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Faith
Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence
of things not seen.
Faith is simply taking God at His word.
How others define it:
The first conscious exercise of the renewed soul is
faith; as the first conscious act of a man born blind whose eyes have been
opened, is seeing. The exercise of vision in such a man is indeed attended by so
many new sensations and emotions that he cannot determine how much of this new
experience comes through the eye, and how much from other sources. It is so with
the believer. As soon as his eyes are opened by the renewing of the Holy Ghost
he is in a new world. Old things have passed away, all things are become new.
The apprehension of the things of God as true lies at the foundation of all the
exercises of the renewed soul.
Faith in the widest sense of the word, is
belief, or assent. It is an intellectual commitment: the submission of the mind
to the truth of the gospel. It presupposes that God has given us some knowledge
of the truth. We have heard the message. We have heard the report of the Word of
God. We have heard that God is, that God became incarnate in Christ, that Christ
is able to save us, that Christ offers to save us, that Christ pleads with us to
come to Him for salvation, that He died for our sins, that He rose again and
that we are justified by faith in His name and in His sacrifice. That is the
message. And faith, at the most basic level, means that we believe those facts
to be true. We accept those great doctrines. Our minds are convinced. Faith will
lead to emotions and to decisions, but those emotions and decisions are based on
convictions and the convictions presuppose knowledge. In this sense, faith is
rational. It is not rationalistic but it is an act of reason. It always involves
an act of the mind. We believe the report. We receive this great tradition that
speaks of the lordship, incarnation, death and resurrection of the Son of God.
Faith is trust. It begins with belief, but it is always more than belief. It is
a personal commitment to God in Christ
Because it is
not only difficult, but altogether beyond our strength and ability, to fulfil
the demands of the Law, if we look only to ourselves and consider what is due to
our merits, no ground of hope remains, but we lie forsaken of God under eternal
death. There is only one method of deliverance that can rescue us from this
miserable state. When Christ the Redeemer appears, by whose hand our heavenly
Father, out of his infinite goodness and mercy, has been pleased to succour us,
if we with true faith embrace this mercy, and with firm hope rest in it.
Consider the nature of this faith, by means of which, those who are adopted into
the family of God obtain possession of the heavenly kingdom.
It is true,
indeed, that faith has respect to God only; but to this we should add, that it
acknowledges Jesus Christ whom he has sent. God would remain far off, concealed
from us, were we not irradiated by the brightness of Christ. All that the Father
had, he deposited with his only begotten Son, in order that he might manifest
himself in him, and thus by the communication of blessings express the true
image of his glory. Since, we must be led by the Spirit, and thus stimulated to
seek Christ, so must we also remember that the invisible Father is to be sought
nowhere but in this image.
The surest way
to avoid all errors is to know Him who is both God and man. It is to God we
tend, and it is by man we go, and both of these are found only in Christ. Paul,
when he preaches faith towards God, surely does not intend to overthrow what he
so often inculcates that faith has all its stability in Christ. Peter most
appropriately connects both, saying, that by him we believe in God.
Faith consists
not in ignorance, but in knowledge not of God merely, but of the divine will. We
recognize God as a propitious Father through the reconciliation made by Christ,
and Christ as given to us for righteousness, sanctification, and life. By this
knowledge, I say, not by the submission of our understanding, we obtain an
entrance into the kingdom of heaven. For when the Apostle says, With the heart
man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation; he intimates, that it is not enough to believe implicitly without
understanding. The requisite is an explicit recognition of the divine goodness,
in which our righteousness consists.
