away And he that sate upon the Throne said unto me faith St. John Write For these words are true and faithful Rev. 21. 1 4 5. And then they shall for evermore Reap that Harvest of unmixed joy and light which is now sown for them they shall enter into the joy of their Lord when they are absent from the Body they shall be present with the Lord and shall for ever be in his Blessed and Glorious Presence In whose Presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand are Pleasures for evermore Matth. 25. 21 23. 2 Cor. 5. 6 8. Rev. 22. 4. And if now they greatly rejoyce in hope and expectation of the Glory of God which now they see not nor fully enjoy Rom. 8. 24 25. what will their joy and rejoycing be when they have a compleat glorious and never-ending enjoyment and fruition of what they now in this day longingly and patiently expect and wait for 5. Sometimes Eternal life is declared to consist in the Knowledg of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord gives us to understand in his Address to his Father saying unto Him This is life Eternal that they know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17. 2 3. with 1 John 5. 20 21. Indeed that imperfect and small knowledge of God and Jesus Christ which they now have while they are absent from the Lord is very sweet and delightful My Son saith the Wise-man eat thou honey because it is Good and the honey combe which is sweet upon thy palate so shall the knowledge of Wisdom be unto thy soul when thou hast found it Prov. 2. 10. and chap. 24. 13 14. It is called The light of the knowledge of the glory of God 2 Cor. 4. 4 6. And Light and Understanding and Excellent Wisdom are put together Dan 5. 11 14. to signifie that what Light is to the outward man knowledge and wisdom is to the Inner even to the soul And truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun Eccl. 11. 7. But if that very small and little measure of knowledg and understanding which the Saints now partake of be so grateful and pleasant how sweet satisfactory and ravishing will be the perfect and compleat knowledge they shall enjoy and be made partakers of in the future state they shall enter upon We now know in part saith the Apostle and we Prophecy in part But when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face Now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known 1 Cor. 13. 9 10 12. And through the present perfect sight and knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ they shall also be compleatly conformed to his most excellent Image and Likeness which is now effected in part through the imperfect sight of him as it is said We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 12 18. But when they shall behold him without a glass when they shall see him eye to eye as Isa 52. 8. they shall then be perfectly made like unto him To this purpose the Apostle John speaks to the believers saying Now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear to wit to themselves fully what we shall be But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3. 2 3. Matth. 5 8. Isa 33. 15 16 17. 6. Sometimes by the life to come is meant that Kingdome or reigning state that is proposed to and set before us in the Gospel to move and excite us to exercise our selves seriously and constantly to Godliness and Righteousness and which Crown of Glory they shall undoubtedly receive who run the ways of Gods commandments with diligence and perseverance Thus whereas in two verses in Mark 9. we have these expressions used by our Lord Jesus It is better for thee to enter into life In another verse in the same place it is thus expressed It is better for thee to enter into the Kingdome of God c. vers 43 45. with vers 47. Thus also it is said of them which receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness that they shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ Rom. 5. 17. And the Future life the life to come which is promised to the unfeigned believers is called The Crown of life so it is said When he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life else-where called by the same Apostle The Kingdom which the Lord hath promised unto them that love him Jam. 1. 12. with chap. 2. 5. And our Lord saith unto the Angel of the Church in Smyrna Be thou faithful unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of life Rev. 2. 10. And so this is contained in the future life which is promised unto Godliness that they that now hear Christs voice and follow him shall then be exalted to inherit a Kingdome Luk. 12. 32. As the holy ones confess to the praise of the Lamb that was slain saying Thou hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on the earth Rev. 5. 9 10. Rom. 2. 9 10. And they shall Reign for ever and ever Rev. 22. 5. 7. And lastly sometimes life and eternal life are opposed to Corruption and Mortality thus the Apostle saith That Mortality may be swallowed up of life 2 Cor. 5. 4. Gal. 6. 8. And life is joyned with Immortality 2 Tim. 1. 10. And so it signifies an endless life and therewith an everlasting deliverance from all wrath death pain punishment enemies shame weeping and grief c. And an eternal enjoyment and possession of all Glory Honour Peace Joy and compleat bliss and happiness as we have intimated all along in what we have written and as is also imported to us in the very Pharse of everlasting or eternal life Heb. 7. 16. Psal 133. 3. and 36. 7 9. Thus I have given some short and very imperfect account of what is meant by and contained in the life to come of which Godliness hath the promise of which the Apostles themselves have not onely known but also Prophesied in part in those excellent things spoken and written by them and then how should such a Child in understanding as I am do otherwise then darken it by words without knowledge 1 Cor. 13. 9 12 1 Joh. 3. 1 2. Isa 64. 4. with 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. Psal 31. 19. And we shall hereafter see cause to use the words of the Queen of Sheba concerning this eternal life and Salvation namely It was a true report that we heard of it from the holy Prophets and Apostles Howbeit Behold
