300 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. this matter as it is with natural. Thomas would not be- lieve unless he saw the object of his faith with his eyes or felt it with his hand; but, saith our Savior, " Blessed are they who believe and have not seen ;" who believe upon the testimony of God without the help of their own sense or reason. And if we will believe no more of God, of his love and grace, and of our acceptance with him, than we have a spiritual affecting sense of, we shall be many times at a loss. Sensible impressions from God's love are great springs of joy; but they are not absolutely necessary to peace, nor to an evidence that we believe. We deal thus with the vilest person living; we be- lieve him whilst we have the certainty of our sense to secure us. And if we deal so with God, what is there in our so doing praiseworthy l The prophet tells us what it is to believe in respect of providence. Heb. 3 : 17. When there is nothing left outward and visible to support us, then to rest quietly on God, that is to be- lieve. So Psalm 63 : 26. And the apostle, in the exam- ple of Abraham, shows us what it is to believe with re- spect to a special promise : " Against hope he believed in hope." Rom. 4 : 18. When he saw no outward or- dinary means for the accomplishment of the promise, when innumerable objections arose against any such hope as might have respect to such means, yet he re- solved all his thoughts into the faithfulness of God in the promise, and therein raised a new hope in its ac- complishment; so in hope believing against hope. It is necessary that you observe what I intend by this spiritual sense, which you must learn to distinguish from faith; and to know that true faith, interesting the
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