So long as we
are pilgrims in the world faith is implicit, not only because as yet many things
are hidden from us, but because, involved in the mists of error, we attain not
to all. The highest wisdom, even of him who has attained the greatest
perfection, is to go forward, and endeavour in a calm and teachable spirit to
make further progress. Hence Paul exhorts believers to wait for further
illumination in any matter in which they differ from each other. And certainly
experience teaches, that so long as we are in the flesh, our attainments are
less than is to be desired. In our daily reading we fall in with many obscure
passages that convict us of ignorance. With this curb God keeps us modest,
assigning to each a measure of faith, every teacher, however excellent, may
still be disposed to learn. Striking examples of this implicit faith may be
observed in the disciples of Christ before they were fully illuminated. We see
how they hesitate in the smallest matters, how, though hanging on the lips of
their Master, they make no great progress; even after running to the sepulchre on the report of the
women, the resurrection of their Master appears to them a dream. As Christ
previously bore testimony to their faith, we cannot say that they were
altogether devoid of it; had they not been persuaded that Christ would rise
again, all their zeal would have been extinguished. Nor was it superstition that
led the women to prepare spices to embalm a dead body of whose revival they had
no expectation; but, although they gave credit to the words of one whom they
knew to be true, yet the ignorance which still possessed their minds involved
their faith in darkness, and left them in amazement. Hence they are said to have
believed only when, by the reality, they perceive the truth of what Christ had
spoken; not that they then began to believe, but the seed of a hidden faith,
which lay as it were dead in their hearts, then burst forth in vigour. They had,
therefore, a true but implicit faith, having reverently embraced Christ as the
only teacher. Then, being taught by Him, they felt assured that He was the
author of salvation: believed that he had come from heaven to gather disciples,
and take them thither through the grace of the Father. There cannot be a more
familiar proof of this, than that in all men faith is always mingled with
incredulity.
The
Evangelists describe many as having believed, although they were only roused to
admiration by the miracles, and went no farther than to believe that Christ was
the promised Messiah, without being at all imbued with Evangelical doctrine. The
reverence which subdued them, and made them willingly submit to Christ, is
honoured with the name of faith, though it was nothing but the commencement of
it.
The true
knowledge of Christ consists in receiving Him as he is offered by the Father,
namely, as invested with His Gospel. For, as He is appointed as the end of our
faith, so we cannot directly tend towards Him except under the guidance of the
Gospel. Therein are certainly unfolded to us treasures of grace. We must
remember, that there is an inseparable relation between faith and the word, and
that these can no more be disconnected from each other than rays of light from
the sun. In Isaiah the Lord exclaims, Hear, and your soul shall live. And John
points to this same fountain of faith in the following words, These are written
that ye might believe. The Psalmist also exhorting the people to faith says,
To-day, if ye will hear his voice, to hear being uniformly taken for to believe.
Whether God
uses the agency of man, or works immediately by his own power, it is always by
his word that he manifests himself to those whom he designs to draw to himself.
Paul designates faith as the obedience which is given to the
Gospel and writing to the Philippians, he commends them for the obedience of
faith. Faith includes not merely the knowledge that God is, but also, a
perception of His will toward us. It concerns us to know not only what He is in
Himself, but also in what character He is pleased to manifest himself to us. We
now see, therefore, that faith is the knowledge of the divine will in regard to
us, as ascertained from His word. And the foundation of it is a previous
persuasion of the truth of God. So long as your mind entertains any misgivings as to the
certainty of the word, its authority will be weak, or rather it will have no
authority at all. Nor is it sufficient to believe that God is true, and cannot
lie or deceive, unless you feel firmly persuaded that every word which Him is
sacred, inviolable truth.
When
conscience sees only wrath and indignation, how can it but tremble and be
afraid? How can it avoid shunning the God whom it dreads? But faith ought to
seek God, not shun him.
Faith is a
firm and sure knowledge of the divine favour toward us, founded on the truth of
a free promise in Christ, and revealed to our minds, and sealed on
our hearts, by the Holy Spirit.
Faith embraces
Christ as he is offered by the Father, and He is offered not only for
justification, for forgiveness of sins and peace, but also for sanctification,
as the fountain of living waters, it is certain that no man will ever know him
aright without at the same time receiving the sanctification of the Spirit.
Faith consists in the knowledge of Christ; Christ cannot be known without the
sanctification of his Spirit: therefore faith cannot possibly be disjoined from
pious affection.
Multitudes
undoubtedly believe that God is, and admit the truth of the Gospel History, and
the other parts of Scripture, in the same way in which they believe the records
of past events, or events which they have actually witnessed. There are some who
go even farther: they regard the Word of God as an infallible oracle; they do
not altogether disregard its precepts, but are moved to some degree by its
threatening and promises. Faith is elegantly described by Paul as ability to
comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and
height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.
