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
exercise themselves unto Godliness nor walk in the spirit and steps of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus And particularly they walk not in the steps of the Apostle Paul for none was more zealous then he in appearing for and Asserting the weighty matters of the Law of Faith in which the Kingdom consisteth Hence he saith concerning these things do I now perswade men or God or do I seek to please men for if I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ Gal. 1. 6 10. With respect to these momentous things he would not give place by Subjection in the least no not for an hour that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with the believers Gal. 2. 4 5. But now as with respect unto indifferent matters none was more indifferent and flexible than he Hence he thus Expresseth himself Though I be free from all men yet have I made my self servant unto all that I might gain the more And unto the Jews I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews To them that are under the Law as under the Law that I might gain them that are under the Law To them that are without Law as without Law being not without Law to God but under the Law to Christ that I might gain them that are without Law To the weak became I as weak that I might gain the weak I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some And this I do for the Gospel's sake c. 1 Cor. 9. 19 20 23. And it is observable that the Apostle did not Act Extraordinarily in his Indifferency about these indifferent and lighter matters but to set others even us all an example to follow him Hence when he again speaks of these Lower and Lawful things he saith Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved And then Immediately he Subjoynes to the former words this Exhortation Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 10. 32 33. and chap. 11. 1. O Let us not then mistake this Bodily exercise for Godliness or think that True Piety consists in an observance of or Abstinence from these Light and Indifferent things for neither the one nor the other simply considered will avail us any thing though still it is good and well-pleasing to God to submit our selves to them that have the rule over us in Lawful things and to Follow Peace so far as is consistent with Holiness and Charity Heb. 13. 17. and Chap. 12. 14. Rom. 14. we may say of these Indifferent things as the Apostle doth of meats But meat Commendeth us not to God for neither if we eat are we the better neither if we eat not are we the worse But take we heed lest by any means this liberty of ours become a stumbling-block to them that are weak 1 Cor. 8. 8 9. Godliness is generally profitable but these Indifferencies simply considered profit little or nothing O then consider and receive that Counsel given to the believing Hebrews to wit be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with Grace not with Meats which have not profited them that have been Occupied therein Heb. 13. 7 9. But no more to that particular 3. Nor is the Godliness here mentioned and Commended the worship of God onely in a strict and restrained sense or that Religious service which doth directly and immediately appertain unto the only living and true God only Indeed sometimes the word Godliness is to be taken in that narrow and limited sense when it is spoken of distinctly As when it is distinguished from Honesty as it is by the Apostle where he saith That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty 1 Tim. 2. 2. And else-where it is distinguished from other divine graces and vertues so this Apostle thus Exhorts Timothy follow after Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience Meekness 1 Tim. 6. II. And so he doth distinguish Godly from Righteously and Soberly Tit. 2. 11. 12. And to the same purpose the Apostle Peter mentions Godliness by way of distinction from other fruits of the spirit where he thus Exhorts the believers saying Adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness Charity 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. As Godliness is not either or both of the forementioned particulars to wit secular advantage or bodily exercise at all so neither is it onely the Divine Worship of God which immediately and only relates unto him in a narrow and district sense and consideration 2. But Affirmatively we may say Godliness in this place being mentioned alone is to be taken in a very large and Extensive sense even as Faith which though sometimes it be distinguished from other fruits of the spirit and so is to be taken more narrowly 1 Cor. 13. 2 13. Gal. 5. 22 23. Yet else-where it is to be understood more Comprehensively Joh. 3. 15 16. And Chap. 6. 29. Act. 16. 31. And the same we might Apply to Holiness Righteousness Love Repentance c. So I say here we are to understand by Godliness the whole Duty of man toward God toward his neighbour and toward himself as Tit. 2. 11 12. Thus when the Psalmist saith know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself Psal 4. 