396 -Walking by Faith, not by Sight, S E R M. this foundation faith elevateth the affections XV. to divine things, it exciteth fervent delires to the perfect ion of virtue, producing an in- violable refolution to purfue it conftantly as the greateft good of man ; it fupporteth the mind under all difficulties, and enableth it to refift and to conquer temptations, and giveth an heavenly turn to the temper and the whole converfation, which is formed upon the motives of religious virtue, parti- cularly the hope of feeing God hereafter more perfe&ly than he can be feen now, and being fully fatisfied with his likenefs. If there be fuch an excellence in faith, if it fo improveth the powers of the believing mind, and exalteth its condition, how much are we indebted to the mercy of God for the chriftian revelation ? The principal ob- jets of faith are the being, the perfections, and counfels of God towards men, and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently feek him. Thefe points are clearly difcovered in the gofpel ; No man bath feen God at Iny time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bofom of the Father, he hath declared him, John i. 18. And he hatb brought life and immortality to light through the gofpel. If therefore we have embraced this revelatiorl ppon a full convir`,tion of its truth and divine autherity,
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