must have told us nothing about his own existence, and infinite perfections, if he had told us nothing but what we could comprehend. In this case, it becomes us to know our littleness, and to bow our understandings to the Supreme Intelligence. It is the most rational thing in the world so to do. If God has said any thing, we ought to rest assured that so it is. In these cases, we ought to trust his eyes, so to speak, rather than our own, and be content to walk by faith, not by sight.

3. Faith may be considered as opposed to ultimate vision. The saints in glory are described as seeing Christ as he is; as knowing even as they are known; and as being citizens of a city where there shall be no night, and where they shall need no candle, neither light of the sun nor light of the moon, FOR THE LORD GOD SHALL BE THE LIGHT THEREOF. Our knowledge of things there will be immediate and intuitive, and not, as it is here, through the medium of the word and ordinances. The sacred scriptures are to us, (with reverence be it spoken,) like a letter from a distant friend;

to a thousand variations through blindness and prejudice. No divine truth can disagree with the former; but it may be both above and contrary to the latter.

If people were to talk, in matters of science and philosophy, as some have affected to talk in religion, they would be treated as fools, and deemed unworthy of attention. A philosopher, for instance, tells an unlettered countryman, that it is generally thought, that the earth turns round, every day, upon its own axis, and not the sun round the earth. The countryman replies, "I don't believe it.' 'Very likely,' says the philosopher, but why not?' It is contrary to my reason.' 'Contrary to your reason, that may be; but I hope you do not think, that every thing contrary to your reason is contrary to right reason!' Were men of the greatest understanding but to consider, that there is a far greater disproportion between some truths respecting the existence of a God and their capacities, than between any truths of human science and the capacity of the most ignorant rustic, they would be ashamed to disbelieve a truth, because it is not according to their reason.

It is right, and stands commended in scripture, to apply our hearts to understanding; but it is wrong, and stands condemned in scripture, by the same pen, and in the same page, to lean to our own understanding. So, I apprehend, it is right to ahhere to right reason, and to use all means to find out what it is; but it is wrong and presumptuous to set up our reason as a standard competent to decide what is truth and what is error; for that is the same thing as supposing, that our ideas of fitness and unfitness always accord with the real fitness of things.

but when we come face to face, ink and paper shall be needed no more. However, for the present it is otherwise. We are yet in the body; and, while such, as the Apostle observes in the verse preceding the text, we are absent from the Lord, and must be glad of these helps. Let us make much of this letter, and be thankful that we can walk by it through this world, as by a light in a dark place, till we come to a better, where we shall no more walk by faith, but by sight.

Thus far I have dwelt chiefly upon the terms; but, that we may obtain a more comprehensive view of the thing itself, (namely, of a Christian's walking by faith,) let us take a view of a few of those circumstances and situations, through which he has to pass, during the present life. It is in these that faith, as well as every other grace, is exercised. Allow me, then, to request your attention, brethren, to four or five observations on the subject. 1. There are many dark seasons in God's providential dealings with us, in which we can see no way of escape, nor find any source of comfort, but the testimony of God. God's friends are not distinguished, in this world by an exemption from trying providences; he views that, methinks, as too trifling a badge of distinction. They shall be known by what is far more noble and advantageous; namely, by patience, obedience, submission, and divine support under them. Moreover, as we profess to be friends of God, and to trust the salvation of our souls, with all our concerns, in his hands, he sees it proper to prove the sincerity of our professions, and the stability of our hearts. He brings us into such circumstances, therefore, as shall try us, whether we will confide in him or not.

Christ has told his followers, once for all, that all power in heaven and earth is in his hands; that he is head over all things to the church; that he will surely do them good; that, however things may seem, all things shall work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose; that, as to temporal things, let them but trust in the Lord, and do good, and they shall dwell in the land, and verily they shall be fed; and, as to eternal things, if they have a few light afflictions, they shall last but for a moment and shall work for them a far more exceeding and

eternal weight of glory. These promises seem easy to be believed, when things go smooth and pleasing; and it is very natural for us, in a day of prosperity, to talk of these things, and try and comfort those with them who are labouring in adversity. But the greatest trial is when it comes home to ourselves. Then it is well, if we fall not under the reproof of Eliphaz, Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees: but now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Then, if ever, is the time for us to walk by faith, and not by sight.

