swer no other end than that of deluding and misleading unwary inquirers. But to prevent all mistake in an affair of so vast importance, the Apostle very satisfactorily points out in the passage before us, the only means by which true rest can be obtained; and which appears to be no other than the all-prevailing exercise of faith-We who believe, do enter into rest.

Faith, and faith alone, puts us in possession of this substantial blessedness: and hence, so many excellent things are predicated of this mighty grace in the word of God. Faith, saith the writer of this epistle, is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. It gives reality and efficacy to the whole revelation of the divine will. There is no possibility of penetrating the mysteries of the kingdom, but by means of faith. The Holy Scriptures set before us a great variety of statements and declarations, reports and promises, concerning an invisible state of things, which cannot but excite a high degree of interest wherever they are received. But these things are too high for our reasoning powers to apprehend; and much less are they

capable of being satisfactorily explained by human wisdom: so that there is no way of coming to any adequate acquaintance with them, except through the medium of faith. We cannot pass behind the vail, and take an actual survey of these hidden things : but we must implicitly depend upon those declarations respecting them, with which God has been pleased to favour us. If we doubt the truth of these declarations, we can reap from them no manner of benefit: and, in that case, the whole written word becomes to us a vain and insignificant production. On the contrary, if that word be mixed with faith in those who hear it, in the same proportion a new and intellectual scene is laid open to their view; so that they are immediately introduced to an unseen world, and are assisted to form a familiar acquaintance with spiritual and eternal things. It is thus, by believing, that we enter into rest.

In a state of nature, the great obstacles to our enjoyment of permanent rest, are our unreasonable desires, our care for the present, and our fear for the future. But when we read the exceeding great and precious

promises, which stand upon record in the sacred volume concerning all these things; if we can give full credit to that which is written, our vain desires are restrained, our anxious cares are dismissed, our disheartening fears are subdued, and we enter into rest. For the promises of God relate to everything that can deeply affect or interest us-he engages to pardon our sins through the blood of atonement, to supply our wants out of his own unlimited fulness, to support us with his mighty arm, and to cheer us with the consolations of his Spirit. He covenants to be near us both in life and in death; to be our present portion, and our eternal reward. Now these promises are the rich inheritance of every believer; and we have a full warrant to make use of them freely, together with every possible encouragement to rely confidently upon them: and the more we are enabled to do this, the more we honour God in the way of his own appointment.

But it may, perhaps, be objected, that this confident reliance the divine pro

upon

mises, is nothing less than presumption; except as it is exercised by the purest and

H

all

best of mankind, who may exclusively possess some sort of right to appropriate those promises to themselves. Alas! my brethren, there is nothing in human nature, even in its best estate, that can give us any claim to such appropriation. The promises of God are unrestrained and free; they are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. Let a man's circumstances be what they may, let him be ever so depraved, ever so lost and undone —in the moment that he can give due credit to the representations of the gospel, a wonderful change takes place in his whole character. The very act of believing enlarges his views and mollifies his heart, and brings him home at once to the house of his Father; where he fosters new tempers, forms new habits, and enters upon new enjoyments. It was thus with the jailor of Philippi. When, in a moment of extreme dismay, he inquired of his christian prisoners, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? the apostle unhesitatingly answered, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. The man was enabled, at that solemn season, unfeignedly to believe in Jesus as an allsufficient Saviour; and immediately he be

came a new creature. His rugged temper was instantly subdued, his heart was melted, his idolatrous prejudices were overcome, and throwing himself with unwonted emotion into the arms of his abused captives, he silently wept over them in the anguish of his soul. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. It may well be inquired, Is this the voice, and are these the feelings of the Philippian jailor? What is it, then, that hath wrought in the man so extraordinary a change? Why-he has heard the gospel preached from an apostle's mouth, and these are a part of its renovating effects. He believes that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; and, under the influence of these exhilarating tidings, a most amazing transformation has taken place upon him. He loveth much, because much hath been forgiven him: and, amid the first transports of this sacred passion, he clasps to his heart the devoted followers of his Lord.