with benevolence, and touched with sympathy for an afflicted servant in his own family, he earnestly applied to the Redeemer, begging him to take pity on the case, and heal his servant, whom he had left grievously tormented with the palsy. The faith which inspired this request, though perfectly known to Jesus, was not to the surrounding multitude. They could not say, whether he might not come, glad, as one in a desperate case, to catch at any thing for relief. Our Lord, therefore, replies to him in such a manner, as he knew would bring forth full proof of his faith: "He saith, I will come and heal him." But the amiable modesty of this great believer will not suffer him to think of the honor of receiving such a guest under his roof. He answers, therefore, that it was wholly unnecessary for Jesus to trouble himself "to come; Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." Adding, that he was not less assured of Christ's power over all bodily diseases, both to inflict and remove them at his pleasure, than of his own authority to command his soldiers.

"When Jesus heard it, he marvelled:" at the infinitely grand and just idea, which this Roman captain conceived of his power, who was in outward appearance the poorest of men. To make his faith, therefore, most conspicuous through all ages, and at the same time precisely define the nature of faith, by which every member of the church is saved, "Jesus said unto them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, many shall come from the East and the West [partakers of the same precious faith you now see exercised towards me] and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven."

But the faith of this Centurion was neither more

nor less than absolute dependence upon Christ, as able to heal his sick and dying servant. Consequent ly, at all times, and in all persons, true faith in Christ is the dependence of the heart upon him for continual help in all our need.

This is again strongly confirmed by the memo. rable instance of the Canaanitish woman. Hearing that Jesus was in the country bordering upon her abode, she came unto him, saying, "Have mercy upon me, O Lord, thou Son of David. My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." But, contrary to his behaviour in every other case, he answered her not a word. "And his disciples [more benevo lent in appearance than their divine Master] came and besought him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us. Regard her anguish, and grant her request." In his reply, he seems absolutely to refuse her request, giving for a reason, that his ministry was to be confined to the Jews. And when again entreated by her, he adds, in a still more discouraging tone, "That it was not meet for him to display his mercy amongst the Heathen, who, by their idolatry, and other detestable pollutions, were become like dogs before God. This he was to exercise towards Israel only, the children of God by covenant and profession.

The woman replies, "Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table." Permit me only to share the privilege which dogs enjoy in a family. Amidst the plenty of miraculous cures bestowed by thee on Israel, thy children, drop one on me, a poor distressed Heathen, by which act of beneficence, they will suffer no more loss, than the children of a family do by a few crumbs cast to the dogs.

"Then Jesus answered, O Woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt," Mat. xv.

21. But what was her faith? A patient, resolute, invincible trust for relief upon the grace she knew dwelt so richly in him, notwithstanding the greatest discouragements to trust any longer. This, therefore, no less clearly than the former instance, determines, that faith in Jesus Christ precisely means reliance of the heart on him for help and deliverance.

The fault charged on those who are rebuked by him for unbelief, proves as strongly the same thing. In St. Mark we read that our Lord, fatigued with his abundant labours of love, fell asleep as he was in a ship with his disciples. A storm in an instant arises. Now, the raging billows toss them up to the clouds, then, parting, let them sink, till they are almost buried in the deep. The disciples exert, in vain, their utmost skill to manage the vessel. The waves fill her, that she was beginning to sink, when, giving themselves up for lost, they ran shrieking out to Jesus, "Master, master, we perish.' Their cries awoke him. He instantly rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a calm. Immediately he turns upon his disciples with this reproof, Why are ye so fearful? How is it, that ye have no faith?" Mark iv. 38.

In this instance, want of assurance in the power of Christ to save them, even when destruction had opened its jaws to swallow them up, and a doubt of his ability to gather the stormy wind in his fist, and bind the raging flood from overflowing them, when they were almost overwhelmed in the sea: It was this which our Lord rebukes, as a demonstration of their unbelief. And very justly too; since, after the wonders they had seen him do, and his promises of love to them, they ought to have known his power could deliver them in the time of their distress, though the vessel had foundered, and save them all, as he afterwards did one of their number,

by making them walk on the waves, as on solid land.

To avoid being tedious, only one instance more shall be produced, but decisive on the point.

In St. Mark, ch. ix. we read, that a father, in anguish for his son possessed with a devil, brought him to the apostles, that they might heal him. Upon finding them unable, he, dispirited by the remembrance of his dear child's long continued misery, was afraid this case might surpass also the power of Jesus to cure. "The father therefore saith unto him, If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth, [i. e. depends upon my all-sufficient power.] And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief." Now I can trust in thee as able to help me. With shame I lament the remaining unbelief which I feel struggling against me. O forgive it, and take it all away. Thoroughly cure both me and my son; me of my spiritual, him of his corporeal disease.

I know not a single instance in the New Testament either of faith extolled, or unbelief reproved, where the nature of this fundamental grace is not precisely fixed to be the affiance of the soul in Christ, for help and deliverance.

Should it be said the Centurion and Canaanitish woman shewed their trust; the disciples in the tempest, and the distressed father their unbelief, in things temporal; therefore, they are not proper examples to determine the nature of that faith, to which the salvation of the soul and eternal life are promised: the answer is obvious-Difference in the nature of benefits implored certainly infers no difference at all in the principle of faith by which they are earnestly

sought. Noah built the ark; Abraham offered his son; and Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt, from one and the same principle of faith. The acts though totally different in kind, were the glorious effect of one single cause.

In like manner, whether reliance on the power of Christ be for deliverance in things spiritual or temporal, from wants in number less or more, it is still the very same temper of heart, exercising itself on the same glorious object.

SUNDAY XV.

CHAP. XV.

The extent of Faith in Christ.

THIS reaches as far as our necessities, of which a particular knowledge is needful; and the use of faith to obtain a supply for them all being considered, we shall have as ample and distinct a view of this grace as can be given.

Compare then your life, the tempers, desires, and purposes of your heart, with the law of God, the rule of your duty. Accusations against you will immediately pour in from every side. Each commandment, as Christ himself explains it, charges you with innumerable sins of commission or omission. God and your own conscience tells you that your offences have not been merely mistakes and inadvertencies, but provoking expressions of unbelief, pride, selflove, and self-will, rebelling against his government. To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, is, under

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