wine of his joy run out. Were the Armi- nian doctrine true, how could the apostle say, the seed of God remains in him, 1 John iii. 9., and the anointing of God abides ? 1 John ii. 27. ^^Hiat comfort were it to have one's name written in the book of life, if it might be blotted out again ? But, be assured, for your comfort, grace, if true, though never so weak, shall perse- vere; though a Christian hath but little grace to irade Avith, yet he need not fear breaking, because God doth not only give him a stock of gi'ace, but will keep his stock for him. Gratia concutili/r, non exai- titur, Aug. Grace may be shaken with fears and doubts, but it caiuiot be plucked up by the roots. Fear not falling awav. If any thing should hinder the saints' per- severance, then it must be either sin or temptation; but neither of these. 1. Not the sin of believers. That which humbles them shall not damn them ; but their sins are a mean to humble them, they gather grapes off thorns; from the thorn of sin they gather the grape of humility. 2. Not temptation. The devil lays the train of his temptation to blow up the fort of a saint's grace ; but this cannot do it. Temp- tation is a medicine for security ; the more Satan tempts, the more the saints pray. When Paul had the messenger of Satan to buffet him, 2 Cor. xii. 8., " For this I be- sought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me." Thus nothing can break off a believer from Christ, or hinder his perse- verance. Let this wine be given to such as are of an heavy heai't : this perseverance is comfort. 1. In the loss of worldly com- forts. Wlien our goods may be taken a- way, our gi-ace cannot, Luke x. 42., " Ma- ry hath chosen the better part which can- not be taken from her." 2. In the hour of death. When all things fail, friends take their farewell of us, yi t still grace re mains. Death may separate all things else from us but grace; a C'hristian may say on his deathbed, as Olevan, once, " Sight is gone, — speech and hearing are depart- ing,— but the loving-kindness of God will never depart."
Quest. 1. What motives and ijicentives are there to make Christians persevere ?
Ans. 1. It is the crown and glory of a/
OF PERSEVERANCE.
191
Cliristian to persevere, In Christianis non initia sed fide laudanlur. Prov. xvi. 31., " The lioary lioad is ;i crown of glory, if found in the way of righteousness." When grey hairs shine with golden virtues, this is a crown of glory. The cliurcli of Thya- tira was best at last. Rev. ii. 19., " I know thy patience and thy works, and the last to b(! more tlian the first." The excellency of a building is not in having the first stone laid, but when it is finished. The glory and excellency of a Christian is, when he hath finished the work of faith.
A. 2. You are within a few days' march of heaven. Salvation is near to you, Rom. xiii. 1 1., " Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Christians, it is but a little while and you will have done weeping and praying, and be triumphing ; you shall put off your mourning, and put on white robes ; you shall put off your armour, and put on a victorious crown ; you who have made a good progress in religion, you are almost ready to commence and take your degree of glory ; now is your salvation near- er than when you began to believe. Wlien ft man is almost at the end of a race, will he now tire, or faint away ? O labour to persevere, — your salvation is now nearer, — you have but a little way to go, and you will set your foot in heaven ! Though the way be up-hill and full of tliorns, viz. suf- ferings, yet you have gone the greatest part of your way, and shortly you shall rest from your labours
A. 3. How sad is it not to persevere in holiness? You expose yourselves to the re- proaches of men, and the rebukes of God. First, to the repro;ft;hes of men. They will deride both you and your profession, Luke xiv, 30., " This man began to build, and was not able to finish." Such is he who begins in religion, and doth not perse- vere : he is tl.e ludibrium, and derision of all. Secondly, to the rebukes of God. God is most severe against such as fall off, because they bring an evil report upon re- ligion. Apostacy breeds a bitter worm in conscience ; what a worm did Spira feel ! And it brings swift damnation ; it is a draw- ing back to perdition, Heb. x. 39. God will make his sword drunk with the blood of a- postates.