man his whole duty excellency and interest that it may be well with us in the life to come And it is worthy our serious consideration and observation that when the Apostle Paul referrs to that forementioned prophecy of Isaiah in which he fore-declares and prophesies of the future judgment in which every knee shall bow to our Lord Jesus and every Tongue shall confess him Lord to the glory of God the Father He then gives such like exhortation as is before-mentioned to the believers saying Wherefore my beloved work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of good pleasure Do all things without murmuring and disputings that ye may be blameless and harmless That I may rejoyce in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain neither laboured in vain Isa 45. 22 23. 24 25. with Phil. 2. 9 10 12 13 14 16. And as this Holy Apostle gives such like counsel to the Believers unto whom he writes so he also set before them an Imitable example by his own practice that they might be followers of him I have hope toward God saith he that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead both of the just and of the unjust And herein do I exercise my self to have alwayes a conscience void of offence toward God and toward Men Act. 24. 14 16. And again he saith of himself and of other hearty Believers We labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him For we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ that every one may Receive the things done in his own Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade Men c. 2 Cor. 5. 9 10 11. Eccl. 12. 13 14. Luke 21. 34 35 36. But we shall enlarge no further unto this particular but proceed on to what remains to wit 2. We come in the next place to enquire and consider what is meant by and contained in The Life to come which is mentioned in the Text now we may premise this before we come to speak more distinctly hereto That though in the Evidences before-mentioned we have spoken of the future state indistinctly and in a general consideration Yet here in the place we are discoursing of and from by the Life to come we are to understand that blessed and happy Estate they shall enter into hereafter who do now exercise themselves to sincere Godliness and unfeigned Obedience And so much is plainly intimated to us in the words themselves to wit Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the Life that is to come Without all peradventure that which is promised and which is promised unto Godliness and unto them that heartily exercise themselves thereto must needs be as is there also said Profitable and highly desirable and valuable As also we may premise this that I shall not here distinctly discourse of that Intermediate State which the Spirits of Righteous Men made perfect are in between the Death and Resurrection of the Body but of that which they shall enter upon and perfectly enjoy in and after the Resurrection of their proper Bodies Now having very briefly premised these two things we may say in general that by the Life to come here mentioned we are to understand a full and compleat deliverance from all that is evil and afflictive and a perfect glorious and everlasting enjoyment and fruition of all that Good and Bliss which they shall be made capable of And as on the one hand Death comprehends all that Misery Curse and wosul Punishment which is the due and deserved reward of Mens Trangression and Disobedience Thus the Lord at the beginning threatned our first Parent Adam saying In the day thou eatest of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Thou shalt dye the Death Thou shalt surely dye Gen. 2. 17. and so the Apostle saith The wages of Sin is Death to wit all Misery and Affliction Rom. 6. 23. and that eternal and dismal Torment and Destruction wherewith they shall be punished and tormented who know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour is called The second Death Rev. 2 11. and chap. 20. 6. So on the other Hand all that Glory and Happiness which is assured unto and shall hereafter be enjoyed by them that exercise themselves unto and perservere in well doing is called Life and Eternal Life and here The Life that is to come So also it is said This is the Record that God hath given unto us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath Life These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal Life 1 Joh. 5. 11 12 13. And concerning both the punishment of sin and the gracious Reward of Piety the Apostle saith The wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord As in like expressions also Moses had spoken in former times calling the punishment of Sin and Disobedience Death as that comprehends all Cursing and Misery and the reward of Righteousness and Obedience Life As that encludes and containes as we have said all Blessing and Happiness whatsoever of which they shall be made capable Rom. 6. 23. with Deut. 30 15 16 19 20. Ezek. 33. 11. And so we may say of all who continue to exercise themselves to true Piety 1. That though they must needs all of them dye as well as other men yet they shall in due season be Raised again to the Resurrection of Life John 5. 29. Luk. 14. 14. They that are Christ's in a special consideration shall be quickned at his coming John 11. 25. 1 Cor. 6. 14. and chap. 15. 23. Our Lord Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life and He hath the Keys of the Grave and of Death Rev. 1. 18. And therewith he will in the proper season open the Gates of Death and the Doors of the Grave and will bring them forth that sleep in him to the compleat enjoyment of that Glory and Happiness which he hath by his precious Blood obtained for them and and Promised to them and will then give unto them Spiritual Powerful and Immortal Bodies so as then they Can dye no more for they are equal unto the Angels and are the Children of God being the Children of the Resurrection Luk. 20. 35 36. For this Corruptible saith the Apostle Paul must put on Incorruption and this mortall must put on Immortality c. 1 Cor. 15. 53 55 58. Then their Body which is now Vile shall be fashioned into the Likeness of the Glorious Body of Christ Phil. 3. 20 21. 2. Eternal Life by our blessed Saviour is opposed unto and set against Condemnation Joh. 5. 24. and chap. 3. 15 16. with ver 18. and so it
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
first use but shall now proceed on unto a second namely 2. Seeing God hath made that which is our Duty to be our great and only real Interest seeing he hath made Godliness our true and most excellent Gain and Advantage we may infer and learn from hence that it is his good Will and gracious Mind in Christ concerning us that we should all of us seriously and in good earnest exercise our selves unto true Piety That we should not onely or chiefly have a form of Godliness upon us but that we should entertain and obey the Power thereof and be all of us in sincerity Godly Persons Therefore hath he entail'd all profitable Prosperity on Godliness that we might never think of enjoying the former without our embracing the latter No good thing will He withold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84. 11. Hence he thus expresseth himself and evidenceth it to be his Cordial desire that we should apply our selves to the hearty Obedience of him O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always that it might be well with them and with their Children for ever Deut. 5. 28 29. And now Israel saith Móses what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul to keep the Commandments of the Lord and his Statutes which I command thee this day for thy good chap. 10. 12 13. It adds nothing really unto him if we be holy and good nor doth it take any thing from him if we be ungodly and prophane If thou sinnest what dost thou against him or if thy transgressions be multiplyed what doest thou unto him If thou be Righteous what givest thou him or what receiveth he of thine hand Job 36. 6. 