For it all comes from that fountain of Gods Grace Ephes 2.8 though purchased by Christ yet to us Christ himself and all is the Gift of Grace Eternal Glory and all that belongs to it is from the God of all Grace Text. If God do in Heaven reward any little service we do him here it is a reward of Grace and not of Debt Reason 2. From Christ It is by the means of Christ Jesus that we are brought to this Eternal Glory Text. So Thes 5.9 As the Grace of God is the fountain original and wel-spring of it Luk. 12.32 so Christ Jesus the Mediator is the great way and means whereby it is accomplished for us and conveyed communicated to us Christ brings us to Eternal Glory 1. By his purchase of it by his Death or passive Obedience he purchased our deliverance from Eternal Death and Wrath And Righteousness or active obedience he purchased and procured for us everlasting Life and Happiness Hence Rom. 5 21. It is through and by means of the Righteousness of Christ his obedience whereby being imputed to us we are made righteous in Justification v. 19 18. that Grace powerfully accomplisheth our Eternal Life For Grace will so contrive and carry on the matter as that Justice may be answered and attended that it may be a Just and Righteous thing with God to give us life and so it is by means of the Righteousness of Christ Had it not been for which the sentence of death must everlastingly have reigned over us Sinners 2. By his possession of it for us as our Head and Agent Heb. 6.20 Joh. 14.2 By the Ascension of Christ way is made for us into Heaven The first Adam could have brought us but into an Earthly Paradice but the second Adam being Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15.47 48. and ascending thither after he had wrought the work of our Redemption on Earth Heb. 1.3 Hence the Head draws up the Body after it and to it Joâ— 17.14 Hence Believers also shall ascend thither and have an Inheritance there in the third Heaven and in all the Glory of it 3. By preparing and ripning us for it by the work of his Spirit that whole work of Grace that is begun and carried on in this World to fit us for Glory conducting us through this World as he did Israel of old through the Wilderness to bring them to Canaan Isa 63.9 14. so 2 Cor. 5.5 Ephes 4.30 Rom. 9.23 4. By coming again to receive us to Joh. 14.3 the great end of his second coming is the actual full and final accomplishment of the Salvation of his people or putting them into full possession and fruition of it so to remain forever which is the end and upshot of all his work Heb. 9.28 2 Tim. 4.8 He will come again into this lower World even here to put Glory upon his people in the sight of all Colos 3.4 Rom. 8.18 19. and then to carry them up to Heaven where he now is Joh. 14.3 and 17.24 Reason 3. From the work of Vocation the tendency and scope whereof is to bring us to this Eternal Glory Text. In Vocation the Lord calleth us out of a state of nature of sin and death into a state of â—ternal Salvation and layes that foundation of Grace the superstructure whereof issues in Heavenly Glory The Lord in the word of the Gospel calleth us to possess and receive Eternal Life or Glory in and with Christ 2 Thes 2.14 and makes it over to them that obey that call or that effectually believe 1 Joh. 5.11 And he calls us to look at Eternal Glory in pâ—rfect Communion with God as the end of our Race or Journey and to travel towards it toward that mark of Heavenly Glory which is the prize that we are called to run for Philip. 3.14 1 Cor. 9.24 25. The Lord calleth us out of this World to be men of another World to take up our Lot and Portion in Heaven and to seek and wait for it being as strangers here as Abraham was called to leave his Country and Kindred to wait upon a promise of the Heavenly Canaan a figure of the Earthly Heb. 11.8 9 10 13 16. It is a Christians Calling the business he is called to attend upon to get to Heaven to seek for Glory Honour and Immortality to come The Grace begun in Vocation hath an inseperable connexion which tendeth to and issueth in groweth up to the perfection of Eternal Glory Glory is but the Harvest of that seed that is sown in Effectual Calling It is the perfect man which is an Infant in Vocation If the seed be sown the Child born as it is in Vocation or Conversion Regeneration then the harvest must needs follow Calling is the first patent link of the Chain for Predestination is latent in the Counsel of God the first openwork of Grace upon an Elect person and Glorification is the last but the connexion between them is inseperable Rom. 8.30 And also Vocation is the strait gate that leads to Life Eternal through which all must pass that get to Glory and by which they are prepared for it Rom. 9.23 24. Hence none but such and all such all the Effectually Called shall infallibly be brought to Eternal Glory If God have begun the work of Grace in Calling he will finish it in Heavenly Glory Phil. 1.6 Reas 4. From the Sufferings and Troubles of the Saints here 1 Pet. 5.10 The Saints having suffered with Christ here they must reign with him hereafter Rom. 8.17 2 Tim. 2.12 Having been troubled in this World