4. He means by the Godly man there not strictly such an one as worships the true God but the person that doth Universally and sincerely keep Gods Commandments And thus the Godly are opposed to the unrighteous by Saint Peter when the unrighteous mean such persons as sin not against God directly or only but against themselves also and their neighbours or brethren as is evidently signified in his words to wit The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptation and to reserve the unjust to the day of Judgment to be punished But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government presumptuous are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities 2 Pet. 2. 8. 10. And thus also the whole Conversation that becometh the Gospel of Christ is called a living Godly in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3. 12. And that kindness which ought to be shewed to Relations or to Parents is called Godliness by Saint Paul where he saith Let them learn to shew Piety at home and to requite their Parents for that is good and acceptable before God 1 Tim. 5. 4. And kindness and Courtesy toward brethren is to this purpose exprest also by Saint John as it is read in our Translation where it is said whom if
pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil Joh. 17. 14 15. And his Father always heareth him and grants unto him all his desires Joh. 11. 41 42. And the Apostle gives this assurance unto the believers God is faithful who will establish you and keep you from evil 2 Thes 3. 3. Yea not only so but as we have said he will do them good by all their Afflictions and Tribulations and this the Apostle confidently assures the believers of saying We know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to purpose Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loved us Rom. 8. 28 35 37 38 39. In the most severe providences he ordereth unto them he doth design and is effecting and promoting their benefit and advantage as he sent the upright in the Church of Judah out of their own Land into the land of the Caldeans for their good Jer. 24. 5 6 7. 3. He hath promised that he will vouchsafe unto them his gracious presence in all the troubles afflictions and hardships which they endure for his Name and Gospel's sake to keep them from evil and from the fear of evil and to comfort and chear their hearts The Lord is my Shepheard saith the Psalmist I shall not want Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear none evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Psal 23. 1 4. When Jacob was taking his journey with his family into Egypt in which land God had fore-told Abraham that his seed should be in great affliction for a long time Gen. 15. 12 13. then God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night and said I am God the God of thy father fear not to go down into Egypt I will go down with thee into Egypt c. And doubtless this was a great Encouragement unto him and did animate him against all discouragements and occasions of sainting and this was remembred by him and propounded by him also to his Son Joseph Gen. 46 1 4. with chap. 48. 21. Exod. 33. 14 15. And God was as good as his promise for when the children of Israel were in very great affliction and met with a Fiery Tryal his gracious presence was with them therein And so much is signified in that vision shewed unto Moses in mount Horeb where the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and he looked and behold the bush burned with fire and the bush signifying the Church of Israel in great Tribulation was not consumed But how came this to pass whence was it that the bush which of it self is combustible was not burnt up and consumed Surely it proceeded from hence that God was in the bush it proceeded from the good will of him that dwelt in the bush For when Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great and marvellous sight why the bush is not burnt Then the Lord called unto him out of the midst of the Bush where he was and dwelt and said I am the God of thy father c. Exod. 3. 1 2 4 6. with Deut. 33. 16. Dan. 3. 25. Thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and he that formed thee O Israel fear not for I have redeemed thee when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not over-flow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee For I am the Lord thy God c. Fear not for I am with thee Isa 43. 1 2 3 5. and chap. 41. 10 14. But what doth all this concern us may some say God did promise his Gracious Presence indeed with his Ancient people in their afflictions but may we suck comfort and encouragement from the Brests of their consolation Yes doubtless we may if we be Israelites indeed in whom is no guile The believers are instructed to behold Israel after the flesh 1 Cor. 10. 18. And the Apostle acquaints us that this is a considerable part of the mystery which was in former times hid from ages and generations but is now revealed and made manifest namely That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs to wit with the Jews of the promises which were made unto them and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel Eph. 3. 3 6 8. Being built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets They are no longer strangers and forreigners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2. 13 19 20. with Rom. 11. 17. And more particularly as to the business we are discoursing of that promise and assurance which the Lord by Moses gives not to Joshua first of all nor directly as some learned men by mistake affirm but unto all Israel namely that he would not fail them nor forsake them in their difficulties and troubles if they were obedient to him the very same encouragement the Apostle doth propound unto the sincere Christians to wit for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee whence the Apostle thus infers so that we may blodly say the Lord is mine helper and I will not fear what man can do unto me Heb. 13. 