First, Of his crown of righteousness : 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shaU give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.' It is a metaphor, say several, [Estius, Scultetus, &c.,] from the custom in war, who used to crown the conquerors with honour, &c. It is a similitude taken from fighters or combatants, who for a prize received a crown when they had con- tended lawfully. The reward of eternal life here is called ' a crown of righteousness,' (1.) Because it is purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ, By his perfect and complete righteousness and obedience, dear Jesus hath merited this for us, and so in Christ it is due to us by way of merit, though in respect of us it is of mere grace, of rich grace, of sovereign grace, of infinite grace, of glorious grace. (2.) Because he is righteous that hath promised this crown. Though every pro- mise that God makes is of free and rich grace, yet when once they are made, the truth and justice of God obligeth him to keep touch with his people ; for as he cannot deny himself, so he cannot do anything unworthy of himself, Kev. ii. 10, and iii. 21 ; 1 John ii. 25 ; 2 Thes. i. 5-7, 10. Men say and unsay, they promise one thing and mean another. Men many times eat their words as soon as they have spoken them ; but thus God can never, thus God will never, do. God can never repent of his promises ; he can never waver, he can never go back from his word : ' God is not a man, that he should lie ; neither the son of man, that he should repent : hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?' Num. xxiii. 19. All the promises that refer to this life and a better are sure, firm, faithful, unchangeable, immutable. All the promises are the word of a God, and given upon the honour of a God, that they shall be made good. 0 my friends, the all-sufficiency of God, the omniscience of God, the omnipotency of God, the loving-kindness and faithfulness of
516 THE SIGNAL PRESENCE OF GOD
God, yea, and the oath of God, may fully, yea, abundantly, satisfy us, and secure us, that God will certainly make good all his precious pro- mises to us.^ We commonly say, when an honest man passeth his word for a little money. Oh, it is as sure as if it were in our purse ; but God's word of promise is abundantly more sure, for as his nature is eternal, so his word of promise is unchangeable. The promises are a firm foundation to build om* hopes and happiness upon ; they are an anchor both sure and steadfast, Hal), ii. 3 ; Jer, xxxii. 41 ; Ps. Ixxxix. 34. Memorable is that saying of David, Ps. cxxxviii. 2, ' For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name ;' which words are to be understood, as David Kimchi saith, hysteron proteron, that thou hast by thy wordj that is, by performing thy word and promises, mag- nified thy name above all things. (3.) Because it is a just and right- eous thing with God to crown them with glory at last, who have been crowned with shame, reproach, and dishonour for his -name and interest in this world ; so that eternal life is a crown of righteousness, ex parte Dei, God hath promised it to such as overcome ; and, ex parte rei, it is just with God to give unto his suffering servants rest and peace. (4.) Because it is given only to righteous men. All that wear this crown come to it in a way of righteousness. A righteous crown cannot be had but in the use of righteous means. The Chaldean, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Koman princes commonly gained their crowns by fraud, flattery, policy, blood, &c. ; so that their crowns were bloody crowns, and not righteous crowns. (6.) And lastly, the apostle calls it ' a crown of righteousness, which the righteous judge shall give him,' the more fitly to follow the metaphor taken from runners and wrestlers for prizes at their solemn exercises or games in Greece, in which there were certain judges appointed to observe those that proved masters, and gave just sentence on the conqueror's side, if he strove lawfully, and fairly won the prize. Now this crown is 'laid up;' the Greek word aTTOKeirai imports two things: (1.) A designation of that which is laid up to some peculiar person; (2.) A reservation and safe keep- ing of it, to the use of those it is designed to. Earthly crowns have been often pulled off from princes' heads, but this crown of righteous- ness is so safely laid up, that none can reach it, none can touch it, none can pull it from a believer's head. Xerxes crowned his steersman in the morning, and beheaded him in the evening of the same day. And Andronicus the Greek emperor crowned his admiral in the morning, and then took off his head in the afternoon. Kofi'ensis had a cardinal's hat sent him, but his head was cut off before it came to him. ' Doth the crown,' saith Solomon, 'endure to every generation?' Prov. xxvii. 24. It is a question which implieth a strong negation : oh, no ! there is nothing more uncertain than earthly crowns. Henry the Sixth was honoured with the crowns of two kingdoms, France and England ; the first was lost by the faction of his nobles, the other was twice pulled from his head. Princes' crowns are withering things. Earthly crowns may be soon put on, and as soon be pulled off. Most princes' crowns do but hang on one side of their heads. All the powers on earth, and all the devils in hell, can never reach this croAvn of righteousness.
^ Promissa hscc tua sunt, Domine, saith Austin, et quis falli timet, cum promittit ipsa Veritas ?
WITH HIS PEOPLE IN THEIK GREATEST TROUBLES. 517
Though wicked men have long reaches, yet they can never reach a believer 8 crown, which is his joy and comfort in the midst of all his sorrows and sufferings. Thus Basil speaketh of some martyrs that were cast out all night naked in a bitter cold frosty season, and were to be burned the next day, how they comforted themselves in this manner : ' The winter is sharp, but paradise is sweet ; here we shiver for cold, but the bosom of Abraham will make amends for all.' i The philosopher could say to the tyrant's face : You may kill me, but you cannot hurt me ; you may take away my head, but you cannot take away my crown. 0 Christians ! let this be your joy and triumph, that the crown of righteousness is laid up safe for you ; no tyrant's arm is long enough to reach that crown. But,