possession of the Kingdome He liveth and was dead and behold he is alive for â—vermore He is set down with his Father in his Throne and is gone thither partly to this end that he might fit Crowns and prepare Mansions for his persevering followers Joh. 14. 2. 4. A fourth Argument shall be drawn from the forâ—â—asts of this glorious life that at present are vouchsafed Life spiritual is Life eternal in the Bud and the Bud will at length be fully blown In Ordinances an heaven upon earth is somtimes enjoyed Oh then how are the things unseen made evident When faith and spiritual sense and experience go together then there is that which the Apostle calls a full assurance of understanding Col. 2. 2. 5. A fifth Argument shall be drawn from the earnest of the Spirit Eph. 1. 13 14. In whom after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the carnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his Glory And in other places we read of the â—arnest of the Spirit The Spirit of wisdome and revelation makes the Saints know what is the hope of their Calling and what the riches of their glorious inheritance And the Lord gives his Spirit not only to reveal this to them but as an earnest and pledge to assure them of it and that after they are made meet to be partakers of the life and glory which he hath promised they shall undoubtedly enjoy it I come at last to the Uses USE I. Of Instruction We may learn the woâ—ul condition of the ungodly a Crown there is but not for them a glorious life above but they shall dye the everlasting death By the ungodly I mean they that allow themselves in sin which the Word and Conscience tels them they ought to cast away Not only the open unbeliever but the secret hypocrite is concerned who is an unbeliever as well as the other When these do read of Heavens joyes it should fill them with sorrow to consider that their triumph will be but short and their joy will last but for a moment Job 20. 5. There are these Five things that will exceedingly aggravate the loss of life to the ungodly 1. This life was proffer'd often to the ungodly in the Gospel The Fountain of living waters was not a Fountain sealed but 't was set open and yet this Fountain was forsaken for the sake of broken Cisterns The Spirit and the Bride say come the Ministers of the Gospel say come and the sinners pressing necessity and want sayes Go and drink of the waters of life since thou mayest do it freely Rev. 22. 17. and yet he refuseth to accept the invitation Pardon goes as it were a begging and Glory a begging in the Gospel and yet neither are accepted though offered upon terms most just and reasonable Oh how will it torture the damned to reflect upon this that they would not come to Christ though life was assured upon their coming Joh. 5. 40. 2. 'T will heighten the misery of undone sinners to consider what they preferr'd before this Crown of life Oh where were their wits when sin was cherished in their hearts while Christ stood at the door When the world that is so empty so unstable â—o ensnaring was lookt upon as a better inheritance then that which is incorruptible 3. Some that perish have been not far from the kingdom The spirit of God hath striven their own spirits have been startled and almost perswaded to turn indeed and if they had done so they would have lived this crown had been their own But some sin or other was a cord to hold them fast some command wherein suffering self-denial strictness is enjoyned made them first demur then consulting with flesh and blood to take offence at Christ and so away And 't is an hightning of misery to have been near to happiness through our own fault and folly to have miss't of iâ— 4. The ungodly hereafter will have other apprehensions of this crown which they have slighted When they see the Prophets and Apostles and Saints in the Kingdom and do perceive what a lustre their crowns have what bliss and glory is their portion Oh how will they grow mad mad at themselves for grief and vexation that they were so soâ—tishly ignorant to contemn such a treasure 5. Despair of ever gaining that Crown of Life will seize upon them Now there is hope but hereafter the door of heaven and the door of hope too will be shut and never open'd more No prayers will be heard no tears will move compassion Christ the giver of life will say depart ye cursed and the invitation to come to him will be heard no more for ever How will desperation torture them when they consider what they have lost and how their loss is irreparable Fools they lived and fools they dyed and then after-wisdom cannot at all avail them Bring these things to mind consider and shew your selves men O ye transgressours When life and death were set before you why should death as the best of the two be chosen USE II. Of Examination It highly concerns all to examine whether they have a right to this Crown of life or no Most expect it but most will be ashamed of their ungrounded hope and expectation To help you against deceiving your own souls in this self-examination I shall describe those that have a title to this Crown that are indeed the heirs of life by these ensuing characters 1. They who have a right to the Crown of life are believers on the Son of God Joh. 3. ult He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life What is it to believe on Christ 'T is to recieve him as he is offered in the Gospel How is Christ offered in the Gospel As a Prince and as a Saviâ—ur Christ cannot be received as a Prince but the dominion of sin must be pulled down He cannot be received as a Saviour but our own righteousness and strength must be look't upon as insufficient and unavaluable to salvation He that thus hath accepted the Son hath life by him 1 Joh. 5. 11. This is thâ— record that God hath given us eternal life anâ— this life is in â—his Son seek it elsewhere 〈◊〉 you will never find it 2. They who are heirs to the Crown of life are quickned by the Spirit 'T is the Spirit that quickens Joh. 6. 63. Sometime they were dead in trespasses and sins but God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved them did quicken them by the holy Ghost Eph. 2. 4 They are alive to God his spirit dwels in them they breathe after him they walk in his wayes they do his work they aim at his glory And this life spiritual is the forerunner of and preparative to that which is eternal 3. They who are heirs to the Crown of life diligently hearken to the word of God
