The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 242

(4) Faith in one involvesfaoitl1 in the other. This is not an arbitrary, but a moral and philosophicnl, injunction. Such i~ tho rolationship between God and Christ that faith in ono ip.volvos faith in both. Whether faith begins from the human or Divine side, It will find itself embrnciug tho Father and Son, or neither. Thns, when Christ eppcare<l in our world; those who had genuine faith in God readily believed in him, and those who had not rejected him, Faith in the visible and incarnate Son was 11 test of fo.ith in the invisible and eternal Father. 2. The object., of faith are pointed out in their natural order of sequence. (1) God is the supreTM 0bfect of /uith. Hence he is introduced first. Christ, os a Teacher, ever pointed to Divinity, Rs contemplated in the Father or in himself, as the supreme ancl final Object of human f<1ith. (2) Chri~t meets the present requirement of faith. First he points to the highest goal of faith, then to himself as the Way which lends to it. 'l'herefore., "Believe also in me" is not retrogressive, but progressive, in relation to faith. Ilcfure the appearance of Christ, faith was weak, struggling and crying for help, for a resting-place, for a medium between heaven and earth. Pious souls yearned for it. Jacob dreamed of it, and in bis dream saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. Christ responded to this cry and fulfilled this dream. In him faith found a present Help, Encouragement, and a Ilesting- place. lle is the real Ladder between heaven and earth, over which souls by faith may rnach the glorious heights of the eternal throne, aud embrace him who sits upon it. (3) In Christ faith in God alone can be perfected. "Looking to Jesus," etc. He is the lowest and the highest rung of the JaJdcr-the lo1nst touching the lowest parts of the earth, and the highest touching thu eternal throne. "The Son of man, when he comes, shall he find faith," etc.? Little of it he found; but ever since, he creates, feeds, helps, and perfects it. By his perfect life and self-sacrificing death and inter- cessory work, he is become the Author, Ex,,mple, thu Inspirer and Perfecter of faith. 3. The exercise of faith is the only way of Divine realization in the soul. (1) Faith is the power which alone can see the Divine. (2) Faith is the power which alone can realize the Divine. (3) Faith is the power which aloue can appropriute the Di.vine. There is a God, but not to us but by faith. There is a Saviour, but not to us but by faith. Without love we are nothing, and it is equally true that without faith we arc nothing-nothing to God and Christ; and they are nothing savingly to us, but by faith they are ours. Hence the soul's chief duty is to believe. II. FAITH IS ENJOINED AS THE ANTIDOTE OF TROUBLE. "Let not your heart, n etc. This implies: 1. That Christians, while in this world, are exposed to trouble. These are: (1) General. "Man is born to trouble." Christians are men, therefore by birth, nature, and circumstauces, are heirs of the co=on troubles of humanity. Enumeration is unnecessary, as we are all educated in the great university of trouble, and are very proficient in its arithmetic. (2) Special. As Christians, the disciples had their special trouble now arising from the impending departure of their Lord. This event already cast its dark shadow upon them. The little.society, to all appear- ances, was on the verge of disorganization. The departure of their Lord would leave such a vacancy so that trouble, sorrow, doubts and fears, threatened to in.vade them as a sweeping flood. 'l'he road to Canaan is ever through the wilderness, and the way to life through tribulation. 2. That trouble naturally attacks the heart. Hence our Saviour says, "Let not your heart," etc. The heart is the seat of emotion, the avenue of good and evil, and is impressible to every passing influence, and troubles which would be rejected by reason will be admitted by the trembling and undefenued heart. 3. Faith in God and Ohi-ist fortifies the heart against trouble. "Let not your heart," etc. It was the aim of Christ now to st.rengthen them against the impending trouble and shelter them from the thunderstorm of sorrow and perplexity which had already begun to break out. This he does by fortifying their heart. This fortification is to be made by faith in God and Christ. For heart-disease there is but one remedy, and it is infallible, prescribe<\ by the infallible Physician. "Believe in God," etc. This will fill the soul with elements of comfort and security, and while full of these, it is impreg- nable to trouble. What are these? (1) Gonsciousness of the Divine indwelling. Believe iu God and Christ, and they are yours. By faith the Divine Father anu Son become the tenants of the heart and soul. "We will come unto him, aml will make our abode with him." What powerful inmates! How near, sympathetic, and able! Who can take the heart with these within? (2) 'fhe rossession of adeg_uate k110wledge.  250 THE GOSPEL A:COORDING TO BT. JOHN. [en. xiv. 1-31.