We have shown that water baptism is but a figure, a shadow of our death and resurrection, or of the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, and that this figure is of but little consequence to us in this present day.  In fine we have shown that if there were no future existence—­if nought were held up to man but the dreary prospect of a beamless eternity, he could not be justified, sanctified, born again, pass from death to life or enter the kingdom of God through faith, because in such case the objects of his faith and hope would be annihilated, his faith would be vain, he would be yet in his sins.  In this view of our subject, we perceive that Christ is but “the author and finisher of our faith,” having been ordained of God “to bring life and immortality to light,” to set us an example for our imitation and happiness here below—­and to die and rise in attestation of the truth involved in his mission.  Consequently his kingdom will be delivered up when faith and hope shall be lost in certainty and joy.

It now remains that we urge the importance of the new birth through faith in the truth.  And here we shall probably meet with one objection from the reader, viz.  As we argued in sermons, No. 5, 6, and 7, that faith was the first exercise of the creature, and that no one could believe or disbelieve what he pleased, the reader may then ask, what necessity is there of urging the importance of the new birth through faith in the truth, in as much as faith cannot be exercised at the pleasure or simply at the will of man?  And here we would remark—­ that the guilt of unbelief does not consist in rejecting a fact after patient investigation, by collecting all the evidences in our reach, but it consists in rejecting a fact without examination of its truth.  For instance; let the gospel be preached to a heathen, who rejects it without attempting to acquaint himself with the evidences upon which its truth is based.  He is condemned for not believing, because he neglects the only means by which he might be convinced of the truth.  He declines searching for evidence.  Of the truth of this remark we have a striking instance in the scriptures.  Paul preached at Thessalonica, but they heeded not his words.  He preached also at Berea, and the inspired penman says, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether these things were so.”  It is our duty to search the scriptures prayerfully and “labor to enter into that rest that remains to the people of God, lest any of us through unbelief should seem to come short of it.”  It is our duty to search for evidence of the fact, at least on all subjects relating to our present happiness, and particularly those that appertain to the future world.  They are too momentous to be treated with indifference.