Third Argument shall be drawâ— from the shortness of the Saints continuance iâ— this vale of tears Their tribulation cannâ—â— possibly be of any long duration The are but travellers through the world anâ— will quickly be at their journeyes enâ— A few years nay perhaps a few months will bring them to eternity and when time is no longer there will be no longer trouble The thoughts of death though terrible to the ungodly as putting a full stop to all their consolation may be refreshing to the Saints Death is their last Enemy after death no enemy can molest them Their dayes are swifter than a Weavers Shuttle they hast to an end as the Ships of desire to the Haven or the Eagle to the prey and as their dayes post away so their troubles and distresses make speed to a conclusion 4. A fourth Argument shall be drawn from the Saints immediate entrance into rest upon their dissolution The Apostle joyns being dissolved and being with Christ together and speaking of believers in the general he sayes 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have not we shall have but we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens The spirits of just men immediately upon their separation are made perfect perfectly free from sin and misery which while united to the body they were loaded with The Papists distinguish the Church into Triumphantem in caelis militantem in terra laborantem in purgatorio Triumphant in Heaven Militant on Earth Labouring in Purgatory The last member of the Division labouring in Purgatory the Scripture no where mentions but express affirms the contrary Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours Several miserably deluded souls argue for perfection here else say they how can the Saints be fitted for glory if they are defiled all their dayes It is easily answered that the work of grace is carryed on all their life time and at their dissolution their souls are perfected Death may be called a great change not only in regard of the body but in regard of the Soul too because the soul is perfectly purified and sin quite and clean abolished Neither let it seem absurd that such a change should be for if in the first moment of conversion there is an alteration or change from no grace to grace surely 't is not unreasonable to think that at the moment of dissolution there should be a change from imperfect grace to grace that is compleat Thus the penitent Thiefs soul was perfected at his expiring else he could not have been that day he dyed with Christ in Paradise It 's plain that the Saints upon their departure hence do enter into rest therefore it must be granted that their tribulation is but as they are short liv'd nay perhaps they may outlive their tribulation and behold a lightsome ever-tyde after a day of darkness and of gloominess They may live to see the Gospel in esteem after disgrace and peace upon Israel after trouble USE I. Is the tribulation of the Saints short then let not their faith fail let it hold out a little longer and its work will be at an end Let faith but keep up the Ship but a little while longer in the storm and it will be safely landed Leane a few dayes more upon the promises of support and shelter you will be past the pikes and beyond all peril When you are entred into the City of God the door will be shut and as you shall come out no more so no evil shall enter after you to molest or grieve you USE II. Is the tribulation of the Saints short then let not Patience grow weary Nâ—w Patience indeed is a needful grace but hereafter there will be no necessiâ—y or use of it because you shall never feel any more burthens The benefit of affliction and the nearness of your rest should induce you to bear all with cheerfulness When you see the end of the Lord you will confess they are happy that endure Jam. 5. 11. USE III. Is the tribulation of the Saints short Then let their expectation be raised Yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 37. Your Lord will be as an Hart or young Roe upon the mountains of separation and when he comes he will wipe away tears from all faces and for all your affliction and tribulation you shall have joy and triumph double treble nay ten thousand times ten thousand fold USE IV. Is the tribulations of the Saints short See the difference between the Saints and Sinners The Saints sufferings are like the sinners ease and prosperity both for a moment Let not the world imagine believers miserable their misery is no longer then the worlds happiness And as the men of the world cannot be counted happy because their happiness doâ—s so soon vanish so neither can believers justly be esteemed miserable because their misery is so transient What is it to have tribulation for ten dayes and then to triumph in the presence of God and of the Lamb for ever The Seventh Doctrine Whatsoever sufferings he is exposed to a Christian must be faithful All the children of Abraham should resemble their father of whom it is said that the Lord found his heart faithful before him Neh. 9. 8. This charge in the text is strict Be thou faithful And truly 't is but needful if these three things are considered 1. A Christians heart is treacherous and apt to start aside like a deceitful bow A besieged City when the besiegers have friends wâ—thin the walls that are ready to lay hold of any opportunity to betray it the Inhabitants had need to be the more circumspect and vigilant Such a City is the embleme of a believer though his heart be renewed yet 't is only in part it remains still in part corrupted and that corruption sides with the tempter and is ready to yield and open to him Faithfulness therefore to the Lord and to himself is often to be pressed upon the Christian 2. Shaking temptations are likely to be met with Mat. 7. 27. The rain will descend and the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon the house to try whether it is founded on a Rock or upon the sand onely 1. This charge to be faithful is very requisite if we consider that in time of shaking many will take offence and depart from Christ Christians in shew will then discover their want of faith and love in truth And when these fall off the Saints had need to be cautioned Do not you also leave me That so they may reply with Peter Joh. 6. 67 68. Lord to whom shall we go Thou hast the words of eternal life and eternal life it self to bestow on us In the further handling of this Doctrine First I shall shew