It will be
said that this differs widely from the experience of believers, who, in
recognizing the grace of God toward them, not only feel disquietude (this often
happens), but sometimes tremble, overcome with terror, so violent are
the temptations which assail their minds. This scarcely seems consistent with
certainty of faith. When we say
that faith must be certain and secure, we certainly speak not of an assurance
which is never affected by doubt, nor a security which anxiety never assails; we
rather maintain that believers have a perpetual struggle with their own
distrust, and are thus far from thinking that their consciences possess a placid
quiet, uninterrupted by perturbation. On the other hand, whatever be the mode in
which they are assailed, we deny that they fall off and abandon that sure
confidence which they have formed in the mercy of God. Scripture does not set
before us a brighter or more memorable example of faith than in David,
especially if regard be had to the constant tenor of his life. And yet how far
his mind was from being always at peace is declared by innumerable complaints,
of which it will be sufficient to select a few. When he rebukes the turbulent
movements of his soul, what else is it but a censure of his unbelief? Why art
thou cast down, my soul? Why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God. His
alarm was undoubtedly a manifest sign of distrust, as if he thought that the
Lord had forsaken him. In another passage we have a fuller confession: I said in
my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes. In another passage, in anxious
and wretched perplexity, he debates with himself, and raises a question as to
the nature of God: Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his
tender mercies? What follows is still harsher: I said this is my infirmity; but
I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. As if desperate,
he adjudges himself to destruction. He not only confesses that he is agitated by
doubt, but as if he had fallen in the contest, leaves himself nothing in
reserve, God having deserted him, and made the hand which was wont to help him
the instrument of his destruction. Wherefore, after having been tossed among
tumultuous waves, it is not without reason he exhorts his soul to return to her
quiet rest. And yet (what is strange) amid those commotions, faith sustains the
believers heart, and truly acts the part of the palm tree, which supports any
weights laid upon it, and rises above them; thus David, when he seemed to be
overwhelmed, ceased not by urging himself forward to ascend to God. But he who
anxiously contending with his own infirmity has recourse to faith, is already in
a great measure victorious. This we may infer from the following passage, and
others similar to it: Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall
strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. He accuses himself of
timidity, and repeating the same thing twice, confesses that he is ever and anon
exposed to agitation. Still he is not only dissatisfied with himself for so
feeling, but earnestly labours to correct it. Were we to take a nearer view of
his case, and compare it with that of Ahaz, we should find a great difference
between them. Isaiah is sent to relieve the anxiety of an impious and
hypocritical king, and addresses him in these terms: Take heed, and be quiet;
fear not. How did Ahab act? As has already been said, his heart was shaken as a
tree is shaken by the wind: though he heard the promise, he ceased not to
tremble. This, therefore, is the proper hire and punishment of unbelief, so to
tremble as in the day of trial to turn away from God, who gives access to
Himself only by faith. On the other hand, believers, though weighed down and
almost overwhelmed with the burden of temptation, constantly rise up, though not
without toil and difficulty; hence, feeling conscious of their own weakness,
they pray with the Prophet, Take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth.
By these words, we are taught that they at times become dumb, as if their faith
were overthrown, and yet that they do not withdraw or turn their backs, but
persevere in the contest, and by prayer stimulate their sluggishness, so as not
to fall into stupor by giving way to it.
There is a
distinction between flesh and spirit. The believer finds within himself two
principles: the one filling him with delight in recognizing the divine goodness,
the other filling him with bitterness under a sense of his fallen state; the one
leading him to recline on the promise of the Gospel, the other alarming him by
the conviction of his iniquity; the one making him exult with the anticipation
of life, the other making him tremble with the fear of death. This diversity is
owing to imperfection of faith, since we are never so well in the course of the
present life as to be entirely cured of the disease of distrust, and completely
replenished and engrossed by faith. Hence those conflicts: the distrust cleaving
to the remains of the flesh rising up to assail the faith enlisting in our
hearts. But if in the believers mind certainty is mingled with doubt, must we
not always be carried back to the conclusion, that faith consists not of a sure
and clear, but only of an obscure and confused, understanding of the divine will
in regard to us? By no means. Though we are distracted by various thoughts, it
does not follow that we are immediately divested of faith. Though we are
agitated and carried to and fro by distrust, we are not immediately plunged into
the abyss; though we are shaken, we are not therefore driven from our place. The
invariable issue of the contest is, that faith in the long run surmounts the
difficulties by which it was beset and seemed to be endangered.
