Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n
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A54656
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The gain of Godliness being a consideration of I Tim. 4. 8. / by Charles Phelpes.
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Phelpes, Charles.
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1682
(1682)
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Wing P1977; ESTC R131
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86,937
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202
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unto God doth plainly appear from what the Apostle speaks to the believing Hebrews saying but without faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 5. 6. As also the Truth hereof doth further appear in those Commands which the Apostles have given by the Lord Jesus to the believers As so run that ye may abtain 1 Cor. 9. 24. Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men c. Gal. 6. 9. 10. And when the Apostle had been saying as before we took notice I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus He then immediately addes thereto let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded c. To wit as he himself was Phil. 3. 14. 15. 1 Tim. 6. 12. 7. And lastly as to this a reward is particularly propounded to us and needful to be respected and expected by us to make us willing to perform those Tasks of Christ which appear to be very difficult chargeable and unpleasant to us as to say that we may patiently and chearfully take up the Cross of Christ and endure affliciton as good Souldiers of his for the Word and way of truth it is doubtless very requisite and needful to have such respect unto the Crown of Glory as that none of the things we suffer may move us and therefore that is proposed to us to strengthen us to suffer adversity and persecution Blessed are ye saith our Saviour when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of man's sake rejoyce ye in that day and leap for Joy for behold mind and consider this seriously attentively your reward is great in heaven Luk. 6. 22 23 Mat. 5. 10 12. For which things sake we faint not saith the Apostle for our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. and chap. 5. 1. 9. And the Apostle Peter thus admonishes and encourages the believers to partake of the afflictions of the Gospel think it not strange concerning the fiery Tryal as if some strange thing happened unto you but rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christs Sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye also may be glad with exceeding joy 1 Pet. 4. 12 13. It is a faithful saying for if we be dead with him we shall also live with him If we suffer we shall also reign with him Of these things put them namely the believers in Remembrance intimating that the believing remembrance hereof is very proper and profitable for them to strengthen them to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness in all their Tribulations 2 Tim. 2. 11 14. 2 Cor. 1. 7. Again that we may chearfully and liberally according to our several abilities give to the poor and exercise our selves in works of mercy and charity in administring to the necessities of such as are needy and indigent it is needful and requisite for us to consider the reward set before us to excite us thereto otherwise we shall be back-ward to undertake or continue in this good work And therefore oftentimes the future advantage of this pious work is proposed that we might be forward thereto Thus our Lord saith to the young-man whom he loved if thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven Mat. 19. 21. And to the same purpose our Saviour speaks unto his Disciples also saying sell that ye have and give Almes provide your selves bags which wax not old a Treasure in the heavens that faileth not where no Thief approacheth nor Moth corrupteth Luk. 12. 33 34. And to the end the Apostle Paul might provoke the Corinthians to a liberal distribution toward their poor and necessitous brethren he thus writes unto them he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9. 6 9. with Psal 1 12. 9. Eccles 12. 1. And he thus Commands Timothy charge them that are rich in this world that they do good that they be rich in good workes ready to distribute willing to communicate and that they might so be he signifies that this would turn to their own future account and advantage in the day of Christ saying laying up in Store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6. 17 19. Once more to the end we may really love our enemies and such as hate and persecute us and may do good to them and be Cordially kind to them according to their needs and our Capacity it is very behoveful and requisite for us to mind and have respect unto the encouragement of a future reward assured to them that exercise themselves in that work of Perfection To this purpose when our Lord gives this command to his disciples namely I say unto you which hear love your enemies do good to them which hate you bless them that curse you and pray for them that despightfully use you and Persecute you he afterwards in the same discourse assures them that their observing and obeying this command would be for their own profit and advantage for he thus saith Love ye your enemies and do good and lend hoping for nothing again and your reward shall be great he not only propounds and promises to them a reward but also a great one that they might perform this difficult and excellent duty and then presently after addes Be ye therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful Luk. 6. 27 28 35 36. Mat. 5. 44 47 48. It may be said of this duty of heartily loving our Enemies as sometimes some said in another Case this is an hard saying who can hear it but that we may hear and obey it our bountiful Lord doth hire us to the performance thereof and so makes it easy Wherefore as the wise man saith if thine Enemy be hungry give him bread to eat and if he be thirsty give him Water to drink for thou shalt heap coales of fire on his head and the Lord shall reward thee Prov. 25. 22 23. And thus we have largely shewed that it is no mercenary or reprovable thing to exercise our selves to godliness out of a respect to and hope of a reward of grace upon our so doing but that which is Lawful Laudable yea and in some sense and Cases requisite and needful so to do and I shall adde no more to this