June 13

Yet, believing, ye rejoice. - 1 Peter 1:8.

HERE we have the medium of the Christian’s joy,-“believing.” In the Christian economy every thing is by faith; we read of “the proportion of faith,” of “the measure of faith,” “the unity of faith,” “the law of faith,” “the word of faith,” “the righteousness of faith,” “the shield of faith,” “the strength of faith,” “the household of faith,” “the assurance of faith,” “the profession of faith;” we are saved “through faith,” we are “justified by faith,” we are “sanctified by faith that is in Christ.” Our hearts are purified by faith; and yet some wonder that we so extol and commend faith. Every thing is by faith: “the life which we live in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God;” “by faith we walk;” “by faith we stand;” by faith we overcome; and yet some persons are afraid lest there should be too much stress laid on faith. Why, every thing is by faith. We read of the “fight of faith,”-“the work of faith,”-of “the prayer of faith,”-of “the joy of faith.” Every thing flourishes in religion just as faith prospers. And here we are told that Christians only rejoice in their Saviour by “believing.” Now, this will appear clear and undeniable when we remark two things.

First, Faith is the only medium of our acquaintance with him. Now, though we can rejoice in an unseen Saviour, we cannot rejoice in an unknown one. The knowledge of him, therefore, is absolutely necessary. And from whence is this knowledge to be derived? Why, only from testimony. This is the record that God has given us of his Son; and this contains all the information that we can possess concerning him while we are in this world. And those who refuse it, therefore, must remain in darkness. “What can I know of his person, of his character, of his offices, of his relations, of his influences, of his blessings, but from the Scriptures, all of which testify of Him?

And then, Secondly, This faith is the medium of all our intercourse with him. It is by this, and by this alone, that we deal with him in the solemn concerns of our souls and eternity. Faith is the feet by which we come to him; faith is the wings by which we “flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us;” faith is the eye by which we see him; faith is the ear by which we hear him; faith is the hand by which we receive him; faith is the arm by which we lean upon him; faith is the taste by which we feed upon him. “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man,” says the Saviour, “and drink his blood, ye have no life in you;” and this can only be done by faith.