As soon as the
smallest particle of faith is instilled into our minds, we begin to behold the
face of God placid, serene, and propitious; far off, indeed, but still so
distinctly as to assure us that there is no delusion in it. In proportion to the
progress we afterwards make (and the progress ought to be uninterrupted), we
obtain a nearer and surer view, the very continuance making it more familiar to
us. Thus we see that a mind illumined with the knowledge of God is at first
involved in much ignorance, however, this is gradually removed. Still this
partial ignorance or obscure discernment does not prevent that clear knowledge
of the divine favour which holds the first and principal part in faith. For as
one shut up in a prison, where from a narrow opening he receives the rays of the
sun indirectly and in a manner divided, though deprived of a full view of the
sun, has no doubt of the source from which the light comes, and is benefited by
it; so believers, while bound with the fetters of an earthly body, though
surrounded on all sides with much obscurity, are so far illumined by any slender
light which beams upon them and displays the divine mercy as to feel secure.
There is a
necessity of being constantly engaged in learning owing to our imperfection.
To withstand
these assaults, faith arms and fortifies itself with the word of God. When the
temptation suggested is, that God is an enemy because He afflicts, faith
replies, that while He afflicts He is merciful, His chastening proceeding more
from love than anger. To the thought that God is the avenger of wickedness, it
opposes the pardon ready to be bestowed on all offences whenever the
sinner retakes himself to the divine mercy. The pious mind, though it may be
agitated and torn, at length rises superior to all difficulties, and allows not
its confidence in the divine mercy to be destroyed. Rather, the disputes which
exercise and disturb it tend to establish this confidence.
A proof of
this is, that the saints, when the hand of God lies heaviest upon them, still
lodge their complaints with him, and continue to invoke him, when to all
appearance he is least disposed to hear. But of what use were it to lament
before him if they had no hope of solace? They never would invoke him did they
not believe that he is ready to assist them.
Job thus
declares the strength of his confidence: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in
him. The truth is, that unbelief reigns not in the hearts of believers, but only
assails them from without; does not wound them mortally with its darts, but
annoys them, or, at the utmost, gives them a wound which can be healed. Faith,
is our shield, which receiving these darts, either wards them off entirely, or
at least breaks their force, and prevents them from reaching the vitals. Hence
when faith is shaken, it is just as when, by the violent blow of a javelin, a
soldier standing firm is forced to step back and yield a little; and again when
faith is wounded, it is as if the shield were pierced, but not perforated by the
blow. The pious mind will always rise, and be able to say with David, Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me, (Psalm 23:4). Doubtless it is a terrific thing to walk in
the darkness of death, and it is impossible for believers, however great their
strength may be, not to shudder at it; but since the prevailing thought is that
God is present and providing for their safety, the feeling of security overcomes
that of fear.
Then, when he
bids us work out our salvation with fear and trembling, all he requires is, that
we accustom ourselves to think very meanly of our own strength, and confide in
the strength of the Lord. For nothing stimulates us so strongly to place all our
confidence and assurance on the Lord as self diffidence, and the anxiety
produced by a consciousness of our calamitous condition. There is nothing
inconsistent in believers being afraid, and at the same time possessing secure
consolation as they alternately behold their own vanity, and direct their
thoughts to the truth of God. How, it will be asked, can fear and faith dwell in
the same mind? Just in the same way as sluggishness and anxiety can so dwell. In
the same way God can train his people to humility, and curb them by the bridle
of modesty, while yet fighting bravely. God who worketh in us to will and to do
of his good pleasure. In the same sense must we understand the words of the
Prophet, The children of Israel shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the
latter days. For not only does piety beget reverence to God, but the sweet
attractiveness of grace inspires a man, though desponding of himself, at once
with fear and admiration, making him feel his dependence on God, and submit
humbly to his power.
He tells us
that the condemnation which we of ourselves deserve is annihilated by the
salvation of Christ; and to confirm this he employs the argument to which I have
referred viz. that Christ is not external to us, but dwells in us; and not only
unites us to himself by an undivided bond of fellowship, but by a wondrous
communion brings us daily into closer connection, until he becomes altogether
one with us. And yet I deny not, as I lately said, that faith occasionally
suffers certain interruptions when, by violent assault, its weakness is made to
bend in this direction or in that; and its light is buried in the thick darkness
of temptation. Still happen what may, faith ceases not to long after God.
