By things not seen are meant such as cannot be discerned with the eyes of the body; because they are either invisible in their nature, or kept some way or other from the eye of the body. Of this word, see Chap. 2. v. 9. §. 7•…•….
Quest. Wherein lyeth the difference betwixt this fruit of saith, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 part, and this?
Answ. The former speaks onely of things to come: this of things past and present also, as well as to come. There are many things past and accomplished, which are not now seen; as, the birth of Christ, his miracles, his death, and •…•…∣surrection: There are also many things present that are not seen; as, Christs •…•…∣ting at Gods right hand, Angels attending us, the souls of just men in Heaven; yet faith gives evidence of the truth of all these, even such evidence, as they are as sure to believers that now live, as the things which Christ did on earth were to them who then saw them with their eyes, and as the things in Heaven are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them in Heaven. So as faith works assurance. This Apostle attributes full •…•…∣rance to faith. See Chap. 10. v. 22. §. 65.
In that the things whereof faith is an evidence, are not seen, it is evident that Invisibility maketh not things less credible; many evidences are given hereof in this Chapter. This point is thus expressed to the life, Whom having not see•…•…, ye love, in whom, though ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoyce, 1 Pet. 1. 8. Christ taketh the point for granted in pronouncing them blessed who have not seen, and yet have believed, Ioh. 20. 29.
Faith comes by hearing, Rom. 10. 17. not by sight, 2 Cor. 5. 7. we hear of many things that we see not.
This discovers the deceit of them, who so long as they see such and such ob∣jects, can believe, but will believe no further; like Thomas, who said, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, &c. I will not believe, Joh. 20. 2•…•…. If God give men health, peace, plenty, and all manner of prosperity, they will believe him to be their God: But if they see no external evidences of his fa∣vour, they will not believe on him. This is the common faith of most 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Herein they take away the difference betwixt faith and sight, 2 Cor. 5. 7.
It is faiths excellency to raise the soul above sight, & to support it against sense. True faith makes him that hath it, believe that God is his loving Father, when he seems to be angry with him; it makes him believe that he is in a blessed estate, though he be subject to many outward miseries.
Well were the Martyrs instructed herein. Had they not had evidence of things not seen, they would never have endured what they did. This is rendred as the reason of Moses his enduring, He endured, as seeing him who is invisible, v. 27. Invisible comforts and recompences swallowed up the terrours of those present trials which Martyrs saw and felt.
How much doth it now concern us to acquaint our selves with things in∣visible? such as the Word hath revealed for our stability. This was it that 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Christians from fainting, They did look, not at the things which are seen, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the things which are not seen, 1 Cor. 4. 18. This made David, when he was greatly distressed, and saw no outward help, to encourage himself in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God, 1 Sam. 30. 6. We know not what to do (faith Iehoshaphat to God, in reg•…•… of outward helps) but our eyes are upon thee, 2 Chron. 20. 12. Thus may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 encouraged in all manner of cases that can here befall us.