could fall from the estate of Adoption he could not abide in the houshold of Faith which is Gods special dwelling-place on earth 2. True it is some Fathers have disinherited lewd and unworthy Sons But I dare boldly say if it had been in the power of those Fathers to qualifie their Sons for their inheritance they would not have disinherited them but rather made them meet for it Now our heavenly Father maketh his children meet for their heavenly inheritance Col. 1.12 Giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light and 1 Pet. 1.5 The inheritance is kept in heaven for us by the eternal counsel of God and we are kept on earth for it by the power of his invincible Grace leading us through a world of temptations into the possession of our inheritance 3. There would be a difference put betwixt those three to wit the filial relation the filial disposition or affection and the filial behaviour or conversation daily sad experience convinceth that the children of God do not alwayes persevere in a filial behaviour and conversation their works are sometimes the works of darkness no less lewd and hainous in the matter of fact then the sins of wicked and unregenerate men yet their filial affection remains they never become haters of God yea I grant even their filial affection will be sometime much weakened in the Degrees of it by worldly objects as variety of objects weaken the beams of our sight by dividing them so our affection to God is diverted and much weakened by things sensible and worldly Though there may be and oft-times falls out an intermission of filial conversation and a remitting of filial affection yet the filial relation abideth for ever Relatives admit not a more and a less a Father is not more a Father at one time to his Son and less at another he is a Father to him alike in respect of relation when he is in health and when he is in sickness when he doth well and when he doth evil Though the communication of his favour may admit a more and a less The Prodigal Luk. 15. behaved himself lewdly and basely yet the relation remained still I will go said he to my Father and the Father acknowledged him for his Son ran to him fell on his neck and kissed him it was no wonder to see Jacob fall upon the neck of a Joseph and kiss him but to kiss a Prodigal is a mysterie of rich mercie and free love Our heavenly Father loveth repentance the work of his own hands wherever he sees it It is true renewed men deserve by their sins to be disinherited as the Prodigal humbly and truly acknowledged I am not worthy said he to be called thy Son but their sins do not effectually disinherit them which effective disinheriting is hindred by Gods rich mercie in his unchangeable love in the intercession of Christ and in the operation of the holy Spirit renewing repentance in them whereby their course of sinning is broken off and their wonted peace and comfort in God restored to them Augustin To this purpose speaketh Augustin well lib. de corrept grat ca. 12. Therefore help was provided for the infirmity of mans will that it should be acted by Divine Grace in an indeclynable and unseparable manner And so although it be infirm yet it should not fall away nor be overcome with any adversitie As for the use of this Doctrine Vse 1 it serveth for refutation of that comfortless Doctrine of Papists and others Refutes the Doctrine of the Apostasie of Believers who affirm that a man renewed and in the state of Grace may fall totally and finally from the Grace of Justification It is true some appearing members of Christ in respect of an outward communion in a visible Church may fall totally from the outward communion and will be declared in that day of the manifest revelation of Gods wrath never to have been in an inward communion with Christ and in acceptation with God Math. 7.22 he will say to them I never knew you nor approved you for mine Then will they be cast as brambles into that unquenchable fire Ioh. 15.2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit I take away They were in him only by appearance like those branches painted by Zeuxis that had neither sap smell nor fruit so worldly hypocrites smell not of Christ and his oyntments but of the earth and of self-seeking They are enemies to the Cross of Christ refusing to bear it in a time of persecution resisting the preaching of it and not laboring for any inward mortification of the flesh and lusts thereof Philip. 3.18 19. They are without that sap of the oyl of charity toward God and their neighbour they serve not one another in love but seek their own things and serve their own belly Rom. 16.18 They are also without the fruits of true holyness and righteousness having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 using their Christian liberty for a Cloak of maliciousness and doing all their works that they may be seen of men It may be said of them as of Israel Hos 10.1 Israel is an emptie vine he bringeth forth fruit unto himself and as it was said of Ephraim Hos 12.1 Ephraim feedeth on winde the hypocrite and the counterfeit Professor feedeth and delighteth himself on the winde of humane applause but not on the testimony of a good conscience which studyeth in all things to approve it self to God and commend it self to the consciences more then to the humors and inordinate affections of men after the example of Paul 2 Cor. 4.2 Commending our selves to every mans conscience in the fight of God Obj. Obj. Is it not said Heb. 6.4 5 6. That men sometime enlightned who had tasted of the powers of the life to come may possibly fall away but