8. No but he hires us to the Embracement and Practice of sincere Piety and Purity with the undoubted Advantage of it to our selves And therefore we may rationally and certainly conclude that God our Saviour will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledg of the Truth as 1 Tim. 2. 4. That he is not willing that any man should perish while it is called to day but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. Therefore he sets before us Life and Good and Death and Evill Blessing and Cursing not as if he was indifferent which of them we chuse but he doth Councel us and Cordially desire we should chuse Life and to that end that we love the Lord our God and obey his voice and cleave unto him for He is our Life and the length of our dayes Deut. 30. 10 15 19 20. And doubtless seeing it is his hearty will we should seriously exercise our selves unto the obedience of Faith he will not be wanting to enable us thereto by the asistance of his grace if we be not wanting to our selves for he giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not Jam. 1. 5. It is God that worketh in you saith the Apostle both to will and to do of his good Pleasure Phil 2. 12 15. If therefore we continue disobedient and ungodly and so perish in conclusion we shall have no just cause to blame the God o◠all Grace who hath done so great things for us and set so great encouragments before us to move and engage us to serve him acceptably But our Destruction will appear to be wholly of our selves and that we our selves have by observing lying vanities forsaken our own mercies and have been too too like prophane Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his Birth-right Heb. 12. 14 17. 3. Seeing Godliness is profitable unto all things and that our exercising our selves thereto is our most certain excellent and eternal advantage This then discovers and evidences unto us the great and pernicious mistake and folly of them that think and speak otherwise and so exercise not themselves thereto but walk in Ungodly Unrighteous and Intemperate ways and practises as if Impiety were the onely and mainly gainfull thing they could exercise themselves unto To this purpose Job speaks of some wicked ones who did greatly Flourish in this world in their unrighteous courses and who thought that because they did so therefore it would be a vain and unprofitable thing to serve and fear the Lord. They spend their days saith he in Wealth or Mirth and in a moment go down to the grave Therefore they say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledg of thy ways What is the Almighty that we should serve him And what profit should we have if we pray unto him Job 21. 14. 15. And to the same purpose Eliphaz speaks of them namely They say unto God depart from us And what can the Almighty do for them see how brutish they are in their thoughts or expressions of God while they give him the Title of the Almighty they yet say What can he do for them whereas they might rather and most truly say What cannot the Almighty do for them most strange That he should be Almighty and yet should have no Hands no power to provide for his servants Thus some wicked ones did Reason with such contradictious Talke But though they doubted of or denyed his Providence and Bounty they did partake thereof while they spake so Atheistically for it presently follows yet he filled their houses with good things Job 22 15. 17. 18. Yea such foolish and brutish ones there were not onely amongst them that were without the Church but of them also that were of the Church and of the most Reformed part thereof of Judah God's pleasant Plant. Hence it is said concerning some therein your words have been stout against me saith the Lord Yet ye say what have we spoken against thee ye have said it is vain to serve God And what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance And that we have walked Mournfully before the Lord of hosts But whence proceded this unreasonable and absurd talk of theirs Surely from hence Because wicked ones did grow Great and were Fat and Flourishing therefore they thought that their Impiety was their great Interest and Advantage for so much is signified in the following words of these simple and unwise Persons to wit And now we call the Proud happy yea they that work wickedness are set up yea they that tempt God are even delivered Mal. 3. 13 14 15. Nay that Good Man was envious at the foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked That there were no Bands in their death but their strength was firm That they were not in trouble as other men neither were they plagued like other men That their eyes stand out with fatness and they have more than heart could wish Behold saith he these are the ungodly they prosper in the World they increase in Riches And while he looked upon their security and prosperity according to outward appearance he was to ready and
in being thus wise they shall be wise for themselves and shall lay up for themselves in store a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life Prov. 9. 10 12 1 Tim. 6. 6 19. Dan. 12. 2 3. Others may appear to have more speculative and notionall knowledge and wisdom but these are the onely persons that are really and practically wise and wiser than all other men in that they pursue Godliness and thereby obtain and make sure the favour of him that loveth Piety and righteousness Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding for the Merchandise of it is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the gain thereof than fine Gold she is more precious than Rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her Length of days is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour She is a tree of life to all that lay hold on her and happy is every one that retaineth her Prov. 3. 13 18. I love them saith the Wisdom of God that love me and they that seek me early shall find me But what shall they be the better for finding her what advantage will that be of unto them much every way for saith she in the next words Riches and Honour are with me yea durable Riches and Righteousness and these two always go together namely durable Riches and Righteousness I walk and lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the paths of Judgment that I may cause them that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their Treasure Prov. 8. 17. 18 21. If therefore we would behave our selves wisely and hopefully and succesfully pursue that which will be really and in truth profitable and advantageous to us Let us follow after righteousness and Godliness for this is our wisdom and our understanding as Deut. 4. 5 6. The ungodly Person is the greatest fool and so he is frequently called by the Wisdom of God in the Book of the Proverbs And he doth appear so to be by his despising the fear of the Lord in doing which he wrongs his own soul and loves death Prov. 1. 7. and chap. 8. 36. But the sincerely pious Person is and is usually called the Wise man because he feareth before God and the reward of Humility and of the Fear of the Lord is Riches and life Prov. 22. 4. When our saviour commends unto his disciples in his parable the unjust Steward not for his unrighteousness but because he had done Wisely he then gives this instruction unto them and I say unto you make to your selves friends of the Mamon of unrighteousness that is be rich and abundant in good and pious works That when ye fail as fail from hence we must all They may receive you into everlasting Habitations or Tabernacles and in so doing we shall deal wisely and prudently for our own souls Luk. 16. 8 9. And this leads us to the last use namely 5. Seeing Piety is profitable unto all things Be we all exhorted perswaded and prevailed withal seriously and constantly to exercise our selves thereto if we would indeed aim at and pursue that which is gainful and beneficial to us Now in this day in exercising our selves thereto God will supply all our wants and give unto us those things that are usefull and needfull for us O taste and see that the Lord is gracious Blessed is the man that trusteth in him O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him Psal 34. 8 9 In thus doing God will be our exceeding great reward Gen. 15. 