(5.) Fifthly, Love is another of those singular things that accom- panies salvation. 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto them also that love hia appearing.'^ James ii. 5, ' Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the king- dom, which he hath promised to them that love him ?' 1 Cor. ii. 9, ' It is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' James i. 12, 'Blessed is the man thatendureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive a crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.' Mat. xix. 28, ' And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.' The whole is as if Christ had said, Whosoever shall shew love to me, this way or that, in one thing or another, out of respect to my name, to my honour, mercy shall be his portion here, and glory shall be his portion hereafter.*
1 Mark xvi. 16 ; Acts xvi. 81 ; Eom. x. 9 ; Isa. xlv. 22 ; Philip, ii. 8 ; John.xj. 25, 26 ; 1 John V. 10. All these and many more scriptures speak out the same truth. This double asseveration or protestation is used only in matters of weight ; and unhappy are we that we cannot believe without them.
* The very word repent was very displeasing to Luther till his conversion, but after- ward he took delight in the work, Pcenitcns depcccato dolet et de dolore gandt, to sorrow for his sin, and then rejoice in his sorrow. Vide B. Down, of Justification, lib. vii. cap. 7. [That is, George Downaine, Bishop of Derry : Treatise of Justification, 1623. — G.]
3 Dcus nihil coronal nisi dona sua. — Augustine. When God crowneth us, he doth but crown his own gifts in us.
* The word crotvn notes to us, (1.) the perpetuity of that life the apostle speaks of, for a crown hath neither beginning nor ending ; (2.) it notes plenty ; the crown fetches a compass on every side ; (3.) it notes dignity ; (4.) it notes majesty. Eternal lifo is a
Rom. VIII. 32-34.] heaven on earth. 433
(6.) Sixthly, Prayer is another of those sweet things that accom- panies salvation. Rom. x. 10, 13, ' For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Acts iL 21, *And it shall come to pass, that whovsoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' That is, saith one, he shall be certainly sealed up to salvation. Or a.s another saith. He that hath this grace of prayer, it is an evident sign and assurance to him, that he shall be saved. Therefore to have grace to pray, is a better and a greater mercy than to have gifts to prophesy. Mat. vii. 22. Praying souls shall find the gates of heaven open to them, when prophesying souls shall find them shut against them.
(7.) Seventhly and lastly, 'perseverance is another of those prime things that accompanies salvation. Mat. x. 22, * And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake, but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." Chap. xxiv. 12, 13, 'And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold ; but he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved.' Rev. ii. 10, ' Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer ; behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto the death, and I willgivethee a crown of life.' Chap. ilL 5, ' He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will con- fess his name before my Father, and before his angels. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.'*
Thus you see these seven choice things that accompany salvation. But for your further and fuller edification, satisfaction, confirmation, and consolation, it will be very necessary that I shew you,
(1.) What knowledge that is that accompanies salvation, that borders, that touches upon salvation.
(2.) What faith that is that accompanies salvation.
(3.) What repentance that is that accompanies salvation.
(4.) What obedience that is that accompanies salvation.
(5.) What love that is that accompanies salvation.
(6.) What prayer that is that accompanies salvation.
(7.) What perseverance that is that accompanies salvation.
I hope when I have fully opened these precious things to you, that you will be able to sit down much satisfied and cheered in a holy con- fidence and blessed assurance of your everlasting well-being.
I shall begin with the first, and shew you what that knowledge is that accompanies salvation, that comprehends salvation, that touches upon salvation ; and that I shall open in these following particulars :
(1.) The first property. That knowledge that accompanies salvation is a working knowledge, an operative knowledge : 2 Cor. iv. 6, ' God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our
coronation day ; it notes all joys, all delights ; in a word, it notes all good, it notes all glory.
^ The same words you have in Mark xiii. 13.
* A| crown without cares, fears, co-rivals, envy, end. God turns the crown of thorns into a crown of glory : Pericula non respicit rr.artyr, coronat respicit. — Basil.
434- HEAVEN ON EARTH. [RoM. VIII. 32-34;