such men were renewed by illumination in their understanding heavenly tasts in their affections therefore it appears that renewed men may fall away totally and finally from the state of grace Answ For clearing that place of Scripture Answ I would offer these considerations 1. Heb. 6.4 5 6. opened and cleared The Apostle speaketh of men baptized and initiated into the mysteries of Christian religion because in these times men were both before and after baptism catechized in the grounds of Christian faith whereas it is ordinarily rendered Heb. 6.4 It is impossible that those who were once inlightened c. The Syriack translation hath it it is impossible for them qui descenderunt ad baptismum who did go down into the water of baptism and it is well known that the ancient Doctors of the primitive Church call baptism 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illumination because by the doctrine of baptism men were instructed and illuminated with the knowledge of the mysteries of the Christian saith Iustin Apol. 2. pro Christ Justin 〈◊〉
meant by good work how then is it said God will perform it until the day of Christ Answ I answer to the first by good work is meant a communion with Christ in the graces of his spirit wrought in us by the Spirit and word of promise Of this good work the Apostle speaketh in this Chapter vers 5. their fellowship in the Gospel To the second I answer What is meant by performing it the word rendered perform signifieth the bringing to an end a work already begun as a house already founded is perfected when the topstone is put on Heb. 8.5 So the performing of the good work is the bringing of the work of Sanctification unto the term of perfect sanctity and purity in a gradual and absolute conformity to the will of God in the estate of glory To the endeavours whereof we are exhorted 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore such promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthyness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God It is true the work of Sanctification in respect of our soul is perfected at the hour of death because no unclean thing can enter into Heaven No infirmity no spot comes there we must be perfectly cured of that hereditary leprosie of sin before we can come within the camp of that triumphant Israel corruption cannot inherit the incorruption of glory But the whole suppositum and person consisting of soul and body is not perfected until that glorious day of Jesus Christ Though the souls of the godly immediately after their parting out of the body be perfectly sanctified and admitted to behold the fathers face in glory yet the body being laid in the dust is not restored from that state of corruption nor perfected until the day of Christs second coming which is called the day of restoring all things Acts 3.21 at which time the good work of Sanctification begun here in soul and body will be absolutely perfected in both A renewed man Doct. in whom God hath begun the good work of Sanctification Renewed persons cannot fall totally from grace cannot fall totally from the state of grace but persevere therein to the end of his life for the Apostle is confident that God who hath once begun the good work in them will perform it until the day of Christ before I confirm this doctrine two questions would be answered 1. What is understood by persevering in grace What is understood by persevering in grace 2. How perseverance being a thing to come is said to be certain Answ I answer to the first the word grace is taken ordinarily for Gods free favour for that giving grace from which as the fountain doth flow through the merit of our mediatour all spiritual blessings It is so taken Eph. 2.8 by grace are ye saved Rom. 3.24 being justified freelie by his grace It is also taken for the grace that is given which doth flow from the fountain of free grace and love Ioh. 1.16 Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Such graces are faith hope Love and other saving Graces of the Spirit There is a perseverance actual in the exercise and actings of holy duties Act. 2.42 They continued stedfastly in the Doctrine of the Apostles And there is to speak so an effectual perseverance in respect of a settled inclination and disposition to holy duties though there may be some remitting in or intermitting of the acts and exercise thereof such is our perseverance in prayer Eph. 6.18 Col. 4.2 Praying alwaies as a Musical instrument well tuned by the hand of the skilful Musitian though it be not alwayes plaid on and giving out a sound yet it is sâ—ill well tuned So this inward disposition and frame of Spirit unto holy duties remains fixed in the children of God even in their failings in their coming short and imperfections about holy duties Rom. 7.19 The good I would do I do not though he did not act and exercise the commanded duty yet at the same time he persevered in an holy disposition and inclination of will to the duty To the other question I answer How perseverance in grace is said to be certain A thing to come is said to be certain two wayes 1. In respect of Gods Decree and this is the certainty of Immutability because Gods Decree counsel and purpose is unchangeable Heb. 6.17 Thus it was certain that our Lord should be delivered unto death because it was so determined in the eternal counsel of God Act. 2.23 Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God 2. A thing to come is said to be certain in respect of Gods fore-knowing and revealing that such a thing shall be This is the certainty of infallability because Gods