Hebrews 11:40

REFLECTIONS

BLESSED be God the Holy Ghost, the Almighty Author of his sacred Word, for this precious Chapter, which he hath so graciously given to the Church Of God! for the Lord the Spirit, who hath so freely caused such illustrious acts of his people to be recorded for the consolation of the faithful, to bless it to the faithful, whenever, and wheresoever the Lord causeth it to be heard, or read, in all the Churches of the saints. And oh! that amidst all the awful circumstances of the present awful day, when, if the Son of God should come, the question of our Lord might be put forth, with trembling apprehensions for the answer; will He find faith in the earth? oh! grant that there may be known by our Lord, though hidden from our imperfect view, a remnant according to the election of grace, both sons and daughters, who do not bow the knee to the image of Baal!

Lord Jesus! thou Almighty Author and Finisher of faith! do thou increase our faith! Surely, Lord! the gift is thine; faith is thine. As none can first quicken, so none can keep alive his own soul. And, as none can first create faith; so none can exercise it, but by thee. All our fresh springs are in thee: Yea, Lord! Is not faith itself thine act in the soul, and the whole result of thy grace upon the heart? Precious Jesus! make thy redeemed now strong in the grace that is in thyself; that we may be the followers of them, who inherit the promises.

Almighty Father! All the triumphs of faith begin in thy fatherly love. Thy choice of the Church in Christ, and thy gift of the Church to Christ, become the surest testimony of thine everlasting love, which time, or eternity can shew. Oh! then, let a sense of it silence forever all the natural Atheism, and unbelief, thy children bring with them into the world, from the Adam-nature, in which we are all born. Oh! gracious God and Father! let thy children stand impressed with an unshaken, and steady assurance, that thou hast not called thyself I AM, for nothing; but that the very name, by which thou hast been pleased to be made known to them, becomes a confirmation of all thy promises. I AM will give both a being, and an accomplishment, to all he hath said. Amen. Oh! then, like those holy men in Christ gone before, grant that thy people may all live, and when called upon, all die, in the faith of God's elect. And both in life and death, in time, and to all eternity, bless the united Source of all their mercies, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now, and ever Amen.