We might, with the greatest ease, and perhaps with some profit, fill this discourse with remarks upon the numerous and different instances of faith, which the apostle has collected in this chapter. You would discover, from a particular examination of each instance here recorded, that the leading idea in this much disputed word, is reliance upon the authority, or confidence in the testimony of another. You would find, that the objects, which faith embraces, are more or less numerous, according to the previous cultivation and present circumstances of the believer, and according to the plans of Providence with respect to him. The faith of Abel, or of Noah was not less real or valuable, than is that of the greatest saint, who lives under the dispensation of the gospel, though the faith of the christian embraces a much greater variety of objects, and is suited to a much more enlarged comprehension. In general, with respect to God, it embraces whatever he has been pleased to communicate of himself in the age in which the believer happens to live.

If I should attempt to enumerate to you some of the more important truths, which you now receive by the aid of this all operating principle, I should first carry your imaginations back to that memorable point of time, when God said, Let there be light, and there was light; and I would ask you, upon what do you rest the assurance you feel, that this charming scene of nature is the product of the hand of God? Wert thou present, when the foundations of the earth were fastened? Wert thou in the joyous circle, when the morning stars sang together, and all the new born sons of God shouted for joy? Knowest thou this, because thou wast then born, or because the number of thy days is great? No, my friends. By faith, says the apostle, we understand, that the worlds were framed by the word of God; so that the things which are seen were not made of any

thing which now appears. Though the surest deductions of reason confirm the opinion, that this universe is the product of a great and intelligent author, yet it was not reasoning which discovered this truth. It was to the Jewish nation-it is still to those, who are not able to comprehend the demonstration, by which it is sometime ssupported—and, universally, I may add, to the early capacity, it must ever be an article of faith, received upon authority.

By faith we dwell upon those events, which are far beyond the reach of our sensible experience. In profane history we receive such facts with unhesitating confidence, and reason from them without suspicion. Why, then, should we not exercise the same confidence, when we contemplate events in the history of God's especial dealings, events, which have also the additional support of prophecy and miracle? By religious faith we are introduced into the counsels of omniscience, and see the hand of almighty power guiding, with unvaried wisdom, the wonderful vicissitudes of the world. Faith transports us back to that event, which, in the history of the revolutions of our globe, stands next in dignity to the wondrous work of creation. We see the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the waters bursting the bounds within which the hand of omnipotence had hitherto circumscribed them, and rising to overtake the retreating wickedness of the antediluvian age. We see the wide waste of waters successively submerging the shores, the trees, the towers, the eminences to which the affrighted inhabitants had climbed, and, at length, the original and everlasting mountains of the globe, until all the features of this ball of earth are no longer to be discerned in the one vast expanse of fluid. The world, just now so gay with vegetation, so fruitful in life, and so tumultuous with pleasure and corruption, disappears with its astonished inhabitants; and

nought is left, of all this scene of things, but God and his faithful servants. Noah and his family are alone preserved of all the intelligent creatures of his power, and they float securely over the ruins and desolation of a drowning world. Faith opens to us the door of the ark, and we enter, and look out upon the consternation which surrounds us. Men, beasts, birds, and all living beings on the earth successively disappear, while within, this man of piety serenely collects around him his beloved family, and waits, without alarm, for the accomplishment of the purposes of heaven, buoyed up by the elastic energy of his faith in the promises of his maker.

By faith we follow the dispensations of Heaven towards the descendants of Noah. We see Abraham, that venerable father of the faithful, leaving his native land. Not knowing whither to direct his aged steps, he is led by the unseen hand of his ever kind and ever faithful God. From this gray-headed and feeble patriarch, already as good as dead,” behold generations innumerable issuing forth to people the newly restored earth, and multiplying as the stars of heaven. Isaac is born, and already his father anticipates the fulfilment of the magnificent promise he had received from God; but, in the midst of his expectations, he is commanded to sacrifice this solitary descendant. He is bound to the altar, the knife is taken, and the father's hand is uplifted to slay him. God interposes, and he lives again; and with him revive generations yet to come; and future nations, starting into life, are again blessed in his seed.

By faith we follow the rapidly increasing posterity of Jacob through the interesting narrative of their family history. What occurrences, what changes in the drama of Joseph's life, all proclaiming the wisdom of heaven! What calamities, what sorrows,

what reverses of fortune, what joys, what unexpected disclosures, and what a touching catastrophe! Here are the descendants of Joseph and his brethren, who, after the death of their protector, are depressed into the lowest condition of Egyptian slaves. Yet this is the germ of a nation, whom God has chosen to be the depositaries of the sublimest truths which can interest mankind, and whom he has also chosen to transmit to future ages the knowledge of his wonders and providence. By faith we are interested in the history of this extraordinary race. We trace their improvements and their declensions, their dangers and their security, their revolt and their return. By faith we see them rising, under Solomon, into consequence and power. Jerusalem becomes the metropolis of the east, Solomon the most splendid monarch of his age, and every individual Jew feels something of the importance, which naturally belongs to a citizen of the most favoured nation of the earth. A few years pass over, and this proud people are diminished to a little band of exiles, who are driven, downcast and humbled, into a foreign realm. The vain Hebrew, who once shone in the glittering court of Solomon's successors, and worshipped in the gorgeous temple at Jerusalem, is sitting under the willows, a poor captive, by the streams of Babylon, and singing the Lord's song in a strange land, accompanied by the notes of his melancholy harp. But they are not to become extinct. The promise of God standeth sure. They are yet reserved for great distinctions. Prophecy has pointed steadily, though obscurely, to a wonderful personage, who is to appear among them, and set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed. They return to their native land, guided by the same providence which dispersed them; and through years of revolution, and subsequent subjection, present to the eye of faith the wondrous spectacle of a

great people, once so faithless, so fickle, so obstinate as they had been, now awaiting patiently, with a kind of miraculous expectation, which had seized every breast in Judea, for the appearance of a prëdicted deliverer.

Faith now transports us to the little town of Bethlehem, which is to give birth to the Messiah. We see the bright host of angels illuminating the fields around this favoured village, and, amid the stillness of the night, we hear them praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will towards men, for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world!

It is faith, which discloses to us the supernatural character, and teaches us the marvellous history of Jesus. It leads us through the miraculous tissue of his short and suffering life on earth. It places us at the foot of his cross, and we see this life of the world, this joy of nations, the hope of Israel, and the light of unborn and unnumbered generations, expiring in the pangs of an accursed crucifixion. We follow the body to the tomb. Faith shows us the faithful women, coming with their spices and ointments to embalm the precious remains of their friend. There is Mary, and Martha, and Mary Magdalene, weeping at the sepulchre. They enter and look, but Jesus is not there. They call to us, christians, Come, see the place where the Lord lay. He is not there, but he has risen. We follow them, with impatience, to the plains of Bethany. There Jesus meets them, and behold, while he is spreading forth his arms and blessing them, a bright cloud receives him out of their sight. But why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner, as ye have seen him go up into heaven.