this gainful purchase with the same eagerness, care and diligence, that we do our several employments in this world. We ought to account that day best spent, not wherein we have got the most money, but wherein we have made some considerable improvement in true wisdom, and done some singular service to our Lord Jesus, who is our hope. And in all our external affairs let us exercise such justice, charity, thankfulness, and contented humility, that we may be able to say, if anybody ask us what we are doing, We work for eternity. And that we may do so, and not, like Esau, sell our inheritance for a mess of pottage, (which will not be worth the tears it will cost us in this world, if ever we reflect upon our folly,) let us often cast our eyes upon this happiness, frequently meditate on the joy of our Lord, and study seriously those holy writings, wherein these precious promises are recorded. The Jews are so proud of their law, (which hath no such jewels in it neither.) that they fancy the angels contended with Moses about it, and would needs persuade him that it belonged to them. I am sure St. Peter says, that those heavenly ministers have so great a value for the gospel, that they desire to look into these things: wondering that we Gentiles should be made, not only fellow-citizens with the saints, but equal to themselves. They rejoiced when they heard the good news, that our Lord was come down to men; and it seems he hath told us things beyond all their expectation. Shall not we then set a due esteem upon them, and look into them, and consider them, who have them so near unto us, and are so much concerned in them? Then it were better for us if we had no eyes, or if we lived in those places where no such things are to be seen: for none will be so miserable as they that might have been exceeding happy, and chose to remain miserable; and that when so few thoughts would have secured their happiness. For there is no way to be undone, but only by not believing, or not considering, the gospel of God's grace. Secure but these two passages, and strict piety will necessarily be our employment, and eternal life our reward. No temptation will be strong enough to make us neglect our work; and, I am sure, faithful is he who hath promised, and will not fail to pay us more than our wages. h Pirke Eliezer, cap. xlvi. [p. 126.] VI. And what now remains, but to put those in mind who obediently believe in the Lord Jesus, what cause they have to entertain themselves beforehand with great joy in the comfortable expectation of God's mercy in him to eternal life? Let all his true-hearted disciples, who hear his voice, and follow him, rejoice; yet, let them be glad in him with exceeding joy. Let them say, O how great is the goodness of God! how rich are those blessings which he hath laid up for them that love him! how exceeding great and precious are the promises he hath made them! Our calling in Christ Jesus, how high is it! what is there nobler than his kingdom and glory? To which also he hath called us by glory and virtue. Heaven and earth concur in the most glorious and powerful manner to give us assurance, that it shall be well, exceeding well, with all those that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. Why should we suffer ourselves then to be dejected at any accident in this world which falls cross to us? Shall we take pet when any thing troubles us, and let our spirits die within us, who have such glorious hopes to live upon, and mightily support us? Jesus is alive: he is alive for evermore: and in him is eternal life for all his followers. The Father, the Word, the Holy Ghost, are come to comfort us with this joyful news. The Water, the Blood, and the Spirit, all say the same; and ask us why we are so sad, when life and immortality is brought to light by the gospel. It is the desire of the Lord Jesus that we would not mourn, as though he still lay in his grave, and could do nothing for us. He is certainly risen, and gone into the heavens; where God hath made him exceeding glad with his countenance1. And it will add to his joy, if it be capable of increase, to see us rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. And therefore let us do him the honour to glory in his holy name: and let us say alway, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us. We ought to say so with joyful hearts, even when death itself approaches; which of all other is the most frightful enemy of mankind, but is made our friend by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light, through the gospel. Which hath given us, as the same apostle saith, such everlasting consolation, that it would be a great reproach to it to receive death timorously; which wise men, before our Saviour came, concluded might be, for any thing they knew, návτwv μéуloтov râv ȧyalov, 'the greatest of all goods.' Our Lord assures us they were right in their conjectures; and hath made that certain, which Socrates' (whose words those are) left doubtful. And therefore we ought not to leave the world as if it were the greatest unhappiness that could befal us. "It is for him only to fear death (as St. Cyprian speaks) who would not go to Christ; and he only hath reason to be unwilling to go to Christ, who doth not believe he shall begin to reign with him m." This is the only thing (as he writes a little after) which makes men take death so heavily, quia fides deest, "because faith is wanting; because they do not believe those things are true, which he who is