How lucid the exposition of faith as given in that "Roll-call of the dead,"—the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews! "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It is the "substance"—that which is placed under, the ground, the basis, the foundation; and hence the firm confidence, answering to the actual existence—"of things hoped for." Or, to take the other branch of the definition, it is the "evidence of things not seen;" the evincing or bringing to light, and hence the proof of them; being equivalent to, or supplying the place of, actual demonstration. As if it had been said, We do not see the objects of the future world,—God, angels, the redeemed, the crowns of righteousness, the robes of glory,—but to him who has faith they are not unreal and imaginary, but positive realities; this faith answering for their very substance, presenting them in bold relief, and influencing its possessor just as if he saw them with his natural eyes.
It is the very nature of faith to give an uncontrolable efficacy to objects invisible and distant. All must allow that the things which God has revealed would have a mighty influence upon us, if they were actually visible and present. To faith they are visible. To faith they are present too. Faith removes the distance, and makes them present realities. So that things which are not seen, and things which are to take place thousands of ages hence, excite the same emotions, and have the same practical influence, as though they were actually visible, and actually present. They are equally interesting to us, as if they were present; for they will be present; and we shall experience them and feel them, when happiness will be as dear to us, and misery as dreadful, as they are now. They deserve our regard, therefore, just as though they were present. So that, if the infinite excellences of God, and the employments and pleasures of heaven are sufficient to move the hearts and govern the actions of angels who are now there, they are sufficient to move and govern us. If the transactions of the Judgment day, if the glorious appearing of the Lord from heaven, the assembling of the universe before him, the disclosure of the secrets of all hearts, the final sentence, the blessedness of the righteous, and the horror and despair of the wicked, will be sufficient to arrest the attention, and touch the feelings, and move all the active powers of those who will be present on that momentous occasion; they are sufficient to arrest our attention, to touch our feelings and move all our powers of action now; and just so far as we have faith, they will do it.
Men generally look at things which are seen. Sensible objects govern their affections, and limit the sphere of their observation. But faith shifts the scene. As to the grand, governing objects of51the human mind, and the motives to action, it puts them in a new world. It spreads a shroud over the things of time and sense, and opens to view things unseen and eternal.