US may yet be called, before we die. But, if faith will enable men to bear up under such sufferings as we read of in the Scriptures of truth, how much more will it qualify us for sus- taining the common evils of life ; yea, and enable us to " glory in tribulation," so far as God shall see fit to subject us to its assaults.]
To all this I may add, III. How extensive its benefits —
There is not a blessing to the body or the soul, for time or for eternity, which faith will not secure. Do we not want,
1. Pardon?
[There is not a sin of which we may not obtain forgive- ness, if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, " whose blood cleanseth from all sin." The declaration of an inspired Apostle is, " All that believe are justified from all things"."]
2. Peace?
[" Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ";" yea, by " believing in this unseen Saviour, we may rejoice in him with a joy that is un- speakable and glorified P."]
3. Holiness?
[Every part of holiness will faith supply. It will " work by love," and " overcome the world," and " purify the heart"!." It is by faith only that we can *' behold the gloi7 of God in the face of Jesus Christ:" and by that shall we be " changed into his image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord^"]
4. Glory?
[Never shall the believer die ; never perish ; never come into condemnation^. Eternal life is his, both in title and in the actual commencement; and it shall be his in the great day of Christ's appearing. Then shall that be said to you, as it was to blind Bartimeus, and to her who washed her Saviour's feet with her tears ; not, ' Thine importunity, or thy 2Jenitence, hath saved thee;' but, " Thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace."]
Now, let me press upon you a due improvement of this subject. Concerning faith, I would say, strive,
" Acts xiii. 39. ° Rom. v. 1. Pi Pet. i. 8.
q Acts XV. 9. r 2 Cor. iii. 18. =* John iii. 10. and xi. 2o, 2(i.
4i0 HEBREWS, XI. 32—35. [2331.
1. To ascertain its existence —
[True is that declaration of the Apostle, " All men have not faith'." Nor is it true of those only who professedly reject the Gospel, but of multitudes also who profess to have received it. It was to such that St. Paul addressed those words : " Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith : prove your own selves"." " You are not to imagine that a mere assent to the Gospel is the faith that is required of you. Saving faith is a divine principle in the soul — a principle pro- ductive of such fruits as were brought forth by the worthies enumerated in this chapter. In order to ascertain whether your faith be genuine, read the chapter carefully ; and, after every successive instance of faith, inquire how far it has ope- rated the same change in you. In truth, if we compare our experience with that of the saints of old, the best amongst lis, instead of valuing himself upon his faith, will find reason to doubt whether he has yet attained any faith at all.]
2. To appreciate its importance —
[Lightly as men in general think of faith, there is no principle whatever that is of such importance to the soul as that. Love, indeed, is in some respects greater than faith ; but it must be remembered, that faith is the root from which alone true love can spring. Where faith is wanting, there can be no union with Christ, and consequently no Christian grace: for " without Christ we can do nothing." " Without faith, whatever we may do, it is impossible to please God^:" and, consequently, without faith we can have no hope of eternal life. How terrific are those words which our blessed Lord commissioned his Disciples to proclaim throughout the world ! " Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature : he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; and he that believeth not, shall be damned y." Know ye then, that, in this subject, life and death are set before you : and that, as in this world, so to all eternity, " According to your faith it will be unto you."]