August 4

Hebrews xi. — 17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son.

19. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones.

24. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

27. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28. Through faith he kept the passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the first-born should touch them.

29. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land; which the Egyptians essaying to do, were drowned.

30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

32. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets;

33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings; yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment:

37. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38. (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise;

40. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

What history can show a line of heroes to be compared to these witnesses for the faith of the Bible? What cause has had an attestation so courageous, so persistent, so triumphant? A political cause, like that of popular liberty in England; a cause combining religious and political ends, like the Reformation of the sixteenth century, — may enlist generation after generation, and present a long succession of heroes and martyrs. In such causes, however, something objective and tangible is aimed at; and there is likely to be a mixture of personal and partisan motives with devotion to a principle.

But, in this case, the sustaining motive was a subjective faith; faith in an invisible person; faith in realities that were not seen; in promises that were not fulfilled; in a country, a kingdom, in the far-distant future. Nothing personal prompted this faith; nothing selfish nurtured this hope. So far as this world is concerned, there was every thing to lose in embracing a faith so spiritual. These were our forerunners: they paved the way for us with tears and blood, awaiting our perfecting for the fruition of their hope. Let us enter manfully into their labors, that we may come at length to their rest and their reward.

APPROPRIATE HYMN.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 22, 57, 85, 101.

Holy Father, we bless thee for the faith and example of the godly who have gone before us. So enlighten, purify, and strengthen our whole nature, that we shall faithfully follow them. More especially we bless thee for the perfect example of thy Son Jesus Christ, and beseech thee so to endue us with his spirit, that we may evermore walk in his steps, and be found faithful to him even unto death. Thou art the strength of all them that put their trust in thee. Grant us, we beseech thee, the continual help of thy grace, that, in keeping thy commandments, we may please thee, and that, in the midst of dangers, we may be upheld and preserved.

Father of mercies, we offer our humble thanksgiving for thy great and manifold favors bestowed upon us. Goodness and mercy have followed us all our days. For continued life and health and reason, for food and raiment and the comforts of home, for friends and kindred and social happiness, we praise thy most holy name. May it please thee still to be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause thy face to shine upon us! Make us strong in faith, and joyful in hope; and, finally, let us stand before thy throne, accepted and glorified, through the merits of thy Son and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.