We create to ourselves darlings, and place much of our happiness in their enjoyment. God not unfrequently takes these first away, as being most his rivals. If one child is more beloved than all the rest; if he must be clothed with a coat of many colours, the coat must quickly be returned without the owner; yes, the period must soon arrive, when it shall be said, Joseph is not! These, with a few more strokes of the kind, will try Jacob's faith to the uttermost; and he will find it hard work to reconcile promises with providences. Thou saidst I will surely do thee good: but all these things are against me. Ah, he fails! He fails, like Asaph in a similar condition, who could not see how God could be good to Israel, when waters of a full cup were wrung out to them. The Shunamitish woman will set us a better example than either the Patriarch or the prophet. Is it well? said Elisha's servant when her child lay dead in her house. She replied, IT IS WELL. This was, in effect, saying, 'Whether I can see, it or not, I know he doeth all things well.' This is believing when we cannot see, taking God at his word, against all the rebellion of sense and feeling. This is what Jacob should have done; but O that Jacob had failed alone! If to resemble him, in this instance, would constitute us Israelites, we should most of us be Israelites indeed!

We are often very thrifty in devising plans for futurity, and apt to promise ourselves great degrees of happiness, when they are accomplished. Here it is common for God to throw confusion upon our schemes, and cause things to run in a different channel from what we expected. Job, while in prosperity, sat like a bird in

25 her well-feathered nest, and thought within himself, I shall live to enjoy numerous years of uninterrupted prosperity, to see children's children, and then go down to the grave in peace; or, as he himself afterwards, in the bitter hour of reflection, expressed it, I said, I shall die in my nest, I shall multiply my days as the sand! Well, so he did at last; but there was a melancholy chasm in his life, which he never expected. Such there are, more or less, in all our lives; and, in such situations, it is well if we do not think hard of our best friend. Some have been ready to ask, Is this love? Is this his doing, who has said, I will surely do thee good? Yes, and you shall see it in the end, as Asaph did; who, after he had been to God's sanctuary, and saw things as they were, went home, it seems and penned the seventy third psalm, beginning it all in ecstacy, saying, TRULY GOD IS GOOD TO ISRAEL ! Christians, how criminal, how cruel, that he that never failed us at any time, should be so mistrusted as he is! It should seem to suggest, as if he were such a God that we cannot trust him out of sight!

How amiable is that spirit, how happy is that heart, that, in every situation, places unbounded confidence in JEHOVAH'S Word. Such may be hedged up on every side, and encompassed, like Israel at the Red sea, with seemingly insurmountable difficulties; yet, even here, they will follow Israel's example, they will cry unto God, and rely upon his mercy. If means can be used, they will use them; if not, they will stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Speak unto the children of Israel, said the Lord, that they go forward. Go forward!' they might have replied, what, leap at once into the jaws of destruction?' But nothing of this. At first, indeed, their faith seemed to fail them, but they soon recovered themselves. Speak unto the children of Israel, said the Lord, that they go forward; they went; a way was made in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters. Well may it be said, BY FAITH ISrael passed through the Red sea. Minds thus disposed might defy the united sources of worldly sorrow to render them unhappy. Let poverty stare them in the face, let pinching want stretch over them her miserable sceptre, they have been known, even here, by faith, to break forth into songs of praise. Thus sang good Habakkuk : VOL. VII.

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(and this evidently appears to be his situation, and not a state of spiritual declension :) Although the fig-tree shall not blossom' neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and no herd in the stalls; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Thus also sang the church, even in her captivity, when her country was laid waste, Jerusalem razed to the ground, and the temple burnt to ashes: The LORD is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in HIM!

2. In all our approaches to, and fellowship with Christ, it is by faith in the account that God has given of him. in his word. Christ's excellence, undertaking, and benefits, are the joy, and even the life of our souls, if we are true Christians. But what evidence have we of all or any if these? Yea, what evidence have we that there is, or ever was, such a person as Jesus Christ? or, if there was, that he was the Messiah, the Son of God? We neither saw him alive, nor die, rise again, nor ascend to heaven. We never saw the miracles he wrought, nor heard the voice from the excellent glory, saying, This is my beloved Son, hear ye him. We speak of his personal excellencies, divine and human; of his love, zeal, righteousness, meekness, patience, &c. but what know we of them! We rejoice in his being constituted our surety, to obey the law, and endure the curse in our stead; but how know we that so indeed it is. We glory in the imputation of his righteousness, and exult in the hope of being found in him, and being for ever with him, faultless before his throne, to serve him day and night in his temple; but on what do we rely for all this? If our expectations are but just, truly they are noble ; but if groundless, extravagant. Are they, then, well founded? Yes, the testimony of God is the rock whereon they rest. He has told us, by the mouth of his servants, the inspired writers, all that is necessary for us to know, of the character, conduct, and errand of his Son; of every office he sustained, and every end for which he came into the world. To all this he has added, that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. So they have preached, and so we have believed. We have, through grace, ventured our everlasting ALL in his hands; nor is it in the hands of we know not who: we know