F)I9c. viIl.] FAITH IN ITS LOwtST DEGREEs. 233 O what a blessed change is made by our looking to Christ ! A change, I say, in the very eye-sight of our souls, and in our viewand survey of all things round about us, so far as we have any concern in them ! What a blessed change in our judgment and esteem of them ! We look upon things with another eye than be- fore, and things put on a new face. Faith looking to Christ for salvation, sets all things in a different light before the eyes of the soul, and gives quite another view of them. It is like some heavenly glass applied to the organ of sense, that not only assists and improves our sight, but represents every thing to us in a divine light, even such as they appear to the blessed spirits above. 1. It alters the view and appearance of all the great . and gay things of this life. All the treasures, and pomp, and entertainments of this world, were once the most temptingobjects we could look upon ; but now we look on the world, with all the gayest and richest scenes of it, as a little mean and despicable thing ; for we have seen Christ and heaven ; and when the world begins to flatter us again, and to look great and tempting in our eyes, let us look again to Jesus, and his salvation that the world may lose its splendour and allurements. .2. Once a' poor christian in a cottage, or in vile rai- ment, was contemptible in our sight, nowwe look on the saints, even in the meanest circumstance, as the excellent of the earth; for they areheirs ofheaven, they are like to Christ, and formed after the blessed image of him, whom we have seen with an eye of faith and love. Holy Savi- our, and holy saints ! They the e,vcellent of the earth, and he, the ornament of heaven. S. The bible heretofore we looked on but little better than a common book; or perhaps, it was our aversion. The New Testament .gave us no pleasure. The true glo- ries ofit were hidden from us. The gospel was a hidden gospel; but now,we look upon it as our most valuable treasure and portion; and we often look into it-; for we find Jesus Christ there, with all his salvation. Every part of the bible carries .quite another aspect than once it did. We look upon the promises as an inventory of our inheritance ; and we read those words, -`' All things are yours," witha relish of unknown delight, Jgecause of our own interest in them : And as they are
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