knowledge is infallible Thus it was certain that Judas should betray our Lord because our God in his permissive Decree foreseeing it would be revealed the same in his Word the perseverance of renewed men is certain in both respects first in respect of Gods Decree Rom. 8.30 Joh. 6.39 Next in respect also of Gods revealed Will concerning their perseverance Ioh. 10.28 I give unto my sheep eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Iohn 6.39 This is the Fathers will that of all which he hath given me I should loose nothing The Doctrine of a renewed man his perseverance in Grace and the certainty thereof is proved from Scripture Proofs of the perseverance of the Saints first he is continued in the loving kindness of the Lord and so perseveres in an estate of free Grace and favour with God for whom he loveth once with that love of complacency as his children in Christ he loveth them to the end Ioh. 13.1 It is true he is displeased with them when they offend as a loving Father with his children and chastisech them yet will he not consume and destroy as a Judge in his wrath Psal 89.31 32. Psal 99.8 Ierem. 46.28 Next the renewed man perseveres also in the Grace given and received the stock of Grace infused is never totally lost Faith Hope and Love remain in the habit and root though in an hour of temptation the act and fruit thereof may intermit and fail Iohn 3.36 He that believeth in me hath everlasting life It is not said he shall have but in respect of the infallible consequence of eternal life to Faith in Christ Eternal life certain It is said in the present tense he hath eternal life Eternal life is certain in the Promise because God is Faithful who hath promised eternal life to every one that believeth in Iesus Christ It is certain in the earnest because Faith is an earnest of the Spirit and the Faithful Lord who giveth the earnest of Grace in this life will certainly give the summe of Glory in the other for Grace is the earnest and first fruit of Glory Iohn 4.14 Whosoever drinketh of the water that I
fail not as God preserved life in Eutychus notwithstanding his sore fall Act. 20.10 So the Lord preserveth the life of Faith in the hearts of his renewed children in the time of their great and foul falls No thanks to them but all praise to God who forsaketh not the work of his own hands in them But God disserts his own children sometime in respect of strength when he upholdeth them not in the hour of temptation but leaveth them to themselves and to the strength of corruption Thus God disserted David in the matter of Bathsheboh and Vriah as also Peter when he denyed the Lord Sometime he disserts his own children in respect of comfort when he hideth the light of his countenance when he with-holdeth or with-draweth the joy of his Spirit Thus was Iob David and our Lord himself disserted when he cryed out on the Cross My God my God why hast thou forsaken me This dissertion of our Lord was no waies in respect of the love of the Father for he was ever his well beloved Neither was it in respect of strength to sustain him under the burden for he was sustained by the Divine nature dwelling in him bodily It is true dissertion in respect of strength hath ever with it a dissertion also in respect of comfort for then the children of God being without strength do succumb to the temptation and therefore become heartless and comfortless like weak men robbed of their treasure of peace and joy yet there may be a dissertion in respect of comfort when in the mean time they are not disserted but upholden by a secret strength as a person fainting and sinking down may be upholden by one at his right hand though in the time he have no sense of it so many times the dear children of God are upholden by the strength of God that they despair not in their greatest troubles when in the mean time they have no comfort The measure of Gods disserting a renewed person nor clearness to discern the Lords strengthening presence Consider the measure of dissertion the children of God are not in a like measure disserted at all times sometimes more sometimes less at one time they are shaken with the wind of temptation as a tender plant but not cast down at another time they are laid on the ground brought under the temptation like a young tree born down with a great storm yet are never plucked up by the root because they are ingrafted in Christ and that root of Jesse beareth them at a time they will be disserted in respect of strength for doing and exercising some one gracious act and yet at the same time they will be eminently assisted of God in the exercise of another grace Peters zeal to be at Christ was very great when he desired to come through the deep Sea to him Math. 14. But his faith was weak when he saw the wind boysterous The children of God will have strong desires after God and yet at the same time much weakness of Spirit and remissness in their spiritual courage such was Davids disposition Psal 41.1 As the Hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God yet at the same time his heart was much discouraged and disquieted with the reproaches of enemies They will also be fervent in Prayer and yet at the same time not so patient as at other times Thus was it with David Psal 31.22 I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes there is a fit of weakness and impatience and yet at the same time he is fervent in prayer Thou heardest my supplications when I cryed unto thee as of some seeds sown in one seed-plat some herbs may appear sooner and be higher then others and the same which were at one