Heb. xi. 30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
HOW intelligent creatures should be affected by any principle, is easy to be conceived ; because the
human mind is susceptible of the strongest impres- sions from every thing that is submitted to its consi- deration. But what connexion any principle can have with inanimate creatures, any farther than through its influence on human agents, does not at first sight appear. Take the principle of love, for instance. We may love the flowers which are growing in our garden : but any farther than our love operates to secure attention to those flowers, they will be alto- gether unaffected by it. But there is a peculiarity in the principle oi faith which does not attach to any other principle whatever ; namely, that it has respect to God, and calls forth his power ; and is therefore capable of influencing every thing, whether in heaven or earth. A surprising effect of it is mentioned in reference to the walls of Jericho, which, through its powerful operation, were thrown down.
In speaking of faith as illustrated by that event, we shall be led to notice,
I. Its distinguishing properties —
Wherever a living faith exists in the soul, it will approve itself by,
1. A patient observance of the appointed means —
[The means appointed for the capture of that fortress were certainly very peculiar. The Israelites, who were encamped against it, were to walk in procession around it seven successive days in perfect silence ; the trumpets only blowing. On the seventh day, they were to go round it seven times, and then to shout : and at the precise moment that they shouted, the walls were to fall, and open for them a free passage into the city. These means they used. They did not pour contempt upon them as unsuited to the end : nor did they grow weary in the use of them : nor did they attempt to add any thing to them. They felt that it was not for them to canvass the wisdom of God's appointments, but to obey them : and therefore they followed implicitly the Divine command % and " compassed the city seven days."
Such is universally the operation of true faith. God has appointed means for the salvation of the soul. He requires that we should repent of all our past sins ; that we should be- lieve in the Lord Jesus Christ as having offered an atonement
a Josh. vi. 1—16,