will reward the patient Continuance in well doing Rom. 2. 2. It begets a sober Cheerfulness and Joy in them To such it is said Rejoyce in the Lord alway and again I say Rejoyce Phil. 4. and this Joy is accompanied with the forementioned Equanimity and Contentedness of Spirit for if our delights and satisfactions be as they should be in God he will give us what is best for us to have either in kind what we desire or else that which he knows to be better and is more fit for us to desire and have Delight thy self in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy Heart Psal. 37. 4. Whereas if our delights be placed chiefly in other things which we desire it s better we should not have them or if we have what we desire God may give it us in Judgment As it is said in Psal. 77. 29. He gave them their own desire they were weary of Manna and slighted it They would have Flesh and for Manna he gave them Quails But while their Meat was in their Mouths the Wrath of God came upon them c. But the sober chearfulness and joy we speak of arising from the belief of the Resurrection this together with a due Moderation and Equanimity is a safe repast and is greatly availeable to the health and well being even of the Body in this State as the Doctrine of the Resurrection assures of a better an Heavenly and Spiritual Body hereafter 3. It secures us against the most winning and dangerous Tentations and Allurements of this present World as it did Moses in Pharaoh's Court who when he was come to Years refused to be call'd the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the People of God then to enjoy the pleasures of Sin for a season c. Heb. 11. The Instance is remarkable and what is here said of him is fit to be a little more consider'd Moses when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he was grown big a grown Man not a Novice not a Child nor when Old and Doting not when Weak and Decrepit and unfit to tast the pleasures of the Court as Aged Barzillai speaks of himself 2. Sam. 19. 35. but Moses in his Ripe Years and setled Strength being then full Forty Years Old Acts 7. 27. This Moses refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter Thermutis that was her Name as Josephus relates Pharaoh's onely Daughter and much beloved of him that saved his Life and caused him to be Nursed and afterwards took care for his Ingenuous Education in all the Wisdom and Learning of the Egyptians Philo Jud. in his de vitâ Mosis saith she was at great Charges in procuring Men from Forreign Parts to Instruct him She took him for her Son Exod. 2. 10. Acts 7. 21. Intending him to Inherit her Father's Kingdom She that took him when an Infant out of this Ark of Bull-Rushes where he was laid would have set him in the Throne Adopting him for her Son But he refused to be called her Son and consequently to be the Heir of a Kingdom he rejected the offer of a Throne and Kingdom the hopes of the greatest Dignity upon Earth and chose the Cross rather then Crown or if a Crown he would rather have a Crown of Thorns then a Crown of Gold he chose rather to suffer affliction with the People of God then to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season or to render it more closely to the Greek to have the Temporary enjoyment of Sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He chose rather to be in the Wilderness then in the Court yea in that great and terrible Wilderness wherein were Fiery Serpents and Scorpions and drought where there was no Water as it is described Deut. 8. 15. He chose rather to endure the hardships of the Wilderness then to enjoy the Delicacies and Pleasures of the Court to live there in all ease and softness to enjoy the Delights and Sensual satisfactions which Courts afford to have Riches and Honours and Dignities and the great things and outward Glory of this World which others so much scramble for to have these and what he would if Egypt could afford it heaped upon him all this would have flowed in upon him if he would have been willing to be Adopted by Pharaoh's Daughter for her Son And besides his own Personal Worth and Accomplishments the unordinary Amiableness of his Person the Excellency of his Parts emproved by the best Education the singular sweetness of his Spirit Meek and gentle above all Men upon Earth Numb 12. 3. would have won and gain'd him all Love and Respects and Venerations and the good Words and Applause of all and made him more capable of gratifying and pleasing himself and emproving the advantages which the Court-life might afford But for all this he chose rather to suffer affliction with the People of God and as it follows in Vers. 26. He esteemed the reproach of Christ for Christ is meant by the Angel that did lead them and keep them in the way and brought them to Canaan greater Riches then the Treasures in Egypt of which Wealth and Power he had been Possest had he been content to go for the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter But what was it that enabled him to do all this to deny himself at such a rate as this that he was worthy to be famed for the most Self-denying Man as he was for the most Meek Man upon Earth It was his Faith Heb. 11. 