would be fixed on Heaven: that great important interest would fill our mind, and our whole care would be so to pass through things temporal, as finally to lose not the things eternal. Faith in some measure draws aside this veil, and brings futurity to view; sets before us the joys to be inherited by the virtuous; and must in the same manner as the real vision animate us to the pursuit of virtue, teach us to despise the corruptions, and reject the allurements of the world; and to attend to the care of our everlasting interest, and to a wise provision for eternity.

Thus a lively faith will be productive of good works; it is by them we give the proof of the testimony of our faith. Shew me thy faith without works, and I will shew thee my faith by works."* The apostle whose words I have now quoted, compares an inactive faith to the fruitless knowledge which the devils have of God. "Thou believest that there is one God, thou dost well: the devils also believe, and tremble." This is a dead faith; "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." Faith is therefore recommended in scripture, because it leads us on to virtue and happiness, and lends its friendly aid in conducting us to the highest perfection of our nature. It derives its value from its utility, and is to be cultivated for the fruits it produces.

The Almighty would not have discovered himself to us, nor have required the belief of his being, his providence, or his revelation, merely that we might know that there is a God, who made and governs the world, and has revealed his will to his creatures, but that this belief might have its proper effect, and be productice * James ii. 18. ↑ James, 26.

↑ James, 19.

of obedience to his laws. The excellence of, faith consists in its being the principle of a good life, and farnishing the best motives and incitements thereto; viz. the promises and denunciations of the Gospel. It is a tree valuable for bringing forth good fruit, but when it fails of so doing, it is of no value to salvation.

If faith be the ground and foundation of holiness, we may hence learn the reason of the general prevalence of vice and iniquity in the world; which is a want of faith, or want of attention to the objects of it. The iniquitous and unjust may surely be presumed not to believe that their sins will bring down upon them the severest inflictions in another world. They must adopt some fatal delusion in order to impose upon their understanding, and vindicate their conduct to themselves. The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God,"* or that no future account will be given of him for his actions; or that the scriptures are not his revelation that his justice is not so severe as it is represented; or that he does not behold iniquity, or will at last pardon it, and not execute the inflic tions he has denounced. By these, or other similar illusions, sin must come recommended before it can possibly become the object of deliberate choice.

; or

If the end and design, the original view and intention of faith, was to lead us to the practice of all righteousness and goodness; let us not rest our hopes of salvation on a bare acknowledgement or belief of the Gospel, in an ineffectual barren faith, productive of no virtue; but let our faith have its proper influence; let our manners correspond with our principles, and let us *James, ii. 14.

live as we believe. my brethren, (says the apostle) if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?"* Such faith is ineffectual to all purposes of salvation; for faith can no otherwise save us, than by its influence on our manners. Integrity of life is the genuine fruit of a right faith, as a depravity of morals may be expected to be the natural consequence of infidelity.

"For, what shall it profit,

We have good grounds to think we possess a saving faith, when our obedience is not defective, and when we live according to the rules of the Gospel, and for this purpose we must frequently amd humbly beg of God, the gift of perfect faith, for it must be his grace; we must therefore pray with the apostles, "Increase our faith," and with the father of the boy brought to Jesus, pos seesed by a dumb spirit, who cried out with tears, "I believe; Lord help thou my unbelief." But alas, the greater number of Christians never think of fervently praying for this greatest gift of God, and consequently, the greater number are without a lively faith. "When the son of man cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?" If he came now, would he find it in us? Where is our faith? Do we believe this life to be only a short passage to a better? Do we think we ought to suffer with Jesus Christ, before we can reign with him? Do we regard this world as a deceitful shadow, and death as an entrance into the true happiness? Do we live by faith? Does it animate us? Do we taste the eternal truths it offers to our consideration? Do we nourish our souls by it, with the same care we nourish our bodies with food proper for them? Do we accustom ourselves to view every thing by the light of * Psalm, lii. Mark, ix. 23.

+ Luke, xvii. 5.

§ Luke, xviii. 8.

faith? Do we by it regulate our opinions? Alas! alas! far from living by faith, we destroy it in our hearts and souls; our opinions are those of Heathens, and our actions correspond to them.

Who can believe that we are bound to believe, and yet act as we do? Let us fear then, lest the kingdom of God be taken from us, and given to others, who will bring forth fruits worthy of it. This kingdom of God is faith, when it reigns and governs in us. Blessed are they who have eyes to discover this kingdom. Flesh and blood cannot see it. The natural man is blind with regard to it, nor does he desire to be otherwise. The internal operation of God, he considers as a dream. To view the wonders of this inward kingdom, we must be born again, and to die to ourselves, is a necessary preparation to our new birth. This is what the world cannot assent to. Let the world then despise, condemn, and mock as it will: As for us, O my God, it is ordained we should believe, and taste the heavenly gift. We desire to be of the number of thine elect, and we know that no one can be such, without conforming his life to that which thou hast taught. We know, my God, that if we live in a violation or neglect of thy precepts, our faith is vain, whilst we believe we must tremble: the faith which should saves, will be our condemnation. That we may all possess such an effectual faith as will produce obedience, and insure the salvation of our souls, may God of his infinite mercy grant. Amen.

SERMON IX.

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

On Temptations.

And when he entered into the boat, his disciples followed him; and lo, a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves; but he slept. Mat. viii. 23.

Ir was at the very moment the disciples followed their divine master, and were executing his orders, that they were assailed by a violent tempest. If their obedience to Jesus Christ, and if his presence did not defend them from this great danger, to what frightful storms must not those be exposed who perform the voyage of life without his assistance? But not those alone who are separated from the company of Jesus Christ, experience the storms of the soul. His faithful followers, who enjoy the happiness of his peculiar protection, who are most strongly attached to his service, are often most vigorously assaulted. The most eminent sanctity destroys not the passions, but represses them; does not prevent temptations, but surmounts them. "The life of man upon earth is a warfare.”* It is by it that

* Job viii. 1.