufficient to counterbalance any riches or honours that I may forego for Christ's
f Matt. vi. 24. with Jam. iv. 4. s Matt. xvi. 26.
h Dan. iii. 18. { John vi. 68.
k Alluding to Esth. iv. 16. and to 2 Kings vii. 4.