world. Now faith is the victorious principle that defeats all his designs, and overcomes all his strength. In mechanical operations, we judge by the force of the mover, how easily a weight will be moved. Thus when eternal realities are by faith put into the scales against temporal vanities, they infinitely outweigh them. The apostle makes a judicious comparison; "Our light afflictions that are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Cor. 4. He extremely vilifies things present, and magnifies things future. All that is pleasant or painful here is but for a moment, and in true value is infinitely inferior to the good things, and the evil to "I count," saith the apostle, "the afflictions of the present time are not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed:" and since the impressions of pain are incomparably stronger, and more affecting human nature than impressions of pleasure; one sharp pain deadens the sensitive faculties to the most vehement pleasures. We are assured by irresistible evidence, that the happiness of this world is in true value infinitely inferior to the happiness of the next. The most pleasant things here cannot satisfy the narrow faculties of sense : "The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing;" but the favour of God, and the blessed effects of it, pass all understanding, our most comprehensive faculty.

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There is more shadow than light in our brightest condition; more gall than honey in our sweetest fruitions; but suppose the appearance of worldly happiness, gilded with specious tinctures,. were truly great and goodly, joyful and satisfying, according to the fancies of carnal men, yet the price would extremely fall, by considering they are of no longer continuance than the flight and expiring breath of our present life. The glory of this world is like a flash of lightning in its appearing and, vanishing. The longest line of time, from its first rise to its last period, is but a point to eternity. Now that happiness which is fading, is not true happiness in its own nature, nor correspondent to our reasonable desires: for the apprehension of its approaching end, will imbitter the relish of the present enjoyment.

But the happiness of the next life is doubly infinite, in the degrees and duration. The least part of that happiness is a perfect freedom from any touch or shadow of evil. Human language has not words worthy or fully significant to describe it..

God, who is an infinite good and goodness, communicates himself to the immortal soul, according to its utmost capacity and desires. It seems impossible for men to offer such violence to their understandings, as calmly considering, and in cold blood, to prefer the fashion" of this world that passes away," before the perfect and unchangeable happiness in the next world.

2. According to the degrees of our assent to future eternal things, such is their victorious power in our souls. The objective efficacy of things is not from their existence, but from their evidence to our minds. Now according as our apprehensions are "more clear, and our belief more steadfast of things future, such impressions are made either of terror or desire in our breasts. The apostle defines faith to be, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb. 11. It represents things future and distant, as present and in our actual possession. A superficial fluctuating belief of the good or evil things in the next state, is of no force to encounter present temptations, and vanquish the carnal affections. The report of the senses concerning things present, will preponderate the authority of God's word, that declares things future infinitely to exceed them. Allfire has heat, but not strong enough to melt down gold and silver. There is an assent in every degree of faith, but not able to overcome the world. A radicated firm belief of the infallible truth, the transcendent goodness, and our sure right in heavenly things, will cause all the false colours of this world, the shadows in masquerade, to disappear.

The evidence and importance of things, fixes our resolutions to adhere to them. The son of a king, and heir of a kingdom, will invincibly assert the truth of his relation and title. A sincere believer of the heavenly glory, and his eternal interest in it, will live in that faith, and die in it; and die for it, if necessity require. The belief of it has a vital taste, a joy sincere and sweet, that makes the pleasant temptations of the world nauseous. As faith is the foundation and basis of hope, " it is the substance of things hoped for," so hope is reciprocally as a strong pillar that establishes the basis upon which it is fixed: for one voluntarily and steadfastly believes that which is for his advantage and comfort. The serious belief of the prepared plagues for those who are unfaithful to God, and their souls hereafter, will make all the evils threatened and inflicted upon the godly here, to be

contemptible. If we are surrounded with an army of evils, let faith draw forth the powers of the world to come, 66 we shall be more than conquerors." There are many temptations we cannot avoid; there are none but we may vanquish by the power of faith. The fear of God, like Aaron's rod turned into a serpent, that swallowed up the rods of the magicians, will overrule the fear of men, and make those evils that to naked nature are invincible, easily endured. This is evident from the courage and constancy of the martyrs, who despised the proudest tyrants upon their thrones, and the most cruel executioners upon the scaffold: the effects of faith in the time of its triumph. If the same objects have not the same efficacy in the minds of men, it is for want of faith. If faith declines, we shall faint and die away. Peter walked on the sea while he relied on the word of Christ, but when a blast of wind shook his faith, he presently sunk. The apostles doubted of Christ's power, when a storm fell upon the ship: our Saviour first rebuked their fear, before he laid the storm, "why are ye afraid, O ye of little faith?" as a danger more near, and of worse consequence.

