154 SERMONS upon Serm. XXII"Y: Sanctification, and the more we increafe in it, the more our Right is clear. Let us labour therefore to be throughly fanCtifed , and to fill our lives with the fruits of Holi- nefs. Heaven is defcribed to be the inheritance of the fantäified by the faith which is in Cirifl yefus our Lord, As 26: 18. the fandified is there put for the perfected. Our Bleffednefs is in a fair progrefs, when we are drawn from caring for the body to the ra- ving of the Soul, from things earthly to heavenly, from the life of the World to the life of God : in a word, from Sin to Holinefs. 2. To fix your hearts more in the hope of eternal Life. It is the want of this hope that maketh men fwerve from Holinefi, tome want it in Habit, force in A. Firfl, Some want it in Habit, becaufe they want Faith; for no men will look for that which they do not believe. Now thefe wallow in fin and filthinefs , 2 Pet. T. 9. He that lacketb theft things is blind, and cannot fee afar of and bath forgotten that he was purged from his oldfins. He that is blind as to heavenly things, which lye at a diltance, can never purifie his heart, nor walk holily 5 for they will not trouble themfelves with it. On the contrary, r yob. 3. 3. He that bath this hope in him, peerifreth bimfilf, even as he is pure. Secondly, Some want it in Al , do not revive upon themfelves the remembrance of the bleffed Hope , or keep their hearts in Heaven as much as they fhould do , becaufe they lofe their tape, or fuffer it to be interrupted and deadned by worldly cares and voluptuous living. When the heart runneth out inordinately after fecular ends and contentments, our affections are eltranged from heavenly things, alas ! we prefently find the inconvenience, we lofe our tafte of the powers of the World to come; fo alfo by negligence and carelefnefs. Now a good Chrilian Ihould always Rand with his loins girt , and lamps burning , looking for his Matters coming; the Pledge and Earneft of eternal Life, which we have received , is of more worth and value than all the plea - fures and contentments of the World , and Ihould not be loft for trifles. We did re- joyce at our firft entrance on Chriftianity in thefe hopes, now we muft keep this firm to the end, Heb. 3. 6. If we hold fall the confidence, and the rejoycing of the hope firm to the end : and verf. 14. If we hold the beginning of our confidence fledfafl to the end. Often draw up your hearts from things tranfitory to things eternal and heavenly. Vfe 3. Direction to us in the Lords Supper. We come to this Duty to bind our felves to two things. Firft, To have our Fruit to Holinefs, as thofe who are free from fin, and are become his by Covenant with him : Here we refume and ratifie the Vow made in Baptifm, and fo we are, (1.) to arraign , accufe and judge our felves for our former neglect, that we have made no more progrefs in purifying our Souls, and fitting our felves for the eternal Elate; (2.) to beg pardon of God , with promifesof greater diligence for the future; (3.) to implore the fpecial aid and affiftance of Gods Spirit, for the better performance of what we promife ; (4.) we are to obtain it by the means of Chrifts Sacrifice and In- terceflion, Who by one offering bath perfel7ed for ever them that are fanllifred, Heb. 9.14 there needeth no other Sacrifice. If we thus humbly apply our felves to God, and de- fire again to bind our Bond, the Duty will be comfortable to us. Secondly, Our fecond general work is to revive afresh the hopes of eternal Life, and to get our tale and relifhes of that bleffed Eftate renewed and confirmed upon our hearts, that we may be fortified againf the troubles of theWorld,and inconveniencies of our Pilgrimage, that we may not only be encouraged to do well, but to fuffer evil with patience. That this Duty is a Pledge of Heaven appeareth by Chrils words, Mat.26.29. I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom. It is an Antepaft of that bleffed and eternal Feal, When we fhall fit down with Abraham, 'faze and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 8. t t. And the end of both Sacraments is to prepare us for fufferings, Mat. 20. 22, 23. Are ye able to drink of the cup that 1 fhall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptifm that I am ba- ptized with ? They fay unto him, We are able. And he faith unto them, Te fhall drink in- deed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptifm that 1 am baptized with. Thefe terms Phew, that the Sacraments imply a preparation for fufferings ; for there feemeth to be a plain allufion to both Sacraments, drinking of his Cup, and being baptized with his Baptifm. Now counterballafting our Troubles with our Hopes, begets the true Spirit of Chriffian Courage and Fortitude : Rom. 8. 18. For I reckon that the fiffirings of this prefent time are not worthy to be compared to the glary that (hall be revealed in sss. 2 Cot'. 4. 17. For our light of fliliion,which is but for a moment,worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Therefore here is your work , mind it, and God will beefs you. SER
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=