1. God is not unrighteous saith the Apostle to forget your work and labour of l ve Heb 6. 9. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought Mal. 1. 10. Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water onely in the name of a Disciple saith our Lord Jesus verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward Mat. 10. 42. O let us then intend his service and cast all our cares and concernes upon him for he careth for us let all our Wants lye upon him whose is the earth and the fulness thereof the Cattel upon a thousand hills and who hath given this command and encouragement to us to wit trust in the Lord and do good and thou shalt dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Psal 37. 3 6. And then hereafter they that now live Godly in Christ Jesus shall have the Fulness and Harvest of all spiritual blessings O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the Sons of men Psal 31. 19. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the Ear neither hath the Eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for thee Isa 64. 4. He that sate upon the Throne said behold I make all things new and he said unto me write for these words are true and faithful he that overcometh to wit his spiritual enemies shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son Rev. 21. 5 7. O then Let us abstain from and flee all Ungodliness and worldly lusts and follow after Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience Meekness Let us fight the good fight of Faith and so lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6. 11 12. And this leads us unto the following part of the words namely 2. We have the Motive to excite and provoke us to exercise our selves to Piety and Righteousness propounded to us more particularly and distinctly and therein the Truth of the foregoing part of the words opened and evidenced namely having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come of this present momentany state we are now in and of that eternal one we shall enter upon and have an everlasting enjoyment of when we are removed hence and shall be here no more But now before we come to speak unto the Motive and enforcement as it is here more particularly and distinctly exprest and evidenced to us in the latter part of the Text we may a little usefully fore-consider these following things to wit 1. What it is that hath the promise and promises absolutely Annex't unto it and entailed upon it and that is godliness as that signifies the whole duty of man as we have before noted and shewn and so the promises are first of all made unto our Lord Jesus Christ who is Emphatically and most Eminently called God's holy one or godly one Psal 16. 10. Who loved righteousness and hated iniquity therefore God even his God hath anointed him with the oyl of gladness above his fellows because
reverence and Godly fear he provides for them as for his children in an especial consideration and as Heirs of his Covenant and promises The Lord is gracious and full of compassion He hath given meat to them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant Psal 111. 4 5. And it was David's observation when he was grown into years that God did always provide what was good for the righteous I have been young saith he and now am old yet have I never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread He is ever merciful lendeth and his seed is in the blessing Psal 37. 25 26 27. And when the same holy Prophet pronounceth the blessedness of the truly Godly person saying blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandements he then gives us to understand that this is a part of his blessedness namely wealth and riches shall be in his house c. Psal 112. 1 3. Prov. 22. 4. It must be acknowledged that God hath not promised to them that walk uprightly before him an abundance of outward and worldly good things or such a fulness as some others enjoy out of his general goodness and kindness who have their portion in this life and whose bellies God filleth with his hid treasure as Psal 17. 14. But that Competency which he gives them with his blessing is better then the whole world without it And indeed as our blessed Saviour faith a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth Luk. 12. 15. A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of any wicked Psal 37. 16. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord then great treasure and trouble therewith Better is a dinner of herbs where love is however where men are in the well pleased love and favour of God then a stalled Oxe and hatred therewith Better is a little with righteousness then great revenues without right Prov. 15. 16 17. and chap. 16. 8. And he hath assured them that they that seek and serve him shall not want any thing that is really good and profitable for them Psal 34. 8 9 10. and 84. 10 11 12. And such Promises are not only propounded and ascertained to the Fearers of the Lord before the coming of the Son of God into the world but since that time also Our Saviour doth not only direct his disciples thus to pray to their Father which is in heaven to wit Give us this day our daily bread Mat. 6. 11. But also in the same chapter gives them this assurance and encouragement Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you to wit what ye shall eat and what ye shall drink and wherewith ye shall be cloathed And so whatsoever your heavenly Father knoweth ye have need of shall be given to you And this is propounded to them that they might have their conversation without covetousness and carefulness Mat. 6. 31 32 33. Luk. 12. 29 31 32. So the Apostle saith having food and raiment let us therewith be content This we shall have in leading our lives in Godliness and honesty But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition For the love of money is the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6. 6 7 8 9 10. And again he saith to the believing Hebrews let your conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say the Lord is mine helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me Heb. 13. 5 6. with Deut. 31. 1 6. Yea and there are Promises and assurances given to them that he will take care of and provide for his faithful servants in a time of scarcity and want when he orders cleaness of Teeth in those quarters or Nations in which God hath bounded their Habitations Job 5. 20 22. Behold saith the Psalmist attend to and minde this diligently the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his mercy To keep them alive in famine Psal 33. 18 19. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied they shall have enough to hold their souls in life withall Psal 37. 19 25. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to wit them or their persons to famish but he casteth away the substance of the wicked Prov. 10. 3. And in such times in times of death and famine he hath wonderfully and Marvellously taken care of and kept alive such as waited upon him and walked before him in former days and with him is no variableness nor shadow of turning Gen. 12. 10. and chap. 26. 1. and chap. 42. 5. But no more to that particular 3. Godliness is profitable having also the promise of the life that now is as to God's special and gracious protection and salvation from all such dangers and troubles as might be indeed evil and hurtful to them he is especially the Saviour of them that trust in him hefore the Sons of men and whose hearts are perfect towards him hence the Psalmist thus pours out his heart before the Lord saying shew thy marvellous loving kindness O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them Psal 17. 7 8 9. and 31. 19 20. His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong on the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him 2 Chron. 16. 9. Psal 9. 9. 10. They that dwell in the secret of the most High shall lodge under the shadow of the Almighty He will cover them with his feathers and under his wings they shall trust his Truth shall be their shield and buckler Psal 91. 1 3 4. So he is said to be a buckler to them that walk uprightly Prov. 2. 7. And a Shield to them that put their trust in him chap. 30. 5. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous runneth into it and is safe Prov. 18. 10. As with respect to them that are wicked and stubbornly sin against God Salvation is far from them Psal 119. 155. Isa 59. 11 12. But surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him Psal 15. 9. Be their enemies then never so numerous have they never so much power in their hands or on their side as Eccles 4. 1. Be they never so full of Enmity and Malice towards such as are upright and never so full of subtilty and cunning Craftiness to accomplish their evil and mischievous designs against them who out of the fear of God dare not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness yet they need not be afraid
