And  while  Faith  is  tbus  necessary  for  our
temporal  well-being,  it  is  more  especially  the
istrument  of  our  spiritual  life.  God,  Provi-
mce.  Redemption,  Eternity,  Judgment,  Heaven
md  Hell  are  perceived  and  realized  only  by  the
ight  of  Faith.  It  is,  to  use  the  grand  expression
F  an  Apostle,  "  the  substance  of  things  hoped
br,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen."
I'  This  faculty  of  Faith  was,  no  doubt,  like  the
*■  other  powers  and  excellencies  of  man,  perfect  in
our  state  of  primeval  integrity  and  holines.s,  anc'
has  been  weakened  by  the  Fall.  Even  now  wf
may  observe,  that  it  is  vigorous  and  active  in
proportion  to  the  purity  and  innocence  of  him
who  exercises  it.  Observe,  for  example,  a  young
child,  in  whose  bosom  sin  still  lies  dormant,  and
whose  face  is  yet  bright  with  the  reflection  of
Heaven ;  observe  hira  at  his  mother's  knee.
With  what  unquestioning  and  absorbing  Faith
he  listens  to  the  tale  she  tells  him,  the  counsels
and  instructions  she  imparts !  How  does  he
'Irink  in  noonshment  fi-om  her  soul,  as  when  an
iufant  he  had  imbibed  it  from  her  body;  and
liow  absolutely  he  yields  himself  to  the  impres-


10  WHAT  IS  TRUTH?

Bion  which  she  desires  to  make  I  But  alas !  as
he  advances  in  life;  as  he  finds  himself  in  an
untruthful  and  treacherous  world ;  as  he  detects
the  falsehoods  that  are  told  him ;  and  still  more,
as  he  himself  becomes  corrupt  and  capable  of
deceiving ;  he  becomes  likewise  suspicious,  skep-
tical, and  incapable  of  believing.  For  falsehood
in  ourselves  and  Faith  in  others,  are  necessary
and  perpetual  antagonists.
