'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — February 28

Sense is the light of beasts, reason the light of men, faith the light of saints, and vision the light of glory. The important issues of life can only be discerned by faith. In our immediate experience we cannot see beyond death. Faith must step in and believe in heaven though it is yet unseen. Graceless souls may be sharp concerning their temporal interests, but concerning things of the next world they are stark blind. The whole business of Christianity contradicts sense. We give up the visible for invisible rewards. We do not look at the things that are seen, but unseen. The practical application of our faith is great: (1.) It strengthens us against the difficulties and inconveniences of our pilgrimage. Faith provides invisible supplies to endure visible dangers. If Satan is at our left hand ready to resist us, God is at our right hand ready to strengthen us. (2.) Faith helps us to bear afflictions in the hope of a favourable outcome. Faith can prophesy glad tidings at midnight and see quietness and pleasantness out of affliction as we lie under the burden of dark strokes of God's providence. (3.) Faith helps unfold the riddles of divine providence and mysteries. Divine providence has two faces: that which is visible and seems to be against us; aye, but there is that which is not seen, and there is love, sweetness and kindness. Sense judges only the outside of God's dispensations, but faith looks within the veil. There are secret and invisible things that God makes known to waiting souls. True faith can pick love out of God's angry speeches and draw gracious conclusions from the darkest events. When there is no apparent comfort, and there is not a drop of oil in the cruse, nor a dust of meal in the barrel, hope can hang upon a small thread. Wait, trust, and look for the favour from God.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Manton, By Faith, pp. 31-41
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