time high may take a setting and be overtopped by others so in a renewed man when he is regenerate the seeds of all the saving graces of the Spirit are planted within his heart but sometime the fruit of one grace and sometime of another will be more eminent according to the wise and gracious dispensation of God out-letting on or restraining the influence of his Spirit from the seeds and habits of grace received Lastly consider thy duty in a time of dissertion The duty of a renewed person in the time of dissertion when the Lord hideth his face from thee 1. Search thy wayes for as under a dissertion thou doest observe a change in Gods countenance and dispensation toward thy self so if thou search diligently and impartially thou wilt find there hath been a change in thy wayes to the worse since that time thou found the comfort of the light of his countenance when great persons at sometimes favourable and familiar do change their countenance we do soon observe it and forthwith examine our selves if we have done or spoken any thing to procure such a change It is also our Christian wisdom carefully to observe the time when God hides his countenance and it is our duty to search our waies if we light the candle of our conscience from the light of Gods Word as the damsel in the Gospel did to search after and to find the lost penny we shall undoubtedly find that since the time we had the comfort of Gods presence we have departed from his wayes and turned from him it may be by our ingratitude and not rendering to him according to the favours received or by our spiritual pride and vain gloriation as if we had not received it of free love by our bitterness of Spirit and repining at afflictions by our indignation at others because more esteemed in the world then our selves by neglects or omissions of duties by a negligent and overly performance of them or by some lurking corruption not perceived and mourned for by us 2. When thou hast searched and found out the Achan Humble thy self before God and confess that and all thy former transgressions Hos 5.15 I will go and retire to my place till they acknowledge their offence when God retireth and withdraweth the presence of comfort there is no regaining of that presence but by acknowledgment of thy sins I would counsel thee at such times to set some day apart for afflicting thy Spirit with fasting and mourning I dare say such dayes have fair evenings and comfortable nights 3. Meditate seriously upon the unchangeableness of God and thy own former experiences of his love There is no change with him Lament 3.22 Mal. 3.6 Iam. 1.17 It is with men departing from God as with those that sail away from the firm Land they think as they remove from the Land so it removes from them but when they turn sail they find the Harbour in the same place they left it so when we turn from God we do think in the sense of our bad deservings that the Lord is turned from us but when we change our course and turn again by repentance we find our God where
therefore in it there is no certain knowledge 2. There is a knowledge of a thing from the natural and immediate cause of it This is an assent firm and evident and is called Science 3. There is a Moral certitude when a man knoweth the certainty of his estate for the present but is uncertain whether it will continue as a man from sense may know a present heat in his body but is uncertain whether the same will endure some learned Divines in the Roman Church grant this moral certitude of salvation 4. There is a Certitude of Divine Faith whereby we assent to supernatural truths not from any evidence intrinsecal in the thing known but from evidence of Divine authority revealing the same in the Word The certitude of knowledge in a man renewed concerning his perseverance is not opinion for that is uncertain and lyable to error It is not Science because this is from natural reason But the knowledge of perseverance is taught by Scripture and divine revelation Neither is it moral certitude only for the present but it is a certitude of divine Faith grounded on divine Authority in holy Scriptures Obj. Obj. But how can a man know with certainty of Faith that he himself believeth because it is not particularly revealed in Scripture that such a man by name believethâ— Therefore the proposition of his believing in special not being founded on divine authority the conclusion concerning his perseverance and certainty of salvation cannot be certain by a divine Faith Answ I answer 1. A conclusion may be de fide Answ 1 and should be assented to by a divine Faith if it be deduced from one proposition set down in holy Scripture and another made evident by the light of nature or sense As for example this conclusion the Father and the Son in the holy Trinity are two distinct persons is and should be assented to with a divine Faith and yet is deduced from one proposition known by the light of nature To wit that which begets is distinct from that which is begotten and from another proposition known by the light of the Word To wit but the Father begets and the Son is begotten in like manner this couclusion Jesus born of the Virgin Mary is the Messiah is to be assented to with divine Faith and yet our Lord inferreth the same from one proposition known by the light of Scripture To wit Isaiah 35. he that doth the works of the Messiah is he true Messiah But I do these works saith our Lord Math. 11.3 Now this assumption was known by sense and by seeing him do those works So I say this conclusion I shall persevere in grace unto eternal life is assented unto by