1. Branch. If there be such a glorious kingdom to come, believe this great truth. Socinians deny it. The Rabbins say, the great dispute between Cain and Abel, was about the world to come ; Abel affirmed it, Cain denied it. This should be engraven upon our hearts as with the point of a dia- mond, there is a blessed kingdom in rever- sion, Ps. Iviii. 11., "Doubtless there is a reward for the righteous." Let us not he- sitate through unbelief. Doubting of prin- ciples is the next way to denying them. Unbelief, as Samson, would pull down the pillars of religion. Be confirmed in this, there is a kingdom of glory to come. ^Mio- ever denies this, cuts asunder the main ar- ticle of the creed, " life everlasting."
2. Branch. If there be such a blessed kingdom of glory to come, let us take heed lest we miss of this kingdom, let us fear lest we lose heaven by short shooting. Trembling, in the body is a malady, in the soul a grace. This fear is not a fear of diffidence or distrust, such a fear as dis- courageth the soul, for such a fear frights
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from religion, it cuts the sinews of endea- vour ; but tliis holy fear, lest we miss of the kingdom of heaven, is a fear of diligence ; it quickens us in the use of means, and puts us forward that we may not fail of our hope, Heb. xi. 7., " Noah, being moved with fear, prepared an ark." Fear is a watch-bell to awaken sleepy Christians ; it guards against security ; it is a spur to a sluggish heart ; he who fears he shall come short of his journey, rides the faster. And indeed this exhortation to fear, lest we miss of this kingdom, is most necessary, if we we consider two things ;
First, There are many who have gone many steps in the way to heaven, yet have fallen short of it, INIark xii. 34., " Thou art not far from the kingdom of God ;" yet he was not near enough.
. Quest. How many steps may a man take in the way to the kingdom of God, yet miss of It?
Ans. 1. He maybe adorned with civility, Le may be morally righteous, he may be prudent, just, temperate, he may be free from penal statutes ; this is good, but not enough to bring a man to heaven.
A. 2. He may hang out the flag of a glorious profession, yet fall short of the kingdom. The scribes and pharisces went far; they sat in Moses' chair, — were ex- pounders of the law, — they prayed, gave alms, were strict in the observation of the sabbath, — if one had got a thorn into his foot, they would not pull it out on the sab- bath-day, for fear of breaking the sabbath, — they were so externally devout in God's worship, that the Jews thought, that if but two in all the world went to heaven, the one should be a scribe, and the other a pharisee, — but the mantle of their profes- sion was not lined with sincerity : they did all for the applause of men, therefore they missed of heaven, Mat. v. 20., " Excej)t your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of God."
A. 3. A man may be a frequenter of or- dinances, and yet miss of the kingdom. It is a good sight to see people flock as doves to the windows of God's house ; it is good to lie in the way where Christ })asseth by ; yet, be not offended, if I say, one may be
an hearer of the word, and fall short of glo- ry. Herod heard John the Baptist gladly, yet beheaded John instead of beheading his sin ; the prophet Ezekiel's hearers did come with as much delight to his preaching, as one would do to a lit of music, Ezek. xxxiii. 32., " Thou art to them as a lovely song oi one that hath a pleasant A'oice, and can play well on an instrument ; for they hear thy words, but they do them not." What is it to hear one's duty, and not do it? As if a physician prescribe a good recipe, but the patient dpth not take it.
A. 4. A man may have some trouble for sin, and weep for it, yet miss of the hea- venly kingdom.
Quest. Whence is this ?
Ans. 1. A sinner's tears are forced by God's judgments ; as water which comes out of a still is forced by the fire. — 2. Trou- ble for sin is transient, it is quickly over again. As some that go to sea are sea- sick, but when they come to land they are well again ; so hypocrites may be sermon- sick, but this trouble doth not last, the sick-fit is soon over. — 3. A sinner weeps, but goes on in sin ; his sins are not drown- ed in his tears.
A. 5. A man may liave good desires, yet miss of the kingdom. Numb, xxiii. 10., " Let me die the death of the righteous !"
Quest. JVhereindo these desires come short?