5 6. with Deut. 31. 1 6. Yea 4. If they that sincerely exercise themselves to true Piety and holiness be brought before Rulers and Governours for his names sake he will then stand by them and guide and direct them by his blessed Spirit what to speak and how to answer their greatest and wisest Adversaries Job 36. 7. So our Lord saith unto his disciples When saith he they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak for it is not ye that speak but the spirit of your Father which speaketh in you Mat. 10. 18 20 And again and at another time he speaks to the same purpose to them saying They shall persecute you delivering you up to the Synagogues and into prisons being brought before Kings and Rulers for my names sake Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate before what ye shall answer For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain-say nor resist Luk. 21. 12 14 15. And Saint Stephen found Christ as good as his word when he encountred with and was stifly opposed by several Jews for it is said They were not able to resist the wisdome and the spirit by which he spake Act. 6. 9 10. So when Saint Paul was brought before Nero or
Seed be called Rom. 9. 7. yet Faithful Abraham staggered not at the Promise of God but did firmly believe that he was able to perform what he had promised though in obedience to God he did offer up his Son Hence it is said By Faith Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac And he that had received the Promises offered up his only begotten Son accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead From whence also he received him in a Figure Heb. 11. 17 20. And He is the same God still and is able to do for us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the Power that worketh in us Eph. 3. 20 21. as St. Paul saith I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. He is not only able to give us the things which are good and needful for the mortal Body 2 Chron 25 9. but also to raise up this body again when it is dead and laid in the Grave and turned to corruption Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the Dead Acts 26. 8. Indeed it might well be thought a thing incredible and impossible that any mere Creature should effect this great and wonderful work But is any thing impossible unto or too hard for the Lord Cannot he who at the first Created all things of nothing raise up this Body again when it is dissolved and turned to dust and rottenness and reunite it to its proper Soul and Spirit yes without all peradventure he can do it and will do it in due season God hath both raised up the Lord Jesus and will Raise up us also by his own Power 1 Cor. 6. 14. with Ephes 1. 19 20. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. Though Christ was Crucified through weakness yet he liveth by the Power of God For we also are weak in him But we shall live with him by the Power of God 2 Cor. 13. 4. He is able to change and transform these vile dusty bodies into excellent ones to make these bodies which are corruptible weak dishonourable Natural bodies to become Spiritual Glorious Powerful and Incorruptible bodies 1 Cor. 15. 42 44 48 49 53 54. He shall change our vile Body saith the Apostle that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 21. And so he hath power to deliver us from the In-being of sin and from all our spots and Faults and will do so perfectly in the Resurrection from the dead Eph. 5. 25 27. He is able to keep the Believers from falling now in this day and hereafter even in the resurrection of the just To present them faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jude 24. 25. Yea in short He is able to save them to the uttermost who do sincerely seek and serve him and to make them partakers gloriously of Eternal Life as it is before spoken to and in some weak and imperfect measure opened and explained And he hath given his Son our Lord Jesus Power to give unto them Eternal Life he hath already given us mankind in his Son Eternal Life hence the Apostle John saith He that believeth not God hath made him a liar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son And this is the record that God hath given to us Eternal life and this life is in his Son 1 John 5. 10 11. And not only hath he so done but he hath also impowred his Son to make them partakers of this Eternal life who hear his voice and diligently and constantly follow him now in a first-fruits by faith and hereafter fully in the glorious enjoyment and fruition of it As our Saviour in his address to his Father signifieth saying Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him John 17. 2. with chap. 10. 27 28. Now this is a very powerful and forcible encouragement to encourage and strengthen us to expect the performance of the exceeding great and excellent promises which he hath made unto Godliness and so unto us upon our sincerely exercising our selves thereunto and patiently continuing so to do that he who hath promised is a God of infinite and eternal power and so able to accomplish whatever he hath promised If men make promises and intend really to perform them yet there may be and oftentimes is a failure found with them therein because though their wills and purposes be never so strong and firm yet their Hand and Power is very short and weak But it is not so with the Lord our God his Hand is not shortned at all but Power doth belong unto him as well as with him is Mercy Psal 62. 