they must go to rest in that to come 1 Thes 5.7 The best services and sufferings of the Saints do not deserve or merit any such thing as Heavens Glory But the Lord is pleased according to his free promise and abundant Grace Richly to reward such poor things above their worth The Lord rewards his poor Subjects not in any way of exact Justice as poor men that will give the Labourer but his hire But like Generous and Bounteous Princes that will give a Pound for that that scarce deserves a Penny Yea far more largely then so our Services and Sufferings bear no proportion with Heaven But God will Bounteously give it and call it the Recompense of Reward Heb. 11.26 i. e. a Reward of Grace not of Debt or Merit But such is the Lords promise and Grace that he hath laid up a rich Reward for his suffering Saints and they shall not lose it nor miss it They that have their Suffering Labouring Fighting time here they shall have their Rejoycing Resting Triumphing time hereafter 2 Cor. 4.17 The Lord will not be behind hand with any of his people nor yet deal scantly with them for a moments suffering and service on Earth they shall have Eternal Glory in Heaven Vse 3. Of awakning and Terrour to all Impenitent and Unbelieving sinners from the consideration of their loss or of what they continuing in that estate must and will
revealed in the day of the manifestation of the Sons of God when all they that follow holinss shall see God not only by the light of Faith as now but in the light of glory shall see him apprehensively as he is though not comprehensively or adequately so see him as to be like him to be satisfied in him and blessed with him and in the Communion of the Lord Jesus and his holy Angels and Saints and then also obtain an eternall freedom from the remains of sin and suffering And this consideration may also lead them on the other side to compare the pleasures of sin that are but for a season with the everlasting sad wages of it which is death and that in the loss of God blessed for ever seperation from the Communion with Father Son and Holy Ghost and not only in the loss of God which is unspeakable but also in those just and holy punishments from the hand of God which it is righteous with him to recompence to them that are workers of Iniquity and who by despising the glory of Grace now because of some inconveniencies it is cloathed with though they are so only to depraved minds and such whose hearts are set upon the world and the lusts of it do judge themselves unworthy to find Grace in Glory hereafter which considerations sanctified may promote very far their turning to God and that they may have this saving efficacy on such Souls shall be my prayer to God for them into whose hands they may come But further which shall draw this Epistle to a close I am well satisfied if they find not that acceptance here they may deserve yet the revival of these Sermons in Print to the eye and memory of them that were Ear-witnesses of them from his own mouth will be an acceptable service to them who have known from the beginning his manner of life which was blameless grave and exemplary and in speciall his ministry to the finishing of his course wherein he was a burning and a shining light among whom though being dead he yet speaketh and his name is a precious ointment and his praise amongst all the Churches in that wilderness as being a man of singular learning profound judgement a master in that Israel a Scribe indeed instructed for the Kingdom of God of whom it may be said as once was of another that He was one not only that had a treasure but was himself a treasure to the Church of God while he lived How himself lived in the power of the truth he preched may be seen by the annexed letter to this treatise which was penned upon occasion of a dear friend of his begging his assistance about his Soul concerns which every Reader sensible of spiritual things will judge answered with an excellent spirit the spirit of God and drawn out of his own experiences and this when but newly entring upon his minstry as he lived holy so he dyed in peace and admiring Gods Grace his last dying words almost being these Lord thou callest me away to thee I know not why if I look to my self but at thy bidding I come although hee needs not this recommendation having received his reward and so is above it yet we that survive need it whose business it is to follow the faith and holiness of such especially when we behold the end of their conversation and not only so but it is in order to the publishing of other things of his if this find acceptance which that it may and a good success is the Prayer of Reader Thy Servant in the Gospel JOHN COLLINS June 29 1667. Of the Perfection of Glorification hereafter in Heaven SERMON I. 1 Pet. 5.10 But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you FRom this Verse to the end of the Chapter is the conclusion of this Epistle written by the Apostle to the suffering Saints of those times that were and were yet like to be under great sufferings and tryals Chap. 1.6 and 4.13 17. and 5.9 In this 10 th Verse we have the Apostles farewel wish or prayer for those