24. By Faith Moses when he was come to Tears refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter He did it not out of Sullenness or in a Pet or Humour but deliberately and upon choice and upon the best reason and ground the hope of the Reward to come and it was Faith that enabled him to Eye it This is the Account given in Vers. 26. For he had respect unto the Recompence of the Reward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The expectation of better Treasures in Heaven a better Crown then what Thermutis could have helpt him to a better Kingdom then that in Egypt the expectation of better pleasures and a more happy condition hereafter infinitely above the Temporary delights of Sin the pleasures of Sin for a Season for a little while in this World which if he had given up himself to he had lost those purer and permanent pleasures at Gods Right Hand The belief of better things that he should be Heir of if he approved himself as a Son of God then he could ever be Heir of in Egypt if he were called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter This was it which enabled him to do all this and to suffer all the hardships and difficulties he met with which were not few nor small Grotius interprets as the Socinians do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be the Possessing of Canaan the Land Promised to their Fathers But the word being used in the foregoing Chap. Vers. 35. for the Heavenly
Portion at the Resurrection of the just and accordingly prepare for it Let not the word Heaven be in your Mouths onely but let it be in your Hearts Let us do the Will of God on Earth as it is in Heaven and then we shall make it appear that the Kingdom of God is come is come into us But if thou art swallowed up in the cares and ambitions of this present World making hast to be Rich and Great loving and seeking onely thine Ease and Pleasure and a Soft Life if thou art either overjoy'd or over grieved at the abundance or want of Earthly things as if thy Hope thy Portion and Consolation were in this Life Doest thou live as becomes one that is Stedfast and Vnmoveable in the belief of a better Life the Life to come Nor do they think so worthily as they ought of that future Reward and Glory that think it so easily attainable as by a Death-bed Repentance Nor do they who would seem better think so honourably of it who from some Outward performances in Religion or some partial obedience would flatter themselves that they are the Heirs of that Kingdom whereas their dispositions are wholly unsuiteable to that State and unfit for converse with the Spirits of just Men made perfect These make that Glorious Reward to come all that great and rich Prize to be but a mean and cheap thing who think they shall have it and win the Crown though they have not overcome and though they do not earnestly strive for the mastery over their Lusts and corruptions and are not temperate in all things nor keep under their Body and bring it into subjection to the Law of their Mind Certainly it would argue more Humility in them and more Wisdom as being the safest course to think more of Inward Preparations for that Heavenly State that their Minds might be purified and wrought into a temper suiteable to it that they might be made meet for the Inheritance in Light then to flatter themselves into an hope and conceit that such great Glory and Happiness should be cast upon them for some lip-labour in Religion for outward Sanctimonious shows for External performances while in the mean time they so little mind that which is the due and necessary preparation of their Souls for such enjoyments Although this Reason be sufficient to perswade Christians to be Stedfast and Vnmoveable in the Belief and Profession of this Truth Yet I shall here superadd four Reasons the more to confirm it and perswade them 1. It is a main Fundamental Truth of the Gospel and indeed one of the First Principles of Religion Accordingly the Apostle speaks in 1 Cor. 15. 3. I have delivered to you first of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 principally or as that which is to be counted amongst the first and principle Articles of Christianity That God is a Rewarder of those that seek him diligently is one of the First things to be known and firmly embraced Heb. 11. without which belief all the motions in Religion will be very weak and slow But if the Joy be set besore a Christian he will then run with patience and perseverance the Race that is set before him and endure the Cross as Christ did Hebr. 12. and despise the shame As the Apostles reioyced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Christ Acts 5. 41. that is for Teaching and Preaching Jesus Christ as it is in Vers. 42. sor Teaching the People and Preaching through Jesus the Resurrection from the Dead at which the Sadducees being then in Power were grieved Acts 4. 2. and filled with indignation or envy Chap. 5. 17. If there be a Prize to be received at the end of the Race and this Prize a Crown of Life and Glory incorruptible unfading 1 Cor. 9. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 4. not like those corruptible and withering Crowns and Garlands made of Oaken leaves or Olive-branches but this made of the leaves of the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God there will then be wrestling and striving and the better to prepare and enable for the winning of it a being temperate in all things a keeping under of the Body and bringing it into subjection as the Apostle tells the Corinthians who well knew the sitness of those allusions the Isthmian Games being Celebrated here in that Isthmus or Neck of Land on which Corinth was Built So great an Insluence and Power hath the due consideration of the Recompence of Reward to the raising and animating of a Christian to the greatest Atcheivements To conclude this particular we may observe that the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews Chap. 6. 1. in that short Institution consisting of Six Articles which Christians were first to be acquainted with mentions these Two viz. The Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgment when God the Righteous Judge of all the Earth shall dispence Eternal Rewards undefiled Rewards as the phrase is Wisdom 4. 2. to those that Believe and Obey and Eternal Punishments to every Soul that doth Evil Tribulation and Anguish Indignation and Wrath to them that obey not the Truth but obey Unrighteousness Rom. 2. It may be fit also to observe That this Truth of the Resurrection and a future State is called the Gospel 1 Cor. 15 1. and the Truth and the Faith in 1 Tim. 1. where it is said of Hymenaeus and Alexander who denyed the Doctrine of the Resurrection and Life to come that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concerning the Faith of or in the Faith they have made Shipwrack and in 2 Ep. chap. 2. it 's said of Hymenaeus and Philaetus that they have erred concerning the Truth the Faith and the Truth by way of Eminency and in 1 Tim. 1. 20. they are said to Blaspheme and therefore for these their Principles destructive to Religion to all honesty and godliness and to a good Conscience the great Apostle delivered them up to Satan One thing more we may observe That the Doctrine of the Resurrection as being a Truth of great Importance and Influence in Christianity was from the first by Christ himself and his Apostles strongly asserted and profest against the Sadducees and against those false Christians that fell from this Truth And the so early falling away and revolting from this Truth one of the Truths of Christianity which was so soon and first of all departed from was an ill Omen and Prognostick of that wickedness which followed after The Apostles after Christ was Ascended took great care to preserve and promote this Truth And therefore when Judas was fallen from his Apostleship and one was to be chosen into his room What 's the work he was to be chosen to It is thus described in Acts 1. 22. Must one be Ordained to be with us a Witness of his that is of Christ's Resurrection and not onely of his but of ours through him S Peter and S. John Preached through Jesus the Resurrestion from the Dead
Lord. We must not be Slothful in Business 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as to diligence and industry in our Calling and what concerns us Whatsoever thy Hand findeth to do as the occasion shall offer it self and the thing shall require so the phrase is used in Judg. 9. 33. and 1 Sam. 10. 7. do it with thy Might do it as well as thou canst As we have opportunity let us do good unto all Men or as we have Ability Gal. 6. But especially do not the Work of the Lord negligently Jer. 48 be not negligent and lazy in Religion make that thy business let it be thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make it not thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if the Work of the Lord were to be done onely by the by be serious and in good earnest in it it is for the Life of thy Soul We must be Fervent in Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the like is said of Apollos Acts 18. 25. burning in Spirit not coldly affected towards God's Service and Honour but with enflamed affections and earnest endeavours ever following that which is good this the Apostle calls in Titus 2. Zealous of good Works It follows Serving the Lord or the Season or Opportunity that is before us for not a few Greek Copies instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the time or season embracing and emproving all the advantages that present themselves to us for procuring the good of others and winning others and doing Honour to God And this indeed is a good Time-serving free from the least Self-seeking and we serve the Lord when we serve the time or season that is lay hold on and improve the present opportunity and every advantageous occasion of doing good And indeed the more excellent Christians such as are more emproved in Grace and Spiritual Wisdom account themselves more obliged to this Abounding in the Work of the Lord from the consideration of what the Apostle intimates in Rom. 13. 