God to be what he is we are but a kind of witnesses to Gods Glory But he is an efficient in our Glory He bestoweth upon us what was not before and the Glory he bestoweth upon us answereth the greatness of his being 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory He will at length act like himself as an Infinite and Eternal Power His gift shall answer his nature a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory 6. Gratitude bindeth us continually to live unto God Every moment God is at work for us and therefore every moment we should be at work for God John 5.17 My Father worketh hitherto and I work In every thing we should be mindful of him you are upheld by him every moment and have life and breath and all things from him 7. Our great end must fix our minds which otherwise will be tossed up and down in several and various uncertainties and distracted by a multiplicity of ends and objects that it cannot continue in any composed and setled frame Psa. 86.11 Vnite my heart And Jam. 1.8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways An uncertain mind breedeth an uncertain life not one part of our lives will agree with another because the whole is not firmly knit by the power of their last end running through them Most mens lives are but a meer lottery because they never minded in good earnest why they came into the World The fancies they are governed by are jumbled together by chance if right 't is but a good hit a casual thing They live at peradventure and then no wonder they walk at random Means 1. Rowse up thy self and consider often the end for which you were created and sent into the World Our Lord saith John 18.37 For this cause was I born and for this end sent into the World that I might bear witness to the truth So should every one consider for what errand God sent him into the World If these self-communings were more rife they would do us a great deal of good Why do I live here what have I done in pursuance of my great end Most men live as beasts eat and drink and trade and die and there is all that can be said of them little have they served God or done good in their Generation Certainly you were not made to serve your selves nor any other Creatures but that other Creatures might serve you and ye serve God Will ye once sit down in good earnest about this business and mind the work for which ye were born Many never asked yet in good earnest for what purpose they came into the World and then no wonder they wander and walk at random since they have not as yet proposed any certain scope and aim to themselves All that we have to know is what is our end and the right way to obtain it And all that we have to do is to seek the end by those means Now we should often consider whether we do so yea or no for comparing our ways with our rule is the way to awake and come to Wisdom Psa. 119.59 I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy Testimononies I labour I take pains I rise early I go to bed late but to what end is all this What is it that my Soul doth principally aim at in all these things Oh consider seriously and frequently for whom are you at work for whom are you speaking and spending your time For whom do you use your Bodies your Souls your time your estate your labours and cares Oh my Soul what is thy end in all these things 2. Remember thou art not thine own to dispose of The sense of Gods interest in us should be often renewed upon our hearts 1 Cor. 6.19 Ye are not your own therefore glorify God He hath a full right in all that we have and do Rom. 14.8 For whether we live we live unto the Lord Or whether we die we die unto the Lord Whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords he hath jus possidendi disponendi utendi a power to possess dispose and use the Creature at his own pleasure And if they alienate themselves from him or use themselves to any other purpose than for his Service and Glory they do as much as in them lyeth to disposess him of his right there is nothing doth so strongly bind us absolutely to resign our selves to the will use and service of our Creator as his right and interest in us 'T is meet that God should be served with his own Every man expecteth to receive the fruit of his vineyard the improvement of his own money and goods We think we speak reasonably when we say we demand but our own All the disorder of the Creature proceedeth from the denyal or forgetfulness of Gods Propriety in us Psa. 12.4 Our tongues are our own who is Lord over us Therefore if we would live unto God we must often think of it and revive it upon our Souls that we may not dispose of our selves or any thing that is ours but for the Glory of God and prefer his interest before our own 3. Consider how much we are bound in gratitude to devote our selves to Gods use and service for the great mercies of Creation Redemption and daily Providence Certainly if we have a due sense of the Lords goodness to us we will devote the whole man our whole time and strength to his service will and honour the glorifying of God is the fruit of love The context sheweth that Love is but the reflex of Gods Love or the beating back of his beam upon himself Because he hath loved us we love him and because we love him we live to him and seek his Glory and Honour 'T is gratitude keepeth this resolution afoot of being and doing all things for God he shewed love to us in Creation when we started out of nothing into the life and being of man But he shewed more love to us in Redemption when his own Son came to die for us And that 's the greater ingagement to bind us to live unto God And so 't is pressed every where in the Scripture But yet God reneweth his mercies to us every day that the variety and freshness of them producing new delight may revive the feelings of his love and goodness and excite us to renewed zeal for his Glory and delight in his service and to imploy our time and strength to his Glory with a thankful heart In short Creation bindeth us for to whom should we live but to him from whom and by whom we live Having all from God we should in gratitude bring back all to him Redemption bindeth us for we are purchased to God not to our selves And God carryed it on in such an astonishing way the more to oblige us that we might readily and freely yield up our selves
if in want we would relieve him Christ is so nearly conjoyned with his Servants that in their Afflictions he is afflicted in their Comforts he is comforted he looks upon it as done to him The Godly of old time thought themselves much Honoured if they could get a Prophet or an Apostle to their Houses Heb. 13.1 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares Here 's Christ himself will you refuse him who is Heir of all things 3. 'T is the great Question Interrogated by him at the great day of Accounts 'T is not Have you Heard have you Prophesyed have you Eat and Drank in my Presence But have you Fed have you Cloathed have you Visited We are one day to come to this Account and what sorry Accounts shall we make So much for Pleasure for Riot for Luxury for Bravery in Apparel and Pomp in Living and little or nothing for God and his People As if a Steward should bring in his Bill So much spent in Feasts in Rioting in merry Company when his Masters House lyeth to ruine the Children starved and the Servants neglected We are very liberal to our Lusts but sparing to God A man that expecteth to be posed is preparing himself and would fain know the Questions aforehand Christ hath told us our Question SERMON XXIII MATTH XXV v. 37 38 39 40. Then shall the Righteous answer and say Lord When saw we thee an Hungred and fed thee and Thirsty and gave thee Drink When saw we thee a Stranger and took thee in and Naked and Cloathed thee Or when saw we thee Sick and in Prison and came unto thee And the King shall answer and say unto them Verily I say unto you In so much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me WE have handled the Sentence and the Reason The Reason is amplified in some Parabolical passages which contain a Dialogue or interchangeable Discourse between Christ the King and his Elect Servants In which you may observe First Their Question verses 37 38 39. Secondly Christ's Reply and Answer verse 40. Not that such formal words shall pass too and fro at the day of Judgment between the Judge and the Judged but only to represent the matter more sensibly and in a more lively and impressive way to our minds First For their Question certainly 't is not moved 1. By way of Doubt or exception to the Reason alleadged by the Judge in his Sentence there being a perfect Agreement and harmony of mind and will between them Neither 2. Out of Ignorance as if they knew not that Christ was so much concerned in their works of Love done to his Children for his sake for this they knew aforehand that what was done to Christians is done to Christ and upon that account they do it as to Christ and such Ignorance cannot be supposed to be found in the glorified Saints 3. Some say the Question is put to express an holy wonder at what they hear and see and no question Christ will then be admired in his Saints 2 Thes. 1.10 And three Causes there may be of this wonder 1. Their humble sense of their own Nothingness that their Services should be taken notice of and rewarded that he should have such a respect for their mean offices of Love which they little esteemed of and had no confidence in them 2. The greatness of Christs Condescention that he should have such a care of his mean Servants who were so despicable in the world 3. The greatness of the Reward Christ shall so incomparably above all that they could ask or think reward his People that they shall wonder at it This sense is pious taken up by most Interpreters I should acquiesce in it but that I find the same question put by the Reprobates afterwards vers 42 43 44. they use the same words therefore I think the words are barely Parabolical brought in by Christ that he might have occasion further to declare himself how they fed him and cloathed him and what esteem he will put upon works of Charity and to impress this truth the more upon our minds that what is done to his People is accepted by him as if it were done to his Person However because the former sense is useful I shall a little insist upon it in this note Doctrine That when Christ shall come to Reward his People they shall have great cause to wonder at all that they see hear and enjoy 1. They shall wonder at the Reason alleadged They that are holy ever think humbly of their own works and therefore considering their no deservings their ill-deservings they cannot satisfie themselves in admiring and extolling the rich Grace of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that he should take notice of any thing of theirs and produce it into Judgment see how they express themselves now Psal. 143.2 Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant Non dicit cum hostibus tuis So Psal. 130.3 If thou shouldest mark Iniquity O Lord who shall stand So 1 Cor. 4.4 For I know nothing by my self yet am not I thereby Justified Isa. 64.6 But we are as an unclean thing and all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags This thought they have of all they do and their minds are not altered then for this is the Judgment of Truth as well as of Humility Luk. 17.10 When we have done all we are unprofitable Servants Their Lord hath taught them to say so and think so they did not this out of Complement And for their works of Mercy they were not to let their left hand know what their right hand did Math. 6.3 'T is a Proverb that teaches us that we should not suffer our selves to take notice of what we give in Alms nor esteem much of it as if there were any worth therein and therefore when Christ maketh such reckoning of these things their wonder will be raised they will say Lord when saw we thee an hungry or athirst Their true and sincere Humility will make them cast their Crowns before the Throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour Lord 't is thy Goodness what have we done The Saints when they are highest still shew the lowest signs of Humility to their Redeemer and confess that all the glory they have they have it from him and are contented to lay it down at his feet as holding it by his Acceptance and not their own Merit they have all and hold all by his Grace and therefore would have him receive the Glory of all 2. They shall wonder at the greatness of Christs Condescention and hearty Love to his Servants though poor and despicable for in the day of Judgment he doth not commemorate the Benefits done to him in Person in the dayes of his Flesh but to his Members in the time of his Exaltation he doth not mention the Alabaster box of precious Oyntment poured
Page 133 Hell a state of Torment as well as a state of Death Page 193 Hell a State of Torment and Place of Torment Page 193 The greatness of the Torments of the damned Page 207 Torments of the Body what they shall be Page 206 Torments of the damned why eternal Page 208 Eternity of Hell Torments consistent with Gods Iustice. Page 194 Few believe the Torments of Hell Page 195 Trimming of Lamps what it signifies in the Wise Virgins Page 40 What it signifies in the Foolish Virgins Page 40 Who do not trim their Lamps Page 41 Trade what it is to trade with our Talents Page 90 In trading for God our Returns must carry proportion to our Receipts Page 94 Reasons of it Page 95 Cautions in judging of our Returns in Trading Page 94 U. UNion of Believers with Christ represented by Marriage-Union Vid. Marriage Page 56 The Benefits of Union with Christ. Page 57 Virgins Visible Professors why so called Page 3 Virgins foolish why many have great confidence of their good Estate that shall be found foolish Virgins at last Page 45 Visible Church the State of it in this World Page 4 W. WAtching spiritual what it is Page 72 Watching as it respects our present state to avoid sin and do good considered Page 74 75 Reasons why we should watch to avoid sin Page 73 Watching unto Prayer in Prayer after Prayer what Page 75 Watching as it respects the future State opened Page 75 Who are to watch Page 78 Reasons why we should watch Page 77 The Causes of it Page 73 How long we are to watch Page 78 The Blessing promised to watching Page 78 The danger of not watching Page 78 Means to help to Watchfulness Page 79 Wisdom of Christ Divine and Humane explained Page 143 Wisdom Spiritual wherein it lyes Page 22 Wonder a great Wonder that any should reject the Christian Faith Page 136 214 And that any should embrace it and live sinfully Page 137 214 Three Causes of it Page 137 The Reward of the Righteous at the day of Iudgment shall be matter of wonder to them Page 183 The Reasons of this wonder Page 183 Work Christ appointed every man his work at his departure Page 84 How good Works must be performed Page 180 The Godly described by their fruitfulness in good Works Page 206 Comfort to sincere Christians from their good Works Page 180 The doing some good Works cannot excuse men for the omission of others Page 180 The respect of good Works to the future sentence Page 178 Works assigned as a Reason of the Sentence of Absolution at the last day Page 174 Works at the last day produced as an Evidence of Faith Page 175 Trusting in Works very natural but very dangerous Page 179 Works are not the moving Cause to incline God to give us Christ. Page 179 Nor the Instrument of applying the Merits of Christ. Page 180 Yet no man can maintain his Comfort without them Page 182 Worm that never dyes what it is Page 206 Wrath of God the greatness of it Page 207 Some Instances of it Page 208 FINIS A TABLE OF SCRIPTURES EXPLAINED In the SERMONS on the 25 th of MATTHEW  Chap. Vers. Pag. EXodus 34 5 6 7. 112 Job 11 20. 47 Psalm 32 31. 13 141 3. 79 Proverbs 3 16. 199 19 15. 28 26 9. 121 Ecclesiastes 10 2. 14 Isaiah 30 33. 192 Jeremiah 17 11. 207 Hosea 2 19 20. 59 Zechariah 11 17. 131 Matthew 6 3. 183 11 23. 130 26 45. 26 28 10. 187 188 Luke 13 7. 206 Acts 20 21. 14 24 10. 7 Romans 2 12. 159 9 11. 200  22. 199 1 Corinthians 3 8. 107 2 Corinth 11 2. 3 Ephesians 2 10. 14 4 18. 12 6 8. 107 Colossians 1 24. 36 2 Thessalon 1 9. 149 2 Timothy 2 12. 66 Titus 1 16. 14 2 12 13. 42 Hebrews 2 11. 187 6 12. 119 8 10. 13 10 22. 22 James 3 16 17. 93 1 Peter 1 3. 172  7. 104 2 Peter 1 4. 12  7. 186 3 11. 40  14. 42 1 John 2 16. 74 Revelations 20 12. 102 21 8. 209 ERRATA in the Sermons on the 25 th Chap. of St. Matthew The Reader is desired to Correct these following Errors with some others less material which have been occasioned by the faultiness and Imperfection of the transcribed Copy PAge a. line 51. for thus read as l. 52. for grew r. drew l. 53. r. so he was ib. for to r. from p. 4. l. 39. r. meant of p. 12. l. 51. dele of p. 18. l. 8. for never r. neither p. 21. l. 31. r. not to waste it l. 49. for Transfiguration r. Presignation p. 22. l. 43. for Wisdom is r. Rectum est p. 47. l. 56. r. hope of p. 48. l. 43. r. profession and l. 44. dele without that l. 45. dele should l. 46. r. Now these Temporaries p. 51. l. 19. for that we might r. but we must l. 36. r. in the names of their little ones avouch God to be their God p. 55. l. 48. dele 3. p. 57. l. 9. for name r. terms p. 59. l. 46. r. he comes p. 63. l. 56. r. would not now die p. 66. l. 13. r. if he were not heard and l. 61. for assigneth r. ascribeth p. 67. l. 25. for beareth r. leaveth l. 26. for thereto r. on them p. 69. l. 8. r. ever be l. 34 35. dele not fully p. 70. l. 16. for indefinitè r. distinctè p. 71. l. 3. for separate r. despise l. 5 6. for promote r. promise p. 76. l. 8. r. they both see things future and things future with clearness and certainty l. 11. r. the light of Faith l. 16. for design r. Decree ib. for they are r. that Decree is p. 79. l. 6. after Judge adde before they are ready to be judged p. 81. l. 50. for commutative r. cumulative p. 82. l. 47. for Duty r. Entity p. 84. l. 33. dele and undertakes p. 92. l. 9. for is r. as p. 94. l. 15. dele mans l. 38. after boldeth adde Crescentibus donis crescunt rationes donorum Gregory p. 97. l. 24. for Ministry r. Minister p. 104. l. 53. for Fruits r. Smells l. 53 54. for Pleasure consists r. And lastly p. 105. l. 17. r. delight to meet them l. 25. for This r. His p. 114. l. 47. dele by their failing p. 117. l. 48. dele no p. 121. l. 61. r. a sleight Eye p. 124. l. 27. for Many r. Man l. 41. dele First l. 42. dele Who p. 127. l. 4. dele or p. 141. l. 35. for of r. at ib. after coming dele l. 40 41. for Soul and Body r. humane Body p. 146. l. 18. for with r. without l. 39. r. bonum p. 155. l. 26. r. You have no cause l. 29. r. The wayes of God are condemned p. 163. l. 28. for lively r. live l. 44. for Comforts r. People p. 172. l. 47. r. of the Inheritance of the Saints p. 179. l. 20. for because r. besides p. 184.
to our old sins again at least let them not have dominion over us Baptism is the Sacrament of our Regeneration and implanting into Christ and reception into Gods family and as we are born but once so we are but once new-born being once received into Gods Family we are never cast out thence being once adopted into the number of his Children we are never disinherited no the gifts and calling of God are withâ—â—t repentance Rom. 11.29 Secondly As to the Perfection and Blessedness of it In that he liveth â—e liveth unto God This is 1. A Pattern and Copy of the spiritual Life here upon earth 2. A Pledge and Assurance of our glorious Life in Heaven The one is our Duty the other iâ— our Reward 1. The spiritual Life is a living to God as Christ liveth with God and to God As Mediator he liveth with God is sat down at his right hand so should we live in Communion with God be much and often in Company with him in our whole course we should always set him before us walking as in his eye and presence Psal. 16.8 I have set the Lord always before me It is his Law we live by in his Presence we stand his Work we do his Glory we seek for our great end is the pleasing and glorifying of God Gal. 2.19 For I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Rom. 14.7 8. For none of us liveth to himself and no man dyeth to himself for whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lords Christ gave us a Pattern of an holy obedient and heavenly Life in his conversation here on Earth and in Heaven we must still write after his Copy we must be Christs as Christ is Gods and then all things are ours 1 Cor. 3.23 All are yours for you are Christs and Christ is Gods Wholly devote your time and strength and service to him God must be your solace and your strength and your beginning end way and all When you awake you should be still with him Psal. 139.18 all the day long you should keep in his Eye Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long In all your actions your intention must be to please and glorifie him 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever you do do all to the glory of God 2. Our glorious Life in Heaven that is a living unto God indeed for there we have nothing else to mind but God We are admitted before the Throne of his Glory to be with him for evermore Now if Christ be there we shall be there also for if we follow him we shall fare as he fared Job 12.26 Where I am there shall my servant be Joh. 17.24 Father I will that those also whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am So Joh. 14.3 If I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Our Saviour desireth to have the Faithful in Heaven with himself it is a thing which his heart is set upon and he presents the efficacy of his Merits and Obedience to this end and purpose that the great work of the Restitution of lost Man may obtain its end and effect and his mystical Body may be brought together to one place that they may ever land and praise and glorifie God Many in the World cannot endure the presence and company of the Saints Christ cannot be in Heaven without them now the spiritual Life issuing it self into the heavenly is a great encouragement to us to go on in our Duty and Obedience Vse Let us often and seriously think of him Who dyed for our offences and rose again for our justification Rom. 4.25 and improve it 1. For the destruction of sin Christ dyed that he might destroy sin and take away sin if he had not fully done his work he could not rise again or if risen he needed to return once more to dye but Christ dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him By raising up Christ God sheweth that he received the death of his Son as a sufficient ransom for our sins and all that believe in him shall have the comfort of it If he had remained in death or were still obnoxious to it his Satisfaction should not have been perfect neither should he have been able to apply the virtue and comfort of it to us but now who shall condemn when God justifieth when Christ is dead yea rather risen from the dead c. Rom. 8.33 34. If Christ hath paid our debt and born our sorrows so far that no more is required of him surely God will never reverse that Pardon which was sealed with Christs Blood The Curse and Condemnation are terrible indeed but he hath taken them away and given us a free discharge 2. For the new Life Christ is both the Cause and the Pattern of it His Spirit is the Cause of it and his Life in Heaven is the Copy after which we must write 1. His Spirit is the Cause of it who quickeneth our dead Souls therefore if you be entred into Gods Peace have sued out your Atonement you may expect to be saved by his Life Rom. 5.10 If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled shall we be saved by his life that is by him who now liveth and sitteth at the right hand of God and there intercedeth for grace necessary that we may live unto God he that intercedeth wanteth no will and he that saith that all things are put into his hands wanteth no power 2. Christ is the Pattern of this new Life which we are to live in the World Christ is the great Agent to promote Gods Kingdom and Glory but his Spirit ingageâ— us in the same design as long as we live we should live unto God we are raised 〈◊〉 from the grave of sin that we should be to the praise of his glorious Grace The Câ—â—istians life is a life whereby we glorifie God see this life be begun in you and see it be perfected more and more Be Christs as Christ is Gods Heb. 7.25 He is able to save unto the uttermost all those â—haâ— come unto God through him seeing he over liveth to make intercession for us Christ liveth we need not doubt of a supply He gives life as Creator to the smallest worms In him was life Joh. 1.4 he can quickeâ— or when dead and dull he came into the World for this purpose Joh. 10.10 I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly and he is gone out of the World to Heaven for this purpose Eph. 4.10 He ascended for above the heavens that he might fill all things he is filled with the Spirit to
signs of grace as the acts of the understanding and will there is a possibility of a greater decay in them you cannot weep for sin but you would give all that you have to be rid of sin A man may groan more sorely under the pains of the tooth-ach which is not mortal than under the languishings of a Consumption 4. The effects of solid esteem are these 1. When Christ is counted more precious than all the World no affections to the Creature can draw us to offend him 1 Pet. 2.7 But all our love to them is still in subordination to an higher love Love was principally made for God and 't is many ways due to him Those excesses and heights which are in the affections will become no other object The Genius or Nature of it sheweth for whom 't was made However as God hath placed some love and holiness in the Creature so some allowance of affection there is to them Worldly comforts are valuable as they come from God and lead to him as effects of his bounty and instruments of his Glory and service All the value we put upon them should be this that we have something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ And when God tryeth us when Christ and Worldly matters come in competition then to be found faithful and despise the riches pleasures and honours of the World This is a sensible occasion to shew the sincerity of our love which do you choose the favour of God or earthly friends The light of his countenance or the prosperity of the World 2. When you can for Gods sake incur the frowns and displeasure of the Creature Luke 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own Life also he cannot be my disciple 3. When a man maketh it his main care rather to please God than to gratifie the flesh and promote his carnal interests Your great business is to walk worthy of God to all pleasing Col. 1.10 You labour to get Christ above all and to live in his love All cares and businesses give way to this and are guided and directed by this His favour is the life of thy love and his love is thy greatest happiness And thou darest not put it to hazard nor obscure the sense of it by any indulgence to carnal satisfactions And thy greatest misery is his displeasure and thereupon sin which is the cause of it is most hateful to thee This is our constant tryal and certainly sheweth how the pulse of the Soul beateth SERMON XXV 2 Cor. 5.14 For the Love of Christ constraineth us because we thus Iudge that if one dyed for all then were all dead THe fourth case of Conscience is about the decay of love The heart is not so deeply affected as it was wont to be with the love of God in Christ nor is there such a strong bent of heart towards him nor delight in him and we grow more remiss in our work feeble in the resistance of sin some that thus decay in love are not sensible of it others from the decay infer a nullity of love Therefore because this is a disease incident to the new Creature something must be said to this case both to warn men and to direct them in the judging of it In answering this doubt take these Propositions 1. Leaving our first love is a disease not only incident to Hypocrites but Gods own Children To Hypocrites Matth. 24.12 The love of many shall wax cold To Gods own Children Revel 2.4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love They were commended for their labour in the Lords work zeal against Hypocrites patience in adversity yet I have some what against thee what 's that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only here is this difference though the disease be common to both yet with some difference as to the event and issue Hypocrites may make a total defection and there may be in them an utter extinction of love In others there is not a total failing but only some degrees of their love abated The love of Hypocrites may utterly miscarry and vanish many seem to be carryed on with great fervour and affection in the ways of God for a while yet afterwards fall quite away Partly because it was a love built upon forreign motives as the favour of the times the air of education the advantage of good company Christ might be the object but the World the ground and reason of all this love Jesus is not loved for Jesus sake He must be both object and reason otherwise when the reasons of our love alter the object will not hold us When times grow bad we grow bad with them 't is no wonder to see hirelings prove changelings and many that loved a Christ triumphing to forsake and hate a Christ crucified When the grounds alter their affections are removed Their affections to Christs Cause and Servants will cease also As Artificial motions cease when the poise is down by which they are moved flying Meteors when the matter that feedeth them is spent will vanish and disappear or fall from Heaven like lightning when the Stars those constant fires of Heaven shine forth with a durable light and brightness What is in one Evangelist take from him that which he hath is take from him that which he seâ—meth to have in another Luke 8.18 Partly because if Jesus were loved for Jesus sake yet not with such a prevalent radicated love as could subdue contrary affections There is a love of God and a delight in his ways which is cherished in us upon right motives and reasons Such as the offer of pardon and Eternal Life by Christ but this did but lightly affect the heart not change it A tast of the good word Heb. 6 4 5 6. At first men find a marvellous sweetness in the way of godliness hugely pleased with the possibility of pardon and Happiness But these sentiments of Religion are afterwards choaked by the cares of this World and voluptuous living and all that delight and savour which they had is lost and comes to nothing when Temptations rise up in any considerable strength Therefore we are warned to keep up the confidence and rejoycing of hope Heb. 3.6 14. That well-pleasedness of mind that liking that comfortable savour which we had in the serious attending upon the business of Religion 2. Gods own Children may find their love cold and languishing and that they go backward some degrees and suffer loss in the heat and vigour of grace but though grace do decay 't is not utterly abolished The Church of Ephesus left her first love but not utterly lost it The seed of God remaineth in them 1 John 3.9 There is some vital grace communicated in regeneration which cannot be lost This is more radicated than the former 't is a deeper sense of Gods love and doth more affect the
clearing up our Title to it The same things serve to enter into Heaven that serve to assure us of our interest in it Fulfil Gods conditions which he hath annexed to the new Covenant and you may be sure and the same is necessary to have as well as to be sure all the difference is some make a hard shift to go to Heaven others enter abundantly 2 Pet. 1.11 They that make it their business to know they have Eternal life have this above others that they go more seriously to work and do more attend upon it Secondly The force and virtue of this sure confidence 1. 'T is of great force to support us under the difficulties of Obedience In the context Paul is discoursing of what supported him and kept him from fainting under the labours of his Apostolate 'T was a toilsome life to go up and down venturing upon all hazards and uncertainties and to travel far and near and all to draw Souls to Christ. A Blessed work in it self But toilsome to the flesh But we know c. The same holdeth in all other duties of our general and particular Calling Nothing puts us upon such a willing Industry and ready constant Watchfulness as this confidence that after we have gone through a short life here in this world this everlasting Blessedness will be our Portion 1 Cor. 9.26 I run not as one that is uncertain An assurance of the end sweetneth the Race and allayeth all the difficulties of the way A poor Beast will go home chearfully How pleasant is it to know that we shall be with God for ever When we are assured that every step sets us nearer Heavenward it will make us mend our pace Doubtfulness is a Torment to an understanding creature and blind guesses and dark Hopes cannot animate us so much as a chearful and confident expectation The more assured our hope our endeavours the greater 1 Cor. 15.58 Be ye stedfast unmovable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as ye know your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 2dly 'T is of great force to quiet our minds in the midst of all the cares sorrows and Crosses of the present world The Soul that hath this Anchor needeth not to be tossed with all those Tempests and anxieties of mind which worldly men are subject unto for whatever uncertainty there may be in their outward Condition there is a sure estate laid up for them in Heaven Col. 1.5 1 Pet. 1.4 reserved for us in Heaven There we shall fully enjoy our God and all things in him We know it and are sure of it A certain durable treasure which is above the reach of danger and beyond all possibility of loss 3dly 'T is of greatforce to enable us to bear the greatest sufferings not only with a quiet but with a joyful mind A duty often pressed upon us in Scripture and a Christian height which we should all aspire unto and we can hardly attain to it till we have a confidence of our own Blessedness in another world for it is this maketh light the greatest sufferings Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 Heb. 10.34 One that hath the promise of Eternal Life in the hand of his Faith this Glory and Blessedness in the Eye of his hope can look through all Tribulations see sunshine at the back of the storm That the Tribulation is working out means to help on and hasten this Glory He knoweth in himself hath assured grounds of confidence in his own Soul that he shall have better things from God than he can lose in the world That to be persecuted for Righteousness sake is the nearest way to Heaven He hath the promises to shew for the certainty of the thing and evidences in his heart of his own right and Title 4thly 'T is of great force to support us against Death it self which is the King of Terrours Certainly a Christian should get above the fears of death and be willing to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Now we shall be so far from desiring to dye that we can hardly venture to dye without assurance of a better estate Alas how bitter is the thought of death to that Soul that must be turned out of doors shiftless and harbourless and is not provided of an Everlasting Habitation or a better place to go to But now get this once certain and then death will not be so terrible whether it come in a natural or violent way Natural When sickness is ready to fret Life asunder then you are at the Gates of Heaven waiting every moment when you shall be called in When death shall draw aside the vail and shew you the Blessed Face of God you are just ready to Step into Immortal pleasures you do but change Houses when you dye and it is not an exchange for the worse but for the better A Cottage for a Pallace Do but step into this House and you bid an Everlasting Farewel to all sin and sorrow in a moment in the twinkling of an Eye Violent Rom. 8.35.36 The Sword is but the Key to open the Prison Doors to let out that Soul which hath long desired to be with Christ. Heb. 11.35 Were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection contented to dye by the hands of the Tormentour because they would have Gods deliverance not his SERMON III. 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an House not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens Vse 1. Is an Exhortation to press you to several Duties As 1. TO Believe the promised Glory Here I shall First shew the necessity of this Secondly How Faith worketh as to the other World Thirdly How we shall rouze up our Faith to a more firm belief of the promised Glory First The necessity We had need press this much 1st Because eternal life is one of the principal objects of Faith and the first motive to invite us to hearken after the things of God The Apostle telleth us Heb. 11.6 That without Faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him He that would have any thing to do with God must be persuaded of his Being and Bounty In the choosing of a Religion we first look after a right object whom to Worship and a fit reward what we may expect from him For that is the great inducement to make up the match between our hearts and that object Now God that knoweth the heart of Man and what wards will fit the lock doth accordingly deal with us He propoundeth himself as the first cause and highest Being to be reverenced worshipped and obeyed by us so also as the chiefest good to be enjoyed by us in an everlasting state of Blessedness All the Doctrines of the Christian Faith tend to establish this