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 3. 22 25. And he will pour out his spirit unto the truely pious persons and thereby make their souls like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not which will spring up unto everlasting life Isa 58. 6 11. How much more saith our Saviour shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him Luk. 11. 13. But this is to be understood of the first-fruits thereof the Harvest thereof is still to be waited for as the Apostle saith we our selves also which have the first-fruits of the spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption c. Rom. 8. 23 25. Even as before the children of Israel came into the Land of Canaan they had a first-fruits as it were of that excellent land which was the glory of all lands brought unto them in the wilderness for their encouragement to hold on their way and that from thence they might conceive and conclude that the land of Canaan was a most excellent countrey Numb 13. 23 24 26 27. So now while they are in the wilderness of this world God doth in some beginnings and in a small measure give unto them that live godly in Christ Jesus a Taste of what they shall hereafter compleatly and fully enjoy that they might Hunger and Thirst after righteousness and press toward the mark for the prize which is set before them He is now merciful to their unrighteousness Heb. 8. 12. And doth remember them with his special favour Psal 106. 4. Prov. 8. 17. And gives them grace for seasonable help Psal 84. 11. Heb. 4. 16. And is filling them with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God Isa 61. 3. Joh. 15. 1 8. In taking Christ's yoke upon them and learning of him they shall find rest to their souls while they meet with various afflictions and occasions of sadness as with respect to the outward man their soul shall dwell at case and lodge in Goodness Mat. 11. 28 30 Psal 25. 11 14. God is now filling them with joy and peace in believing in the midst of all the troubles and exercises wherewith they are exercised and is also effecting in them and quickning them unto a lively Hope and well-grounded Expectation which maketh not ashamed of the Harvest and future inheritance and this Hope they have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure that which will not break how highly soever the waves lift up their voice or how fiercely soever the winds bluster and blow yet this Hope will hold firm and it is stedfast it will not slip for it is centred in Christ that Rock of Ages against which the gates of hell shall not prevail nor against those that firmely abide in him Yea this Hope which is the Anchor of the Soul entreth into that within the veil whither the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus made an High-priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech Heb. 6. 18 20. 1 Joh. 3. 1 2 3. But we shall here add no more as to this first particular in which the Apostle doth evince and evidence to us the great advantageousness and profitableness of true piety holiness and righteousness to the end we may seriously and stedfastly exercise our selves to the unfeigned belief of the mystery of it and also to the sincere practice of it in saying unto us having promise of the life that now is And now God willing we shall proceed on unto the second contained in the last clause namely 2. Godliness is profitable having promise also of the life that is to come to wit after this uncertain and frail life shall have an end In which is intimated to us that though men lead never such pious and good lives though they walk never so holily justly and unblamably in having their conversation as becomes and adornes the Gospel of Christ Jesus yet they shall not live here always but they must depart this life as well as other men It is appointed to men generally once to dye to dye the first death Heb. 9. 27. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death and shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Psal 89. 48. Nor indeed would it be good for them to live here always in this polluted evil troublesome and dangerous world for while they are at home in the body they are absent from the Lord but when this life is at end they shall then be with Christ and shall enter into the joy of their Lord. And therefore as the present life is theirs while it is continued to them so death is theirs also to them to dye is gain the day of death is better to them than the day of their birth Eccl. 7. 1. To which I shall at this time enlarge no further But though they also must needs dye and depart out of this world yet in unfeignedly exercising themselves to Godliness they have the promise of the life that is to come As things present are theirs so also are things to come All things are theirs and they are Christ's and Christ is God's 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. If in or for this life onely they have hope in Christ they are of all men most miserable as 1 Cor. 15. 19. But they have the promise and assurance of a suture and better life and are begotten again to the lively hope of it But now in speaking unto this last clause I shall desire so to do in this following order That is to say 1. Evidence and shew that there is a future life a life to come when this present short and frail life is ended 2. What is meant by and contained in the life to come 3. That Godliness hath the promise thereof 1. I Say we shall give some evidences and shew that there is a future state to be entred upon another life besides this present a life to come when this frail vain and Transitory life is ended and expired and this may appear and be evidenced in these following evidences namely 1. From plain intimations and expressions which are contained in the Scriptures of Truth This was more darkly signified and made known in the holy Scriptures written before the coming of our Lord Jesus in the Flesh Thus those words spoken unto Moses by God in the bush to wit I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob Exod. 3. 6. are made use of by our blessed Saviour to prove a future state after this life For saith he God is not the God of the dead but of the living for all live unto him These Patriarchs though they are dead unto us yet they live unto him and shall be raised again in due season Mat. 22. 31 32. Mark 12. 26 27. Luk. 20. 37 38 Thus also whereas the Prophet saith he will swallow up death in victory and the Lord
