5. And lastly, we read likewise in the Scriptures, of the Earnest of the Spirit ; this is three times mentioned in the Scriptures. E})h. i. 14. " Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption " of the purchased possession." 2 Cor. i. 22. where it is joined with the former privilege of sealing, " Who hath also sealed us, " and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." And again, 2 Cor. V. 5. " He that hath wrouoht us for the self-same thinoc is " God, who hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." The word is a^^aCwi/, originally a Syriac word ; the Greeks are sup- posed to get it from the Phcenician merchants, with whom they traded, and it notes a part paid in hand, to confirm a bargain for the whole. There are two things in an earnest. (1.) It is part of the sum, or inheritance ; if it were a contract for a sum of money, then it was a small part of a greater parcel : if for an inheritance, then the earnest is taking a part of the inheritance, as a twig, or turf, part of the whole. Now the Spirit of God chuses this word on purpose to signify two great things to his people by it :
(1.) That those comforts communicated by the Spirit to believers, are of the same kind with the joys of heaven, though in afar inferior degree. 1 Pet. i. 8. called there, joy unspeakable, and full of glory : And Rom. viii. 23. called there. The fust fruits of the Spirit The first-fruits, and the crop or harv^est, are one in kind ; surely there is something of heaven, as well as hell, tasted by men in this world : hell is begun here in the terrors of some men's conscience?, and heaven also is begun here in the absolution, peace and comfort, of other men's consciences.
(2.) As an earnest is part of the sum or inheritance, so the use and end of it is confirmation and security ; as much as to say, take this in part till the whole be paid ; yea, take it for thy security that the whole shall be paid. Believers have a double pledge, or earnest for heaven, one in the person of Christ, who is entered into that glory for them, John xiv. 2, 3. the other in the joys and comforts of the Spirit, which they feel, and taste in themselves. These are two great securities, and the design of God in giving us these earnests, and foretastes of heaven, are not only to settle our minds but to whet our industry, that we may long the more earnestly, and labour the more dihgently for the full possession. The Lord sees how apt we. are to flag in the pursuit of heavenly glory, and therefore gives his people a taste, an earnest of it, to excite their diligence in the pursuits of it. God deals with his people in this
?, as ^v-ith Israel ; they had been forty years in the wilderness, many sore temptations they had there encountered ; at last they were come upon the very borders of Canaan, but then their hearts began to faint; there were Anakims, giants in the land, poor Israel feared they should not stand before them : but Joshua sends spies into the land, who returning, bring the first-fruits of Canaan to them, whereby they saw what a goodly country it was ; and tlien the fear of the Anakims began to vanish, and a spirit of courage to revive in the people. Thus it is, even with the borderers upon heaven ; though we be near that blessed land of promise, yet our hearts are apt to faint upon a prospect of those great sufferings without us, and those conflicts with corruptions we feel within us : but one taste of the first-fruits of heaven, like those grapes of Eschol, revive our spirits, rouse our zeal, and quicken our piu-suits of blessedness. For these reasons, God will not have all of heaven reserved till we come thither. And now tell me, you that have tasted these first-fruits of the Spirit, (1.) Is there not something of that glorified eye^ in faith, by which the pure in heart do see God in heaven .^ Mat. v. 8. O that eye of faith ! that precious eye ! which comes as near to the glorified eye, as any thing in this im- perfect state can come, 1 Pet. i. 8. " Whom having not seen ye " love, in whom though now ye see him not, yet beheving, ye *' rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.''* (2.) Is there not something of that glorified love to be felt in an inferior degree by the saints in this world .? What else can we make of that transport of the spouse. Cant. ii. 5. " Stay me with flagons, comfort me with *' apples, for I am sick of love K^ It is true, our love to God, in heaven, is much more fen^ent, pure, and constant; yet these high-raised acts of spiritual love have a taste and relish of it. (3.) Is there not something here of that heavenly delight wherewith the glorified delight in God ? As the visions of God are begun on earth, so the heavenly delights are begun here also. Some drops of that delight, are let fall here. Psalm xciv. 19. " In the multitude of " the thoughts I had A\ithin me, thy comforts delight my soul.'* David's heart, it is like, had been full of sorrow and trouble ; a sea of gall and wormwood had overflowed his soul : God lets fall but a drop or two of heavenly dehght, and all is turned into sweetness and comfort. (4.) Is there not something here of that transformation of the soul into the image of God, which is complete in heaven, and a special part of the glory thereof.^ It is said in 1 John iii. 2. " We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."" This is heaven, this is glory, to have the soul moulded into full conformity with God : something thereof is experienced in this world : O that we had more ! 2 Cor. iii. 18. " But we all \\nith '• open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
*' changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by tlie *' Sph-it o( the Lord."" (5.) Is there not something felt here of the lavishing sweetness of God's presence in ordinances and duties, which is a faint shadow, at least, of the joys of his glorious presence in heaven? There is certainly a felt presence of God, a sensible nearness unto God at sometimes and in some duties of religion, wherein his name is as ointment poured forth. Cant i. 3. some- thing that is felt beyond, and above, all the comforts of this world. (6.) In a word, the joys of heaven are unspeakable joys, no words can make known to others what they are. When Paul was caught up into paradise he heard unspeakable words, 2 Con xii. 4. and are there not times, even in this life, wherein the saints do feel that which no words can express ? 1 Pet. i. 8. Rev. ii. 17.
Now if such earnests of the Spirit do follow after believing, if opening the soul to Christ do bring it unto these suburbs of heaven ; who then would not receive Christ into his soul, and such an hea- ven upon earth with him ? And thus I have shewed you what some of those heavenly rarities are with which Christ entertains believers upon earth, the fulness and perfection whereof is reserved for hea- ven, and hereby secured to the opening or believing soul : which was the third thing to be discovered.