suffering Saints he writes unto Men especially good men in their farewel words and wishes defire to speak much in a little room But the God or now the God of all Grace c. Dutch Version and so the English in other like conclusive prayers renders the same Greek particle now Heb. 13.20 Rom. 16.25 Jude 24. Here 1. The things he desires and prays for sor they are great and weighty make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you 2. He takes hold of and prayes to God under such titles and considerations as are sweet grounds of faith for that he prayes for and most comfortable and suitable for suffering Christians to feed upon viz. 1. From his rich and all-sufficient grace The God of all grace 2. From the great effâ—ct and fruit of that grace viz. his calling the faithful unto glory by Christ Jesus or the glory he hath called them to which is the only thing we shall at present take up to insist upon from these words this Glory is here set forth and described 1. From the peculiar property and duration of it viz. Eternity it is eternal or everlasting Glory No such thing no honour or splendor or welfare that is eternal is to be found in this World 2. From the nature of it His Glory that heavenly Glory which he liveth in and communicateth the similitude and likenâ—ss of it in measure unto his Joh. 17.22 That thâ—t is laid up with him in Heaven and stands in the enjoyment of him so as he is both the singular Author and as I may say the matter of it 3. The Causes of it The Principal God included in that His Glory and also in the first Clause of the Verse The grace of God in and by Christ Jesus Christ the Mediator Subordinate viz. the work or Grace of effectual calling 4. The subject of it viz. those that are called i. e. effectually called Whether us or as some Copies read it you Beza that makes no difference as to the sense He speaks of those that are or are reputed to be effectually called those are they that shall be brought to this Glory Vocation is the way to Glorification that is the strait Gate that leadeth into life eternal 5. The order wherein we are brought unto it or the antecedent of the actual possession of it viz. after we have suffered a while for if we read it us in the first Clause then so the words must properly run Now the God of all Grace who hath called us after we haue suffered a while unto his eternal Glory by Christ Jesus I see no reason why the person should be changed from us to ye nor is after suffered a while to be referred to the following but the foregoing Clause The way to Heaven lies
you are of that number for whom an Inheritance is reserved in Heaven who shall obtain this Eternal Glory That so you may be able to rejoyce in the lively hope and certain Expectation of it as Rom. 5.2 and know as Paul did 2 Cor. 5.1 and 1 Joh. 5.13 This may be known though the fruition of this Glory is reserved for Heaven yet a certain interest in it title to iâ— and the knowledge thereof also is given on Earth Labour after this It is that we are exhorted to by the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.10 If we make sure of Effectual Calling we make sure of this Glory for there is an inseperable Connexion between them To quicken thereunto Consider 1. Great matters cannot be made too sure and in all other matters of great moment common reason and nature teaches men to be diligent to make all sure If Estate or Life be in hazard how sollicitous are men to be upon sure grounds In settling of Earthly Inheritances how careful punctual and exact that no flaw no matter of doubt or danger be left What matter is of so great a weight as the matter of Eternity everlasting Life and Glory Hezekiah when like to die was desirous of a sure evidence that he should live and recover out of his sickness and have his fifteen years time more here 2 King 20.8 How much more sollicitous should we be to be sure of Eternal Life Life through all the dayes and years of Eternity when we were so like to die the second death and therefore to have it confirmed not by miracles but by Scripture signes and evidences in great matters and matters wherein the affection goes out much men will delight to have the assurance and ratification over and over as 1 Sam. 20.16 17. Oh when we are making a Covenant with Christ and he with us about matters of everlasting Life that that is for ever after this life as v. 14 15. we cannot but desire him to speak again yea swear again as he condescends to both Heb. 6.17 18. and Establish his promise to us over and over our love to him and intence desire to be sure of his love should induce to this When Jacobs heart was upon being buried in the Cave of Machpolah in the Land of Canaan which was a type of Heaven and being buried therein of that possession that the faithful take of Heaven when they die when they go to a place of their own properly the Sojourners and strangers while they live in this World He will have Joseph both promise and swear to bury him there and gave charge to all his other sons about it too Gen. 47.29 30 31. and 49.29 32. So Abraham how careful is he to make sure his possession of the Cave of Machpelah Genes 23.17 