11 12. In thine hand is there not Power and Might so that none is able to withstand thee 2 Chron. 20. 6. He that hath made these Promises to Godliness and unto them that sincerely exercise themselves thereto who walk before him and are perfect is the Lord Almighty Gen. 17. 1 8. 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. with chap. 7. 1. 3. And he who hath entail'd the promise on Godliness is also a God of Righteousness and Truth and who will therefore undoubttedly perform his good word he is abundant in Goodness and Truth Exod. 34. 6. Thus when Moses saith I will publish the Name of the Lord he presently thus proclaims it He is the Rock his work is perfect for all his ways are Judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut 32. 3 4. And he thus speaks unto Israel saying Know therefore that the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that love him c. Deut. 7. 9 11. And thus in due season he evidenced himself to be in accomplishing that promise which he made unto his ancient people in bringing them into and poss ssing them of the Typical rest the land of Canaan Hence it is said The Lord gave them rest round about according to all that he swear unto our Fathers there failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass Josh 21. 43 45. and chap. 23. 14 15. And now he hath most clearly and comfortably manifested his truth and faithfulness in sending his well-beloved Son into the World that we might live through him and in not sparing his own Son but delivering him up for us all and in lifting him up again from the gates of Death This he promised from the beginning of the World long before the proper season for the actual accomplishment of it came But his promise did not fail for evermore But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth
themselves to the Faith and fear of the Lord may say with the Apostle our rejoycing our glorying is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World c. 2 Cor. 1. 12. And this is that Efficacious Motive and Argument which our Lord Jesus sets before us to perswade and prevail with us to take his yoke upon us and seriously undertake his service namely saith he my yoke is easy sweet gracious and my burden is light Mat. 11. 29 30. As also the applying our hearts and lives to the power of Godliness is the most advancing noble and honourable exercise we can ingage our selves in To you that believe he is an honour 1 Pet. 2 6 7. And when the Wise-man Commends Wisdome and Exhorts and excites us to the diligent pursuit of it saying Wisdom is the principal thing get Wisdom and with all thy gettings get understanding he then propounds this motive and inforcement exalt her and she shall promote thee she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her She shall give to thine head an Ornament of Grace a Crown of glory shall she deliver to thee Hear O my Son and receive my sayings c. Prov. 4. 7 8 10. The reward of humility and of the fear of the Lord is honour even that also which is excellent and durable Prov. 22. 4. 1 Sam. 2. 30. And if the desire of honour and glory have any Influence upon us let us exercise our selves unto that Religion which is pure and undefiled before God and the Father We may Lawfully and Laudably be Ambitious of that Honour which is united with and Entaild upon divine vertue and goodness and in following after godliness we shall thereby attain unto true and abiding honour For God will give glory Honour and Peace unto every man that worketh good Rom. 2. 7 10. Isa 43. 4. 2 Cor. 5. 9. Rom. 2. 28 29. But though Godliness be as we have briefly shewed both Pleasurable and Honourable yet in this place the Apostle asserts the general Profitableness of it to induce us to the hearty exercise of it And gain and advantage is that which is Generally desirable and greatly Valuable and which excites and encourages men to take much paines to run many hazards to endure much hardship and encounter with many difficulties and dangers What makes so many persons take such long and tedious Journeys and Voyages ride through thick and thin expose themselves to the cold and other inconveniences but the hope and expectation of Profit In all labour there is profit eyed designed and pursued Prov. 14. 23. And if men rise up early and sit down late and eat the bread of carefulness for secular gain and advantage much rather should we so mind the great and excellent gain of true Piety as to Apply our selves thereto with all our might and main and endure any hardships in that application that we may be made partakers thereof as the Apostle and his fellow-Labourers did as he signifies to us in the next verse but one to this we are discoursing of saying Therefore because Godliness is so generally and greatly gainful we both labour and suffer reproach 1 Tim. 4. 