exercised '^ ; and disregarded every thing that was apparently
good, if this were wanting' He invariably bestowed
the highest encomiums upon it^; and made it, not only a condition, but the very measure of his favours' ]
Application —
1. To unbelievers —
[If men may manifest a very considerable earnestness about salvation, and yet leave room to doubt whether they really believe in the all-sufficiency of Christ, how evidently must thei/ be unbelievers, who have no solicitude about their eternal welfare ! To judge of your faith, see whether you resemble these blind men in your consciousness of your need of a Saviour, and your conviction of the sufficiency of Christ to save you? Your need of mercy at his hands is as real and as urgent as ever theirs was : and, if you really believe in him, you are going to him with the same importunity as was ex- pressed by them : nor will you account any time or place unfit for the silent offering of your requests. Think then, what will you answer to the Lord when he shall inquire respecting your faith ! And what will you do, if he should say, Be it unto you according to your faith ? Alas ! too many of you need no greater curse than this. If you have no more pardon, peace, or glory, than in proportion to your present exercise of faith, the great mass of you, it is to be feared, will be miserable indeed. O remember the fate of the unbelieving Israelites ; and flee to Christ, every one of you, lest ye perish after their example of unbelief™.]
2. To those who are weak in faith —
[Can you see the multitude of our Saviour's miracles, and entertain any doubt of his sufficiency ? or the examples of so many that were strong in faith, and not be ashamed that, with your superior advantages, you should ever indulge unbelief? O fix it in your minds, that Jesus is able to save to the utter- most, and to keep that which you have committed to him". Believe in the Lord, so shall you be established ; believe his
^ He might have justly reproved the nobleman's impatience, John iv. 49.
i The zeal and love of Peter were no longer approved when his faith failed him, Matt. xiv. 31. Nor did Jesus regard the ready obedience of his disciples in ferrj'ing him over the lake, when they discovered such timidity and want of faith, Mark iv. 40.
^ Matt. viii. 10. and xxi. 21, 22. See particularly. 2 Chron. xvi. 8. where it was not only commended, but rewarded.
1 Mark ix. 23. Matt. viii. 13. and xv. 28. See also the text.
•n Heb. iii. 18, 10. and iv. 11. . " 2 Tim. i. 12.