18 20. He can be content to have never a foot of Land of his own while he lives but he will make sure of a good burying place when he dies i. e. of an happy Estate after death of a portion of the Heavenly Canaan and of being buried in the certain hope as of all the promises of God to be made good to him and his so in special of an happy Resurrection to Eternal Glory that was the meaning of it Oh though you have never so little in this Earth while you live though strangers and pilgrims here yet make sure of Heaven when you die make that one bargain sure and you are happy that you shall have a possession of your own in that better Country even an Heavenly Kingdom 2. We have nothing else sure we had need make sure of this we have no portion certain nothing to trust to if we have not this portion of Eternal Life and Glory There is no certainty of any thing in this World Riches have wings the top of honour is a slippery place life it self is but a vapour All things here lye within the reach of many devourers and destroyers Moth and Rust and Thieves Pirates at Sea and other Sons of violence at Land And what is saved from other Destroyers is but reserved for the fire that must be the end of alâ— the possessions upon Earth 2 Pet. 3.10 All Earthly possessions must turn into a blaze and end in smoak as Genes 19.28 At the great day of Judgment there shall be an universal burning all the Earth on a light fire in particular previous dayes of Judgment here which are tasts and hansells of that the Lord often contends by fire Why if men will not see by the light of the word one would think they should see by the flames of devouring fire though indeed seldom do men see by the latter or by any destroying Judgments that have obstinately refused the light and voice of the former But in it self it is a wonderful help to see and it will be so to them that regard the word the vanity uncertainty and perishing nature of all things here But to be sure our enjoyment of all things in this World at best hangs but upon the twine-thread of our life which there are so many sharp edged tooles Sicknesses Diseases sad Accidents continually ready to cut asunder we are not sure to have it continued one hour longer Had we not need be sure of something when all these things shall fail as Luk. 16.9 Paul knows what he hath to trust to when this World turns him out of doors he hath then an house to hide his head in 2 Cor. 5.1 Oh it is a Comfortable thing when temporal habitations fail to be sure of Eternal ones Imagine you were now to die this moment leaving the World how glad would you be to be sure of Heaven and of a better life Why that must be e're long and you cannot think to be sure of it then in a dying hour if you do not labour to make it sure now in a time of health and peace Wnen David looks over the World and sees the vanity fading uncertainty of all portions of Riches Glory Honour fair Dwellings c. here what a thing is it to him to be sure of a God to receive him into Arms of Love and Mercy when he dies and of an happy waking in the morning of the Resurrection to Eternal Glory Psal 49.6 15. and 73.17 24. when you see men stand in slippery places and one tumbling down after another the Rich tumbling into poverty the Great into Contempt then look to your feet and to your standing what foot hold have you what sure bottom and foundation have you to stand steady upon as Psal 26.11 12 13. The wicked stand in slippery places but the godly that walk with God in integrity stand in an even place The Covenant is sure 2 Sam. 23.5 the state of Grace is a sure standing Rom. 5.2 Psal 20.7 8. indeed in regard of themselves they would fall as soon as any but they have a sure hand to hold them Psal 73.23 24. 3. Should not we make this use of the times we live
Eternal or Everlâ—sting It is Eternal Glory in the Text so 2 Cor 5.1 Heb. â— 15 Mat. 24.46 Psal 16.11 Eternal i. e. It shall be and continue without interruption and without End 1. Without Interruption It shall at no time be discontinued broken off interrupted intermitted but a permanent Glory alwayes fresh and green without fading or declining 1 Pet. 1.4 not suffering any winter or fall of Lease but in a perpetual Spring Here our Communion with God and enjoyment is marvellously interrupted and broken By that time you are well in you are put out again By that time your Harp is well in Tune and begins to sound well you are fain to lay it aside Wordly occasions Bodily necessities take you off and interrupt your talk with God and with his Word and with your own Hearts By that time the heart be well warmed at an Ordinance on a Sabbath and you begin to see its good being here and to tast and take in the sweetness of Communion with God the Ordinance the Sabbath is at an end you can be but a while together in Godly Conference for a turn and away you must part and break off necessarily But when in Heaven no Interruption no breaking off a full spring-tyde without any Ebb. Yea there is there no Interruption of the Act of Grace and comfort of it and feeling thereof not only the state and the habit abides the same so it does here when actual Communion and