ver nor gold; and yet, he is rich indeed! for he has that with which he would not part for all the treasures of the earth, or for all the world calls good or great. But, his chief possessions are on high, and in time of need he can draw largely from that source. So teaches the apostle. " Faith," says he, "is the substance of things hoped for." That is, it gives a present subsistence to heavenly things; it brings them near. Hence the poet, in speaking of this property of faith, says:

"The want of sight she well supplies,
She makes the pearly gates appear;
Far into distant worlds she pries,

And brings eternal glories near."

Aye, and this she does in such a way, way, that, as Bunyan describes it, the Christian is "in heaven before he arrives at it"-having some ́times, even on earth, heaven let down into his soul, or as another beautifully expresses it, "Heaven begun below, and glory in the bud." Believe me, brethren, this is no fancy affair. It is a blessed and sweet reality, as many can testify, by their own happy experience. The case of Edward Payson is in point, for during his last sickness writing to a relative he thus speaks: "Were I to use the figurative language of Bunyan, I might date this letter from the land of Beulah; for, the celestial city seems to

be now full in view. Its breezes fan me; its odours are wafted to me; its music falls upon my ear; its spirit is breathed into my heart. Nothing now separates me from that happy world but death, which seems only as an insignificant rill, which may be crossed at a step, whenever God shall give command." Yes, my brethren, when faith is strong, its visions are as clear as those of sight, and, in this way, oftentimes it enables the believer to rise above all the sorrows of this life, and anticipate the joys of the paradise of God. It is

even so:

"The men of grace have found,
Glory begun below:

Celestial fruit, on earthly ground,

From faith and hope may grow."

more common.

Now, that faith by which the believer is enabled to pitch his tent in the land of Beulah, and, so to speak, "be in heaven before he arrives at it," is surely of great value, and may well be called precious faith. O! that it were It would lighten the heaviest burden, soften the hardest bed, sweeten the bitterest cup, and brighten the darkest scene! O! give me this faith, this precious faith, and my song in the house of my pilgrimage will be the song of the Psalmist: Thou shalt guide me with thy counsels, and afterwards receive me to glory! O! give me this faith,

this precious faith, and my shout in a dying hour will be the shout of the conqueror, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Precious faith!

ance.

III. It is the title-bond of our future inheritThe evidence or proof of our being the heirs of heaven.-This seems to be the precise idea of the apostle when, after affirming that faith is the "substance of things hoped for," he adds, "the evidence of things not seen.' That is, it is the proof or demonstration of the fact. Take an illustration: This man receives an appointment to some high office under government. Here is the document. It is signed by the governor, and bears the great seal of the State. In all respects it is properly authenticated. Here is the evidence of the appointment-the full proof of the fact. The appointment is his, just as certainly his as if the governor were present and had inaugurated him into that office. But, take another case: You give me a deed to a tract of land in the state of Maine, where I have never been. It is duly signed, duly witnessed; every thing is according to law; that land is mine; I have never walked over that tract-I have never seen it. It matters not; that tract of land is as certainly mine as if I had bought it with my own

money, and had walked over it a thousand times. I have the deed, the evidence of the fact; that which entitles me to full possession. Just so, in the case before us. It is written, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Now this faith secures salvation to the true believer. It is the title-bond, or evidence of his being an heir of heaven. But, as the appointment or deed spoken of must be authenticated, that it may be known to be true and genuine, so must this faith be authenticated, or proved to be genuine. How? The apostle tells us, "To you that believe, Christ is precious." Is Christ then precious to your soul? This proves that you do believe; and truly believing, you have the word of God for it that you shall be saved. But, as an appointment or deed is authenticated in various ways, so we may mention another way to prove that our title-bond to heaven is good. It is written, "There is therefore, now, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Now observe our train of reasoning: If there be no condemnation, our sins are pardoned; if pardoned, of course we are the children of God, and heirs of heaven. But how am I to know that there is no condemnation for me? I have evidence that I am in Christ. But how am I to know that I am in Christ? The Bible tells me-"If any man be in Christ, he

is a new creature. Old things are passed away, all things are become new." Well, I am a new man. I have new views, new feelings, new desires, new joys, new sorrows. I have a new relish. What I once loved I now hate; what I once hated I now love. Yes, in all my views and feelings, in all my tastes and habits, I am a new man. My title-bond, so to speak, is now duly signed and sealed. Now, although I have never been in heaven, or seen its glories with my mortal eyes, unwavering faith in the word of God gives me an assurance, which fully satisfies my mind, and enables me, even now, to rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Precious faith!

IV. Faith honours God and pleases him. A very striking example, or proof, of this, is found in the case of Abraham. He staggered not at the promise, through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. How? The apostle tells us. "By faith, Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son." The circumstances of the case are these: God had promised Abraham that he should have a numerous posterity, and that in Isaac his seed should be blessed. Now mark the trial and triumphs of Abraham's faith. "When Abraham was now old, and his wife also well stricken in age, God called unto