WALKING BY FAITH is going forward in the ways of godliness, as influenced not by sensible, but invisible objects; objects of the reality of which we have no evidence but the testimony of God.

IN this sense we find the term Faith used in Hebrews, xi. concerning Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and others. Thus Abel, by faith, offered a more excellent offering than Cain. God had said in effect, once for all, that he would never speak nor be spoken to in a way of friendship by any of the human race, but through a Mediator. This was intimated, partly by man's being debarred from all access to the tree of life, partly by the promise of the woman's seed, and partly by the institution of sacrifices. Cain overlooked all this, and approached God without an expiatory sacrifice, as if there had been no breach between them, and so no need of an atonement. This was an instance of daring unbelief. Abel, on the contrary, took God at his word, perceived the evil of sin, and the awful breach made by it-dared not to bring an offering with out a victim for atonement-had respect to the promised Messiah-and thus, by faith in the unseen Lamb, offered a more excellent offering than Cain.

Thus also it is said of Noah: "By faith, he, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world," &c. No doubt the world were ready to despise Noah, while building his ark, as an enthusiastic old man, that put himself to a deal of trouble, and wanted to put other people to as much, merely through a notion that ran in his head, that the world should be drowned. Why, was there any thing in the world that looked like it, or seemed to portend such an event? Nothing at all; all things seemed to continue as they were from the creation. What then could induce Noah to do as he did? Nothing but the testimony of God, which he credited, and acted accordingly.

So likewise it is said of Abraham, when called to go into another country: "By faith he obeyed, and went out, not knowing whither he went." A pretty errand, it would seem to his friends and neighbours. It is possible some of these, observing him preparing for a journey, might inquire whither he was going. "Going! I am going to a land which 'the Lord is to show me'. "And have you ever seen this land?" "No; I neither know the country, nor a step of the way to it." "A fine tale, indeed! but seriously, what in the world can move you to such an undertaking?" "I rely upon the testimony of God. He hath said, 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, unto a land that I will show thee.' I take him at his word, and act accordingly."

These were cases in point for the apostle to quote. The Hebrews seemed hardly contented with an unseen high priest, an invisible religion. They had been used to priests and sacrifices, that they could hear, and see, and handle, with their bodily senses. As their fathers said of Moses, therefore, they were ready to say of Jesus, "We know not where he is gone. Come, let us make us a captain, and return to Judaism." "Judaism! methinks," says the apostle, true Judaism would condemn you. All your forefathers acted upon a principle which you seem about to abandon. They walked by faith, not by sight. They lived, they died, in the faith, even in the faith of that very Messiah of whom you make so light."

In this sense it is easy to see faith and sight are to be taken in our Lord's rebuke to Thomas, when he says, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." It is as if he had said: "You think you have acted very prudently; but what must the Christian world do in after ages, if they act upon your principle? Christianity, in the whole of it, will depend upon testimonywhoever receives it after your death, yea, in your life time, besides yourselves, must receive it upon your testimony. Blessed are they who shall cordially so receive it; and blessed had you been, Thomas, to have set them the example, by believing the testimony of your brethren."

Faith may also be considered as opposed to the discoveries of mere reason, unassisted by Revelation. We do not suppose faith and right reason to be opposites: that be far

from us. On the contrary, nothing is more evident than that Christianity is entirely a rational system; and it is its glory that it is so. We should never have been required to give a reason for the hope that is in us, if there had been no reason to be given. But though nothing in revelation be contrary to right reason, yet there are many things which our reason could never have found out, had they not been made known by the Supreme Intelligence. The plan of redemption by Jesus Christ, in particular, contains a set of truths which the eye had never seen, nor the ear heard, nor had they entered the heart of man to conceive, had not God revealed them to us by his Spirit. For all the pleasure that we enjoy, brethren, in contemplating these glorious truths, we are wholly beholden to the testimony of God. Indeed, so far are they from being discoverable by mere reason, that every blessing contains in it abundantly more than men or angels could have asked, or thought. It staggers our reason to receive it, even now it is told us. At every pause we must stand and wonder, saying, "Is this the manner of man, O Lord Jehovah !"

Not only was our reason incapable of finding out many truths before they were revealed, but even now they are revealed, they contain things above our comprehension. It is one thing to say Scripture is contrary to right reason, and another thing to say it may exhibit truths too great for our reason to grasp. God 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 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, and not by sight."

But that we may obtain a more comprehensive view of WHAT IT IS FOR THE CHRISTIAN TO WALK BY FAITH, let us contemplate some 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 ex ercised.

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 any 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, and show 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 work together for good to them that love God, and 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 as for a moment, and shall work for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Matt. xxviii. 18. Eph. i. 22. Gen. xxxii. 12. Rom. viii. 28. Psal. xxxvii. 3. 2 Cor. iv. 17.

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 to 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." Job, iv. 4, 5.

How amiable is that spirit, how happy is that heart, which 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 seem

ingly 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." (6 "Speak unto the children of Israel,” said the Lord, "that they go forward!" Go forward! they might have replied; what! plunge ourselves into the sea? Go forward! 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. 6.6 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!" Heb. xi. 29. 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 : Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be 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!" Lam. iii. 24.

2. In all our approaches to, and fellowship with Christ, it is by faith in the account that God hath 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 of 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 live nor die, nor 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 him." We speak of his personal excellencies, divine and human, of his love, zeal, righteous