INCREASE OF FAITH. 365 AUGUST 11. Increase of Faith. "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."-Luke, xvii. 5. ALL Christians have faith-increase of faith is possibleincrease of faith is desirable—and means are to be used to increase it. All Christians have faith.-The object of their faith is Christ, to whom they have free access by the belief of the truth. As the object of faith, he is divine and able to save; he is the Saviour of sinners, and willing to save; and he is the only object. "No man cometh unto the Father but by him." The nature of their faith is a reception of Christ: "Ye have received the Lord Jesus;" and appropriation of him: He is "my Lord and my God." The evidence of their faith does not consist merely in words and professions, but in conduct; for wherever there is faith, it worketh by love, and overcometh the world. Increase of faith is possible.-This appears from the fact that religion is always represented in Scripture as progressive: "First the blade, then the ear; after that, the full corn in the ear." "The path of the just is like the shining light." Scripture admonition also proves it. "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." The experience of all the saints proves it. Some are babes, some are strong; some are self-confident like Peter, others know where their strength lies, and are humble. Increase of faith is desirable.-That we may have more comfort, more light, more peace, and more love. As spiritual enjoyment is in proportion to our faith, so the stronger our faith, the happier will we be. That we may the better overcome difficulties. Temptations and persecutions assail Christians, but "through faith they 366 INCREASE OF FAITH. subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." That we may shew a better example unto others : "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Means are to be used to increase faith.-Think often of Christ, what he is, what he has done, and what he has promised to do. Hold fast the truth against all error, for faith is not a mere opinion; it has its seat in the heart, and it influences our thoughts, words, and actions. Pray for the increase of faith. The apostles prayed for this, and so should all Christians. They should pray for it humbly, earnestly, and perseveringly; for such prayer will unlock all the treasures of the sanctuary above. AUGUST 12. Happy Experience. "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."-Isa. xxv. 9. How happy are Christians compared with others! They have experiences, possessions, and hopes to which others are strangers. Their past, present, and future experience refers to God and the soul, and is worthy of our closest attention. We look back on the past.-"We have waited for him." We have sought him in his word, sought him through Christ, sought him in secret, sought him in public ordinances, and sought him, not idly, but earnestly. We have been waiting with expectation, like the cripple at the pool of Bethesda, or the aged Simeon, whose happiness was complete when he took the promised child into his arms. Earnestly have we prayed, and earnestly have we looked up, and have persevered in this course through trials and difficulties. We have kept, and shall keep still, the path of duty, for that is the only way of safety; and being in the way, the Lord will meet us, and bless us. "Return, O Lord, how long?" "How long, Lord, wilt thou hide thyself?" We think of the present.-" Lo, this is our God." We have been long and earnestly seeking him, and we have found him at last. We have found him in his word, found him at his throne of grace, found him in his ordinances; and have made him ours for ever. "And he that is our God, is the God of salvation." He is ours in the offer of the gospel; he is ours by our own consent; and he is ours in covenant, never to be broken. We are not afraid to and we are anxious "Lo, this is our God." avow it, nor ashamed to proclaim it; that all should follow our example. To all to whom we have opportunity of speaking, we say, "Come, and we will tell you the great things God hath done for us." We have found God in Christ, we have appropriated him; he is ours in possession, and ours for ever. We look to the future." He will save us we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." He will save us from the guilt of sin, the pollution of sin, the dominion of sin, and the dreadful consequences of sin. He will save us through life and death. He will save us when the world shall be destroyed; when the moon shall fade in the sky; when the sun shall sleep in the clouds, and usher not the dawn of the morning; and when the last crash of nature shall summon the dead before the judgment-seat of Christ. Then "we will be glad and rejoice." The voyage shall be ended, the haven shall be reached, and the storms of life return no more. What a happy day to our souls! This is that day of days which gladdened the hearts of patriarchs, 368 HAPPY EXPERIENCE. prophets, apostles; so long thought of, so often spoken about, and so ardently desired. AUGUST 13. True and False Confidence. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."—Prov. iii. 5. HERE we have a plain duty-its right performance and a needful caution. A plain duty.-"Trust in the Lord." The object of trust is "the Lord." God is "in Christ reconciling the world to himself." Through this channel his love and mercy flow down to us, and through this channel we have free access to him. God is love; and if love fail to attract us, and influence our hearts, nothing else can. He is a sure object of trust. No one ever confided in him and was disappointed. And there is no other object. If he save us not, we perish; if we trust to any other, we trust to a broken reed. The nature of this trust. It includes faith. We must believe that God is, and that he is able and willing to save us through Christ. We must confide in him that he will save us, and accomplish all that he has promised; and we must depend on him for protection, provision, and our final reward. O my soul, wilt thou trust in man, and neglect or refuse to trust in the Lord? Its right performance.-" With all thine heart." This includes sincerity. Our trust must not be a mere notion, or opinion, or act of the mind, but it must have its seat in the heart; it must make us feel, and influence our thoughts, words, and actions. God looketh on the heart, and we must trust in him, knowing that we cannot deceive him. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." "Believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the TRUE AND FALSE CONFIDENCE. 369 dead." It supposes effort. We are to do it because God requires it; we are to do it willingly, because religion is a matter of free choice; we are to do it with all our might, boldly and courageously; even when temporal interests intervene, and darling lusts oppose, and scoffers ridicule, and the wicked frown. A needful caution." Lean not unto thine own understanding." The understanding is a noble faculty. Though it has been darkened by sin, yet it may be enlightened by the word, and ought to be controlled and regulated by the word; but if any one lean to, or trust in, his own understanding, he will soon go astray. Such leaning leads to pride, as Satan and his compeers, Nebuchadnezzar and Herod; it leads to presumptuous sin, as our first parents, Cain, and Simon Magus; and it leads to ruin, as King Saul, Ahithophel, and Judas. Surely, "he that trusteth in his own heart is a fool." Surely, "cursed is man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord; for he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh." AUGUST 14. God Acknowledged. "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."—Prov. iii. 6. WHOM should we acknowledge?—what is it to acknowledge him in what circumstances should we do it?and what will be the result? Whom should we acknowledge ?—God as our Creator. He hath fearfully and wonderfully made us, and as fearfully and wonderfully preserved us. Truly, in him we live, and move, and have our being; and if we forget God, and forget that his eye is upon us, we will speedily fall into sin and ruin. God as our Father. In this gracious |