Only be stedfast in faith-not impatient. How soon you may succeed, I know not. Timothy, indeed,

appears to have been pious from a child. Whether his mother was so, may perhaps be doubted; for I find that she had married a heathen husband1-almost breaking her mother's heart, perhaps, and making her think that she was lost to God. This, very likely, was the beginning of worldly trouble to Eunice, but of spiritual blessings. Now sprang up the seed sown by Loïs; and Eunice no sooner has a son herself, than she sows it again, with quicker success.-Despair not, therefore, ye Christian mothers; your work may be overlooked by man, but it shall not be forgotten by Christ-by him who loved the little children, and said, "Suffer them to come unto me and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.""

Have any mothers, here present, lost this golden opportunity? Are you mourning over wicked sons and daughters, who in their childhood were not taught the good and the right way? Let this humble you in godly repentance; but still come to Christ in faith unfeigned, for a free pardon.

Have any young persons slighted the privilege ? God will require it at your hands! King Manasseh bitterly smarted for despising the example of his godly parent; yet he was brought to true repentance, at the close of a long life of sin: but when his son Amon sinned like him, he was cut off at once, aś a warning to all future despisers.3

Do any regret, that they possess not the privilege of having pious parents? Yet do not despond. Seek God for yourselves, and you shall find it as true in spiritual as in temporal things-" When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord taketh me up."4

1 Acts xvi. 1. 2 Mark x. 14. 32 Chron. xxxiii. 4 Ps. xxvii. 10.

SERMON IX.

MARK iv. 40.-How is it that ye have no faith?

SELDOM had the disciples of Jesus been in a situation more calculated to try their faith, than when these words were addressed to them by their Divine Master. After a day of unusual exertion in preaching the Gospel, our Lord had desired them to convey him across the lake of Gennesaret; and so great was his fatigue, that he appears to have instantly laid his head upon a pillow, and fallen fast asleep. While he was in this insensible condition, a great storm of wind arose the waves beat into the ship-and it was beginning to fill with water. He was awakened at length by the cries of his disciples; who were so overcome by terror, that they even accused him of indifference to their safety: Master, carest thou not that we perish?" He first relieves their fears. "He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still! and there was a great calm."

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And the wind ceased,

But he will not allow

those fears to stand as an excuse, for their distrust of his kindness. Even in this trying situation, he reproves their unbelief: 'Why are ye so fearful? how is it

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have no faith?"

In applying this reproof for your instruction-it is indeed too applicable to us all! I shall consider it,

I. AS BRINGING A SERIOUS CHARGE. It is a charge of unbelief-" Ye have no faith!"

D

There are two distinct classes of men, who in very different ways stand chargeable with having no faith.

1. Unbelievers, in whom there is absolutely no faith at all.-Do not suppose, that in this class I reckon none but Infidels and Atheists. No, my friends; many assume the name of Christian, who will never be owned as such in the great day of account. Now you must be aware, that it is not what a man calls himself, but what he really is, that decides his character in the sight of God. And by this just mode of reckoning, many a person will be found destitute of faith, who never suspected himself of being an unbeliever.

Examine yourselves. Do you really credit the Scripture testimony concerning the evil of sin, and God's hatred of all iniquity? "Do you believe that there is "a lake of fire"1 prepared for "the wicked"-for all "who forget God?"? And do you think that there is truth in the declaration which saith," All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God?"3 Ask yourselves again, whether you believe in the doctrine, that "the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost; "4 and that this Son of Man was also Son of God-God himself in our nature? Do you believe, moreover, that his salvation is an unspeakable gift" 5—that his love passeth knowledge "6-and that he is able to "save you from your sins," to save even to the uttermost?" No! many among you have no faith at all in these truths. And I will tell you how I know it. If you believed in your own sinfulness, you would be full of sorrow-shame-fear-anxiety; but you are not 90. Denial or excuse are your replies to the charge. If you believed in the wondrous love of God, and the grace of Christ, we should see you eager to secure it,

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1 Rev. xx. 14. 2 Psa. ix. 17.

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3 Rom. iii. 23. 4 Luke xix. 10. 7 Heb. vii. 25.

52 Cor. ix. 15. 6 Eph. iii. 19.

and full of admiration, gratitude, and Christian love, when it was obtained: it could not be otherwise, if you had faith. But is this the state of your affections toward God your Saviour? Ask your own heart-and let it convince you "of sin, because you believe not on him."1 The real truth is, that worldly, unconverted people-whether they be gross transgressors, or more decent and moral persons-give no sincere credit to the word of God; they have no such faith, as influences the heart, and regulates the life.

But again, this charge is applicable to

2. Believers, in whom there is no faith, proportioned to what might be expected of them. Of this class were the disciples. They were believers; for they had for Christ's sake left father and mother, and all earthly possessions. Yet so feeble and scanty did their faith appear on this occasion, that Jesus reproves though they had none; "How is it that ye have no

faith?"

them as

Often, very often, do real Christians merit a like reproof.-Is there before me a true believer, who is suffering distress and affliction? I will hope, that you make some endeavours to "cast your care "2 upon God; but is it not too much in the tone of the disciples-more like complaint and distrust, as though you thought he would "not care if you perished," than a simple and stedfast reliance on his wisdom and goodness? Again

is

your conscience clouded, and peace a stranger to your bosom, because of the load of former guilt? Now I know that you profess to regard Christ as an all-sufficient Saviour from condemnation: nevertheless, is it not manifest, that you do not faithfully apply the merit of his blood for the removal of your burden? You are rather seeking for some improvement in your own nature,

1 John xvi. 9.

2 1 Peter v. 7.

which may be your ground of hope, instead of Christ. Again-the power of temptation is like a storm in your soul: at one time you are inattentive to it-is not this through want of faith in its danger? at another, you despair of resisting and overcoming it-is not this through want of faith in the remedy?" My grace," saith Christ, " is sufficient for thee:"1 how little have you of true faith, when you talk of your peculiar circumstances and difficulties as being such, as to render sin more excusable, or holiness less practicable, in you, than in other Christians! Yet are not these vain imaginations too frequent even in the minds of real believers ?-Well may the Saviour exclaim, with regard to many among "How is it that ye have no faith?"

us,

But let us now consider these words,

II. AS SUGGESTING AN IMPORTANT INQUIRY. "How is it?" what can be the reasons, that the great bulk of mankind are so totally unmoved by God's truth; and that even real believers are such poor proficients in the school of faith?

It were easy to explain the whole mystery, by referring to the sinful corruption of our nature; which remains still, even in the regenerate. But for practical purposes-that is, for discovering the practical remedy - it will be well to give some more particular answers to this inquiry." How is it?"

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1. Because most men are wilfully ignorant, what things they ought to believe. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." You all acknowledge, that the Bible alone is the source of religious truth—the foundation of saving faith. Yet, strange to tell! few persons can be brought to "search the Scriptures." Even the facts and histories of the Bible 3 John v. 39.

1 2 Cor. xii. 9.

2 Romans x. 17.