God will wipe away tears from off all faces c. The Apostle Paul proving the Resurrection of the dead and particularly saying this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality c. He then addes the former part of that Prophecy before cited to wit Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory And the latter clause of the Prophet's forementioned is cited by the Apostle John when he speaks of the future state of such as were truly Godly persons Isa 25. 8. with 1 Cor. 15. 53. 54. and Rev. 7. 14 17. and chap. 21. 4. That Prophecy also of the prophet Hosea's to wit O death I will be thy plagues O Grave I will be thy destruction The Apostle doth cite when he treats of and proves the resurrection Hos 13. 14. with 1 Cor. 15. 55. Thus also when the Prophet Isaiah is speaking of the removal of the righteous out of this world by death saying The righteous perisheth And merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken from that which is evil he then immediately signifieth that there is not then an utter end of them or that for ever they cease to be but he very plainly gives us to understand that they enter upon a better state when they are hence departed for he immediately subjoynes to the former He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness or before him Isa 57. 1 2. And the Prophet Daniel doth very plainly and perspicuously speak of a future state to be entred upon by both good and bad when they by death are passed out of this world for he thus prophetically speaks saying Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt And by the word many there we may well understand all or the multitude for it doth so signify in other places of Scripture Dan. 12. 2. with Rom. 5. 15 19. with vers 18. Psal 32. 10. c. And though the life to come or future state was more darkly discovered or less clearly revealed then it is since Christ came a light into the world yet it was then so plainly made known that the holy ones in the Church of Israel did firmly believe and confidently expect a better life when they should depart out of this and the faith and hope thereof made them willing to forgo the desirable things of this present life and world and to undergo afflictions persecutions and torments yea and death it self for the name of God Heb. 11. 13 16 24 26. And so it is said Others were tortured not accepting deliverance to wit upon their enemies Termes That they might obtain a better Resurrection And others had trial of cruell Mockings and Scourgings yea more-over of Bonds and Imprisonments c. Heb. 11. 35 36 40. Yea it appears that not only the truly pious ones in that Church did thus believe and confess But it was the general belief of all among the Jews the Sect of the Sadduces excepted Mark 12. 18 27 37. Matth. 22. 23 33. And particularly of the Pharisees it is said They confess a Resurrection and Angels and Spirits Act. 23. 6 8 9. See also John 11. 24. Act. 24. 14 15 16. and chap. 26. 6 7 8. But that there is a Future State to be entred upon by All when this Transitory and Momentany State shall be ended and determined is much more clearly revealed and evidently discovered to us in the Holy Scriptures written since the coming and appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and brought Life and Immortality to Light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. with Mat. 22. 24 30. How plainly was this declared by our Lord Jesus himself while he was upon the Earth When saith he the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and all the Holy Angels with him Then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations And he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goates Matth. 25. 30 32 41 46. And again our Lord saith unto the Jews Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in their Graves shall hear the voice of the Son of Man and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation John 5. 27 29. Once more he saith I came down from Heaven not to do mine Own Will but the Will of him that sent me And this is the Will of him that sent me That of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day And this is the Will of him that sent me That every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting Life And I will raise him up at the last day John 6. 38 39 40. and Chap. 11. 25. And the holy Apostles after the Holy Spirit was received by them in that most plentiful effusion of it mentioned in Act. 2. did very frequently and most clearly Preach through Jesus the Resurection from the dead Act. 4. 2. and chap. 10. 42 43. And particularly the Apostle Paul speaketh thus of his Faith and Hope After the way which they call Heresy so worship I the God of my Fathers Believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets And have hope toward God which they themselves also allow That there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and of the Unjust Act. 24. 14 15 16. And indeed to this end Christ both Died and Rose and Revived that he might be Lord both of the Dead and living For it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God So then every one of us shall give an Account of himself to God Rom. 14. 9 11 12. with Phil. 2. 9 11. And in 1 Cor. 15. the same Apostle doth very largely assert and evidence by manifold Arguments that all shall be raised again in due season And particularly in ver 21 22. he saith For since by man came Death by man came also the Resurrection of the Dead For as in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive But every man in his own order See also Rev. 20. To this I might further have enlarged but what hath been written doth sufficiently evince that the Scriptures do very fully and plainly assure us that there is a Life to come a future State to be entred upon by all when this short and frail state is ended And I shall here only add that this is a very considerable momentous and weighty Evidence of the Truth hereof For the Scriptures cannot be broken And it is easier
from the dead Act. 17. 30 31. 1 Cor. 15. 20 22. and chap. 6. 14. 1 Thes 4. 13 18. And presently after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead many other Holy Ones were raised As it is said And the Graves were opened and many Bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of the Graves after his Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many Mat. 27. 52 53. which might be some first-fruits of fulfilling of that Prophesie of Esaias where he saith Thy dead men shall live together with my dead Body shall they arise c. Isa 26. 19. And Lastly our Saviour in the Parable or Story of the Rich Man and of Lazarus doth plainly give us to understand that when they departed out of this Life and World they then entered upon another State the one of Joy and Comfort and the other of Misery and Torment for it is said The beggar died and was carryed by the Angels into Abraham's Bosome The Rich Man also died and was Buried And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in Torments and seeth Abraham afarr of and Lazarus in his Bosome And said Father Abraham have mercy upon me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am Tormented in this Flame But Abraham said Son Remember that thou in thy life-time received'st thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is 〈◊〉 Comforted and thou art Tormented In which also is plainly signified to us that Abraham the Father of the Faithful was then alive in his Spirit and did live unto God as our Saviour also else-where affirmeth Luk. 16. 19 22 24 25. and chap. 20. 38. And the Apostle John saith I saw under the Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the Testimony which they held And they cryed with a loud voice saying How long O Lord Holy and True dost thou not Judge and Avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the earth c. Rev. 6. 9 10 11. and chap. 7. 14 15 17. But I shall enlarge no farther unto that Second Evidence of a Future State and Life to come but proceed unto the Third to wit 3. The Truth of the former is further Evidenced by the Desire and Vote of Pious and Serious Persons to be removed out of this World I do not mean or speak concerning the Desire or Prayers of some good men in a Passion or Distemper such an one it may seem Elijah was in when Jezebel vowed to take away his Life for then he requested for himself that he might Dye and said It is enough O Lord take away my Life for I am not better than my Fathers 1 King 19. 1 4. with Jam. 5. 17. So also when Jonah saw that God spared Nineveh upon their serious Repentance It displeased him exceedingly and he was very angry And said Take I beseech thee my life from me For it is better for me to dye than to live And again when his Gourd withered And the Sun beat upon the head of Jonah that he fainted He wished in himself to dye and said It is better for me to dye than to live And God said unto Jonah doest thou well to be angry for the Gourd and he said I do well to be angry even unto Death Jonah 4. 