will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty Having therefore these promises Dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 6. 14 18. with chap. 7. 1. Rev. 22. 12 14. 3. The truth of the former doth further appear and is manifested herein in that the most eminently holy ones who surely were not mercenary did undertake and pursue their pious work with a respect unto the gracious reward of it as to mention in a very few particulars It is said of Moses that eminent servant of the Lord that by faith when he was come to years he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter chusing rather to suffer affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures in Egypt But what made him thus comparatively despise and set light by the excellencies of this world the Honour Pleasures and Treasures thereof and undergo the difficulties and grievous things thereof The Apostle doth presently acquaint us with the true reason thereof saying For he had respect unto the recompence of the reward which reward was not the Land of Canaan for he never entred thereinto But principally however that Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and which fadeth not away Heb. 11. 24 26. The Apostle Paul also was very eminent exemplary for Holiness and diligence in the work of the Lord and did out-run his Brethren therein and yet that which made him so fervent in spirit serving the Lord was the Prize which was set before him now saith he They do it to obtain a corruptible Crown but we Run the spiritual Race to obtain an incorruptible I therefore so run not as uncertainly I keep under my body and bring it into subjection least that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a Cast-away Namely lest he should lose or fall short of the reward of the Incorruptible Crown 1 Cor. 9 18 25 27. And again he saith Brethren I count not my self to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before I press toward the Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus And this his exercise was so laudable and imitable that he exhorts the believers presently after to follow his example herein saying unto them Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample Phil 3. 13 14 17. Yea a greater than he and one that was above All to wit our Lord Jesus the Captain of our Salvation comforted and encouraged himself in the consideration of the recompence he should receive and therefore Patiently and Perseveringly endured Temptation and continued in well-doing and surely He was not Mercenary or if He was we may well be so also The Prophet speaking in his Person saith I have laboured in vain and spent my strength for nought and in vain yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work or reward with my God I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength Isa 49. 4 5. And the Apostle thus Exhorteth and speaketh unto the believers saying looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of the Faith who far the joy set before him endured the Cross despising the shame c. Heb. 12. 1 2 3. Joh. 17. 4 5. 4. That we may Lawfully have respect unto the gain of godliness in exercising our selves unto the sincere practice thereof may further appear by those Metaphorical or borrowed expressions made use of in the Holy Scriptures in which our Practice of Piety is described and declared to us So it is many times called Labour and work to wit that of a servant now doth not the recompence he shall receive encourage a servant to labour and may not he Lawfully expect it and long for it Mat. 20. 1. 14. And to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for Glory and Honour and immortality he will render eternal life Rom. 2. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Rev. 14. 13. Sometimes it is called running as in a race and who so runs but in hope to receive the Prize and the Apostle thus Counsels or Commands the believers so run that ye may obtain 1 Cor. 9. 24. Sometimes it is called and compared to Plowing Sowing c. And who will employ themselves therein but in hope and expectation of an Harvest as the Apostle saith that he that ploweth should plow in Hope and he that Thresheth in hope should be partaker of his Hope 1 Cor. 9. 10. Jam. 5. 7. And whatsoever a man soweth that also shall be reap He that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6. 7. 8. And they that sow to themselves in righteousness may Lawfully expect to reap in mercy Hos 10. 12. Sometimes it is compared to a Warfare and who goeth a warfare at any time at his own charges 1 Cor. 9. 7. And a Crown is proposed to the seven Churches in Asia to Animate them that they may overcome and it is assured to every one that doth over-come Rev. 2. and chap. 3. And the Apostle thus Exhorts Timothy fight the good fight of Faith lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 12. 14. 5. They that say a man may not from the expectation of a reward exercise himself to righteousness and all goodness or if he doth he is mercenary therein do make void Faith in some acts of it and Hope wholly for Hope is a well-grounded desire and expectation of some absent or future good Hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for Rom. 8. 23 25. And Hope is very efficacious and operative to engage us to perform our duty Lord saith the Psalmist I have hoped for thy Salvation and done thy commandments Psal 119. 166. Every man that hath this hope in Christ that when he shall appear he shall be like him purifieth himself even as he is pure 1. Joh. 3. 2 3. This is also an Anchor of the soul to preserve it from ship-wrack in the midst of the proud waves billows and storms of the Sea of this troublesome and Tempestuous world Heb. 6. 18 19. And Faith is the ground of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen For if men do not believe that there is a reward for the righteous and that God is faithful to give it to them and bestow it upon them in due season why then should they hope or expect any Rom. 5. 1 2. and ch 15. 13. 6. Yea that we not only may but ought to minde the recompence of the reward that we may sincerely and stedfastly exercise our selves unto what is good and well-pleasing
