MOSEs' FAITH IN RELATION TO THE PASSOVER.
Heb. xi. 28. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn shotdd touch them.
PERSONS, when speaking upon the comparative excellences of faith and works, are very apt to over- look the relation which they bear to each other : whereas there is no true faith which is not productive
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of good works ; nor are there any works truly good, which do not proceed from faith as their root and principle. Supposing that they could exist sepa- rately, the preference might justly be given to good works : because they are the end, whilst fciith is only the means to that end. Detach from each other the root and fruit of a tree ; and no one will hesitate to prefer the fruit. But they cannot be separated ; they are to each other as the cause and effect : and in proportion as any one values good works, he ought to value faith, as their originating and produc- tive cause. True it is that there are works which are reputed good, and which may be done by an in- fidel or a heathen : and these, imperfect as they are, are certainly better than a barren and inoperative faith : but works that are truly good can proceed from faith alone : and the peculiar excellence of faith is, that it is the spring and source from whence all good works proceed ; and from whence they will naturally proceed, as its genuine fruit and offspring. It is on this account that the Apostle accumulates in the chapter before us so many instances of a lively faith. A person ignorant of true Christianity would expatiate only upon the works : but the Apostle traces the streams to the fountain-head ; and fixes our at- tention upon that faith from whence they flowed.
In considering the faith of Moses as recorded in the text, we shall mark,
I. The particular act by which it displayed itself in him —
God had determined to destroy the first-born both of man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt, with the exception of those belonging to his own oppressed and afflicted people. But when the de- stroying angel should be sent forth to execute this judgment, how should the Hebrews be distinguished by him ? And how should he know where to strike, and where to forbear ?
For the preservation of his people God appointed peculiar means —