1 3 6 7 8 9. Job 6. 8 9 10. and 14. 13. with chap. 36. 20 21. But I speak concerning the Vote and Desire of Good men when they were in a good calme composed frame and temper of Spirit So that Good and Holy man Simeon when he had seen our Lord Jesus and taken him into his Armes He then blessed God and said Lord Now lettest thou thy servant depart in Peace according to thy word c. Luk. 2. 26 28 29 30. And Paul saith of himself and of other unfeigned Believers Our selves which have the first-fruits of the spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the the Adoption to wit the Redemption of the Body Rom. 8. 23. And again he saith 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 for in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven For we that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burdened not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon that Mortallity might be swallowed up of Life We are confident and willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 4. 16 18. and chap. 5. 1 2 4. 8. And the same Holy Apostle as with Respect to himself saith I am in a straight betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Phil. 1. 20 23. And of the Patriarchs and Holy Ones in former times it is said If they had been mindful of that Countrey from whence they came out they might have had opportunity to have return'd But now they desire a better Countrey that is an Heavenly wherefore God is not asham'd to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City Heb. 11. 9 10 13 16. Gen. 49. 18. And these Holy Ones who thus Desired were not Novices in the Faith but Eminent ones therein they were Pillars in the Church as it were or however some of them were so Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles and so such as were guided by the Holy and Eternal Spirit of God which searcheth all things yea the deep things of God And by which Blessed and infallible Spirit they were assured that there was a future state to be entred upon when they are departed out of this Evil and passing world and so Faile from among the Children of men or otherwise it was not at all desirable to go out of this Life and World For not to be is next unto and little better than to be miserable as our Saviour seems to signifie to us in Matth. 26. 24. Mark 14. 21. And also by this good and most Understanding Spirit they were perswaded to Believe that the future State that good men shall enter upon when they are departed out of this World is far better and much rather to be chosen then that they were then upon while they were in this Frail Mortal and Corruptible Body as the Apostle Paul saith To me to live is Christ and to dye is Gain Phil. 1. 20 21. And so particularly it is said of that Pious man Simeon fore-named who desired to depart out of and leave this World and Life when he had seen God's Salvation which he had prepared before the face of all People that the holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see Death before he had seen the Lord's Christ And he came by the Spirit into the Temple
doth signifie or however enclude Justification for these two to wit Justification and Condemnation are very usually opposed the one to the other Rom. 5. 18. and chap. 8. 33 34. 2 Cor. 3. 9. And so those that now do live Godly and Righteously in Christ Jesus shall in the World to come of which we speak be compleatly Gloriously and eternally Justified from all their Sins and Transgressions Isa 45. 23 25. Their Sins shall be fully and everlastingly Blotted out when the times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Act. 3. 19. Now they are instructed and directed by our Lord Jesus and need to pray unto their Father which is in Heaven every day Forgive us our Sins and Trespasses for they are daily offending and sinning against God Matth. 6. 12. who can tell how oft he offendeth There is not a Just man upon the Earth that doeth good and sinneth not Eccl. 7. 20. But then they shall sin no more but shall be justified and cleansed as Dan. 8. 14. from the Inherency and In-being of Sin and they shall also perfectly and for ever be forgiven and delivered from the Guilt of their former Transgressions and Miscarriages Isa 45. 25. with Heb. 8. 10 12. He commanded us saith the Apostle Peter to Preach unto the People and to testify That it is He Christ who is Ordained of God the Judge of quick and dead To him give all the Prophets Witness that through his Name whosoever Believeth in him shall receive in the future Judgment Remission of Sins Act. 10. 40 43. 3. The truly Godly and Righteous persons shall when they are raised again out of their Graves be wholly and for ever delivered from the wrath and displeasure of the Almighty God and so Eternal life is opposed unto the wrath of God by the Baptist when he thus speaketh He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life but the Wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 3 6. So also the Apostle doth oppose Eternal Life and Wrath each to other saying to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory He will render eternal Life But unto them that obey not the Truth he will render Indignation and Wrath Rom. 2. 7 8. see also Prov. 16. 14 15. And so they that now are Pious and Pure in heart and way shall then obtain and enjoy his valuable Favour in which is life Psal 30. 5. yea his loving kindness is better than Life than the most excellent life we can here enjoy Psal 63. 3. Then shall that promise which the Faithful God hath promised to them be compleatly and most fully performed to wit For a moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer For this is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth so have I sworn that I will not be wrath with thee nor rebuke thee This is the Heritage of the servants of the Lord c. Isa 54. 7 8 9 10. 17. 4. Eternal Life is opposed unto Everlasting fire and unto everlasting punishment Matth. 25. 41 46. And so it may signifie the same with Everlasting Salvation And our Lord Jesus being made perfect Became the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 5. 8 9. Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life John 3. 15 16. and chap. 10. 27 28. They that now run with patience and perseverance the way of God's Commandments shall hereafter unto all Eternity be delivered from the dreadful and direful effects of the Wrath of the Almighty God which is to be dreaded and deprecated by us they shall then fully and for ever be secured from all Torment Destruction and perdition Isa 45. 16 17. Everlasting Life is also opposed unto Shame Reproach and Disgrace As where the Prophet saith Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting Life and some to Shame and everlasting Contempt Dan 12. 2. And so in that future state which the Godly shall enter upon they shall certainly and perpetually be delivered from all Infamy and Contempt though now many times they are a Reproach of men and despised of the People and are a By-word amongst their Neighbours and therefore may say as the Psalmist doth Thou hast known our Reproach and our Shame and our Dishonour Reproach hath broken our hearts c. Psal 69. 19 20. yet hereafter Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation they shall not be Ashamed nor Confounded world without end Isa 45. 17. But they shall then obtain and be made partakers of everlasting Glory and immortal Honour unto which they are now called by the Gospel When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Glory Col. 3. 1 4. Then saith our Lord Jesus shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father who hath ears to hear let him hear Matth. 13. 44. 2 Tim. 2. 10. For their former Shame they shall then have double Glory Isa 61. 7. And again Eternal life is sometimes opposed unto the Place of Torment into which the unrighteous and unholy shall go and in which will be Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of teeth Mark 9. 43 46. And so also it is opposed unto Anguish and dismal Grief which is the effect of the Wrath and Indignation of the most Righteous Judge Rom. 2. 7. with ver 8. 9. And they that now lead their lives in sincere Piety and Honesty shall hereafter be delivered from all occasions of weeping and wailing and shall be made partakers of everlasting Joy Gladness and Consolation as the Lord by the Prophet gives us to understand saying The Redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their Heads they shall obtain Gladness and Joy and Sorrow and Mourning shall flee away Isa 35. 10. and chap. 51. 11. Light is now sown for the Righteous and Gladness for the upright in heart Psal 97. 11 12. And even now while as their need requires they are in heaviness through manifold Temptations yet believing in Christ Jesus whom now they see not they rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory they greatly rejoyce in that Salvation ready to be revealed in the last times 1 Pet. 1. 3 6 8 9. But their present joy is not without mixture of sorrow They now rejoyce with trembling Heb. 3. 16 18. And their joy is not compleat because it is in unseen things but hereafter God will wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more sorrow nor crying for the former things are passed
