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or having a seed, that he should be saved by that seed, since he was to kill him in sacrifice, Heb. xi. 17 - 19. He only considered the almighty power, faithfulness, and sovereignty of him that had promised, he knew it was his duty to obey and wait, and so let all the matter concerning it rest on God's promise, Rom. iv. 18 - 21. For this his faith is commended, and he is said to be strong in faith, Rom. iv. 20.

Job and David, or Asaph, showed most strength of faith, when they had little or no feeling of God's favour, but rather the contrary. Job had little feeling of God's favour, when for pain of body he said, Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and in anguish of soul he said, Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and takest me for thine enemy, Job xiii. 14, 24. Yet then this adherence of faith caused him to cleave unto God, and say in the same chapter, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, Job xiii. 15. When David said to God, Why hast thou forgotten me? Psa. xlii. 9, his assurance was weak; yet even then his faith discovered itself, when he saith to his soul, Why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, who is the health of my countenance, and my God, Psa. xlii. 11. You see then that the excellency of faith lies not in your feeling, but, as the Psalmist speaks by experience, in cleaving close unto the promise, and relying on God for it, upon his bare word. For he saith, It is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, Psa. lxxiii. 28. This was that which secretly upheld him, and kept him in possession, when his evidences and assurance were to seek.

Wherefore, Believe God's promises made to you in Christ, and rest on him; even when you want joy, and feeling comfort. For having faith, you are sure of heaven, though you be not so fully assured of it as you desire. It will be your greatest commendation, when you will be dutiful servants and children at God's commandment, though you have not present wages, when you will take God's word for that. Those are bad servants and children, who cannot go on cheer-