And as it makes them real and substantial, so there is another thing included in this word, It makes them present; though they are but things hoped for, yet by faith they have a present subsistence to the soul; they are looked upon by faith as now subsisting, though in themselves they do not: faith partakes much of the nature of God, it hath a kind of omnipotent power in it, out of nothing to create something: there are many excellent works of faith, and amongst the rest this is a special one, to give a being to that which in itself hath none, to make it for the present a substantial real being to the soul: the work of faith in this kind is very observable: for evil things that are very high, faith can make them at a mighty distance; and for good things that are never so far off, faith can make them to be as present to it. Observe what the Scripture speaks of it this way: first for evils that are very nigh, and encompass us round about, when we are in the midst of them, faith can put the evil at a distance, as Psalm. 91. 7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee; not come nigh thee: If he had said, it shall not be upon thee, it had been somewhat; but to say, it shall not come nigh thee, this is a strange kind of expression; how could it be said not to come nigh him, when thousands fell on the both hands, and he was in the midst of it? it was by faith: faith put that at a distance which was just upon him. The strength of reason will help one, when the plague is a great way off, then a man thinks, I am safe enough; because far enough from it: but suppose the plague come into thy house, into thy chamber; now to believe a promise, it shall not come nigh thee, here is a mighty work of faith; faith puts evils present at a far distance. And then on the other side, for good things that are absent, & a great way off, faith can make them as if they were really subsisting: therefore (Heb. 11. 13.) It is said of the Fathers, that they saw the promises afar off, and embraced them: the word in the original is saluted the promises; now friends when they salute, must be nigh one another; their faith made the promises which were a great way off to be with them as if present: therefore it is ⟨p. 72⟩said of Abraham, that he saw Christs day, and rejoiced;
And as it makes them reall and substantiall, so there is another thing included in this word, It makes them present; though they are but things hoped for, yet by faith they have a present subsistence to the soul; they are lookt upon by faith as now subsisting, though in themselves they doe not: faith partakes much of the nature of God, it hath a kinde of omnipotent power in it, out of nothing to create something: there are many excellent works of faith, and amongst the rest this is a speciall one, to give a being to that which in itself hath none, to make it for the present a substantiall reall being to the soul: the work of faith in this kinde is very observable: for evill things that are very high, faith can make them at a mighty distance; and for good things that are never so far off, faith can make them to be as present to it. Observe what the Scripture speakes of it this way: first for evils that are very nigh, and encompasse us round about, when we are in the midst of them, faith can put the evill at a distance, as Psalm. 91. 7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee; not come nigh thee: If he had said, it shall not be upon thee, it had been somewhat; but to say, it shall not come nigh thee, this is a strange kinde of expression; how could it be said not to come nigh him, when thousands fell on the both hands, and he was in the midst of it? it was by faith: faith put that at a distance which was just upon him. The strength of reason will help one, when the plague is a great way off, then a man thinks, I am safe enough; because farre enough from it: but suppose the plague come into thy house, into thy chamber; now to believe a promise, it shall not come nigh thee, here is a mighty work of faith; faith puts evils present at a farre distance. And then on the other side, for good things that are absent, & a great way off, faith can make them as if they were really subsisting: therefore (Heb. 11. 13.) It is said of the Fathers, that they saw the promises afarre off, and embraced them: the word in the originall is saluted the promises; now friends when they salute, must be nigh one another; their faith made the promises which were a great way off to be with them as if present: therefore it is ⟨p. 72⟩said of Abraham, that he saw Christs day, and rejoyced;
