it with devotion and love. For, whatever the tongue of the scorner may say, whatever the senses may suggest, whatever the weakness of our nature may doubt; certainly, as the world now exists, it shall be dissolved surely as God's word is spoken, "the day of the Lord shall come."

SERMON VII.

THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION.

MATT. 8. 10.

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.

THESE words were spoken of the centurion who applied to have his servant healed; and they express the high commendation which our Lord bestowed on his conduct. Jesus we are told marvelled at it, that is, very greatly admired, and praised it; saying, "Verily I Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel." I have not found, in those who had most inducement to believe, faith so great, as in this stranger of the Gentiles.

Let

The centurion was an officer of the Roman army, a Gentile by birth, and engaged in a profession, which, as it was then commonly conducted, might rather inure him to violence and wrong, than prepare him for believing in a Saviour Christ. This then is the first particular to be observed in his faith, that he attained it under unfavourable circumstances, in the midst of the most trying temptations of the world, ambition, covetousness, and the pride of power. none therefore excuse himself in unchristian conduct, by the difficulties of his own particular line of life. Let none say, My business is of so pressing a kind, that I have no time to read God's word; My engagements are so numerous, that I cannot help profaning the sabbath; My labour is so incessant all the week long in providing a livelihood, that I have no leisure, no strength, no heart, to labour also for eternal life. Rather learn from this centurion, that there is no situation in which Providence can have placed you, that admits not of your attaining a lively

Rather be aware,

faith, a holy practice. that your peculiar difficulties, whether of age, or station, of habits, or employments, or engagements with the world, are the very difficulties which it is your special duty to overcome. So far are they from being an excuse for your backsliding, that you must, like this centurion, improve in them, and by them; if you would either now be counted to have attained his faith, or hope hereafter to receive the praise he met with.

I shall proceed therefore to point out the chief particulars in which the excellence of his faith consisted, designing in the following discourse to shew to what proof it was put by Christ. And I treat throughout of the centurion himself, though St. Luke tells us that he sent the elders and his friends to apply for him. (See Luke 7. 3, 6.) For whether he went with them, or followed after them, or stayed behind, it is evident no less from St. Luke's than from St. Matthew's account, that the sentiments. and the faith were his own.

We next notice then, that his applica

tion was made, not for himself but for his servant ; "Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented." (Ver. 6.) That servant we know, from the custom of those times, and from the word in the original of St. Luke's Gospel, (Luke 7. 22.) was not an hired servant, but a slave; the property of his master, liable, without redress, to the wanton exercise of his authority. But even in this abject condition of human nature, the kind regard of the centurion was extended to the affliction of his servant; and his faith was thus adorned, as true faith ever must be, by fervent charity. For his slave then, not for himself, and not out of his own interest in his slave, but out of compassion to his sufferings, because, as it is expressed, he was "grievously tormented," did this centurion with faith apply. Whence we learn, that we also should intercede for others, even for the most despised of our brethren; and should be willing for them, as for ourselves, so to labour, and to make supplication to God in their behalf.

And here I would say one word as to