11. that our Salvation is now nearer to us then when we believed when we were first called and converted to the Faith of Christ we are now nearer to the end or reward of our Faith the Salvation of our Souls we are nearer to the Coal and end of our Race and consequently nearer to the Prize of our high Calling in Christ Jesus This Life of Action draws nearer to its Period and the Life of Reward is more near the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand and therefore knowing the time that this is the season of loving our Neighbour of doing all the good we can to others of which the Apostle speaks in the foregoing Verse it is high time to awake out of Sleep to shake off all drowsiness to awake out of a Lazy Profession to be up and be doing For we have not long to live in the World and e're long we shall lay hold on Eternal Life and receive the Reward far beyond all our Services infinitely above all our Labours here And here it may not be unfit to take notice of a Three fold Self-denyal full of Nobleness and Ingenuity in the more Excellent Christians 1. Though they are Sensible of a Better State in the other World of better Enjoyments and Satisfactions more pure and permanent then in this present Life and though they are full of comfortable hopes of their safe arrival and happy entertainment in that World of Souls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Jews call it when they shall be gathered to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect Yet they are not unwilling nay rather desirous to stay longer for their Reward so that they may do more Service here and Minister to the good of others they would Labour more in God's Vineyard they would Abound more in the Work of the Lord. They are not over-hasty to receive their Wages their Penny for Labouring in the Vineyard They do not complain of their bearing the Burden and Heat of the Day They are willing with Jacob to serve Seven other Years for Rachel They are not impatient of the length of the way to Canaan nor do they murmur that they are kept from tasting the Fruits thereof They are not eager to enter upon the full pleasures of the Heavenly Jerusalem They are content with some Clusters of Grapes here to Hearten and Strengthen them for their Work and Labour They would not go to rest to their Beds too soon so the Grave is called Isa. 57. 2. He shall enter into Peace they shall rest in their Beds They are desirous to Work longer and when they have Labour'd more and finished the work which they desired to do for God then they can better sing with Old Simeon Nunc dimittis Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace And when they lie down their Sleep shall be sweet unto them Prov. 3. 25. And now for the verifying of all this that hath been said we have an evident proof in S. Paul an Illustrious Example of this kind of Self-denyal who though he was assured of a Better State after his Decease yet he was content to stay longer for his Reward he was willing to be absent from the Lord to be out of Heaven and to abide longer here that he might do more Service in the World and Minister to the good of others He rather consider'd what was more Needful for Others then what would be more Gainful for Himself This is plain out of Philip. 1. from Vers. 21. to 25. The whole Paragraph is worthy to be opened and further explained In Vers. 21. he Professeth To me to Live is Christ that is If I Live my Life shall be wholly spent in the Service of Christ this is the main design and business of my Life this is my choice and I do not count it worth the while to Live in the World Life is not valuable but onely on this account that I may bring Honour to Christ and win Souls to the Gospel It follows And to Die is gain that is If I Die I shall be a Gainer by it Eternal Life and Happiness being infinitely above all the enjoyments in this present Life And if I Die a Martyr at Rome where I am now a Prisoner of the Lord Ephes. 4. 1. a Prisoner for the Cause of Christ if I Seal and Confirm the Truth of Christ by my Blood the Service and Glory of Christ shall be advanced by my sufferings yea and my Death shall be more eminently gainful to me this suffering and Martyrdom being rewarded with a further Accession of Glory and a more rich Encrease of Happiness So that I am resolved that Christ shall be Magnified in my Body whether it be by Life or by Death Ver. 20. Vers. 22. But if I Live in the Flesh this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fruit of my Labour Our Translation makes the place obscure which otherwise is clear enough if it be consider'd that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the same with
abide in the Flesh is more needful for you Though it would be more advantageous and gainful to me to Die to go home and to be with Christ Yet it is more for the advantage of you Philippians and of others that I should live and continue longer in this World And thus we see how S. Paul was plainly divided between two desires the one of his own happiness in returning to his Father's House and being with Christ the other of his doing good to others and he inclines at last rather to this latter Upon this score of being in a capacity to do good to others he is inclined to live as appears by the following Verse where he expresseth his hope which argued his desire that he should abide and continue with them live a while longer for their furtherance and joy of Faith He is willing to stay for his reward he is content to be absent from Christ to have his more immediate and blissful enjoyment of him deser'd he is willing to be out of Heaven that he may do the more good upon Earth content to be less happy for the present that he may be the more serviceable in the World He would not so soon be at rest from his labours though his continuing in the World was likely to bring him more suffering and hardships He was now at Rome a Prisoner for Christ and in the days of Nero that Lion as he calls him 2 Tim. 4 and he never stir'd out of his hired House there but with a Souldier which held him fast to him by an Iron Chain of which he speaks Acts 28. and therefore it were far better for him and especially in these Circumstances to be with Christ the Lamb who is said in Revel 7. 