He is not ashamed of that Gospel which is a stumbling block to the Jewes to the Greeks foolishness he is not ashamed of that word which a sinful and adulterous Generation reproach and have no delight in it Jer. 6. 10. His principal care and study indeed is to be a sincere lover and real practiser of Religion and yet he is not afraid to be an open professour though thereby it comes to pass that he is evil entreated by religious enemies That 's the first thing implyed in being faithful namely Holding Faith 2. To be faithful is also to hold a good conscience When Paul stood before the Council earnestly beholding them he protested I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day Acts 23. 1. So Acts 24. 16. Herein do I exercise my self to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men The unstedfast professour regards not his conscience makes nothing of wounding and defiling it But the faithful soul speaks much what the same language with holy Job chap. 27. 5 6. Till I dye I will not remove my integrity from me my righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live There are these three things that argue a good conscience 1. Where the conscience is good no sinful designs are carryed on Siâ—ister aimes are not allowed by one that is faithful If his treacherous heart begin to have a squinâ— eye at his own praise or profit he checks it presently What he doth he designs that God may have the glory of and surely the glory is the Lords due since his strengthening grace doth all in us and for us And by suffering the faithful man aimes not at the advancing his own repute but that Christ may be magnified by his tryals his patience and joy in them And if the world be convinced the weak confirmed if the Gospel get ground and the Lord Jesus be by a greater multitude prized and admired he hath his end 2. Where the conscience is good ungodly desires are not harbour'd He that is faithful looks well to his desires that they be preserved pure The World is undesirable sin is abominable but his soul thirsteth for God for the living God Psal 42. 2. and sufferings are willingly undergone so this thirst may be satisfied 3. Where conscience is good 't is purged from dead works Heb. 9. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit â—ffered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God A good conscience will not wink at unwarrantable practises will not connive at not doing the work of the Lord or doing that work negligently He that is faithful makes conscience to walk before God in truth though never so many in their works deny the Lord he is grieved and vexed at others filthy conversation and orders his own aright and so though for a while he is used hardly he comes at length to see the salvation of God Psal 50. ult In the second place I am to lay down the Reasons why a Christian should be faithful 1. A Chrisâ—ian is under a command to be faithful And this command to be stedfast is very expressive 't is very much prâ—ssed in Scripture 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be stedfast unmovable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Phil. 4. 1. So stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved 1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit ye like men Joh. 8. 31. Jesus said unto them that believed on him if ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Moses likewise of old did harp upon this string commanding the children of Israel not only to turn but to cleave unto the Lord Deut. 30. 20. That thou mayest love the Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleave unto him for he is thy life And they are forbid to turn either to the right hand or the left from following the Lord their God Now all these commands make the Christians obligation to faithfulness the stronger and truly to be unfaithful is not a single sin for he that leaves the Lord how fearfully must he be drawn into transgression 2. A Christian is under covenant to he faithful Deut. 26. 17. He has avouched the Lord to be his God He was given up to God betimes and how often has he made of himself a fresh resignation upon dayes of humiliation and when he has eat and drunk at the Lords table his covenant to be the Lords has been renewed How often has the Christian professed that his heart and members were not his own but Gods to dwell in and to make use of this is another reason and a strong one why he should be faithful The Lord is the Christians and the Christian is the Lords portion The Lords portion is his people and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance Now Gods inheritance should be for his use and should in no wise be alienated 3. The God of believers is faithful therefore they shall resemble him The Scripture speaks in a glorious strain concerning the faithfulness of God He is said to keep truth for ever The hills and mountains stand not so firm as his covenant shall Lev. 54. 10. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Nay the Scripture goes much higher then the Mountains in setting forth this faithfulness I have said mercy shall be built up for ever Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very Heavens And being thus established nothing on earth can shake their faithfulness 't will be as apparent and illustrious as the Heavens are The Ordinances of Heaven as the Sun by day and of the Moon and Stars by night are not more unalterable than the Lords Covenant Jer. 31. 33 34 35 36. 4. The Lord is glorified by a Christians proving faithful It reflects dishonour upon him when his Servants leave him Oh then how faithful should they be The worlds prejudices against the Lords service are heightned and they are hardned in their stubborn and evil way when they behold professours apostatize and become again their companions in the paths of folly and wickedness But the faithful man causes the way of truth to be well spoken of by his faithfulness he proclaims his Masters goodness and his power and both wayes is his Master glorified 1. He proclaims his Masters goodness and that he hath made the best choyce since he will suffer any thing rather than part with his Lord. The Israelitish servant that refused to go out free at the year of release and had his ear boared through with an Awl 't was a plain demonstration of his Masters kindness since liberty was not so â—uch esteemed as his service And so when we are unmovable in our