8 10. And in our working and continued abounding in the work of the Lord our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. But to this I shall enlarge no further at present because there will be apt occasion to speak more particularly hereto in the following part of the words in which the Apostle doth more distinctly evidence the Truth of what he more indistinctly propounds in the former part saying having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come But now from this Motive as thus generally propounded to move and provoke us to exercise our selves to true Piety we may infer several things which may be useful for us As 1. Seeing this is propounded by the Apostle to perswade us to follow Godliness That it is Profitable unto all things then we may from hence learn that it is no mercenary or base thing but what is well pleasing unto God That we should so mind and consider the gain and Profit of Godliness that we may exercise our selves to the Mystery and Practice of it Indeed when we follow Religion for the advantage promotion and Grandeur of this World only or Principally then we may truly be said to be mercenary and shall no longer appear to be Religious then as that may conduce unto our secular interest and Ambitious designs as before we have said and as the devil falsly and maliciously suggested concerning Job Chap. 1. 9 11. But we may so consider the Real and Eternal gain of true Piety as to quicken Excite and perpetuate our endeavours and Pursuit after pure Reliligion and yet not at all be mercenary in an unworthy sense or Reprovable consideration And that we may Lawfully and allowably have an eye and respect to the advantage and gain of true Piety to engage us to exercise our selves to the serious and constant Practice of it doth appear 1. Because God's people when they have neglected their Duty have been justly reproved for not believing that Religion was their greatest and truest Interest or for not pursuing advantageous things Elihu somewhat severely reproves Job saying Thinkest thou this to be right For thou hast said what advantage will it be unto thee and what profit shall I have if I be cleansed from my sin whereas as he afterwards adds Though we give nothing to God if we be righteous yet our Righteousness will profit the Son of man Job 36. 2 3 7 8. And the Lord himself doth fault and reprove the Priest's and Pastors because they walked after things that did not profit them And he thus expostulates with his people Hath a Nation changed their Gods which yet are no God's But my people have changed their glory their God for that which doth not profit Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid c. Jer. 2. 8 11 12 13. 2. That to excite us to pursue undefiled Religion we may have an eye at its reward is further evident and evidenced in that God in his promises doth set the gain of it before us to make us truly Pious and if this be to be mercenary to have a respect to the recompence of the reward God makes men so by his assurances and encouragements Thus he saith unto Abram the Father of the saithful fear not I am thine exceeding great reward Gen. 15. 1. My Son saith the holy Spirit Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long for surely there is a reward and thine expectation shall not be cut off Hear thou my Son and be wise and guide thine heart in the way Prov. 23. 17. 18. Touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and I
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
of them with any fear of amazement the Lord of Hosts is for them the God of Jacob is their refuge Psal 46. And till he gives their enemies permission they cannot Touch an Hair of their heads And of this the grand-Enemy and adversary of the upright-hearted is aware hence he saith to the Lord concerning Job hast thou not made an hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side Job 1. 9 11. And our Lord Jesus thus speaks for the encouragement of his sincere disciples Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father But the very haires of your head are all numbred So that not one of them shall be plucked off until he give that liberty to their enemies And not one of them shall be plucked off but he will miss it Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value then many sparrows Mat. 10. 29 31. Luk. 12. 6 7. with chap. 21. 17 18. And Rulers who are Gods Ministers are not a Terrour to good works but to evil Rom. 13. 3 4. And their hearts are in the hands of the Lord and he will order and over-rule them for the good and protection of those that are upright in their heart and way while it may be for their profit By me saith Wisdom Kings reign and Princes decree Justice By me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth I Love them that love me and therefore he will order them whom he sets over them in this world as may be for his glory and for their good and benefit Prov. 8. 15 16 17. And in former times he suffered no man to do them harm but rebuked Kings for the sakes of his dearly beloved people when they were few in number yea very few and strangers in the land saying touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harm 1 Chron. 16. 19 22. Psal 105. 11 12 15. Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with his benefits even the God of our salvation He that is our God is the God of salvation and unto God the Lord belong the Issues from death Psal 68. 18 19 20. O let us trust in him at all times and pour out our hearts before him for he is a refuge for us Power doth belong unto him and also with him is mercy Psal 59. 16 17. and 62. 8 10 12. 4. Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is even of all that is profitable in this world and therefore when it is useful and needful for them that exercise themselves thereto that they should meet with troubles and Tryals here he will order them unto them these may be profitable for them and their Heavenly Father when he chastens them doth not do so for his own pleasure but for their profit not that they might be rich and great here but that they might be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10 12. Afflictions are for the Health of the Soul and Physick when it is given by this able faithful and skilful Physician is as wholesome as yea may be more wholesome than Food It is good for me saith David that I have been afflicted that is he doth hereby acknowledge that it was useful and profitable for him And again he saith I know O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Psal 119. 71 75. Behold happy is the man whom God correcteth therefore despise not thou the Chastening of the Almighty Job 5. 17. Blessed is the man whom thou Chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Psal 94. 11 12 13. And the Apostle as guided by the infallible spirit of God gives us this assurance to wit All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3. 11 12. And that the afflictions which he is ordering to them especially such as they endure for his names sakes even for the word and way of truth may be useful and profitable for and unto their Souls Therefore 1. He doth promise and assure us upon his faithful word that he will order afflictions and troubles in measure both as to the weight and as to the continuance of them the remainder of man's wrath that would not tend to his praise in the profit of his people he will restrain Psal 76. 10. The Rod of the wicked shall not Rest upon the Lot of the Righteous lest the Righteous put forth their hands to Iniquity Psal 125. 3. In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it he stayeth his rough-wind in the day of the East-wind By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged c. To wit it shall therefore be purged because God doth in measure debate otherwise it would consume not profitably purge even as a Physician will do more hurt then good if his Physick be over strong and may then purge away the life instead of purging away the Noxious Humours in order to cure and health Isa 27. 8 9. So the Lord promiseth saying I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the spirit should fail before me and the souls which I have made c. Isa 57. 16 19. And to the same purpose the Apostle speaketh saying There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man such as is moderate and God is faithful for the future who will not suffer you to be Tempted above that ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape or give an Issue that ye may be able to bear it Wherefore my dearly beloved flee from Idolatry Walk not in any crooked path use no indirect or unwarrantable method to save your selves or to prevent or extricate your selves from troubles and afflictions but commit your souls unto God in well doing as unto a faithful Creator 1 Cor. 10. 13 14. with 1 Pet. 4. 19. 2. When he orders Trials and Sufferings unto those that exercise themselves unto true Piety he will keep them from evil from that which would really be evil to them from the evil design of Satan and his instruments namely from sin and from everlasting destruction Evil shall slay the wicked and they that hate the righteous shall be guilty or desolate But the Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants and none of them that trust in him shall be guilty or desolate Psal 34. 19 22. and 91. 9 10. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul Psal 121. There shall no evil happen to the just Prov. 12. 21. And our Lord Jesus when he addresseth himself to his Father in his last solemne Prayer before his passion though he prays not that God would keep his reall disciples from persecution but supposes they should meet with hatred and trouble from the world yet he thus expresseth himself I
for Heaven and Earth to pass than one tittle of the Law to faile Luke 16. 17. And when the Rich man in the Parable said unto Abraham I pray thee therefore Father that thou wouldest send Lazarus to my Fathers House for I have five Brethren that he may testify unto them lest they also come unto this place of Torment Abraham then saith unto him They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them Intimating plainly that they gave sufficient notice of a future State that those that heard them might avoid that dismal place of Torment Psal 9. 17. and 49. 14 15. And he said nay Father Abraham But if one went unto them from the dead they will Repent And be said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead And the same may be more fully affirmed concerning them that will not believe our Lord Jesus and his holy Apostles Luke 16. 27 29 31. with Heb. 2. 1 3. and chap. 10. 28 29 31. and chap. 12. 