the sweet lively feeling Heavenly Actings and Ebullitions of Grace are Intermitted yet the habit and spirit thereof abides still But the Glorious Heavenly â—weet pleasant Acts of Grace are perpetual Psal 16.11 Pleasure is from the pleasant actual fruition of good and so Heavenly pleasures from the actual enjoyment of Gâ—d and of his Beatifical presence and gracious actings upon him and those Pleasures there are for evermore What is here tasted in an Ordinance Psal 36.8 and 65.4 is there perpetual and that in fulness so Mat. 18.10 the Beatifical Vision or Communion or Fruition those are but the same thing in divers words is never interrupted Heaven is a day without night a Summer without a Winter a Flood without an Ebb a Morning without Clouds a blissful Communion with God without Interruption Variety of exercise there may be in Heaven and variety of truths and Acts and Contemplations the Saints may be busied about for they cannot take in all at once but all serving to continue and carry on their fruition of God and the Bliss and Glory thereof 2. Without End The Happiness and Glory of the Saints in Heaven shall never never have an end but continue to all eternity as long as Heaven is Heaven as long as God is God This implyes that 1. It shall never be lost by or taken away from any Saint in Heaven nor shall he ever fall from it or be removed from it bereaved of it once in Heaven and ever there once put on that Crown of Glory it shall never fall from thy Head Adam was in a good condition in Paradise once but he lost it fell from it and so he was driven out of Paradise being in that honour he continued not as Ps 49. and hence we may say as Lam. 5.16 But no danger of that there All that are carried to Heaven are there set in an immutable estate by Christ Jesus Some have been for a falling away on Earth But none ever so much as dreamed of a falling away in Heaven Neither Devil nor sin yet came thither to rob them of that Glory Mat. 6.20 Hence this Heavenly Glory will be properly your own never to pass away from you Luk. 16.12 Nor 2. Shall it ever expire or come to an end either by the Cessation of the Saints Being or of their Glory No change or alteration shall ever put an end to it But it shall continue forever and ever World without end This is the Crown of that Crown of Glory that it is Eternal Everlasting never to be lost never come to an end This damps and imbitters all Earthly Joyes and Comforts that they are but Temporary you must leave them or they you they are but a fashion that passeth away But this unspeakably sweetness Heavens Joyes that they shall continue for ever it shall alwayes be thus No danger or possibility of losing or ending this Happiness This Ever is the stinging torment of the damned in Hell and it is the the ravishing Joy of the Glorified in Heaven The length of time that we have or hope to have in any thing adds unspeakably to the sweetness and Comfort of it Luk. 12.19 The Worldling feigns to himself a kind of Eternity in his Possessions and Enjoyments else he could not look at himself so happy as he does Psal 39.11 That was Davids Contentment 2 Sam. 7.18 19. Oh then how Joyful is that Joy how Heavenly that Heaven how Glorious is that Glory that hath this ingredient to be in truth not in fancy or dream Eternal Not for many years only but for ever for more thousands and millions of years than their be Grass-piles on the Earth or Sands on the Sea-shore To make some use of this last particular the Eternity of Heavenly Glory Vse 1. Hence see how infinitely Heaven's Glory weighs down out-bids and outmatches all this present World both the good things and the evil things thereof 1. All the good of the Earth of this World is but Temporal all this world can give us no Eternal good things The Earth hath riches but no Eternal Riches Pleasures but no Eternal Pleasures Heb. 11.25 26 Honour and Greatness but no Eternal Honour Psal 49.12 It is a poor Glory that this world hath not worth the name of Glory it is but a paint a fashion that passeth away 1 Cor. 7.31 though called Glory by sensual Worldlings Genes 31.1 These momentary fading things what are they to Eternal Glory Oh foolish and unwise are they that fell Heaven for Earth Eternal Glory for present contentments That will rather leave Treasures in Heaven than leave and forsake those things Mark 10.21 22. the greatest Possessions here are not great no great matter a trifle a nothing a shadow compar'd with Treasure in Heaven Luk. 16.10 11 12. 2. The evil things the Sufferings Troubles Tribulations of the World that lye in the way to Heaven and that the World does or can bring upon the faithful they are small matters compar'd with the Glory that they are passing to Rom. 8.18 for these Sufferings are but for a little while but that Glory that follows is Eternal 1 Pet. 5.10 so 2 Cor. 4.17 who would stick at a few moments trouble and travel to go unto Eternal Rest and Glory If God call you to travel for Heaven through a few paces of troublesome and dirty way through a few dayes of trouble and tryal Revel 2.10 Is it not a shame to boggle at this or to think it an hard bargain or to be diverted and