divine Faith and is deduced from one proposition known by the light of Scripture To wit He that believeth shall not perish but persevere unto eternal life Ioh. 3.16 And from another known by the light of spiritual sense in the renewed man To wit But I believe 2. This spiritual sease of a Believer is not a fantasie or imagination but is soundly founded on the qualifications and marks of true saving Faith as they are holden forth in holy Scripture as 1. That true faith from sense of Gods love doth humble the heart and afflict the spirit with sorrow for sin Zach. 12.10 They shall look upon him whom they pierced and they shall mourn This look is by believing and it brings home with it a sense of love which woundeth the heart with sorrow for sin 2. True Faith purgeth and purifieth the heart Act. 15.9 Christ received by Faith to dwell in our hearts doth by the sweet smell of his oyntments and graces purge out of our hearts the sent and delight of sinful and vile lusts 3. This true saving Faith is not dead and idle but holy and operative It worketh by love Gal. 5.6 as the fire worketh by heat on the objects see before it so Faith by love to God bringeth forth works of holyness toward God and of righteousness toward our neighbour 4. Lastly it is a prevailing and overcoming Faith 1 Joh. 5.4 This is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith and Faith resisting and overcoming temptations is a sound Faith Though a renewed man and sound Believer may be overcome by temptation at a time in his affections Yet his will is not wholly subdued and overcome for the ill he doth he willeth it not Rom. 7.19 To Iesus Christ the Author and Finisher of our Faith with the Father and holy Ghost be all praise Amen Victory over DEATH through CHRIST 1 COR. 15.56 57. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God who giveth us the Victory through Jesus Christ AS our perseverance in the state of grace A peaceable death flows from the fulness of Christ is a fruit of the Merit of Christ so a peaceable death in the savour of God and in the hope of glory is a refreshing stream flowing from the fulness of Jesus Christ The comfortable tast of the fruits of the Cross of Christ doth sweeten the bitterness of death as that tree did sweeten the waters of Marah Exod. 15.25 In the words two points offer themselves to our consideration 1. A twofold misery from which we are delivered In the words two points to wit the sting of death and the strength of sin 2. The procurer of our deliverance Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ As for the one part of our misery In what sense the Law is the strength of sin the curse and rigor of the Law and how we are delivered from it we spoke already in a Sermon on Act. 13.39 Only I would speak one word or to clear how the Law which forbiddeth sin and threatneth punishment to the sinner is said to be the strength of sin It is not to be understood so as if the Law did strengthen a man to or in sinning for it prohibites sin and reveals wrath from heaven against all unrighteousness and disobedience but the Law is called the strength of sin because a man unrenewed before the time the Lord by grace rectifies his will and affections doth from his own inbred corruption take occasion at hearing of the Law to enlarge his vast desires toward all the sins forbidden therein It is not so much the forbidding of sin as sin forbidden and heard of that provoketh the sinful appecite Rom. 7.7 8. Is the Law sin God forbid Nay I had not known sin but by the Law but sin taking occasion by the commandment wrought in me all manner of concup scence for without the Law sin was dead Our inordinate concupiscence when it is once awaked by hearing of sins forbidden like a sleeping Dog awaked becomes more fierce to commit sin like those whose appetite is depraved by that disease called Malacia or Pica they long most after meats forbidden for this reason Aquinas renders
Iron yield to him as soon as Doors of wood This Doctrine serveth for admonition Vse 1 as thou wouldest have thy awaking be joyful in that day of resurrection look well in this thy working day what is thy disposition when thou goest to thy bed of rest and layest down thy Tabernacle of clay for as a man lyeth down to rest so ordinarily doth he rise If he go sober to bed he riseth fresh and cheerful so 1. Thou must in this life have a sober minde emptied of the immoderate love of this present world because a man dying with his heart fixed on this world cannot awake with joy in the day of resurrection as a man going to bed in his surfeit is distempered in his body when he awaketh in the morning so will it be with such as dye in their surfeit with the love and care of this world 2 As thou wouldst awake and rise in peace and joy thou shouldest dye in a good conscience hating every known sin It is true many of the dear children of God may dye without repenting particularly of some sins which they know not to be sins as it was with the believing Patriarchs in the case of their Polygamie But if thou dye without repenting of thy known sins objected against thee by thy own conscience this will make a fearful wakening in that day of thy resurrection as a man eating at evening that which doth not agree with his stomach it troubleth him in the morning when he awakes so those who have swallowed down all sin with a wide conscience inlarged like hell and did not cast it up again by true repentance in that gloomie morning of that eternal dark day their awaking will be heavy and fearful Then shall they have a desperate repentance like unto that