18 25 29. And so much for that first and most material evidence 2. That there is a Life to come a future State to be entred upon when this present Frail one is ended is evidenced also by some Instances of the Truth hereof which are mentioned in the Holy Scriptures Thus it is said of Enoch That He walked with God and he was not For God took him Or as the Apostle saith By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God translated him to wit from Earth to Heaven for before his Translation he had this Testimony that he pleased God But without Faith it is impossible to please him Now if there be not a future State to be entred upon when this present one is ended and a better Life to be enjoyed by such as please God when they depart out of this then Enoch had fared the worse for his very signal and eminent Holiness For he was the shortest liver in this World by far of any of them mentioned in Gen. 5. And doubless God removed him to a far better place and state to give assurance to others that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him And this Instance of a future Blessed State was the more considerable before the Scriptures were written that the World might know that it is no vain thing to serve and please the Lord Gen. 5. 22 24. with Heb. 11. 5 6. And as the Son of Sirach saith Enoch pleased the Lord God therefore was he translated for an ensample of Repentance to the Generations Ecclus 44. 16. And again Upon the Earth was no man created like Enoch for he was taken up from the Earth chap. 49. 14. Thus it is also said of Elijah There appeared a Chariot of fire and Horses of fire and parted Elisha and him asunder and Elijah went up by a whirl-wind into Heaven and Elisha saw it and he cryed My Father my Father c. 2 King 2. 9 11 12. And many hundred of years after this even when our Lord Jesus was upon the Earth Moses and Elias were with him when he was transfigured As it is said Behold there talked with Christ two men which were Moses and Elias who appeared in Glory and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem And Peter James and John a competent number of credible Witnesses Saw the two men that stood with our Lord. And Peter said unto Jesus Master it is good for us to be here or as some that we Remain here And let us make three Tabernacles one for thee and one for Moses and one for Elias c. Luk. 9. 30 31 32 33. Our Lord also who was not in Appearance only but really dead John 19. 33 34. And who continued untill the third day in the Grave was then Raised again from the Dead in that very individual Body in which he was Crucified Dead and Buried Luk. 24. 38 40. John 20. And unto his holy Apostles He shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them forty dayes and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God Act. 1. 3. Yea he was not only seen of his Apostles but also of above five hundred Brethren at once 1 Cor. 15. 6. And after his Resurrection and after his Remaining forty dayes upon the Earth While his Apostles beheld he was taken up to wit into Heaven And unto his Disciples two Angels said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Act. 1. 9 10 11. And some considerable time after this the Holy Man and Martyr Stephen saw him in Heaven For it is said He being full of the Holy Ghost looked up stedfastly into Heaven and saw the Glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said Behold I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God And this good confession he witnessed before those Who gnashed on him with their Teeth and presently after stoned him Act. 7. 54 55 56 59. And after this again the Lord Jesus Appeared unto Saul in the way Act. 9. 15. and was seen by him Hence he saith Am I not an Apostle Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Cor. 9. 1. And saith he Last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time 1 Cor. 15. 8. Act. 22. 8 14 15. and chap. 26. 11 16. And himself by his Angel thus speaketh unto St. John saying I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen This is a true and Faithful saying And therefore worthy of all acceptation Rev. 1. 18. and chap. 2. 8. So that we have full assurance and infallible proof given us of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his enjoyment of an everlasting and endless Life in the nature of man Heb. 7. 16 17. And this Instance is the most Considerable of all because he died and rose as a Publick Man as the last Adam He by the grace of God tasted death for every man And rose again for their justification and is become the Resurrection and the Life John 11. 25. He is a quickning Spirit In and by whom All shall be made Alive after they are dead 1 Cor. 15. 45. with ver 21 22. And the very end of his dying and rising and reviving was that he might Lord it over quick and dead and be Judge of all Rom. 14. 9 12. And saith the Apostle Paul God now commandeth all men every where to Repent Because he hath appointed a day in which he will Judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him
