Faith is a precious grace, because it lays hold on
Christ, the one blessed object, and fetches in his fullness. The worth
lies not in faith — but in Christ, on which it centers and terminates.
Faith is the vital artery of the soul. When we begin
to believe, we begin to love. Faith grafts the soul into Christ, as the
scion into the stock, and fetches all its nutriment from the blessed
Vine.
Faith is a heart-purifying grace; it is a
virgin grace, of a pure and heavenly nature. Faith in the soul, is as
lightning in the air-it purifies; as fire under the metals — it refines.
Faith does not only justify — but it sanctifies. Faith and the love
of sin can no more stand together than light and darkness.
Faith is a heart-strengthening grace. A
believer is as Joseph, who, though the archers shot at him, "his bow
abode in strength." Faith lays in suffering-strength, furnishes the soul
with suffering-promises, gathers together suffering-graces, and
propounds suffering-rewards.
Faith often lies hidden in the heart, and we see it
not for lack of search; as fire lies hid in the embers, but, blow aside
the ashes, and it is discernible.
That is precious faith which, like the star, shines
brightest in the darkest night. Tis good that our graces should be
brought to a trial; thus we have the comfort, and the Gospel the honor.
Faith shows the believer better things than the world
can show: it gives a sight of Christ and glory; it gives a prospect of
Heaven. As the mariner, in a dark night, climbs to the top of the mast,
and cries out, "I see a star!" so faith climbs up above sense and reason
into Heaven, and sees Christ, that bright Morning Star.
As the bee gathers the sweetest honey from the most
bitter herbs, so faith gathers the sweetest consolations from the garden
of Gethsemane and the hill of Calvary; for they show God reconciled, and
sin pardoned.
Faith knows there are no impossibilities with God,
and will trust his heart, when it cannot trace his hand.
Faith fetches all from Christ — and gives all the
glory to Christ; hence, God has singled out this grace to be the
condition of the covenant, "He who believes shall be saved."
Faith consecrates and purifies; it makes the heart a
temple, over the portal of which is the inscription, "Holiness to the
Lord." The jewel of faith is always placed in the cabinet of a
pure conscience.
Faith is seated in the understanding, as well as in
the will; it has an eye to see Christ, as well as a wing
to fly to Christ.
Faith begins in weakness — it smokes with desires —
but does not flame with comfort; it is at first small as a grain of seed
— but when real, it grows to a tree — lofty as the palm —
wide-spreading as the cedar.
Faith makes Christ's sacrifice, ours. It is not gold
in the mine that enriches — but gold in the hand. Faith is the
hand that receives Christ's golden merits. Without faith, Christ himself
will not avail us.
Love takes possession of Heaven — but faith gives a
title to it. Love is the crowning grace in Heaven — but faith is the
conquering grace on earth.
A weak faith may lay hold on a strong Christ. The promise does not say, he who has a great faith which can move mountains — stop the mouth of lions, shall be saved; "but whoever believes" (be his faith ever so small) "shall be saved."
A reed is but a reed, especially when bruised. Yet
the promise is made to it, "A bruised reed will he not break." A weak
faith may be fruitful; weak Christians may have strong affections, and
the weakest believer is a member of Christ, as well as the strongest.
Christ will cast off fruitless members — but not weak
members.
Faith is not a plant of nature's garden — it is a
"fruit of the Spirit."
Faith is the Queen of the Graces.
It is the condition of the gospel, "Your faith has
saved you," — not your tears. "The soul shall live by faith."
Unbelievers, though they breathe — yet lack life.
Faith is a mother-grace; it excites and
invigorates all the graces: not a grace stirs, until faith sets it to
work. Faith induces repentance. Faith sets hope to work;
first we believe the promise, then we hope for it. Faith sets love
to work, "Faith which works by love." Who can believe in the
infinite merits of Christ — and his heart not ascend in the fiery
chariot of love? Faith is a sheet-anchor we cast into the sea of God's
mercy, and by it we are kept from sinking in despair!
Faith in the Mediator, brings more glory to God than
martyrdom.
Faith and Hope are two sisters: they bear a
resemblance to each other — yet differ thus: Faith looks at the
certainty of the promise, Hope at the excellency of the
promise.
Faith puts upon the soul the embroidered robe of
Christ's righteousness, in which it shines brighter than the angels.
Faith is the key that unlocks the cabinet of
God's promises, and empties out their treasures into the soul.
Faith overcomes all the allurements of the
world, all the riches of the world, and all the delights
of the world; and it does this by showing the soul "the land that is
afar off;" it carries the believer to the Mount of Transfiguration, and
confidently assures of "a better country" — "a land that flows with milk
and honey."
Faith is a living principle, and the life of a saint
is nothing else but a life of faith. His prayer is the breathing
of faith, his obedience is the result of faith, his life
is a life of faith; he dies in faith , "I know whom I have believed."
The torchlight of faith shall be kept burning,
notwithstanding the winds of temptation shall continue blowing.