of Iudas and shall find that true to the utmost which is spoken Iob 20.12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth yet shall it be the gall of Aspes within him 3. As thou wouldest awake with joy and be found in Christ in that day thou shouldest dye laying thy self on Christ and fastening thy soul by Faith into him because the man who dyeth in Christ is found in Christ in that day as a man carried down with a torrent of water is found after his death with such a thing in his hand as he griped in the way while he was alive so a man dying and in his way toward the grave embracing and clasping Christ in that day will be found in the arms of Christ for he is a faithful Redeemer keeping that which is committed to him and will present thee in that day to the father faultless with exceeding joy It serveth for comfort to the godly man Vse 2 his happy and best condition though it be delayed for a time yet is abiding him Happiness though delayed waits for a Godly man The wicked with that rich wretch Luc. 16. receive their good things here but the Godly with Lazarus receive their evil things It is far better for a poor afflicted Christian at death to go to his bed of rest without their surfeit then together with it to have their fearful wakening The Pharisees and all such vain-glorious hypocrites have all their reward in this life they get applause here from men but they shall be disallowed of God in that day whereas the Godly man looketh before him to this compleat happiness when the Lord will come with a rich recompence of reward in his hand Rev. 22.12 I come quickly and my reward is with me To this Moses looked Heb. 11.26 and Paul 2 Cor. 4.16 the Godly man measureth not his happiness by any present difference in respect of his outward condition betwixt him and sensual worldlings but by that which is to come he knoweth well this is the time of his non-age and the heir while he is young differeth not from a servant Gal. 4.1 it may be he is beaten oftner with the rod of his Father then a servant because the Father loveth him better and will not suffer him to perish for want of correction but when the day for dividing the inheritance is come at the resurrection then shall it be known who are sons Therefore thou who art the child of God endure hardship for a time yea but a moment of time in comparison of that eternity before thee And I think from undenyable grounds of natural reason there is less proportion betwixt an hundred thousand of years and eternity then betwixt a moment and an hundred thousand years It is no small comfort to have our best before us from this our Lord comforted his Apostles and us in them Ioh. 16.20 Ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy Now thou sowest in tears but thou shalt reap in joy the hope of a plentiful harvest is matter of comfort in a painful and laborious seed-time Now thou art betwixt wind and wave in this raging sea of an evil world but there is thy comfort thy body tossed here like a brittle bark shall in that day be brought to a condition of eternal rest Abrahams bosom is a bay without winds of temptations or afflictions there is perpetual tranquility Now is the time of thy fighting against the Devil who is the Tempter against the world which is the Magazine of his temptations and fiery darts and against the flesh and treacherous enticer and wilful consenter to temptations but be thou still wrestling in the strength of thy Lord and in the end thou shalt be more then a Conqueror through him and get a crown of immortal glory look to thy enemies and be watchful but look also to the promised victory and Crown and be of good courage for if God be with us in his strength who can be against us The second point considerable Second Point The matter and manner of our happiness is the matter of our eternal happiness the face and likeness of God And the manner of our enjoying it I will behold thy face Divines call the former our objective and the latter our formal happiness for understanding whereof it is necessary that we clear 1. What is meant by the face of God What is meant by the face or likeness of God 2. How we are said to behold the face of God As to the first by the face of God in holy Scripture is signified 1. His gracious presence and good Will Psal 51.11 Cast me not away from thy presence or from thy face as it is in the first language Psal 105.4 Seek his face evermore that is his gracious presence and favour Thus Gen. 4.15 It is said Cain went out from the face or presence of the Lord as men withdraw their countenance from those who have grievously offended them 2. An extraordinary manifestation and representation of the Majesty of God Deut. 5.4 the Lord talked with you face to face in the Mount out of the midst of the fire 3. It signifieth an extraordinary yet
