162 THE SIXTEENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II 16.
that he would make him as a brazen wall, and had raised a faith and hope in him that he would bear him out in his work ; and so it signifies no more but 'I cannot be deceived.' When you have God's word, and a well-grounded hope, it is not a foolish imagination or vain expecta- tion. God will not deceive a poor creature that trusts in him for neces-^^ary things, such as perseverance and establishment in holiness.
2. He that giveth us hope will give us all things necessary to the thing hoped for ; therefore when God hath called us to the hope of eternal glory by Jesus Christ, we may with the more confidence pray for necessary support and establishment in the way. This argument seemeth to be urged by the apostle: 1 Peter v. 10, 'The God of all grace, who called you to his heavenly glory by Jesus Christ, after ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.' God, that called us to eternal glory, foresav? the difficulties and troubles we should meet with by the way, and therefore provided grace answerable, which we are to sue out by prayer. Surely he that called them to the possession of everlasting blessedness by the Mediator, did not flatter them into a vain hope, as it will prove, if he help us not. Therefore he will assist us in these difficulties, and though he will not exempt us from the conflict, yet he will not deny strength. When we consent to his calling, it is a sure ground to our faith that he that hath called will give us all things necessary to our perseverance ; for his calling, when it is effectual, will not be in vain and to no purpose : 1 Cor. i. 9, ' God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;' 1 Cor. x. 13, 'There hath no temptation taken you but what is common to men : but God is faith- ful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able ; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' The intent of his calling is to bring them to the pos- session of what he hath called them to. If he would at first take us with all our faults, and put us under the hopes of the gospel when we were sinners, he will follow the first grace with continual aids and supports, until he hath perfected his work ; and therefore, when a people are sincere, and willing to run all hazards for Christ, God will not only give them glory at the end of their journey, but bear their expenses by the way ; and therefore we need not be discouraged, and say, How shall we hold out ? God, that hath given such hope as to venture upon the difficulties, will support you under them ; he will add more grace to that grace that we have received.
3. They that have received good hope through grace, have God's nature and promise to rest upon ; liis nature, as he is a gracious God, and his promise, as he is a faithful God.
[1.] His nature, as he is a God merciful and gracious. That former experience doth fully manifest ; he is sufficiently inclined to do us good, and therefore will not fail us in our necessities. He hath ever borne us good-will, never discovered any backwardness to help us, thought of us before the world was, sent his Son to die for us before we were born or had a being in the world, called us when we were unworthy, warned us of our danger when we did not fear it, offered happiness to us when we had no thought of it ; and lest we should turn our backs upon it, followed us with an earnest and incessant im-
2 ThES. II. 16.] THE SIXTEENTH SERMON. 1G3
portunity, till we came to anxious thoughts about Christ, and began to make it our business to seek after it ; by the secret drawings of his Spirit, inclined us to choose him for our portion, and to rejoice in the hopes offered. How many contradictions and strugglings of heart were we conscious to ere we were brought to this ! Ever since he hath been tender of us in the whole conduct of his providence; aflflicted us when we needed it, delivered us when we were ready to sink ; hath pardoned our failings, visited us in ordinances, supported us in doubts, helped us in temptations, and is still mindful of us at every turn, as if he would not lose us ; and shall not we hope in him to the last ? We may reason as they, Judges xiii. 23, ' If the Lord had a mind to destroy us, he would not have received a sacrifice at our hands.' And so if God had no mind to save us, he would not use such methods of grace about us.
[2.] His promise, so that we must trust his faithfulness, after we come under the hopes of the gospel. There are two great promises to sup- port us : his presence with us in the midst of our afflictions, and our being ever present with the Lord in eternal glory. This is that we have hope of; all the difficulty is, how far God hath promised his presence with us. Certainly he hath promised it : Ps. xci. 15, ' I will be with them in troubles ;' and again, ' I will be with them in fire and water.' And again, certain it is, that God is most with his afflicted people, as the mother keepeth most with the sick child, or the blood runneth to comfort the wounded part. And again, thathe will never leave us to unsupportable difficulties : Heb. xiii. 5, ' I \yill never leave you, nor forsake you ;' a negative gradation. And besides, there is a general promise, though the particulars be not absolutely made certain to us ; namely, that ' all shall work together for good,' Kom. viii. 28. That giveth us but a probability of health, and outward protection, and deliverance, of a ready support in every temptation, because we are uncertain how far they are for our good ; but for necessary grace to our preservation, there is express provision in the covenant : Jer. xxxii. 40, ' I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good,' &c.