November 27

But ere one fleeting hour is past,

The flattering world employs

Some sensual bait to seize my taste,

And to pollute my joys.

Wretch that I am, to wander thus

In chase of false delight!

Let me be fastened to thy cross,

Rather than lose the sight.

Make haste, my days, to reach the goal,

And bring my soul to rest

On the dear centre of my soul,

My God, my Saviour's breast."

"Faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 1:14.

THESE two are often spoken of in the Scriptures. And if we observe the passages in which they occur, and especially the words of the apostle John, "This is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son, and love one another," we shall see that the first regards Christ, and the second our brethren.

But let us remark their order. Faith is placed before love; and this is the case, without any exception, whenever they are coupled together by the sacred writers. And there is reason for it. The order of the words is the order of the things. Faith precedes all true obedience. It necessarily goes before repentance. I cannot grieve for what I have done, unless I believe I have done amiss; and I cannot sorrow after a godly sort, unless I look on him whom I have pierced, and mourn for him. Faith is a radical principle. It is the root of the tree, and all the rest is branch, blossom, and fruit. It is the spring from which every thing else in religion flows as a stream. Love does not produce faith, but faith love.

Yet there is a connection between them, and their union is also as invariably expressed as their order. In truth, they are inseparable. Is it conceivable, that when such a scheme as Christianity gets into the soul, it can lie there dead, or even asleep? Is it not compared to a well of water, springing up into everlasting life; to a fire, that converts every thing combustible into its own nature; to leaven hid in meal, that leaves the whole lump? Observe all the believers who, in the Scriptures, encompass us as a great cloud of witnesses. Was their faith a notion, a profession, a form of godliness without the power? Could such faith have saved them? True faith overcomes the world; it purifies the heart; and it works by love. It does not indeed work by love exclusively. It works by hatred when it regards sin, and by fear when it regards danger. So Noah, by faith, being warned of God, was moved with fear. But love is the disposition the gospel peculiarly requires. It is the end of the commandment, out of a pure heart, and a good

Mona. Expt.

37 conscience, and faith unfeigned. It also is preeminently suited to produce it. What is God? God is love. From what principle did he act in our salvation? God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. What do we see in the life and death of the Saviour but divine compassion embodied, a love that passeth knowledge? And what is the inference? "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling savor."

Let us not pass over this. Some people's faith seems to work by selfishness, censoriousness, wrath, malice, and all uncharitableness. But we have no reason to conclude that we have "the faith of God's elect," unless, "as the elect of God, holy and beloved, we put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

It is lamentable to think how many of our fellow-creatures are destitute of these graces. Art thou, O my soul, a stranger to the influence of this faith and love? Let me remember that they are infinitely important and indispensable. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

But shall I be satisfied with the reality of this faith and love, regardless of the degree? How desirable, how necessary, how attainable is more of their vital prevalency. Let me resemble the Thessalonians, of whom the apostle could say, "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth."