Righteousness 1. He must manage his good fight against the World the men of it and the things of it Paul had fought this good fight 1 Cor. 15.32 he fought with Beasts at Ephesus after the manner of men and he telleth us 1 Cor. 11.24 he had had stripes above measure he had been in Prisons frequent in deaths often five times he had of the Jews received forty stripes save one thrice he was beaten with Rods once he was stoned all this in maintenance and defence of the Gospel Thus must every Christian duly of God called to it do in defence of the holy Truths and Waies of the Lord Jesus Christ The World the Men of the World were alwaies peevish to God's holy ones Our Saviour giveth us the reason Joh. 15.19 because they are not of the world but God hath chosen them out of the world Wisdom was never justified in the world of any more than her Children Now those who ever hope to come in the Kingdom of Heaven must look to manage this part of the good fight not fearing those who can kill the body and when they have done that can do no more but fearing him alone who can cast body and soul into Hell fire taking up their Cross and following of Christ bearing up against all the opposition the world can give or make against them walking according to the holy Commandment 2. But this good fight is not onely to be managed against the men of the world setting themselves in opposition to the Truths and Waies of God but also against the things of the world the deceitfulness of pleasures riches honours whatsoever may be to us a bait alluring us to sin against God Moses by Faith did fight the World in this manner refusing the pleasures of Pharaoh's Court and chusing rather to suffer with the People of God Heb. 11.25 26. than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures in Egypt But indeed this rather belongs to the second piece of the good fight which is to be managed 2. Against our own Lusts By lusts we understand those motions and inclinations to sin which are from our fleshly part for Lusts are nothing but unlawful desires in our Souls Paul fought this part of the good fight he tells us Rom. 7.23 That he saw a law in his members warring against the law of his mind and bringing him into captivity to thâ— law of sin which is in his members Gal. 5.17 And again That the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh for those two are contrary Paul fought this part of the good fight 1 Cor. 9.27 I keep under my body and bring it unto Subjection This is that Mortifying of our members mentioned Ccl. 3.5 Mortifying the deeds of the body through the Spirit mentioned Rom. 8.13 The Apostle Peter tells us that Fleshly lusts war against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 and James tells us that Lust war in our members James 4.1 Paul fought this part of the good fight and overcame I thank God saith he through Jesus Christ our Lord. Indeed this is the hardest battel that a Christian hath to fight the Enemy is within those of his own house and all the advantage which either the World or the Devil hath against us is from that party of lusts which are in our own hearts Though the Prince of the World came against Christ yet finding nothing of this nature in our blessed Lord he could do nothing against him 3. Our third great adversary is the Devil For we faith the Apostle Eph. 6.12 Do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against Principalities and powers and the Rulers of the darkness of this World The Devil is called the adversary and the Apostle telleth us that he goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour and calleth upon us to Resist him He fighteth us sometimes by his commanders and under-officers those are the sinful men of the World sometimes he fights us in person by his more immediate impressions and Suggestions 2 Cor. 12.7 Paul had a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him for which thing he prayed thrice v. 8. 4. A Christian hath yet a fourth Enemy That is Death I should not have called Death an Enemy but that I find the Apostle so calling it 1 Cor. 15.26 The last Enemy that is to be destroyed is Death And indeed our flesh saith both concerning death and Trials of afflictions leading to it All these things are against us There is a victorious Song which every good Christian must learn to sing O Death where is thy sting O hell where is thy Victory Thus now I have shewed you the Enemies to be fought in this good fight The word translated fight is a very Emphatical word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is the same word which is used Luk. 13.24 strive to enter in at the straâ—t gate and Col. 4.12 Where we translate it Labouring fervently we translate it striving in Col. 1.29 fighting John 18.36 and 1 Tim. 6.12 The word seemeth to signify four things 1. A labouring against opposition A man cannot fight unless he hath an Enemy to fight against What these Enemies are I have shewed you 2. A strong vehement earnest labour where all the strength and power of a man is put out as is usual in all combates and fightings 3. An inward labour from this word comes our English word Agony which we use to signify the conflict of the mind and signifieth more then the Scuffling of the hands and more exterior members Thus it signifieth Col. 4.12 Labouring fervently for you in Prayer 4. It signifieth a strife for mastery such as were the strifes in the Roman games where the strife was who should overcome and have the Victory It is observed by Aquinas that the fight is called a good fight because it is for good things and in a good manner and because it is difficult and the Apostle telleth us that he who striveth is not crowned except he strive lawfully Thus I have opened the first thing requisite for him who would have the Crown of Righteousness he must fight the good fight 2. The Second condition required of those who expect this Crown of Righteousness to be given them is their finishing their course I have saith the Apostle finished my course or my race There is nothing more ordinary in Scripture then for a series or course of actions to be called a way Thus we read of the way of God the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous Holiness is called a way the way of God's Commandments and the exercises of Holiness are a Christian 's walking or running in this way in the language of holy Writ John fulfilled his course Acts. 13.25 Neither saith our Apostle do I count my life dear to me so that I may finish my course with joy It is the same with that
when Israel must die Do our Prophets live for ever And it pleaseth God to give some of his People notices of this time Paul's time was now come He tells Timothy in the verse before the Text I am now ready to be offered the words in the Greek are I am now already offered Paul was ready as that term in our Language signifies prepared but the Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which rather signifies already than prepared into which sense it cannot be interpreted the next words interpret it The time of my departure is at hand Nor certainly doth the Apostle speak this meerly upon the prospect that all Christian Prisoners especially Teachers amongst them might reasonably have of their fate under such a Pagan Tyrant and Butcher as Nero under whose Government and Power he was at this time was but upon some more special and particular notice which God had given him that his time was at hand He speaks of it without trembling and faith not to Death tho it was to be violent Hast thou found me O mine Enemy but with confidence chearfulness he entertaineth the thoughts and prospect of it This Text tells you the grounds of his chearfulness 1. His work was done 2. He had wages to take The first he openeth by 3 phrases 1. I have fought a good fight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that excellent fight as Beza well translates it 2. I have finished my course 3. I have kept the Faith 2. He had wages to take which he could not receive upon Earth And now is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness c. I shall only turn the Text into a Proposition concluding from Paul's work and confidence the duty of all Prop. Those who would at death have the Crown of Righteousness which is laid up for and which God the Righteous Judge will one day give out unto some persons must fight the good fight finish their course keep the faith and love the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ and those who do these things may know that there is such a Crown of Righteousness laid up for them which the Righteous Judge will give out to them Here are two Propositions put together 1. That there is a Crown of Righteousness which God hath laid up and will one day give out as a Righteous Judge to some amongst the Sons of men 2. That it shall be given out to such and such only as fight the good fight finish their course keep the faith and love the Appearance of Christ I shall discourse them severally then apply them together 1. There is a Crown of Righteousness which is laid up and God as a Righteous Judge will one day give out to some amongst the Sons of men 1. That this Crown of Righteousness is no other than the Crown of glory Eternal life and happiness is out of doubt the Blessed state of the Saints in Heaven is set out in Scripture unto us under a variety of Metaphors importing the satisfaction of the whole Soul there and all the powers and faculties of it It is sometimes set out under the Notion of a Feast 1 Pet. 5.4 a Banquet sometimes under the Notion of seeing God 〈◊〉 1.12 sometimes under the Notion of an Inheritance immortal incorruptible c. sometimes under the Notion of a Kingdom a Crown sometimes under Notions of profit the riches of glory sometimes under Notions of pleasure here it is called a Crown So 1 Pet. 5.4 it is called a Crown of glory and a Crown of life Jam. 1.12 But 1. Why a Crown 2. Why is it called a Crown of Righteousness 3. How is it laid up 4. How doth or shall God shew himself a Righteous Judge in giving it out 1. Possibly it is called a Crown with reference to the Combatants in the Roman Games in which the Victors had not only Prizes for which they ran but also Crowns of Bays or Lawrel or some green things If a man strive for Masteries saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 2.5 he is not crowned except he strive lawfully As the Conquerours were enriched with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a prize for which they ran or wrestled or fought so they were honoured with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Crown which was set on their heads and thus it lets us know 1. That Heaven will be a place of great honour and dignity 2. That those who obtain it must strive fight wrestle and that lawfully as the Apostle speaks yea and they must conquer None but the Conquerours in those Games were crowned The consideration of Heaven as a Crown ought to mind us of our duty to strive and fight It is not compared to an ordinary King's Crown which it may be comes to him by Election or Inheritance but a Combatants Crown which is never put on his head till he be declared Victor 2. Secondly This Notion is expressive of the high reward of the Saints in Heaven A Crown is the highest dignity hence it is called also a Kingdom Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you Thus the Metaphor is used I am 5.16 The Crown is fallen from our heads that is we have lost our greatest honour and dignity Such shall be the honour of all the Saints it shall not be only a Penny a reward of their labour but it shall be a Crown the highest and greatest reward such a one as no Eye hath seen no Ear hath heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive we can fancy no higher honour and dignity than that of a Crown and therefore it is expressed by that but it will be no ordinary Crown but a Crown of Life a Crown of Glory 3. Possibly it may be thus expressed to signifie the fulness of the Saints happiness in Heaven The figure of a Crown lets you know that it incompasseth the whole head not a part of it only Psa 16.11 At thy right hand saith the Psalmist there are pleasures and a fulness of pleasures and that for evermore The glory of the Saints in Heaven shall incompass them as a Crown doth the head God in this life incompasseth his People with favour as a shield as the Psalmist speaketh in the life to come he will incompass them with glory as with a Crown In this life we have our good things but in part Nemo est ex omni parte beatus there is scarce any to be found who is every way happy One hath an head at ease but an aking heart another hath an heart at ease but an aking head but in Heaven the Saints shall be crowned perfectly happy on all sides blessed 2. Qu. But why is this called a Crown of Righteousness not only a Crown of life and a Crown of Glory but a Crown of Righteousness 1. I answer Not because it is the merit of our Righteousness Our Righteousness is all a rag a filthy Rag. The next words are enough to Satisfy us
God hath made an inseparable connexion betwixt faith in the Mediator in him whom God hath sent and eternal life and salvation this indeed cannot be without obedience but faith and obedience are two things and must neither be separated nor confounded 7. Lastly What love have we to the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ How Christs second appearance is the object of our love and wherein our love to it is discernable I have already opened Fourthly This notion affords a great deal Use 4 of consolation to every good Christian and that in two cases 1. Concerning all the labours difficulties pressures of this life The good Christian you have described in the text He is one who fighteth the good fight who not only runneth but finisheth his course who not only receiveth but keeps the faith c. The labours of such persons their difficulties their pressures are usually not a few not light but yet they are not such but a Crown a Crown of life and glory will compensate Let them therefore keep their Eye upon the recompense of reward Jacobs prospect of a Rachel made his fourteen years hard service seem to him but as a few days What should the prospect of this mighty reward this glorious crown do The Apostle having his thoughts upon the exceeding weight of glory calls the afflictions of this life light and momentany Let this crown promised in the text alleviate all our troubles if we suffer from God or for God how little must it be to him that considers he shall also be glorifyed with Christ Secondly It relieveth us against all our doubts and fears about our eternal state the promise is made to pious affections and actions not to Spiritual enjoyments a man may love both the first and second appearance of Christ he may fight the good fight finish his course keep the faith and yet walk in the dark and see no light but be troubled with his own dark and melancholick thoughts molested with Satans temptations want the witnessings of the Spirit with his Spirit The promise is not made to those who here enjoy much of God but to those who love God to those who do and suffer much for God We have therefore to uphold our hopes nothing to inquire upon but the faithful discharge of our duty and then to believe that he is faithful who hath promised Use 5 Fifthly Let this ingage us all to the duty of the text Let others be ingaged in the bad fights of the world let them if they will be found fighters against God against his truths ways ordinances people his interest and whole concern in the world let others be finishing their courses of sin and wickedness till their sins being finished shall bring forth death Let others be ingaged in the feuds and quarrels of the world This Sirs is not your fight this is not the good fight this is not your course it is not that for which God sent you into the world for not the work which he hath given you to do let others who have begun well in all appearance be weary faint turn back with the dog to the vomit the swine to the wallowing again in the mire remember you that God hath promised you shall reap if you faint not 1. Let me speak first to such as are strangers to God and hold up this Crown this glorious Crown to reasonable Souls while I sound a retreat to them from that bad fight wherein they are ingaged did ever any man fight against God and prosper How happy might you be if you would be persuaded to understand your true enemies and to ingage against the world the flesh and the Devil if you that are fighting for your lusts and for the Devil would turn and fight against those lusts which war against the Soul will all the victories which you can get over the people and and interest of God in the world or over your Brethren bring you to this Crown of Righteousness Will your eager pursuit of the world and out running of others in worldly business and concerns think you bring you to it If not cease that race and turn into the right path as of Gods Commandments run that race the winning of which will bring you to this prize why should you spend your strength for nought and your time for that which will not profit you in your latter end 2. Let what you have heard ingage you who have begun well to go on If the Righteous man forsake his Righteousness Commit iniquity his righteousness shall never be remembred but he shall dye in the iniquity which he hath committed O let not your hands be weary with holding up the Spiritual weapons nor your feet be weary of running the spiritual race do not forget your particular course you can hardly be good Christians if you in some tolerable measure answer not the duties of your particular Relation God hath set all of us in some particular Relation or other scarce any amongst us but have more then the charge of our own Souls upon us some of us are set in Conjugal Relations some in Parental Relations some in a Despotick Relation as Governours of Servants O let us be all able to say As to these we have finished our course we have done the work which as to them God hath given us to do we shall find it an hard matter cheerfully to look upon the day of our departure as at hand or to love or cheerfully think upon the appearance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ till this be done Use 6. In the last place This notion affords us a great deal of Consolation to those who are mourners for their near and dearest Relations and are not mourners without hope I must confess there are some mourners to whom something may be said to satisfy them from the Revelation of the good and irresistible will of God and such other Topicks but little to comfort them concerning those that are gone But if any have lost an Husband a Wife a Parent a Child a Friend of whom they can judge that while they were alive They fought the good fight and finished their course and kept the faith and loved the appearance of our blessed Lord. We have no reason to mourn there is a Crown of Righteousness which the Righteous Lord hath in part already set upon their heads their Souls are in Abrahams Bosom and with which he will further incompass their heads dignify both their Souls and Bodies in that day that glorious day in the expectation of which we live when he shall come to judge the quick and the dead and this leadeth me to a more particular discourse for the end for which I have this day turned out of the common road of my discourse to take notice of Gods Providence to us in taking from us a Servant of his in the great work of the Gospel Who hath left a Widow without an Husband
propagate the Knowledge Faith and Love of it The Preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles and since by the faithful Ministers of the Gospel The miraculous operations by which the first Ministers of the Gospel confirmed their Divine Mission 3. The undaunted couragious sufferings of God's people Miracles quickly ceased while they were wrought but few saw the operation of them others then we since have but had the report of them The great things that have propagated Truth the Truths of the Gospel have been Preaching and Suffering the Preaching of Ministers and the Sufferings both of Ministers and People Those who have not Faith enough to believe the Scripture upon their belief of which hangs all the credit of the Miracles we there read of yet have had sense enough to discern men dying with boldness and courage in a steady owning of the Propositions of the Gospel And it is natural to us to think there is something of truth in those Propositions in the defence of which men will adventure to die and lose all their sensible enjoyments What do men then aim at Would they do a mischief to their Enemies and do they mistake the Ministers of the Gospel and such as fear God for such Alas neither can they reach this end Their sufferings turn to them for a Testimony a Testimony from God to them of an honour he puts upon them great grace which he hath bestowed and will yet further bestow upon them an exceeding great reward either with their sufferings or after their sufferings either in this life or in the life which is to come Why then do people rage Why do they imagine a vain thing O that I could persuade them to sound a retreat from this Battel which cannot but end in their own ruine and their Enemies Victory Obj. But I hear some saying Is there any that would go about to make men suffer for Christs Names sake May not men be made sufferers for their disobedience to the Laws of the place where they live but they must suffer for Christ's Names sake Sol. I answer God forbid that Christs name should be made use of by any who pretend to him to patronize Treason or Rebellion or any disturbance of the Civil Order or Peace Nay men radically good may for ought I know suffer as evil-doers If Peter had been made to suffer for drawing out the Sword and cutting off Malchus his ear I know none could have defended him it is not like his master would who reproved him for it and told him That those who took the sword should perish by the sword Christ did not justfy that action as done for his names sake tho it was for his sake yet it was spoiled by the rashness and disorderliness of it and the want of authority to do what he did the doing of an action for Christs name sake signifyeth the doing it at his command and by his order as well as for his honour and glory 2. All innocent suffering is not a suffering for Christs name sake A man suffereth innocently when he suffereth for a pretended crime of which he is not guilty when men lay to their charge things which they know not but every one who thus suffereth suffereth not for Christs name sake Naboth was put to death upon a false subornation but he was no sufferer for Gods sake but for his own just rights and liberties Indeed all stand concerned to take heed that they be no causes nor instruments of and in mens sufering innocently for it is a dreadful guilt Exod. 23.7 Psal 10.8.15.5 It was one of the crying sins which brought Vengeance on the Jews that amongst them was found the blood of Innocents Jer. 2.24 and that they had filled the land with the Blood of innocents Jer. 19.4 But wicked men may fill a nation with the blood of innocents and yet not with the blood of such as suffer for Christs name sake 3. I told you before that a suffering for Christs name sake must be a suffering for him not meerly for our selves in defending our personal just rights nor yet for our countrey in defending its just liberties but for Christ in maintaining his truths and ordinances whether relating to his worship or to mens lives and conversations As the holy Martyrs of old chose rather to dye and to lose all they had then to deny Christ and not to publish his gospel and to live up to his laws for Worship and Holiness 4. Lastly as a suffering for the maintenance of any civil rights if for them meerly is no suffering for Christs names sake so no civil Edicts or Laws can take away a Christians honour in suffering for Christ and for his names sake if indeed their suffering be of this nature that is for this cause Acts 5.41 The Apostles went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for his name Yet it was contrary to the command of the Sanhedrim v. 28. If a suffering for Christs name shall turn to them for such a Testimony all men that love their own Souls or lives or whatever is dear to them stand highly concerned to take heed that they raise not against themselves any such testimony or evident token of perdition as the Apostle calls it VSE II. If what you have heard be truth if Christians sufferings for Christs names sake shall turn unto them for a Testimony which is Christs own assertion if it â—urn to them for such a testimony as you have heard opened if you search the Scriptures and find these things are indeed so as I have opened to you You see what reason Christians have in such sufferings to count it all joy when they fall into diverse Temptations according to the Counsel of James ch 1. v. 3. To rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is their reward in Heaven according to our Saviours exhortation Matth. 5.12 To rejoice for as much as they are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed they may also be glad with exceeding joy To be in nothing terrified by adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but to you of Salvation and that of God Phil. 1.28 I beseech you sit down and consider seriously with your selves what a Testimony of Gods favour what a mark of honour from him is worth what a Testimony is worth to your Souls that you are some of those who shall one day be glorified if you be such who are serious in the business of eternity and keep any watch upon the influences of God upon your Souls think with your selves what in your sad and melancholick reflections at some times you would give that God would shew you a token for good Psal 86.17 David beggs of God that he would shew him such a Token This is such a token as God shewed Paul to chear him with Acts chap. 23. v. 11. The Lord stood by him and said Be of good cheer Paul for as thou hast testified of