Looking at him as a Christian, I might justly use the words in which his spiritual helper of former days (Bishop Wilson) described Mr. Cecil: “All the finer materials which distinguished him as a man, were wrought up, if I may so say, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” But as it was more especially as a man of faith that he stood out before the world, it is in this character that I would ask you to look at him.
And, here let me say once for all, that in speaking of him to-day, I desire to speak of him as God’s handywork.
I have no wish to exalt the creature. You know how he would have loathed any approach to that. But I do wish, however faintly, to set forth what God’s grace did for a poor, weak, sinful, erring man, of like passions with us. To that grace he owed all, and to the honour of that grace alone, I ascribe all his eminence as a guide in the faith.
He believed through grace. I am not aware of the exact time, or of the exact circumstances of his conversion, but I have reason to believe that for fifty years he had believed, and known Him in whom he believed.
The ground and warrant of his faith was the sure Word of God.
The object of it was God in Christ—a reconciling Father, a sufficient Saviour, an ever-present Counsellor and Comforter. He received that which was delivered to him—as it is also to us—that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” This all-perfect, all-satisfying substitution and atonement of the Lord Jesus was from the first, and to the last, the one foundation of his trust, the one source of his life and strength. He felt this, and nothing less than this, to be necessary. He found this, and this alone, to be sufficient. He realised it. He rested on it. He rejoiced in it.
For among the more leading features of his faith, these two stand out:—its fixedness, and its joyousness.
It was a fixed faith. Having received the Word of God, he dealt with it as the Word of God. He submitted himself to its declarations with the simplicity of a little child. Where it warned, he took heed. Where it led, he followed. Where it promised, he took hold. And so having found it written therein that “they who believe are justified,” he believed, and was justified.
His faith grew into a full assurance, for assurance is but faith intensified. As such it wrought wondrously. By it he became what he was. It helped him to choose for God, and to be decided for the right. It enabled him to confess Christ before man, and to be steadfast when others were wavering. By this he overcame the world when it bid fair and high for his service, and by this he attempted not a few things for God, in a day when there were but few to stand by him. From this came his calmness in the midst of trouble, and from this his confidence in the hour of death. For thus he could say whilst passing into eternity:—“Were it not for mercy I should be lost; but by the mercy of God in Christ I am saved. Wonderful!” And again, “What should I do without Christ. Such a poor sinner! but complete and accepted in the Beloved! Such a sure foundation. Such a great salvation!” “He will never leave me nor forsake me.” “I am complete in Him!”
It was a joyous faith. He did not barely know and assent, and rely—he delighted. Christ was the joy of his soul as well as the soul of his joys. His heart ran over with gladness as he thought of the freeness and sufficiency of the great Salvation. The grace that brought it—the power that wrought it—the blood which bought him for it—and the love which taught him how to use it—were the subjects of his unceasing thankfulness and praise.