for ever and our hearts will be established in our love toward God for ever This Doctrine serveth for a timely admonition Vse 1 Our chief care should be to enter into this happiness seeing there is an eternal happiness attainable in the vision and fruition of God It should be our chief care in time to enter into that way that leadeth into such an happy end in heaven is laid up a Crown of glory but it is given to such only as endure to the end The rich prize is there but given to such only as run their race with patience and finish their course thou must have some mediate sight of God in the word here in the way before thou attain that immediate sight in thy Country The knowledge of God in Christ here by Faith is the rudiment and pedagogy of our immediate and perfect knowledge of God in heaven Joh. 17.3 This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent the Disciples of Christ must be grounded in their Rudiments here before they be commenced there Masters of all perfect and happy knowledge Obj. How shall I know that I am in the way to eternal happiness for there is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the wayes of death Prov. 14.12 Many men are of Tamberlans opinion that every man living civilly and honestly may be saved in his own Religion Answ Infallible signs of entering into life 1. Faith There be three infallible Antecedents of Eternal life 1. Faith in Jesus Christ as there is no coming to the end of the Journey unless a man set his feet in the way toward it so there is no coming to salvation without Faith in Christ 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls Faith at the end of our life is turned into vision in that life eternal 2. 2. Conformity to Christ A conformitie unto Christ Rom. 8.29 Whom he did foreknow he also did Praedestinate to be conformed to his Son thou must in some measure be conformed to Christ in holyness in this life otherwayes thou canst not be conform to him in the other life in happiness because as God Predestinates a man to glory so he doth also Predestinate him to grace and holyness Ephes 1.4 He hath chosen us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy This conformity unto Christ standeth not only in an outward profession and approaching to the Ordinances which hypocrites may do with a great shew of piety in bodily exercise Isa 58.2 3. but specially in the ordering of our life and conversation according to the precept and example of Jesus Christ our Lord Phil. 2.5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus we must be conformable to him in our sufferings by patience and submission to the good will of God Not my will said our Lord in his Agony but thine be done and we must be conformable to him in meekness toward violent men who are instrumental in our sufferings 1 Pet. 2.23 Christ also suffered for us leaving us an ensample who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that Judgeth righteously 3. 3. The first fruits of the Spirit The third evidence of our walking in the way to true happiness is the first fruits of the Spirit To wit such saving graces as are the beginnings and first fruits of eternal life as knowledge of God in Christ sense of his love peace of conscience and joy of salvation in our heart The first fruits were consecrate to God in testimony of thankfulness they were grounds of hope of a plentiful harvest and motives to stir up a longing desire after the harvest in like manner the child of God should be thankful for those beginnings and first fruits of happiness he may be confident also that God who hath given unto him the first fruits in the state of Grace will give unto him a joyful harvest of glory This was the ground both of Pauls confidence and willingness to be dissolved and to be with Christ 2 Cor. 5.5.8 He hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit we are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body It serveth also for matter of comfort unto the children of God Vse 2 Comfort to mourners under imperfections fears c. who mourn here under the sense of many imperfections under the fear of many and daily temptations who groan under the burthen of indwelling corruption that hangeth so fast on and under the heavy pressures of many troubles and calamities look by faith unto that rich recompence of reward and rejoyce in the hope of that everlasting happiness when ye shall behold the face of God in glory 1. Here is matter of comfort against the imperfections of our knowledge in our wayfaring we are ignorant of far more then we know but then shall we know God himself and all things in him as a resplendent Mirrour so far forth as he sees may conduce for our happiness here our knowledge is confused and dark in the valley of Baca but there it will be distinct and clear in Mount Sion that is above where no mists are Now we know in part but then shall we know fully and perfectly Then shall we say as the Queen of Sheba did 1 King 10.6 7 8. It was a true report which I heard in mine own Land and behold the half was not told me Thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard here our love is imperfect God is not our all in all Our love is carried on other things beside God but then God will be all in all in us and to us whatever we loved here in the creature will be exceeded and swallowed up in that vast ocean of love and delight we shall have in God himself here are great changes in our love sometime we are hot in our zeal like David dauncing before the Ark at another time we are cold and stupified when any thing crosseth us in our performance of holy duties as David was when Vzzah was smitten 1 Chron. 13.12 but in heaven our love and zeal to Gods glory will be perfect in degrees unchangeable in condition and perpetual in duration 2. Here is comfort under manifold temptations It is true we are subject here to one temptation after another and when in the strength of our Lord we have resisted one yet are we disquieted with the fear of another for Sathan who departed but for a season from our Lord who was temptation-proof Luc. 4.13 he leaveth us but for a short time waiting an advantage of our security which is his opportunity he will appear sometime to depart from tempting but if we become proud as having resisted his temptations by our own strength or if we become secure and negligent in prayer and watchfulness