hope in us John 20.31 These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have eternal life in his name All that is written in the Gospel is to establish Faith in Christ as the Messiah and that in order to eternal life The whole sum of the Christian Religion is That God hath chosen us to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess. 2.13 14. All the parts of Religion harmoniously concur to establish this hope The whole Covenant of God implyeth it A Covenant is a transaction of God as the Soveraign with his Subjects and consists of Precepts and Laws invested with the Sanction of Promises and Threatnings His Commands all of them imply such an estate Some express it All imply it For they are work propounded to us in order to wages or a reward to be given and 't is not fit we should have wages before our work be over Some express it as John 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life c. and Mat. 6.19 20. we are commanded not to lay up Treasures upon Earth but in Heaven c. And Luke 13.24 Strive to enter in c. And if there were no such estate all these Laws were in vain and would the wise and faithful God give us Laws in vain his Threatnings would be but a vain Scare-crow if there were not a world to come his promises but flatter us with a lye All the Doctrines concerning Christ point out such an eternal condition to us whether they concern his Person or Estates His coming from Heaven the place of Souls his going thither again or sitting down on the right hand of God and then his coming to Judgment Wherefore was Christ apparelled with our flesh But that we might be cloathed with his glory if Christ were in the Womb why not we in Heaven 'T is more credible to believe a Creature in Heaven than a God in the Grave Therefore he came into the world to purchase a right for us and he went to Heaven again to plead prosecute and apply that right Rom. 5.10 He is gone thither with the names of the Tribes on his Breast and Shoulders Heb. 9.12 All the benefits of Christ tend to this Justification Our release from the curse that we may be capable of life Rom. 5.18 Sanctification to prepare fit us for it and to begin this life in us for he that hath the Son hath life 1 John 5.12 All ordinances The word Isa. 55.3 Hear and your Souls shall live The Supper Luke 22.20 all Graces Faith to see it 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your Faith even the Salvation of your Souls Love to desire it hope to wait for it The comforts of the Spirit to give us a tast of it So that this is the great object of Faith and to which all the rest tend 2dly The believing of this constituteth a main difference between the Animal and Spiritual life by which the world of mankind are distinguished The Animal life is that which is supported by the comforts and delights of the present world such as Lands Honours Pleasures Riches and when these are out of sight they are at loss and utterly dismayed But the Spiritual and Divine life is supported by the comforts and delights of the world to come by reflecting upon everlasting happiness and the glory and blessedness we shall injoy there as in the verses before the Text in the close of the former Chapter when we believe these things another kind of Spirit cometh upon a man and hath such a life and strength derived into his heart that he can bear up with joy and courage when the outward and Animal life is exposed to the greatest difficulties and decays because he is a man of another world And therefore we are said to live by Faith because we apprehend those great and glorious things which are kept for us in Heaven 2 Cor. 413 14. We having the same Spirit of Faith according as 't is written I believed and therefore have I spoken We also believe and therefore speak knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you Oh 't is a mighty thing to have a Spirit of Faith in the lowest condition such an one can hold up his head and avouch his hopes He can own Christ how dear soever it cost him None are of such a Noble and Divine Spirit as they Without it a man that wholly loveth the Animal life is but a wiser sort of Beast Not only the Sensualist or the Covetous but even the Ambitious who aspire after Crowns and Kingdoms and great Fame by their Gallantry and Noble Exploits are but poor base Spirits in comparison of those in whose Breasts the sparks of this Heavenly fire do ever burn and carry them out in the zealous pursuit of the world to come 3dly We need press this sound belief of the world to come Because whatever men pretend eternal life is little believed in the World The most part of those men who live in the common light of Christianity are purblind and cannot see afar of or look beyond the Grave Gods own Children have too cold and doubtful thoughts of this estate not such a lively clear and firm persuasion of things to come but that it needeth to be increased more and more The Apostle prayeth for the converted Ephesians That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his Calling c. Eph. 1.17 18. That is more clearly see and more firmly believe those good things which they should injoy in Heaven Alas we are so taken up with trifles and childish toys that our Faith is very weak about these excellent Blessings The evidences that 't is little believed are these 1. Because we are far more swayed with the promises of small temporal advantages than we are with the promise of eternal life The Blessings we expect in the other world are far more excellent and more glorious in their nature and certain in their duration yet they have less influence upon us than poor paltry perishing vanities What should be the reason I Answ. When a thing of less weight weigheth down a greater we judge then the ballances are not equal The Soul doubteth of things to come but readily closeth with things present Who would prefer a Cottage before a Palace A Lease for an year before an Inheritance There is no comparison between the things themselves but we are not equally persuaded of things to come and things in hand and of a present