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SERMON XIV.

THE EFFORT OF FAITH.

MATT. xi. 12.

The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

IN some of the preceding discourses I have been attempting to set forth some of the blessed privileges of the Gospel dispensation, and to lead forward the Christian to the enjoyment of them. Some persons, whose lot may have unhappily fallen rather among showy professors of religion than sincere followers of Christ, may possibly say, I observe some who call themselves believers, and speak of their assurance, who give very indistinct marks of their being in a state of salvation.' This may arise from these professors, with all their presumptive confidence, not understanding what faith is. The Apostle has given a very clear definition of it, when he says, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen;" that is to

say, faith gives such a subsistence to those blessings which the mind desires and expects, as leads forth the soul in the same manner that it would be led if these invisible things were really present. What, my friends, does a convinced sinner desire? or one who, having been made acquainted with the evil of sin on the one hand, and the blessedness of fellowship with God on the other, what does he wish? A complete Saviour; one who can obtain pardon for all his sins, and renewing, strengthening, sanctifying grace for his soul; the favour and protection of God here, and rest with him for ever hereafter. How, again, would the soul of such a person be led out, if such a Saviour were present with him? As all who knew his Divine character were, when he was upon earth: their souls went out after him, either by falling down before him, touching him, or beseeching him, or praying to him to heal them. They all desired a cure; they all beheld in him a Saviour, the true Physician: all, therefore, made an effort to be healed.

My friends, such is true faith. Not a notion floating in the mind; not the mere assent to statements in which the heart takes little interest. True faith is a living principle, so operative that it is ever accompanied with effort, as life is ever accompanied by action. In the

weakest possible state of vitality, some action takes place; and in the weakest state of true faith there is some going forth towards the Saviour. St. James well observes, many 66 say they have faith;" that is, they profess to have it, when that faith is dead; but their professing it is only the language of their lips; the reality is as much wanting as if a dead person should say he had life. Faith manifests itself by effort; and it is in the degree in which effort is powerful, that the blessings of the Gospel are obtained; according to the language of my text: "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force :" that is to say, strong faith presses into it, and obtains its blessings; whilst a mere cold assent, or formal profession of Christianity, receives no benefit.

As this subject may shew more clearly the nature of faith to the inquirer, and also unfold a part of the Gospel dispensation which has not yet been so much considered, I would now set it before you. To make it more intelligible, I propose, first, to mention some cases in which THIS EFFORT IS NECESSARY; and then, to IM

PROVE THE SUBJECT.

I. In speaking of the cases, I might say, in general, this effort is necessary for all who would enter the kingdom. It is a universal

truth, that "

the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." Not the effort which many make when they begin to think upon religion,-the effort to do something which will make them acceptable in the sight of God; or to overcome their evil habits by resolutions formed in their own strength-efforts quite agreeable to the natural man, who is always supposing that He must do, instead of the Lord's doing. By these efforts, however violent they may be, we shall never succeed. It is the effort of faith, or so realizing the testimony that God has given of his Son, as to burst through all obstacles raised by our fallen nature against a simple reception of the blessings treasured up in Christ. This is necessary for us all. For, in the first place, we have to do violence to our self-righteousness, before we can receive the testimony of God that we are sinners: we have to do violence to our pride, before we can admit the truth that we must be indebted to another for our pardon and salvation: to our sentiments of the dignity of human nature, ere we can submit to the necessity of Divine influence: to our sensual appetites, before we can accredit the truth that holiness is happiness: to our natural love of the world, before we can believe what is highly esteemed amongst man is abomination in the

sight of God.

For all these, effort is requisite. The power to make that effort is the gift of God; but the thing itself is absolutely necessary. "He that believeth shall be saved." Not he who has some general notion dwelling in his mind; but he whose soul is by Divine grace put forth, against all these obstacles, to look, or lay hold, or to trust in the Lord Jesus, as his complete Saviour and Redeemer.

But, to be more particular-for it is by particular cases that truth is most clearly brought to the mind-here is a person who is impressed with the truth of religion: he studies the Holy Scriptures; he forms acquaintance with excellent characters, and makes religion the "one thing needful;" but the duties of his station occupy a great share of his time: his occupations so increase, that his time is more and more encroached upon; and the facts of his life are these, that, instead of paying that close attention to possessing the kingdom that he did at his first entrance upon a religious course, he leaves his house with only a few moments given to prayer and meditation, and those more as a duty than as the delight of his soul; he returns again in the evening, worn out by the occupations of the day: the consequence is, that, instead of that tenderness of spirit and delight in the Lord which he once