Again, he, that is ftrong in faith, glorifies GOD in a more direct and active fenfe; for that Faith leads him to aim at the Glory of GOD in all his Actions. He knows this was the great End and Defign of his Being, and therefore ought to be the great Bufinefs of his Life. And to this he is excited by the united influence of Gratitude and Hope: by Gratitude, when he remembers the great things which God hath already done for him in this World; and by Hope, when he confiders the much better things, that are referved for him in the other.

In fine, when this Grace prevails, it hath a mighty influence on all the other parts of the Christian Temper. Where there is a ftrong Faith, there will be much Love, great Humility, lively Hope, deep Repentance, warm Devotion, and habitual Piety. So direct a tendency has this Grace to glorify GOD; not only by promoting the credit and honour of Religion in the World, but the life and power of it in the Soul.May these confiderations have their due weight, to excite our Defires and Endeavours after higher Improvements in fo Divine á Temper.

SER M.
XII.

SERM. I conclude all with two or three brief Reflections on the Subject.

XII.

1. How ignorant are they in the things of Religion, who declare they know not what to make of Faith, and look upon it as an indeterminate and unintelligible Term. It may poffibly have been perverted and mifapplied (as almost all other Words of a facred fenfe have); but what then? must it have no determinate Sense, because some have mistaken it? That threefold diftinction of Faith (I have before mentioned) into Faith in Christ, Faith in things unseen, and Faith in GOD, is very plainly preferved in Scripture. And the latter, which fignifies a firm belief of, and dependance upon the Promises and Providences of GOD (as it hath been now explained), has a very clear and determinate meaning, fo that they, who know nothing of it's Influence, may eafily form a diftinct conception of it. But it must be owned, that they, who feel it's power moft, will understand it's nature beft: Which is equally true of every other Christian Grace and Duty.

2. How profane a Mind does it fhow in any one, to use this Word by way of Jeft,

or

or common Oath. To fay, "they mean SERM. "no Harm in it," is the only poor Excufe XII. of common Swearers. There may be Harm in it for all that. And it is always impious to speak irreverently of facred things. Such know not what they fay, nor what they have to account for, who indulge themselves in fo wicked a Habit. And it is to be feared, that he, who makes no conscience of swearing by his Faith, will foon come to think there is little Harm in fwearing by his Maker.

Lastly, What remains now, but that we all endeavour after higher degrees of this Divine Virtue ? Let us make it our daily Prayer, Lord, increase our Faith: and follow thofe Prayers with a diligent use of all those means, before-mentioned as proper to strengthen a weak Faith. How happily, • how peaceably, how triumphantly, would the Christian Life be then conducted, under the grace and influence of that Divine Spirit, who is the Giver of every good and perfect Gift! And may we all, from what we have now been hearing, be effectually excited to live more upon God! to cultivate a deep and conftant fenfe of our dependanco VOL. IV. X

on

SRR M. on his Power, Grace and Providence; un

XII.

der the Guard and Protection of which alone we are fafe and happy! And, Oh, bow great is bis Goodness, which he hath laid up for them that fear him, which be bath wrought for them that trust in him, before the Sons of Men (q)!

(1) Pfalm xxxi. 19.

SER

SERMON XIII.

The proper Improvement of Profperity and Adverfity.

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XXXXXXX

PSALM XXX. 6, 7.

And in my Profperity I faid, "I "fhall never be moved; Lord, by thy Favour thou haft made my "mountain

very

to ftand ftrong."

Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled*.

T

HE fubject of the Pfalmift's Complaint in thefe Words is a common Weakness, incident to the human nature, from which few are exempt; viz. a too great Confidence

X 2

*The original word () is much more emphatical than our English word troubled: It properly fignifies to be

ftruck