the half was not told us by them this life and immortality exceeds the same which we have heard of it 1 King 10. 6 7 8. But no more to that 3. We come in the last place to evidence and shew that Godliness hath and those that unseignedly and preseveringly exercise themselves thereto have the promise also of the life to come of this most excellent desirable and eternally happy and blessed state of which we have before given some broken imperfect and brief account To this purpose the Apostle Paul speaks in the presence of King Agrippa and some other great persons saying And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our Fathers to wit the promise of a blessed and joyful resurrection from the dead and of an everlastingly happy state afterwards which was made unto Abraham Isaac and Jacob c. Gen. 22. 7. Exod. 3. 6. with Luk. 20. 35 36 38. Act. 24. 14 16. Heb. 11. 9 10 13 16. Unto which promise saith he our twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come Intimating that they rightly judged and concluded that no persons could enjoy the compleat benefit of that promise made unto the Fathers but such as were sincerely pious and devout persons such as walked in the steps of the Faith of our Father Abraham And therefore they did instantly and constantly serve God in holiness and righteousness that they might enjoy the benefits and blessings of that promise Act. 26. 6 7 8. Psal 119. 166. To the same purpose also the Apostle James speaking concerning them that were Rich in faith though poor in this world saith of them that they are Heirs of that Kingdom which God hath promised unto them that love him Jam. 1. 12. and ch 2. 5. And the Apostle John writing unto them that did believe in the name of the Son of God in general saith Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father And this is the promise that he hath promised us even eternal life 1 Joh. 2. 24 25. Rev. 2. 7 10 11. and chap. 22. 12 14. This promise as we have said before is conditionally propounded and assured unto all however where the Gospel of Christ is plainly taught and proclaimed that upon their performing the conditions of the New-Covenant by the help and assistance of the blessed spirit of God which he will not be wanting to give them preventingly they might be made partakers of the blessings therein assured and promised For so God loved the world of fallen sinfull mankind that he gave his onely begotten Son namely to be the Saviour of it That whosoever of the world believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 14 15 16 17 35 36. and chap. 5 24 25 40. Isa 55. 1 2 3. But they onely are the Heirs of it I now speak of adult ones and shall assuredly receive and enjoy the choice and everlasting benefits of it who do exercise themselves unto true and sincere Godliness and Goodness and continue so to do unto the end of their lives for they do perform the terms and conditions of that New-Covenant To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for Glory and Honour and Immortality God will render eternal life Rom. 2. 7 10. Hence the Apostle thus intreats exhorts and encourages the believing Hebrews saying unto them And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the promises Heb. 6. 11 12. And again he faith unto the same believers Ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promises chap. 10. 36 38. But having mentioned somewhat to the same purpose before in the fore-going part of this discourse and thereby prevented my self from further enlarging thereto here I shall adde no more unto it Onely for our further helpfulness and encouragement we may enquire into and consider these two things namely 1. Whose is this promise that is assured unto Godliness and consequently unto them that sincerely exercise themselves thereto 2. How is this most excellent promise confirmed and established that we may firmly expect to receive the blessings thereof upon our exercising our selves to true Piety and Holiness 1. Whose is this promise that is assured unto Godliness and consequently unto them that sincerely and perseveringly exercise themselves thereto Or who is he that hath promised eternal life to the truely Godly and Holy persons And he is The living God as he is styled in vers 10. He that lifts up his hand unto heaven and saith I live for ever Deut. 32. 40. That God who onely hath immortality 1 Tim. 6. 16. And him we may further consider 1. As a Gracious and merciful God one who is full of tender bowels of compassion and affection to mankind Tit. 3. 4. Jam. 5. 11. Especially towards them that heartily seek and serve him as the Apostle also signifies in what he saith of the living God in vers 10. Namely that he is the Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe His Charity and Mercy moved him to promise his dear Son from the beginning of the world to be the Saviour of the world and in the fulness of the time to send him according as he had before-promised whom he hath given For a Covenant of the people Isa 42. 6. Through the tender mercies of our God the day-spring from on high visited us To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death Luk. 1. 70 80. Isa 55 3 4. And he hath by the grace of God tasted death for every man and is raised again from the dead and hath by his precious blood obtained and ratified the New Testament of exceeding great and precious promises 2 Cor. 1. 20. And this everliving and true God who hath so greatly and wonderfully manifested the sincerity of his love and kindness towards us in sending his well-beloved and onely begotten Son to be the Propitation for our sins doth still keep mercy toward the Heirs of his promise otherwise they could not be made partakers of the blessings and benefits of his Covenant Hence we have frequently such expressions as these made use of in the holy Scriptures to wit The great and dreadful God who keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments Deut. 7. 9. Neh. 1. 5. Dan. 9. 4. All the Paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimomonies Psal 25. 10. He retaineth not his Anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the Sea Thou wilt