3. They are precious promises, worthy of our esteem ; for they are not about things that we have nothing to do with, but such wherein we are deeply and intimately concerned. In God's promises there is due provision made for the desires, necessities, and wants of mankind. Let me instance in pardon and life, the first inviting benefits. Acts XXVI. 18. Pardon answereth the fears, and life those desires of happi- ne.=:s which are so natural to us.
[1.] The consciousness of sin, and the fear of God's wrath and dis.-
220 Tnt: fourth seumon. [2 Ptx. I. 4.
pleasure, should make offers of pardon acceptable to us. The great hcruple of the ^niilty creature is liow sin shall be expiated and God ap])eased. ]\Iicah vi.' G, 7. We fear jninishment from a holy and just God, and cannot get rid of bondage till sin be forgiven. The justice vi the supreme governor of the world will be ever dreadful to us. The «:ospel serveth for this use, to give us the knowledge of salvation by the ri'mission of sins, Luke i. 77.
[2. J The other great privilege is eternal life. Corrupt nature is not against tiie offers of felicity. There was never a creature heard of that would not be happy, for there was never a creature but loved him- self. Therefore what more powerful inducement to bring us into the way of holiness than this blessed hope set before us, that we may see God, and live for ever? Titus ii. 12, 13. It is true, we are greatly enchanted with false happiness, but shall not such an offer be precious to us ? John vi. 34, ' Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.'
4. All this is given to us wretched men without any desert of ours; nay, we had deserved the contrary. Without our asking or thinking, the covenant was fiamed and modelled to our hands, and in the frame and contexture of it we may see a constant strain of covenant grace, in the richness of the benefits, the graciousness of the donor, the seasonableness of the offer, the readiness of the help, when once we set ourselves to seek after God, and please and serve him ; and, lastly, in the sureness of the reward, notwithstanding frailties and imperfections.
III. The influence of the one uj)on the other ; or, how do these promises ])romote the divine nature ?
1. From their drift, which is, to draw us from the creature to God, and the world to heaven ; to mortify the esteem of the false happiness which taiuteth and corrupteth our natures ; and to raise us to those noble t)bjects and ends which dignify and adorn the soul, and make it in a sort divine. It breedeth an excellent spirit in us, which is carried above the woild, and the hopes and fears of it, 1 Cor. ii. 12. Alas ! what a mean spirit have they that drive no higher trade than providing for the flesh, or accommodating a life which must shortly expire ! Like foolish birds who, with great art and contrivance, feather a nest, which within a little while they leave. But how divine and god-like are they who look to higher things, to please God, enjoy communion with him, and live with him for ever 1
2. The matter of the promises. Many of which concern the change of our hearts, the cleansing or healing of our natures : Heb. viii, 10, * I will put my laws in their minds, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people ;' Ezek. xxxvi. 2"), 2lj, ' Then will I sj)rinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean ; from all your tilthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will ] give you, and a new s})irit will I put within you ; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh ; ' Jer. xxxiii. 8, ' And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity,' All which are cncom-agements of ])rayer to God for this benefit. If God doth not exclude us, we bhould not exclude ourselves.
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3. Tlie conditions or terms on which our ri^jht is suspended. Not pardon without repentance : Acts iii. 19, ' Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins might be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall ^ome from the presence of the Lord ; Acts ii. 38, 39, ' Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,' &c. Not heaven or eternal life without holiness : Heb. xii. 14, ' Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord ; ' ' Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,' Mat. v. 8.
4. The power with which the promises are accompanied : 2 Peter i. 3, ' According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.' He gives us life temporal and spiritual, and that immutable life of felicity hereafter. The divine nature is communicated to us by virtue of the promises ; for the Spirit is our sanctifier, and he works by congruous means.