The divine
favour to which faith is said to have respect, we understand to include in it
the possession of salvation and eternal life. For if, when God is propitious, no
good thing can be wanting to us, we have ample security for our salvation when
assured of his love. Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine, says the
Psalmist, and we shall be saved. Hence the Scriptures make the sum of our
salvation to consist in the removal of all enmity, and our admission into
favour; thus intimating, that when God is reconciled all danger is past, and
every thing good will befall us. Wherefore, faith apprehending the love of God
has the promise both of the present and the future life, and ample security for
all blessings. The nature of this must be ascertained from the word. Faith does
not promise us length of days, riches and honours (the Lord not having been
pleased that any of these should be appointed us); but is contented with the
assurance, that however poor we may be in regard to present comforts, God will
never fail us. The chief security lies in the expectation of future life, which
is placed beyond doubt by the word of God. Whatever be the miseries and
calamities which await the children of God in this world, they cannot make His
favour cease to be complete happiness. Hence, when we were desirous to express
the sum of blessedness, we designated it by the favour of God, from which, as
their source, all kinds of blessings flow. And we may observe throughout the
Scriptures, that they refer us to the love of God, not only when they treat of
our eternal salvation, but of any blessing whatever. For which reason David
sings, that the loving-kindness of God experienced by the pious heart is sweeter
and more to be desired than life itself. In short, if we have every earthly
comfort to a wish, but are uncertain whether we have the love or the hatred of
God, our felicity will be cursed, and therefore miserable. But if God lift on us
the light of his fatherly countenance, our very miseries will be blessed,
inasmuch as they will become helps to our salvation.
Free promise
we make the foundation of faith, because in it faith properly consists. For
though it holds that God is always true, whether in ordering or forbidding,
promising or threatening; though it obediently receive his commands, observe his
prohibitions, and give heed to his threatening; yet it properly begins with
promise, continues with it, and ends with it. It seeks life in God, life which
is not found in commands or the denunciations of punishment, but in the promise
of mercy. And this promise must be gratuitous; for a conditional promise, which
throws us back upon our works, promises life only in so far as we find it
existing in ourselves. Therefore, if we would not have faith to waver and
tremble, we must support it with the promise of salvation, which is offered by
the Lord spontaneously and freely, from a regard to our misery rather than our
worth.
Hence again we
infer, as has already been explained, that faith has no less need of the word
than the fruit of a tree has of a living root; because, as David testifies, none
can hope in God but those who know his name. This knowledge, however, is not
left to every man’s imagination, but depends on the testimony which God
himself gives to his goodness. We must attend to the relation of faith to the
word, and to salvation as its consequence.
On the other
hand, we have good ground for comprehending all the promises in Christ, since
the Apostle comprehends the whole Gospel under the knowledge of Christ, and
declares that all the promises of God are in him yea, and amen. The reason for
this is obvious. Every promise which God makes is evidence of his good will.
Therefore, when the Lord by his promises invites us not only to enjoy the fruits
of his kindness, but also to meditate upon them, He at the same time declares
His love. Thus we are brought back to our statement, that every promise is a
manifestation of the divine favour toward us. Now, without controversy, God
loves no man out of Christ. He is the beloved Son, in whom the love of the
Father dwells, and from whom it afterwards extends to us.
It follows,
that whenever any promise is made to us, we must turn our eyes toward Christ.
Hence, with good reasons Paul declares that in him all the promises of God are
confirmed and completed.
A simple
external manifestation of the word ought to be amply sufficient to produce
faith, did not our blindness and perverseness prevent. But such is the proneness
of our mind to vanity, that it can never adhere to the truth of God, and such
its dullness, that it is always blind even in his light. Hence without the
illumination of the Spirit the word has no effect; and hence also it is obvious
that faith is something higher than human understanding. Nor were it sufficient
for the mind to be illumined by the Spirit of God unless the heart also were
strengthened and supported by his power.
If in regard
to divine truth we hesitate even as to those things which we see with the bodily
eye, how can we be firm and steadfast in regard to those divine promises which
neither the eye sees nor the mind comprehends? Here human discernment is so
defective and lost, that the first step of advancement in the school of Christ
is to renounce it. Like a veil interposed, it prevents us from beholding divine
masteries, which are revealed only to babes. Flesh and blood does not reveal
them. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, for they are spiritually
discerned. The supplies of the Holy Spirit are therefore necessary, or rather
His agency is here the only strength. For who has known the mind of the Lord? or
who has been his counsellor?; but The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep
things of God. Thus it is that we attain to the mind of Christ: No man can come
to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at
the last day. Every man therefore that has heard, and learned of the Father,
cometh unto me. Not that any man has seen the Father, save he which is of God,
he has seen the Father, (John 6:44, 45, 46). Therefore, as we cannot possibly
come to Christ unless drawn by the Spirit, so when we are drawn we are both in
mind and spirit exalted far above our own understanding. For the soul, when
illumined by him, receives as it were a new eye, enabling it to contemplate
heavenly mysteries, by the splendour of which it was previously dazzled. And
thus, indeed, it is only when the human intellect is irradiated by the light of
the Holy Spirit that it begins to have a taste of those things which pertain to
the kingdom of God; previously it was too stupid and senseless to have any
relish for them. Hence our Saviour, when clearly declaring the mysteries of the
kingdom to the two disciples, makes no impression till he opens their minds to
understand the Scriptures. Hence also, though he had taught the Apostles with
his own divine lips, it was still necessary to send the Spirit of truth to
instill into their minds the same doctrine which they had heard with their ears.
