exercise of it is suspended.-The principle of faith is the cause of its exercise; and the exercise of faith is the evidence of this principle. The exercise of faith is produced in the soul, by the principle of that grace which is in it. The effect may as soon exist, prior to its cause, as the actings of faith can have a being, before the principle of faith is implanted in the soul. The exercise of faith is the evidence of the reality of the principle. There is no way of manifesting the principle to the satisfaction of the believer, but by its acts. Wherever the actings of this grace are found in any person, they are a certain evidence of the existence of the principle of faith in him. The principle of faith is the seed of grace in the soul; and the exercise of faith is the fruit growing up unto maturity. When the Holy Spirit implants faith in the soul, he sows the seed of grace in the heart; and when, under his influence, faith is exercised, he causes its fruit to abound to the glory of God, and the person's comfort.-The principle of faith is the conformity of the heart of man to the law of God; but the exercise of that grace is the conformity of the christian's life unto that law. The former belongs to the inward dispositions of the soul, and the latter pertains to the christian's frame. That person who is possessed of the principle of faith, is, in so far, pure as the law requires, in the inward man of the heart. And the person who attains unto the actings of faith, complies with the holy law in his life and spiritual exercise. The strength of the principle of faith leads to frequent and vigorous actings of it; and the frequency and strength of the actings of faith, corroborate the principle. They differ, therefore, in the influence which they have upon one another. The strength of the principle conveys vigor into the holy acts, and the strength of the exercise tends to confirm, in the soul, the pure and blessed principle of faith. To his OBS. XII. In true believers, saving faith will be found in different degrees. This diversity will apply to its principle, its exercise, and its fruits. In some of the saints the principle of faith is weak, the actings of it are feeble and infrequent, and its fruits are small and few. It is otherwise with those believers in whom faith is strong. Its principle is confirmed; its exercise is habitual, and its fruits are abundant. This is verified not only in different believers, but in the same believer at different times. disciples Jesus said, "O ye of little faith." The Apostle Paul speaks of some who were weak in faith. Our Saviour said of the centurion, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." To the woman of Canaan he said, "O woman, great is thy faith." Of Abraham it is testified, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." Among true believers, therefore, some are found whose faith is weak, and others whose faith is strong. This dif ference has no respect to the truth or reality of faith in the heart, but only to its measure or degree. The weak believer's union to Christ is as firm, and his title to eternal life is as valid as the union and title of those are, whose faith is strong. By neglecting the object of faith, and by indulging doubts and fears of their interest in that object, christians discover that they are feeble-minded and ready to halt. When the exercise of their faith is much interrupted, and the actings of that grace are few and feeble, their faith is weak. When they refuse to be comforted, or shun consolation; when they are partial and formal in the performance of religious duties, and when their resistance to the assaults of their spiritual enemies are not vigorous and constant, their strength is small. A conviction of the incomprehensible greatness of spiritual and eternal blessings, provided by the Father, purchased by the Son, and applied by the Spirit, and a deep sense of their own unworthiness, without a clear view of the mystery of salvation, as a scheme of infinitely sovereign and free grace, may sometimes discourage those who are weak in faith. A view of the manifold difficulties that stand in the way of their salvation, and the seeming contradictions that sometimes appear between the promises and the providences of God to them, with the jealousy which humble Christians are ready to entertain of themselves, without duly considering the mystery of faith, by which the saints are often called "against hope to believe in hope," will sometimes greatly perplex those who are weak in faith. In Christ's household there are little children, young men, and fathers. As Christians are of different standing in the church, so they are of different attainments. The degrees of grace belonging to the little children must not be compared with the strength and vigor of the young men; nor should their's be balanced with the experience and stability of the fathers. All of them are in the hand, and thrive under the care of the great Head, "who shall feed his flock like a shepherd; who shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."* The weakness of the Christian's faith arises, not * Isaiah 10: 2. so much from a defect in the principle of that grace, as it does from a grievous fault in the believer. Habits are acquired and strengthened by frequent acts, and inward principles are enlarged and confirmed by frequent exercise. Were believers habitually endeavoring to live a life of faith on the Son of God, their faith would grow exceedingly. Earnestly striving to abound in the exercise of faith on its object, the influences of his Spirit would not be withheld; but the Lord would be as the dew to their souls, and they would grow as the lily, and cast forth their roots as Lebanon. Exercising themselves unto godliness by a frequent contemplation of the scheme of redemption, and cordially acquiescing in it; by daily embracing Christ as their all-sufficient Savior; by habitually trusting in God as their God and portion in Christ; by a continued reception and improvement of the influences of the Holy Ghost; and by a renewed taking hold of the everlasting covenant, the precious promises and the holy law, they would. soon, by Divine grace, become strong in faith, giving glory to God. But while believers continue negligent in these important matters, suffering inferior, or opposite objects to engross their time and attention; alas! what can they expect, but that the Lord, to chastise them for spiritual slothfulness, may cause their days to consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. Let Christians, therefore, by searching the Scriptures, meditation, and fervent prayer, accompanied with the exercise of faith, arise and shake themselves from the dust, and loose themselves from the bands of their neck, that their spiritual captivity may be ended, and that they may sing on the heights of Sion. OBS. XIII. In the sacred oracles, great things are ascribed to saving faith. It is necessary to salvation, and salvation is inseparably connected with it. "He that believeth, shall be saved." On our part it is the bond of our union to Christ. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." An interest in Christ's righteousness is obtained by saving faith: "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." In this righteousness, sinners become interested by believing in Christ. It is added, the "righteousness which is of God by faith." Christ's righteousness, is the believer's, by a divine imputation of it to his soul. In this way it is of God. But faith is necessary to this, and therefore it is of God by faith. Faith is the mean of our justification. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The Christian, by faith, receives and rests on Christ's righteousness, which procures the pardon of his sin and the acceptance of his person before the Lord. The believer's faith has also an intimate connection with his adoption into the Divine family. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." It is by faith in Christ, that we are admitted into the family, and are entitled to all the blessings of the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty.-The grace of faith has a special instrumentality in the Christian's sanctification. Peter's words confirm this truth, "Purifying their hearts by faith.' Christ's words to *** * Mark 16: 16. Eph. 3: 17. John 14: 20. Phil. 3: 9. Gal. 3: 26. **Acts 15: 8. Rom: 5: 3. |