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
6. is ratified and made sure by the most precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Indeed the first Testament was confirmed and Dedicated with blood For Moses took the blood of Calves and of Goats with water and Hysop and sprinkled the book saying This is the blood of the Testament which God hath enjoyned unto you Exod. 24. 3 8. with Heb. 9. 18 20. But this better and far more excellent Covenant and Promise which is entail'd on sincere Piety is ratified and established by the blood of the Son of God who is the Mediatour of it Thus when our Lord Jesus instituted his Supper in the night in which he was betrayed He took the Cup and gave it unto his Disciples saying Drink ye all of it for this is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of Sins Matth. 26. 27 28. This Testament of exceeding great and precious Promises is confirmed by the Blood of himself who is the Testator For where a Testament is there must also of necessity be brought in the Death of the Testator For a Testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth Heb. 9. 16 17. Hence this Covenant is called The New Testament in his Blood Luke 22. 20. 1 Cor. 11. 25. And his Blood is said to be The Blood of the New Testament or Covenant Mark 14. 24. Heb. 10. 29. and the Blood of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13. 20. And our Lord Jesus who hath obtained sealed and ratified this New Testament with his own Death is raised again from the Dead and is now Alive a 〈…〉 ives for evermore and is the Mediator 〈…〉 is New Covenant to see to the faithful Execution and Performance of his own last Will and Testament As the Apostle saith And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament That by means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the First Testament They which are called to wit called according to purpose so as they unfeignedly obey the call might receive the Promise of the eternal Inheritance Heb. 9. 14 15. So that the Promise being thus Confirmed by the Oath of the ever-living and eternally unchangeable God and by the Blood of the eternal and Immutable Son of God Heb. 13. 7 8. appears hereby to be a faithful and true saying and therefore as we have said is worthy of all hearty and honourable Acceptation and Entertainment from us all To conclude all then in a few words Let us all so carefully and seriously minde and consider the General Gainfulness of sincere Piety and Goodness both in this present State which we are now in and in that future and eternal State which we must hereafter enter upon which is fully and abundantly evidenced in this that it hath the Promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come And that the Author and Maker of this Prom 〈…〉 s the living God the Incorruptible God the most Merciful most Powerful and Faithful God And that this Promise is ascertained and confirmed by his most solemn Oath to shew unto the Heirs of his Promise the Immutability of his Counsel and that it is also Ratified and Established by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 7 8. And who ever liveth to see to the performance of his Covenant and Promise Heb. 1. 10 12. that we may resolvedly and constantly deny Impiety and all sinful and worldly lusts and affections by the aid and assistance of the Spirit of Grace lest we come short of enjoying the Benefit and advantage of this excellent and most beneficial promise as Heb. 4. 1. And let us uprightly and perseveringly follow after and exercise our selves not to the Form only or mainly but to the Power and Practice of real Godliness that so we may have an Interest in and an enjoyment of The Gain and Advantage of Godliness both now in this present Day and to the Day of Eternity O let us not by observing lying Vanities which cannot save us from evil nor satisfy us with good forsake our own Mercies God hath Inseparably joyned together our Duty and our Interest that we cannot Possibly have the Latter unless we sincerely perform the Former nor can we heartily exercise our selves to the Former but we shall without all doubt be made Partakers of the Latter What God therefore hath so joyned together let no man fondly imagine or foolishly endeavour to put asunder As by annexing and assuring this general and most valuable advantage to Godliness God doth Intimate our backwardness to exercise our selves thereto and our averseness therefrom So in that he proposes and promises such a Reward to Piety He doth plainly give us to understand that it is his gracious Mind and Will that we should be Good and Pious that we may be truly Blessed and Happy We must indeed take Christs Yoak upon us and unseignedly undertake his service if we will meet with and find Refreshing to our Souls But that we may heartily and willingly so do He doth assure us that it is an easie that it is a gainful one and so draws us to take the Yoke upon us with the Bands and Cords of Profit and Advantage both Earthly and Heavenly And thus he did allure his people in former times to the well-pleasing service of him by assuring them that it would conduce unto their own Advantage and Interest And now saith he by Moses What doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God to walk in all his wayes and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul to keep the Commandments of the Lord and his Statutes which I command thee this day for thy Good But for what Good should they do this surely for their present and for their future good for their earthly and for their heavenly advantage And so much may be signified in what immediately follows with a note of attention perfixed thereto namely Behold the Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens is the Lords thy God the Earth also with all that therein is Deut. 10. 12 13 14. O then Let us Exercise our selves unto Godliness For Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come This is a Faithful saying and worthy of all Acceptation THE END Books to be Sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Hundred select Sermons on several Texts by Tho. Horton D. D. Sermons on 4 select Psalms viz. 4th 42 51 63. by Tho. Horton D. D. Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Sermons on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Collossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwins and Dr. John Owens