The word is, in regard to those to whom it is preached, like the sun which
shines upon all, but is of no use to the blind. In this matter we are all
naturally blind; and hence the word cannot penetrate our mind unless the Spirit,
that internal teacher, by his enlightening power make an entrance for it.
The next thing
necessary is, that what the mind has imbibed be transferred into the heart. The
word is not received in faith when it merely flutters in the brain, but when it
has taken deep root in the heart, and become an invincible bulwark to withstand
and repel all the assaults of temptation. But if the illumination of the Spirit
is the true source of understanding in the intellect, much more manifest is his
agency in the confirmation of the heart; inasmuch as there is more distrust in
the heart than blindness in the mind; and it is more difficult to inspire the
soul with security than to imbue it with knowledge. Hence the Spirit performs
the part of a seal, sealing upon our hearts the very promises, the certainty of
which was previously impressed upon our minds. It also serves as an earnest in
establishing and confirming these promises. Thus the Apostle says, In whom also,
after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which
is the earnest of our inheritance. You see how he teaches that the hearts of
believers are stamped with the Spirit as with a seal, and calls it the Spirit of
promise, because it ratifies the gospel to us. In like manner he says to the
Corinthians, God has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts. And again, when speaking of a full and confident hope, he founds it on
the earnest of the Spirit.
Experience
brings daily to remembrance that faith is subject to various doubts, so that the
minds of believers are seldom at rest, or at least are not always tranquil.
Still, whatever be the engines by which they are shaken, they either escape from
the whirlpool of temptation, or remain steadfast in their place. Faith finds
security and protection in the words of the Psalm, God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble; therefore will not we fear, though the
earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. This
delightful tranquillity is elsewhere described: I laid me down and slept; I
awaked, for the Lord sustained me. Not that David was uniformly in this joyful
frame; but in so far as the measure of his faith made him sensible of the divine
favour, he glories in intrepidly despising every thing that could disturb his
peace of mind.
Wherever this
living faith exists, it must have the hope of eternal life as its inseparable
companion, or rather must of itself beget and manifest it; where it is wanting,
however clearly and elegantly we may discourse of faith, it is certain we have
it not. For if faith is a firm
persuasion of the truth of God, a persuasion that it can never be false, never
deceive, never be in vain, those who have received this assurance must at the
same time expect that God will perform his promises, which in their conviction
are absolutely true; so that in one word hope is nothing more than the
expectation of those things which faith previously believes to have been truly
promised by God. Thus, faith believes that God is true; hope expects that in due
season he will manifest his truth. Faith believes that he is our Father; hope
expects that he will always act the part of a Father towards us. Faith believes
that eternal life has been given to us; hope expects that it will one day be
revealed. Faith is the foundation on which hope rests; hope nourishes and
sustains faith. For as no man can expect any thing from God without previously
believing his promises, so, on the other hand, the weakness of our faith, which
might grow weary and fall away, must be supported and cherished by patient hope
and expectation.
The Lord often
keeps us in suspense, by delaying the fulfilment of his promises much longer
than we could wish. Here the office of hope is to perform what the prophet
enjoins, Though it tarry, wait for it. Sometimes he not only permits faith to
grow languid, but even openly manifests his displeasure. Here there is still
greater necessity for the aid of hope, that we may be able to say with another
prophet, I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob,
and I will look for him. Scoffers also rise up, as Peter tells us, and ask,
Where is the promise of his coming? Since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue as they were from the beginning of the creation, The world and the
flesh insinuate the same thing. Here faith must be supported by the patience of
hope, and fixed on the contemplation of eternity, consider that one day is with
the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
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