"Ecce crucem Domini!
Fugite partes adversæ."
"Behold the Cross of the Lord!
Let all its adversaries be put to flight."
Sermon XII.
The Value Of Faith.
(For The Feast Of St. Peter's Chains.)
I Cor. xvi. 13.
"Watch ye; stand fast in the faith;
do manfully, and be strengthened."
We celebrate to-day the feast called "St. Peter's Chains," to commemorate the miraculous union which took place between the two chains that had bound St. Peter in prison—the one under King Herod, and the other at Rome, under Nero—when they were brought together.
Why was St. Peter willing to be bound and imprisoned for the faith of Christ? Because he esteemed it more precious than liberty, or any thing else that the world prizes; as he says when he writes to others suffering for the same cause, "That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried in the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ." [Footnote 76]
[Footnote 76: I Ep. St. Peter i. 7.]
What is it that gives to faith its priceless value? Why is it to be esteemed above liberty, the possession of wealth, more than friends, parents, the whole world, and even more than life itself? There are those who do not possess this gift, and who, to all appearances, are as happy as those who do. Nations have existed, and now exist, strong and prosperous, and are without faith. What is there in faith that makes it worthy of being praised as the "pearl of great price," as "more precious than fire-refined gold," as something better to be desired by men—yes, even by nations—than power, rank, or glory? The value of things may be got at in two ways. The first is by estimating them according to their real qualities; the second, according to what men are willing to give or sacrifice for their possession. Let us consider the value of faith weighed in each of these balances.