DISCOURSE: 2317 THE NATURE OF FAITH Hebrews 11:1. _Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen_. CONSIDERING how much the Scriptures speak of faith, one is surprised that the subject of faith so little occupies the attention of the world at large, or even of the... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2318 ABEL’S OFFERING INSTRUCTIVE TO US Hebrews 11:4. _By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh_. IN reading the history of the saints under t... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2319 ENOCH’S TRANSLATION Hebrews 11:5. _By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God_. AMONGST those who obtained a good report through faith, Enoch bea... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2320 THE NECESSITY OF FAITH Hebrews 11:6. _Without faith it is impossible to please_ [_God_.] THIS whole chapter is one continued commendation of faith: which is marked, throughout, as the one source of every good action, and as the certain prelude to everlasting felicity. But, in what i... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2321 NOAH’S FAITH Hebrews 11:7. _By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith_. OF all the principles which operate in... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2322 ABRAHAM’S LIFE A PATTERN FOR OURS Hebrews 11:8. _By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2323 THE PRACTICAL EFFICACY OF FAITH Hebrews 11:13. _These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth_. THE precepts contained in Scrip... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2324 THE CHRISTIAN’S DESIRE Hebrews 11:16. _Now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God_. WHEREVER the Gospel is faithfully declared, it is generally known that we are to be saved by “the same faith as that which dwelt in ou... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2325 ABRAHAM OFFERING UP ISAAC Hebrews 11:17. _By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even fr... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2326 MOSES’ CHOICE Hebrews 11:24. _By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2327 FAITH SEEING THE INVISIBLE GOD Hebrews 11:27. _He endured, as seeing him who is invisible_. NOT any one of all the catalogue of worthies in the Old Testament, not even Abraham himself, stands higher than Moses; who, when possessed of all that rank and affluence could confer on man,... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2328 MOSES’ FAITH IN RELATION TO THE PASSOVER Hebrews 11:28. _Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them_. PERSONS, when speaking upon the comparative excellences of faith and works, are very apt to overlook the... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2329 THE WALLS OF JERICHO THROWN DOWN BY FAITH Hebrews 11:30. _By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days_. HOW intelligent creatures should be affected by any principle, is easy to be conceived; because the human mind is susceptible of the strong... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2330 RAHAB CONCEALING THE SPIES Hebrews 11:31. _By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace_. FAITH is usually considered merely as an assent to testimony; human faith having respect to human testimony, and divine to that... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2331 POWER OF FAITH Hebrews 11:32. _And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets; who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2332 GOD’S ESTIMATE OF HIS PEOPLE Hebrews 11:38. _Of whom the world was not worthy_. THESE words are introduced in a parenthesis; and are intended to obviate an objection, which might weaken, if not make void, the foregoing statement. The Apostle has been insisting upon the operations a... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 2333 THE ADVANTAGES ENJOYED UNDER THE CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION Hebrews 11:39. _These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect_. WHEN we hear or read of the sain... [ Continue Reading ]