October 17

For we walk by faith, not by sight.—2 Corinthians 5:7.

THE unregenerate world are controlled in their conduct, and moulded in their characters, by the seen and the sensible—in neither respect do they rise higher than the scope of their vision. But the true people of God are brought under the influence of another and higher order of things by the power of faith. By faith in the unseen and eternal they walk. Hence they acquire a peculiar elevation and sanctity in their conduct and character.

According to the degrees of our assent to future eternal things, such is their victorious power in our souls. The objective efficacy of things is not from their existence, but from their evidence to our minds. Now according as our apprehensions are more clear, and our belief is more steadfast of things future, such impressions are made either of terror or desire in our breasts. The apostle defines faith to be, The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It represents things future and distant, as present, and in our actual possession. A superficial fluctuating belief of the good or evil things in the next state, is of no force to encounter temptations, and vanquish the carnal affections. The report of the senses concerning things present, will preponderate the authority of God's word, that declares things future infinitely to exceed them. All fire has heat, but not strong enough to melt down gold and silver. There is an assent in every degree of faith, but not able to overcome the world. A radicated firm belief of the infallible truth, the transcendent goodness, and our sure right in heavenly things, will cause all the false colors of this world, the shadows in masquerade, to disappear.

The evidence and importance of things, fixes our resolutions to adhere to them. The son of a king, and heir of a kingdom, will invincibly assert the truth of his relation and title. A sincere believer of the heavenly glory, and his eternal interest in it, will live in that faith, and die in it, if necessity require. The belief of it has a vital taste, a joy sincere and sweet, that makes the pleasant temptations of the world nauseous. As faith is the foundation and basis of hope, (it is the substance of things hoped for,) so hope is reciprocally as a strong pillar that establishes the basis upon which it is fixed :—for one voluntarily and steadfastly believes that which is for his advantage and comfort. The serious belief of the prepared plagues for those who are unfaithful to God, and their souls hereafter, will make all the evils threatened and inflicted upon the godly here, to be contemptible. If we are surrounded by an army of evils, let faith draw forth the powers of the world to come, we shall be more than conquerors. There are many temptations we can not avoid; there are none but we may vanquish by the power of faith. The fear of God, like Aaron's rod turned into a serpent, that swallowed up the rods of the magicians, will overrule the fear of men, and make those evils that to naked nature are invincible, easily endured. This is evident from the courage and constancy of the martyrs, who despised the proudest tyrants upon their thrones, and most cruel executioners upon the scaffold : the effect of faith in the time of its triumph. If the same objects have not the same efficacy in the minds of men, it is for want of faith. If faith declines, we shall faint, and die away. Peter walked on the sea while he relied on the word of Christ, but when a blast of wind shook his faith, he presently sunk. The apostles doubted of Christ's power, when a storm fell upon the ship : our Saviour first rebuked their fear before he laid the storm, as a danger more near and of worse consequence : Why are ye afraid, O ye of little faith ?

Let us try the singular efficacy of faith, by exercising it upon eternal objects. Let our faith represent to us in as lively a manner the eternal judgment, as Enoch had a prospect of it ; Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to judge all the ungodly :—let faith direct its view to him, rending the heavens, and coming in his own glory, as the Son of God ; and in his Father's glory, as constituted by him to be Judge of the world ; and in the glory of the mighty angels, his attendants :—let faith contemplate the Judge upon a white throne, the emblem of his holiness, whom none can surprise nor resist:—let faith make that day as present, when there will be no place for repentance; when the fountain of mercy to sinners will be sealed for ever; when the books of eternal life and death shall be opened, and all men shall receive an irrevocable judgment; a judgment so fearful, that sinners, how great and terrible soever they were in this world to others, shall call to the mountains to fall on them, and the hills to cover them, from the wrath of the Lamb: for his day is come. A judgment so strict, that the righteous shall scarcely be saved. Now what impressions of tormenting fear, or reviving hopes, will the strong belief of the eternal judgment, and the consequences of it, make in us, when heaven and hell shall divide all men, according as we are prepared or unprepared for the trial of that deciding day? How will it make us circumspect and cautious to avoid evil, active and ardent in doing good? for every thing must be brought into judgment. How ambitious and diligent to be accepted of our Judge? Let faith open a window into heaven, and represent the saints in their sunlike brightness, their glory and joy, and triumphant felicity in the eternal kingdom, where God is all in all. How will the believing view of this rectify our minds, and convince us that nothing deserves our high esteem and love, but the favor and fruition of the blessed God?

Let faith open the fatal gates of hell, that are ever shut upon the damned, and discover the scenes of woe, the sights of horror, the tormenting passions of reprobates, their desperate sorrow for the loss of heaven, and fierce indignation that others enjoy it; both which are implied in their weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. How powerful will this representation be, to keep us in awe and order, to control the lusts and licentiousness of carnal appetites? How would this double vision make us esteem all the good things here as vile dross, and all the evil as light as feathers, in comparison of eternal things? How would this inspire us with resolutions to take heaven by violence, and to fly from the wrath to come?