17. to feed those that are his and lead them unto Living Fountains of Water so that they shall neither Hunger nor Thirst any more Yet he is willing to stay at Rome and to await the fury of the Lion that Monster of Raging Cruelty Nero before whom he was brought once at least and he was delivered out of the Mouth of the Lion 2 Tim. 4. 17. Good stood with him and strengthened him when he stood at the Bar before the Emperour and delivered him and to this end as it follows in that Verse that by me the Preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear might receive the Gospel and there were even in Caesar's Houshold those that received the Gospel Phil. 4. Christ had a Flock near the Lions Den a Church in Nero's House This was that which was most in S. Paul's Eye for this he valued his deliverance and the preservation and continuance of his Life as we observed before And that according to his hope and confidence mention'd to the Philippians of his coming again to them he was delivered and restored at his first being at Rome is proved by some Writers In a word Though it were more for his ease to be freed from his Chain and his Bonds in or for Christ which he saith Phil. 1. 13. were manifest in Caesar's Court as well as to be freed from the Bonds and Fetters wherewith his Soul was encompast while it was in the Prison of this Terrestrial Body Though it were more for his advantage to move in the free Air and spacious Regions of Immortality and Bliss Yet he chooseth rather to wear these Chains and Bonds and to wear this great Fetter of the Body then to wear that Royal Apparrel with which the King of Heaven will Invest those whom he delights to Honour and to partake of that Glorious Liberty of the Children of God in Heaven that I may borrow that Phrase in Rom. 8. He chooses rather to continue in the number of those who groan in this Earthly Taternacle being burdened then to Sing joyful Hallelujahs in the Jerusalem which is above and is free Gal. 4. And it was his Love to the good of Souls his Zeal for the being more Instrumental to the Service and Honour of Christ that was a stronger Chain to hold him here This was his great business while he was at Rome in Chains to Preach the Kingdom of God and to Teach those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ Acts 28. 31. He calls his Philippians in Chap. 4. 1. his Joy and Crown and that he might for some time longer abide in the Flesh for their furtherance in Christianity he is willing to be without the Crown of Life reserved for him in God's Kingdom And was not this a rare and remarkable peice of Self-denyal in him And it will appear the more remarkable if we consider that S. Paul had been rapt up into the Third Heaven he had been caught up into Paradise and there had heard unspeakable words which it is not lawsul or possible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Man to utter and consequently he knew more of the Felicites and Glories of that Place and State 2. A Second instance of the Self-denyal of the more excellent Christians is this Though they are Sensible of the inward delights and sweetnesse◠which accompany a Contemplative Life and are enjoy'd by a Soul withdrawing it self from the noise and cares of the World Though they are sensible what an Heaven it is upon Earth to have more inward Communion with God and in great stillness and quietness of Spirit to Contemplate the Divine Excellencies and Perfections as also to Contemplate the Divine favours and kindnesses which he hath already bestowed on them with the much more that he reserves in Heaven and designs there to bless them with And though by such Contemplation of the Divine Excellencies and Favours though by such a seeing of God and tasting how good the Lord is they are melted into Love and ravisht into Holy Joys And though in this deep silence of the Soul they hear the still Voice of the Holy Spirit the Comforter speaking Peace and Love unto them Yet they are willing to abate of those Spiritual Satisfactions and Delights in Communion with God which are to them far better that so they may bestow themselves upon Services and Labours for the good of Others which are to those others more needful They are willing to abate of the sweetness of Contemplation that they may apply themselves more to Action they account it the greatest Charity to abound in the Works of the Active Life and prefer the Advantages which thereby may come to Others before the Contentments which might come to Themselves by a Life more Contemplative When S Peter with the two other Disciples saw Christ Transfigured on the Mount together with Moses and Elias who appeared in Glory he was so Transported and Enravished with this Glorious sight this Model os Heaven upon the Mount that he said Lord it is good for us to be here let us make Three Tabernacles one for thee one for Moses and one for Elias He wisht that he might always stay upon the Mount and was loth to