The Childs Delight together with an English Grammar Reading and Spelling made easie both by Tho. Lye Aesops Fables with morals thereupon in English Verse The Young-mans Instructor and the Old-mans remembrancer being an Explanation of the Assemblies Catechism Captives bound in Chains made free by Christ their Surety both by Tho. Doolittle Eighteen Sermons preached upon several Texts of Scripture by William Whitaker The Saints care for Church Communion declared in sundry Sermons preached at St James Dukes-place by Zech. Crofton The life and death of Edmund Stanton D. D. To which is added a Treatise of Christian-conference and a Dialogue between a Minister and a Stranger Sin the Plague of plagues or sinful sin the worst of Evils by Ralph Venning M. A. Cases of Conscience practically resolved by J. Norman The faithfulness of God considered and cleared in the great Events of his Word or a second part of the fulfilling of the Scripture The immortality of the Soul explained and proved by Scripture and Reason to which is added Faiths-triumph over the fears of death by Tho. Wadsworth A Treatise of the incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word by George Swinnock M. A. A discourse of the original c of the Cossacks The generation of Seekers or the right manner of the Saints addresses to the throne of Grace with an Exposition on the Lords-Prayer The administration of Cardinal Ximones An Essay to facilitate the Education of Youth by bringing down the rudiments of Grammar to the sense of seeing which ought to be improved by Syncrisis by Mr. Lewis of Totenham An Artificial Vestibulum wherein the sense of Janua Linguarum is contained compiled into plain and short sentences in English for the great ease of Masters and Expeditious progress of Scholars by M. Lewis Speculum Sherlockianum or a Locking glass in which the admirers of Mr. Sherlock may behold the man as to his Acuracy Judgment Orthodoxy A discourse of Sins of Omission wherein is discovered their Nature Causes and Cure by George Swinnock His Majesties Propriety in the British Seas vindicated Quakerism no Christianity or a through-Quaker no Christian proved by their Principles and confirmed by Scripture by J. Faldo Differences about Water-baptism no bar to Communion by Jo. Bunian The Dutch-dispensatory shewing the virtues qualities and properties of Simples the vertue and use of Compounds whereto is added the Compleat Herbalist Judg Dodaridge's laws of Nobility and Peerage Dinglys Spiritual Feast Solitude improved by Divine Meditation by Matth. Ranew A Murderer punished and pardoned or Tho. Savage his life and death with his Funeral sermon Hurst Revival Grace Buryes Husbandmans Companion help to holy walking Hanmers view of Antiquity Nomenclaturas Wases Grammar Vincent of Conscience Gouges Principles of Christian Religion Christian Direction Word to Saints and Sinners Young mans guide Christian Housholder Perrots Englands duty The Nonconformists vindicated Wadsworths remains Shepherdy Spiritualized Calamys Art of divine Meditation Faldos Quakerism no Christianity vindication of 21 Divines Small 8vo A defence against the fear of death by Zach. Crofton Gods Soveraignty displayed by William Gearing The Godly mans Ark or a City of Refuge in the day of his distress in five Sermons with Mrs. Moors evidences for Heaven by Edmund Calamy The Almost-Christian discovered or the false-Professor tried and cast by M. Mead. The true bounds of Christian-freedom or a discourse shewing the extent and restraints of Christian-liberty by S. Bolton D. D. The sinfulness of Sin and fulness of Christ in two Sermons by Will. Bridg. A Plea for the godly or the Righteous mans Excellency The holy Eucharist or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper A Treatise of self-denial All three by Tho. Watson The life and death of Tho. Wilson of Maidstone in Kent The Life and Death of Dr. Samuel VVinter A Covert from the Storm or the fearful encouraged in the day of Trouble Worthy-walking press'd upon all that have heard the Call of the Gospel The Spirit of Prayer All three by Nath. Vincent The inseparable union between Christ and a Believer by Tho. Peck A discourse of Excuses setting forth the variety and vanity of them the sin and misery brought in by them by John Sheffield Invisible reality demonstrated in the holy life and triumphant death of Mr. J. Janeway The Saints encouragement to diligence in Christs service both by Mr. James Janeway A discourse concerning the Education of Children Convivium Caeleste a plain and familiar discourse concerning the Lords Supper both by R. Kidder The Saints perseverance asserted in its Positive-ground against Mr. Ives by Tho. Danson A Wedding-ring fit for the Finger by VVill. Secker An Explanation of the shorter-Catechism of the Assembly of Divines by Tho. Lye The life and death of Tho. Hall A Plea for the Non-Conformists tending to vindicate them from Schism by a Doctor in Divinity The flat opposition of Popery to Scripture by J. N. Chaplain to a Person of Honour The Weavers Pocket book or Weaving spiritualiz'd by J. C. D. D. Two disputations of Original sin by Richard Baxter The History of Moderation The welcome Communicant The little-peace-maker discovering foolish Pride the Make-bate Philadelphia or a Treatise of Brotherly love by Mr. Gearing Reformation or Ruine being certain Sermons on Levit. 26. 23 23. by Tho. Hotchkis The Riches of Grace displayed to which is added the priviledge of Passive obedience and 52 proposals in order to help on Heart-humiliation by VVill. Bagshaw The parable of the great Supper opened in 17 Sermons by John Crump A present for Teeming-women by J. Oliver Non-conformity without Controversie by Benj. Baxter A Treatise of Closet-Prayer by Richard Mayo The Religious Family by Philip Lamb. A discourse of the prodigious Abstinence of Martha Taylor Index biblicus multi-jugus or a Table of the holy Scripture wherein each of its Books Chapters and particular matters are distinguished and Epitomized The day of Grace with the Conversion of a Sinner by Nathanael Vincent An easie and useful Grammer for the learning of the French Tongue by Mr. Gosthead Gentleman The Miners Monitor or advice to those that are employed about the Mines A Protestant Catechism for litte Children A Scripture Catechism by Samuel Petto A Catechism according to the Church of England Nero Tragidea Cornelianum dolium Wilsons Catechism Elenchuus motuum nuperorum in Anglia Cackaines Poems Croftons Foelix Scelus or prospering-profaneness provoking holy conference by Zach. Crofton Gramaticus Analyticus by the same Author Alexanders advice to his Son H. Excellency of Christ set forth Phelps Caveat against Drunkenness Lamentation for the loss of a good man Antidote against desperation Bury against Drunkenness Wadsworths last warning to Sinners Dr. Wilkinsons Counsels and Comforts to afflicted Consciences Cappello and Bianco a Romance Calys Ghimpse of Eternity Period of humane Life Defence of Period of humane Life both written by the Author of the whole Duty of man c. An Answer to the period of humane Life Survey Quakerism Tho. Vincents Explication of the Assemblies Catechism Vincent on Prayer On Conversion and day of Grace Covert from storm Worthy Walking Parsons Letter to VVem Adams Catechism Lambs New Years Gift Perks way to mend the World Burys Antidote against the fear of Death Mr. Corbets Kingdom God among men with a Tract of Schism Self-imployment in Secret by John Corbet Solomons Proverbs Traughtons Popery the grand Apostacy Heywoods Christ displayed Bishop Reignolds Meditations Mr. Edward Wests Legacy Gerhard on Death Whole Duty of Youth Welcome Communicant Ames Marrow Diuinity Tho. Vincent against the Quakers being the sandy Foundation shaken A warning to young men or Brinkhursts Narrative Mr. Kidders help to smallest Children in their understanding of the Church-Catechism Thomas Vincents Himns Bartlet on the Sacrament Greens needful preparatory to the Lords Supper Dr. Collings of ordinary matter of Prayer Wilsons Childs Trade Scandrets Catechism Sheffiields Catechism Much in a little or an abstract of Mr. Baxters plain Scripture-proof for Infants Baptism Some brief Directions for the improvement of Infants Baptism Books Twelves Drexellius Repository Meads Spiritual Wisdom Nathanael Vincents little Childs Catechism All three by Tho. VVhite The duty of Parents towards their Children A little book for little Children A method and instruction for the Art of divine Meditation The considerations of Drexelius on Eternity The shadow of the Tree of Life by M. M. The Psalms of David newly translated more plain smooth and agreeable to the Text than any heretofore Mr. Henry Lukin's Life of Faith FINIS