truth itself hath promised: but though they give credit to what a grave and laudable person promises, they are wavering about that which God saith, and receive it with an incredulous mind." For if they believed, they would entertain that which now seems dreadful, as St. Gregory Nazianzen says" that blessed martyr did; whose death he doubts whether he should call his departure from this life, or rather рòs eòr ἐκδημίαν, ἢ πόθου πλήρωσιν, his departure to God, or the ful filling of his desire.' And thus (if we may believe Chalcidius) the famous Trismegistus died, saying to his son, that stood by him, "My son, hitherto I have lived an exile from my country; but now I am going safe thither. And therefore when, a little while hence, I shall be freed from the chain of this body, see that you do not bewail me as if I was dead. For I am only returning to that most excellent blessed city, whither the citizens cannot arrive unless they take death in their way. There God only is the governor-in-chief, who entertains his citizens with a k 2 Tim. i. 10. 1 Plato, Apolog. Socr. [p. 40.] 157. ed. Fell.] n Orat. 18. p. 284. [ed. Ben, orat. xxiv. § 17. tom. i. p. 448 B.] marvellous sweetness; in comparison with which, that which we now call life is rather to be termed death "." And what if, in our passage to it, we should fall into divers temptations, or trials of our sincere affection to the Lord Jesus? There is no reason that this should dishearten us, and deaden our spirits: for it is the singular privilege of a Christian to rejoice in the Lord alway P, especially when he suffers for righteousness' sake. In that case the apostles thought it an honour that they were counted worthy to be beaten, and suffer shame for his name 9. And St. James thought their example was not unimitable by other Christians, to whom he saith, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations'. And so they did, as you read in the Epistle to the Christian Hebrews; of whom the apostle gives this testimony: Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and enduring substances. This consideration made them look upon the rapine which the seditious people committed in their houses, without that dejection which on such occasions appears in other countenances. And yet they were men like ourselves, who walked by faith, and not by sight; that is, did not enjoy the thing itself which they expected. And therefore what should hinder the same effect in our hearts, if we believe as they did? And to show the mighty power of this heavenly principle, these three things may be here pertinently noted, out of the records they have left us of their spirit in all their sufferings. I. And first, I find, that when the heaviest cross lay upon them, the sense they had of things to come supported them under it with admirable resolution. This was the least effect of their holy faith; which made them, when the hearts of others sunk under the load, and fell down, as we say, into their knees, stand like a strong pillar, which bears up the whole weight of the house, and never yield at all. The thoughts of what our Lord had promised not only preserved them from murmuring and repining at their present condition, (knowing what good provision he had made for them hereafter,) but from fainting, • Fr. Archangel. Dogm. Cabbalistica. [p. 743. inter Scriptores Artis Cabbalisticæ, per J. Pistorium.] p Phil. iv. 4. q Acts v. 41. s Heb. x. 34. and being sluggish in their ministry. For which cause we faint not, or do not grow lazy, saith St. Paul: (knowing, that is, that he who raised up the Lord Jesus would raise up them also :) for though our outward man perish, (or wear away,) yet the inward man is renewed (or grows more youthful) day by day". And (2) this faith also preserved them from swounding fear, either of disgrace, or pain, or death; being in nothing terrified by their adversaries, saith the same apostle *: who, seeing them undaunted under all their sufferings, had reason to look upon this as an evident token of their perdition, and of the salvation God would give to these his valiant champions. And (3) from sorrowing also, and lamenting the loss of any thing; because this good, they found, was still secure y. Which made them, as he there saith again, to be always full of joy, though in the eye of the world they looked very sorrowfully. And so (lastly) they kept their steadfastness, and turned not away from the holy commandment delivered unto them. Whereby they marvellously promoted Christianity: and the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that they had suffered a while, made them perfect, stablished, strengthened, settled them. II. But the hope of eternal life did not merely support and uphold their spirits; it wonderfully refreshed and comforted them in all their afflictions: so that they durst confidently promise to all other suffering Christians the same heavenly comforts from God. Who comforteth us (saith St. Paul) in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation a. Their comfort and rejoicing was the testimony of their conscience, that every where they acted sincerely b; and that they served a good Master, who had promised them better fare in the next world, where he reigns in full power and glory. His kingdom, they knew, was not of this world, even as he was not of the world; and therefore they did not expect he should give them a portion of good things u 2 Cor. iv. 14, 16. x Phil. i. 28. a 2 Cor. i. 4, 7. y 2 Cor. vi. 10. Z I Pet. v. 10. |