many other prophets in their season. If it be asked, in wliat respect were these examples of faitli ? I answer, AH these exploits were done in obedience to a divine impulse, and i?i dependence on God's 'promised aid.
But, without dwelling on the acts of these individual wor- thies, let us notice, rather, what my text leads us to,]
2. The acts specified —
[Who would imagine that faith should ever possess such powers as are here ascribed to it? Who would suppose that b}^ it men should " put to flight mighty armies," and " subdue whole kingdoms?" Yet this has been done, and done by faith also : for all the kingdoms of Canaan were subdued by Joshua's faith ; as were the surrounding kingdoms of Moab, and Syria, and Edom, with many others, by the faith of David. And who would think that this principle should prevail to shut the mouths of lions ; yes, and to quench the violence of fire, so that a furnace heated to the utmost extent of man's ability, should not be able to singe a hair of a person's head ? Yet was the former of these done by the faith of Daniel; as was the latter, by the faith of his three companions, Shadrach, Meshech, and Abed-nego. Even to the raising of the dead has this availed : for, through the exercise of it, Elijah raised the son of the widow of Zarephath*^, and Elisha the son of the Shuna- mitish woman ^.
Now of these things I say, they are utterly incredible: and, in declaring them, I seem to demand an assent that is perfectly unreasonable. For, how should it be that such a hidden prin- ciple of the mind should ever enable a man to work such miracles as these ? Verily, the whole account seems to be nothing but " a cunningly-devised fable," that yet can impose on none who give to it one moment's consideration. But it is true, and the very truth of God. Nor will it appear incredi- ble, if we duly consider the way in which it operates. It is God himself who engages to do the thing : and faith calls into action his Almighty arm (and with him all things are possible). So that, inasmuch as faith insures his effectual aid, it may be truly said, that " all things are possible to him that believeth."]
But let US further notice, II. How diversified its operations —
There is nothing to which it may not be ap])lied, and nothing for which it will not equally avail. It will alike enable us,
I. To do any thing —
f 1 Kings xvii. 17—21. g 2 Kings iv. 18—37.