his Truft and Confidence in God, make him esteem the Promises of God as if they were present before his Eyes; to the Hopes of them he facrifices the World; and, after the Example of his great Mafter, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, for the foy that is fet before him, endures the Cross, defpifing the Shame. Thus Mofes by Faith, when he was come to Years, refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter, chufing rather to Suffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Seafon. Mark the Reafon which follows, and the Power of his Faith: Efteeming the Reproach of Chrift greater Riches than the Treafures in Egypt: For he had respect unto the Recompence of Reward. By Faith alfo be forfook Egypt, not fearing the Wrath of the King. But what Confidence was this? What Forces, what Allies, had he to fupport him against the united Strength of Egypt? Thus Senfe indeed would reason. But through Faith he endured, as feeing Him who is invifible: Though he had no visible Protector, yet through Faith he faw the Hand of God ftretched out for his Deliverance. This was his Confidence, this his Support. Towards the Close of this eleventh Chapter the Apostle fings the Triumphs of Faith Bb 4 under under all the Cruelties of Men: Others, says he, were tortured; and others had Trial of cruel Mockings and Scourgings, yea moreover of Bonds and Imprisonments: They were Stoned, they were fawn afunder, were tempted, were flain with the Sword; they wandered about in Sheep-fkins and Goat-skins, being deftitute, afflicted, tormented. All these perfifted in Faith, not accepting Deliverance, that they might obtain a better Refurrection. The Refurrection was a State they had never feen; it was what they could only hope for : But the Promife of God was to them more than the Evidence of Sight; and to their Trust and Confidence in him they willingly gave up all that their Eyes beheld, and fubmitted to the Evils, which Senfe is ever warning us against. From this Account it will be easy to understand what the Scripture means, when it tells us that Faith overcometh the World: For Religion is a Contest between the World and Faith, between Things present and Things to come. Faith puts us under the Conduct of future Hopes and Fears, exempts us from the Power and Influence of Things prefent ;. which prefent Things are the World: And therefore 'tis properly faid of Faith, that it overcometh the World. To To this Notion of Faith agrees likewife what St. Paul had faid concerning it in his Comparison between Faith, Hope, and Charity, and other spiritual Gifts, fuch as Speaking with Tongues, Prophefying, and Healing of Diftempers. These shall cease: But now remaineth, fays the Apostle, Faith, Hope, and Charity; and the greatest of these is Charity: For Charity and univerfal Benevolence is the very Grace and Ornament of Heaven, the Employment and the Pleasure of bleffed Spirits. Nor can Faith and Hope ever be parted from true Religion: For there is no Being fo great as not to depend on Faith in God, and Truft in his Power and Wisdom, or to be above hoping any thing from his Goodness and Benevolence. And therefore the Apostle fays exprefly of Faith and Hope, that they fhall remain, with Charity, the greatest of the three. Other Gifts are beftowed for the Service of the Church, fuch as Tongues, Miracles, and the like; and they may well ceafe, when the Occasion which required them ceases: But Faith, Hope, and Charity are not occafional Gifts, but are effential to Religion, and must continue as long as Religion itself. From this Account we may perceive like wife how the Heart comes to have fuch an Interest I Intereft and Influence in the Faith of a Chriftian. 'Tis the Love of the World that is the Enemy of Faith: And is not the Heart of Man the very Magazine from which the World fupplies itself with Arms? Where dwell Self-love, Luft, Envy, and Covetoufnefs, are not these the evil Treasure of an evil Heart? and are not these the fierceft Combatants against Faith? and may not an Heart thus ftocked be properly styled an Heart of Unbelief? In other Matters of Faith, which feem to be of a more abstracted Nature, and to depend entirely on the Reason and Judgment of Men, the Heart often interpofes with too much Succefs: For these are fo nearly related to the Faith which fubdues the World and the Heart, that the Heart, watchful for itself and the World, disturbs the Mind, and raises fuch Clouds of Paffion, as intercept the Light of Truth. To believe Chrift to be the Son of God, to have dwelt for ever in the Glory of his Father, from thence to have come to our Redemption, and to have published the Faith in Signs and Wonders and mighty Works, are fuch killing Blows to the Love of the World, that the Heart cannot be unconcerned whilft thefe |