If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted, according to what a man hath, saith the apostle, 2 Cor. viii. 12. The eye of God is first and mainly upon the will ; if that be sincere and right for God, small things will be accepted ; and if not, the greatest shall be abhorred. So 1 Cor. ix. 17. If I do this thing (i. e. preach the gospel) willingly, I have a reward ; but if against my will, a dispensation is committed to me, q. d. If I upon pure principles of faith and love, from my heart, designing the glory of God, and delighting to promote it by my ministry, do cheerfully and willing- ly applv myself to the preaching of the gospel, I shall have ac- ceptance and reward with God; but if my work be a burden* to me, and the service of God esteemed as a bondage, why then pro- vidence may use me for the dispensing of the gospel to others, but I myself shall lose both reward and comfort. As it doth not ex- cuse my sin, that God can bring glory to himself out of it ; so
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neither doth it justify an action that God hath praise and honour accidentally by it. Paul knew that even the strife and envy in which some preached Christ, should turn to his salvation; and yet he was not at all beholden to them for promoting his salvation that way. So Pilate here promotes the honour of Jesus Christ to whom he had no love, and whose glory he did not at all design in this thing ; and therefore hath neither acceptance nor reward with God.
O therefore, whatever you do for Christ, do it heartily, design- edly, for his glory : of a ready and willing mind ; with pure and sincere aims at his glory ; for this is that the Lord more respects, than the greatest services by accident.
Inf. 8. Would not Pilate recede from what he had written on Christ's behalf? How shameful a thing is it for Christians to re- tract what they have said or done on Chris fs behalf '? When Pilate had asserted him to be king of the Jews, he maintained his asser- tion, and all the importunity of Christ's enemies shall not move him an hairs breadth from it. " What I have written, I have " written,1' q. d. I have said it, and I will not revoke it. Did Pilate say, " What I have written, I have written :" and shall not we sav, What we have believed, we have believed : and what we have professed, we have professed ? "What we have engaged to Christ, we have engaged. We will stand to what we have done for him : we will never recant our former ownings of and appear- ances for Christ.
As God's election, so your profession must be irrevocable. O let him that is holy be holy still. That counsel given by a reverend divine in this case, is both safe and good. " Be sure, (saith he) c- you stand on good ground, and then resolve to stand your " ground against all the world. Follow God, and fear not men. " Art thou godly ! repent not whatsoever thy religion cost thee. " Let sinners repent, but let not saints repent. Let saints repent of " their faults, but not of their faith : of their iniquities, but not " of their righteousness. Repent not of your righteousness, lest " you afterward repent of your repentance. — Repent not of your " zeal, or your forwardness, or activity in the holy ways of the " Lord. — Wish not yourselves a step farther back, or a cubit " lower in your stature, in the grace of God. Wish not any " thing undone, concerning which God will say, Well done."
In Galen's time it was a proverbial expression, when any one would shew the impossibility of a thing ; you may as soon turn a Christian from Christ as do it.
A true heart-choice of Christ is without reserves, and what is without reserves, -will be without repentance. There is a stiffness and stoutness of spirit which is our sin. But. this is our glory, in Vol. I. Y
340 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XXVII.
the matters of God, saith Luther, I assume this title, Cedo nulli9 " I yield to none :" If ye be hot and cold, off and on ; profess, and retract your profession. He that condemned Christ with his lips, will condemn you by his example. Resolute Pilate shall be your judge.
Inf. 4. Did Pilate affix such an honourable, vindicating title to the cross? Then the cross of Christ is a dignified cross. Then the cross and sufferings of Christ are attended with glory and honour. Remember when your hearts begin to startle at the sufferings and reproaches of Christ, there is an honourable title upon the cross of Christ. And as it was upon his, so it will be upon your cross also, if ye suffer for Christ. Moses saw it, which made him esteem the very reproaches of Christ, above all the treasures of Egypt, Heb. xi. 26. How did the maryrs glory in their sufferings for Christ ! calling their chains of iron, chains of gold ; and their manacles, bracelets. \
I remember it is storied of * Ludovicus Marsacus, a knight of France, that when he, with divers other Christians of an inferior rank and degree in the world, were condemned to die for religion, and the goaler had bound them with chains, but did not bind him, being a more honourable person than the rest: he was offended greatly by that omission, and said, " Why do not you honour me " with a chain for Christ also, and create me a knight of that il- " lustrious order ?"
" To you (saith the apostle) it is given in the behalf of Christ, " not only to believe, but also to suffer for his sake," Phil. i. 29. There is a two-fold honour attending the cross of Christ ; one in the very sufferings themselves ; another, as the reward and fruit of them. To be called out to suffer for Christ, is a great honour. Yea, an honour peculiar to the saints. The damned suffer from Christ, the wicked suffer for their sins. The angels glorify Christ by their active but not by their passive obedience. This is reserved as a special honour for saints.
And as there is a great deal of honour in being called forth to suffer on Christ's account; so Christ will confer special honour upon his suffering saints, in the day of their reward, Mat. x. 32. " He that confesses me before men, him will I confess also before " my Father which is in heaven." O Sirs, one of these days the Lord will break out of heaven, with a shout, accompanied with myriads of angels, and ten thousands of his saints, those glittering courtiers of heaven. The heavens and earth shall flame and melt before him ; and it shall be very tempestuous round about him ;
* Cur me non quoque torque donas, ct illustris illius ordhus militem non crcas ? Thuan. Hist.
SERAI. XXVII. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 341