when our salvation is nearer. When a man is almost at the end of the race, will he now tire and faint ? AVill he not put forth all his strength, and strain every limb, that he may lay hold upon the ])rize? Our salva- tion is now nearer; the kingdom is as it were within sight ; how should we now put forth all our strength, that we may lay hold upon the garland of glory ? Doctor Taylor, when he was going to his martyrdom said, " I have but two stiles to go over, and I shall be at my Father's houso." Though the way to heaven be up-hill, you must climb the steep rock of mortificatioti ; and though there be thorns in the way, viz. suf- ferings, yet you have gone the greatest part of your way, you are within a few days march of the kingdom ; and will not you persevere? Christian, pluck up thy courage, fight the good fight of faith, pursue holiness ; it is but a while and you shall put off your armour, and end all your weary marches, and receive a victorious crown ; your salva- tion is nearer, you are within a little of the kirigdom, therefore now persever(?, you are ready to commence and take your degree of glory !
A. 3. The blessed promise annexed to perseverance ; the promise is " a ciown of life," Rev. ii. 10. Death is a worm that feeds in the crowns of princes, but behold here a living crown, and a never-lading crown, 1 Pet. v. 4., and Rev. ii. 28. He that overcometh, and keepeth my words to to the end, " I will give him stellam matuti- nam, — the morning-star :" the morning-star is brighter than the rest. This morning- star is meant of Christ; as if Christ had said, I will give to him that perseveres some of my beauty ; I will put some of my illus- trious rays upon him ; he shall have the next degree of glory to me, as the morning- star is next the sun ; will not this animate and make us hold out ? We shall have a kingdom, and that which is better than the kingdom, a bright morning-star.
Quest. JVhat are the means conduciiig to perseverance, or, what shall we do that we may hold out to the kingdom ?
Ans. 1. Take up religion upon good grounds, not in a fit or humour, or out of worldly design ; but be deliberate, weigh things well iu the balance, Luke xiv 28.,
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OF THE SECOND PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
*' Wliicli of you intending^ to build a tower, Kittctli not down first and counteth the cost ?" Think with yourselves Avhat reli- gion must cost you, it must cost you the parting with your sins ; and what it may cost you, it may cost you the parting with your lives ; consider if a kingdom will not countervail your sufferings ; weigh things well, and then make your choice, Ps. cxix. 30., " I have chosen the way of truth." Why do many apostatize and fall away, but because they did never sit down and count the cost.
A. 2. If Ave would hold out to the king- dom, let us cherish the grace of faith, 2 Cor. i. 24., " By faith ye stand." Faith, like Herculus's club, beats down all opposition before it ; it is a conquering grace.
Quest. How comes faith to be so strong ?
Ans. Faith fetcheth Christ's strength into the soul, Phil. iv. 13. A captain may give his soldier armour, but not strength : faith partakes of Christ's strength, and faith gets strength from the promise; as the child by sucking the breast gets strength, so doth faith by sucking the breast of the promise ; hence faith is such a wonder- worl^ing grace, and enables a Christian to persevere.
A. 3. If you would hold out to the king- dom, set before your eyes the examples of those noble heroic saints, who have perse- vered to the kingdom. Vivitur exempUs, examples have more influence upon us than precepts. Job xxiii. 11, 12., " My foot hath held his steps." Though the way of reli- gion hath flints and thorns in it, yet my foot hath held his steps ; I have not fainted in the way, nor turned out of the way. Daniel held on his religion, and would not intermit prayer, though he knew the writ- ing was signed against him, and a prayer might cost him his life, Dan. vi. 10. The blessed martyrs persevered to the kingdom through sufferings. Saunders, that holy man, said, " Welcome the cross of Christ ; my Saviour began to me in a bitter cup, and shall I not pledge him ?" Another mar- tyr kissing the stake, said, " I shall not lose my life but cliange it for a better; instead of coals I shall have ])earls." What a spirit of gallantry was in these saints ! Let us . earn constancy from their courage. A sol-
dier, seeing his general fight valiantly, is animated by his example, and hath new spirits put into him.
4. Let us add fervent prayer to God, that he would enable us to hold out to the hea- venly kingdom, Ps. cxix. 117., " Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." Let us not presume on our own strength. When Pe- ter cried to Christ on the water, ' Lord save me !' then Christ took him by the hand. Mat. xiv. 30. ; but when he grew confident of his own strength, then Christ let him fall.