c. Luk. 2. 25 26 29. And when the Apostle Paul expresseth the hearty desire of himself and of other believers which we have given some account of and mentioned before not that they might be unclothed but clothed upon that Mortallity might be swallowed up of life He then immediately subjoyns thereto now he that hath wrought us for this self-same thing is God who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit Therefore we are always confident knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the booy and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 4 6 8. But what we have been discoursing of may suffice as to that third Evidence And now proceed we unto a fourth namely 4. That there will be a future state to be entered upon when this present short state is expired appears to be most Reasonable and enlightned Reason it self may convince us of the Truth and certainty thereof for when or how otherwise can there be a clear and full Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God who hath very clearly and plentifully assured us in his word of Truth That he will render unto every man according to his deeds Rom. 2. 5 6. That he will bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be Evil Eccles 12. 13 14. Shall be not render to every man according to his works Prov. 24. 12. Psal 62. 12. Now if there were not a Life to come after this present momentany one is ended when shall many wicked Persons receive the due and deserved reward of their ungodly and unrighteous Deeds And when shall the truly Pious and Righteous ones be made partakers of the gracious recompence of their reward If there be not a future state to be entred upon and an account hereafter to be given unto God many wicked persons would appear to be in the best and most desirable condition and so abide without any remarkable change or alteration all the days of this vain short life and many of the best and most Godly persons would appear to be in the worst condition because they meet with so much Reproach Adversity and Affliction in this world as our Saviour hath fore-told saying In the World ye shall have tribulation Joh. 16. 33. Concerning the Prosperity and Flourishing estate of Evil and Ungodly Persons Job speaks very fully unto his mistaken friends saying Wherefore do the wicked live become old yea are mighty in Power their seed is established in their sight with them and their off-spring before their eyes Their houses are safe from fear neither is the Rod of God upon them Their Bull gendreth and faileth not their Cow Calveth and casteth not her Calf They send forth their little ones like a flock and their Children dance They take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ they spend their days in Wealth or in Mirth and in a moment go down into the grave This was the observation of that perfect and upright man Job concerning the un-interrupted prosperity and fulness of some wicked Persons in his time and yet he had not the Advantage of the Holy Scriptures as we have But notwithstanding all this though they did so prosper and rejoyce in this world yet nevertheless He looked upon them to be really in a very bad and sad condition because he believed that there would be a future Judgment and then they would be rewarded according to their deeds and demerits for in the following part of the Chapter before-referred to he saith Have ye not asked them that goe by the way And do ye not know their tokens That the wicked notwithstanding all his present fulness and admirable prosperiry in this world is reserved unto the day of destruction they shall be brought forth out of their graves to the day of wrath Job 21. 5 6 13 29 30. Psal 73. 3 11 12 17 20. O Lord how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep A brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this when the wicked spring as grass and when all the workers of Iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Psal 92. 5 6 7. and 37. 1 2 35 36 38. And so on the other hand many righteous ones do now meet with many troubles and afflictions in this world as it is written For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8. 36. They do pass through much Tribulation and exercise in this present state and many times Drink of the Cup of sorrow and grief but without all doubt there will be another and better reward for the righteous because the righteous Lord loveth righteousness Psal 11. 7. Then to wit hereafter ye shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not for behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shall leave them neither Root nor Branch but unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings c. Mal. 3. 17 18. and ch 4. 1 2 3. And if it should not thus be how should God judge the world in righteousness when the wisest of mere men to wit Solomon saith And more-over I saw under the Sun the place of judgment that wickedness was there and the place of righteousness that iniquity was there He then makes this rational conclusion or deduction there-from to wit I said in mine heart God shall judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time there to wit in the world to come for every purpose and for every work And then the evil and unrighteous persons who have judged or acted unjustly against the upright and innocent shall be called to an account and justly condemned for so doing how high soever they have been in Power or Authority here and the righteous shall be acquitted and righted by him who executeth judgment for all that are opporessed Eccles 3. 16 17. with Job 34. 10 11 12. God's righteousness is engaged to render unto all men according to their works and doings and therefore because he doth not do so fully now in this day and world we may safely and certainly conclude that he will do so in the world to come Rom. 2. 5 6 7 10 11. Seeing that it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord shall be revealed from heaven with the Angels of his power in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel of our Lord
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
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