224 SERMONS up; Serm. XXXI: kingdom, 2 Tim. 4. 8: From hence we fetch our comfort during the whole courfe of our Pilgrimage. This we look upon 'as the recompense of all our pains and loffes, and upon the hopes of it the life of grace is carryed on, and the temptations of fenfe de- feated; and therefore hope is defcribed in Scripture by this obje& more than any other thing. Called thence, The hope of ftivation ; and all other hopes are in order to this, Rom. 15. 4. Whatever things were written afore time, were written for oser learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the feriptures Wright have hope; that is, b fubmiting and waiting upon him in variety of Providences here in the world, we might Will keep up the hope of eternal life. 4. Eternal life muff be expe7ed in the way God promifeth it. We mutt not take that abfolutely whi, h God promifeth conditionally ; God promifeth it to them that believe in Chrifl, John 6.4o. This is the will of him that font me, that every one which froth the fon;and believeth on him, may have everlafling life, and I will raife him up at the tali day. Thofe that faw him with the eyes of the body, and were not offended at his defpicable appearance, but could own him as the Meflìas, as Lord and Saviour: Thofe that fee him with the eyes of the mind, fee fuch Worth and Excellency in him, as to be content to run all hazzards with him, and count all things but dung and drois, that they may be found in him, that they may venture their fouls and all their interefis in his hands. Sometimes to the obedient, bleb. 5. 8.- Sometimes to them that perfevere notwithftandíng temptations, Rom. 2.7. Sometimes to the mortified, Rom. 8. 13. Now youmuft confider_ not only the grant or the benefit contained inthe promífe, but the preceptf, the condi- tion required ; the benefit or priviledg offered,expreffeth Gods'Grace;thecondition re- quired points out your duty, and by confequence yourright ; for we are'not duly qua- lified according to promífe; and the gift is fufpended till we fulfil the condition ; but when you have done that which the promífe requireth, then your Title to Heaven is in- comparably more Cure than any mans Title to his Poffef ior..s, and the Inheritance to which he was born; and you will find the Saints in fixing and raifing their hopes, do not only look upon what is prornifed, but their own qualification, Pfal. r 1 g. 166. Lord I have hoped for thy falvation, and done thy commandments. So Peal. 33. 18. The eye of the Lord isupon them that fear him, that hope in his mercy. So Pfal. 147. 13. The Lord taketh pleafure in them thatfear him, that hope in his mercy. They fo believe in God, as they fear to offend him; and the hope of falvation goeth hand in hand with a care of keeping the Commandments; Fe mutt not look to one fide of the covenant only, the priviledges and benefits; but alfo to the duties and qualifications of thofe that (hall be faved, the penitent Believer, the mortified Saint, the heavenly - minded, felfdenying Chriftian. All this is (hewed, that'tis not enough to exile& eternal life, but it muff be expelted in Gods way. 5. The expeiation is certain and defirous t 'Tis certain, for it goeth upon the pro. mite of the Eternal God : 'ris defirous, becaufe the thing ptomifed is our chief happi- nefs ; all the Pomp and Glory of the world, is but a Maygame to ir. With refpe6 to thefe Two Properties, different effe6s are afcribed to hope : Fir(i, 'Tis patient, and ear- "eft ; patient, t Thef t. 3. Remembring without ceafng your work äf faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope. And in the Verfe next the Text; And if we hope for it, then do we with patiente wait for it ; and earneft v. 1 g. For the earnefi expe lation of the creature waiteth for the manifelfation of the fins of God: The Emblem in the refemblance of it is the earneft expe6ation of thecreature; and 2 Pet 3.1Z. Looking for, and hafting unto the coming of the Lord. 'Tis patient,' becaufe 'tis fore ; 'tis earneft becaufe 'Cis good : When the foul therefore is poffeffed with the truth and worth of thefe things which we hope for, it looketh. and longeth, becaufe they are lush gloriousbleffings; but tarrieth Gods leifure, becaufe his word is Cure, tho he doth delay dur happinefs, and how fmart and heavy foever his hand be upon us for the prefent. 2. There is another pair, rejoicing and groaning ; rejoicing, Rom. 5. 2. Rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God : and groaning, 2 Cor. 5.2. In this we groan,earnefflydefiring to be cloathed upon with onr houfe which is from heaven. We groan becaufe of prefent bur- dens, and our delire is delayed; but we rejoice, that our affe6ion may be fomewhat an- fwerable to the greatnefs of the thing hoped for , which is the Vifion and Fruition of the ever bleffed God. When we ferioufly confider what we [hall have and do hereafter, how can a Chriflian chufe but rejoice ? it muff needs poffefs his mind with a delight. 'Tis queffionlef, a comfortable thing to him to think that he Iballfee the glory of God, and be filled. wirb his love, and be exercifed in loving, lauding and praifing him for ever- more
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