Let us try the singular efficacy of faith, by exercising it upon eternal objects: let our faith represent to us in as lively a manner the eternal judgment, as Enoch had a prospect of it; "behold the Lord comes with ten thousand of his saints, to judge all the ungodly:" let faith direct its view to him, rending the heavens, and " coming in his own glory," as the Son of God; and " in his Father's glory," as constituted by him to be Judge of the world; " and in the glory of the mighty angels," his attendants: let faith contemplate the Judge upon a "white throne," the emblem of his holiness, whom none can surprise or resist let faith make that day as present, when there will be no place for repentance; when the fountain of mercy to sinners will be sealed for ever; when the books of eternal life and death shall be opened, and all men shall receive an irrevocable judgment; a judgment so fearful, that sinners how great and terrible soever they were in this world to others, shall "call to the mountains to fall on them, and the hills to cover them, from the wrath of the Lamb: for his day is come." A judgment so strict, "that the righteous shall scarcely be saved." Now what impressions of tormenting fear, or reviving hopes, will the strong belief of the eternal judgment, and the consequences of it, make

in us, when heaven and hell shall divide all men, according as we are prepared or unprepared for the trial of that deciding day? How will it make us circumspect and cautious to avoid evil, active and ardent in doing good? for every thing must be brought in judgment. How ambitious and diligent to be accepted of our Judge? Let faith open a window into heaven, and represent the saints in their sun-like brightness, their glory and joy, and triumphant felicity in the eternal kingdom, "where God is all in all." How will the believing view of this, rectify our minds, and convince us that nothing deserves our high esteem and love, but the favour and fruition of the blessed God?

Let faith open the fatal gates of hell, that are ever shut upon the damned, and discover the scenes of woe, the sights of horror, the tormenting passions of reprobates, their desperate sorrow for the loss of heaven, and fierce indignation that others enjoy it; both which are implied in their "weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth." How powerful will this representation be, to keep us in awe and order, to control the lusts, and licentiousness of carnal appetites? How would this double vision make us esteem all the good things here as vile as dross, and all the evil as light as feathers, in comparison of eternal things? How would this inspire us with resolutions to take "heaven by violence, and to fly from the wrath to come ?"

3. The efficacy of faith proceeds from the serious and frequent application of eternal objects to our minds and hearts. All that are christians in profession, prefer in the idea and speculation eternal things before temporal; but in practice and choice, the most prefer temporal before eternal. Present and sensible things strongly affect the carnal faculties, and excite the natural inclinations that were dormant in the absence of alluring objects; but when awakened, they distract and scatter the mind from a just comparing of things present and things future; and the will applies the thoughts to what is delightful to the carnal part, and. the application determines the choice. The interposition of earthly things, eclipses the light of faith, and weakens the reflections of that light upon the mind: a strong temptation defaces the impression of things future, though infinitely great; and consequently the passions prevail, and faith is vanquished. What man that has heaven and hell in view, and considers that the day of death and judgment are equally uncertain as to the fixed

time, and equally certain as to the event; and that this short life must issue either into rivers of pleasure for ever, or into an abyss of endless misery, can be doubtful a moment, what to choose, and what to avoid? Yet it is evident, that vast numbers of men that are between two eternities, are indifferent and unconcerned, into which their lot shall be determined. The enchanting world darkens the remembrance, and damps the desire of heaven, and extinguishes the fear of hell. Transient thoughts of future things cannot excite and influence the affections, nor regulate the will and actions, according as the moment of them requires. Moses despised the pomp and pleasures of the Egyptian court, and chose afflictions with the people of God, "because he had an intent and fixed eye upon the future reward." Paul had a heavenly vision, the idea of which was always bright in his memory, and a heavenly conversation. Now faith supplies the want of vision; and if its acts are not interrupted by earthly objects, will continually inspire us with suitable affections to eternal things. Above all other means let us fly to prayer, that the Holy Spirit, by his illuminating guidance, would direct our minds, and aetuate our faith: " we have received the Spirit, that we may know the things given us of God:" 1 Cor. 2. 12. that the Spirit would be our remembrancer, and strongly impress eternal things upon us: without his influence our consideration will be cold and ineffectual.

2. There is a justifying faith. The apostle declares, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God." This is very clearly opened in the gospel; yet there have been lately published some contentious writings about it, mixed with such railleries and contumelies, that have opened a scandalous scene, and exposed religion to the derision of libertines, and profane spirits, and affected the godly with sorrowful impressions, and with earnest longings after the kingdoms of light and love, where ignorance and strife are abolished for ever. Injurious language convinces none, but renders the minds of men more averse from instruction: we are not likely to discover the truth in a mist of passion; but when truth is calmly conveyed, the mind is more attentive to receive it, and its convincing and persuasive power insinuates into Christian love would lessen the number, and allay the heat of our controversies.

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