176 THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 17.
'Well, but the flesh is not only enticing, but troublesome and grievous to the saints ; witness Paul's groans : Rom. vii. 24, ' 0 wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this death ?' We are quite wearied and tired out with the importunity of its motions ; we would serve God more purely and perfectly. Then there is work for the Comforter, and confidence in his operations to help the faithful soul : Phil. i. 6, ' Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ.' Then it is seasonable to remember the covenant we are under : Horn. vi. 14, ' For sin shall not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under the law, but under grace.' The serious, striving soul will not be left destitute. Thus must we expect comfort.
Use 5. Eemember that comfort hath a latitude in it, and is ex- pressed by divers words.
i; Sometimes by it support is implied, when the sense of sin and fear of God's wrath is not altogether removed and taken away, but so mitigated and abated, that hope doth more easily prevail in the soul than fear ; and we resolve to wait on God, though we cannot so fully clear up our interest in him. You have many conflicts and fears, yet some hope and expectation towards God : Jonah ii. 4, 5, ' I am cast out of thy sight, yet will I look again to thy holy temple.' Resolute adherence giveth great support : Job xiii. 15, ' Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him ; I will maintain my own ways before him/ He dependeth merely on the covenant.
2. Peace,' or some rest from troubles and accusations of conscience. There is some calm and quiet of soul : Rom. v. 1, ' Being justified by faith, we have peace with God ; ' Gal. vi. IG, 'As many as walk ac- cording to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy.' Assaulted with none or light fears : John xvi, 33, ' In me ye shall have peace.' I will give you peace, though not full spiritual suavities.
3. The third word is joy : 1 Peter i. 8, ' Ye rejoice with joy unspeak- able, and full of glory.' In peace all things are quiet, they have no anxious thoughts ; but in joy there is a sensible motion of pleasure and delight. Tliey are feasted with the pleasures of faith, love, and hope. Let us then bless God for any degree of comfort.
SERMON XVIII.
And siaUish you in every good word and work. — 2 Thes. II. 17.
We come now to the apostle's second request for them : * And stablish you in every good word and work.' By ' every good word ' is meant sound doctrine ; by 'every good work,' holiness of life.
Doct. Establishment in faith and holiness is a needful blessing, and earnestly to be sought of God.
1. What this establishment is.
2. How needful
3. Why it is to be sought of God.
2 ThES. II. 17.] THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON. 177
I. What this establishment is? Ans. Confirmation in the grace that we have received. Now this confirmation must be distinguished.
1. With respect to the power wherewith we are assisted ; there is habitual confirmation, and actual confirmation.
[1.] The habitual confirmation is when the habits of grace are more settled and increased: 1 Peter v. 10, 'The God of all grace strengthen, stablish, settle you.' God hath effectually called and con- verted them, and he beggeth the strengthening of the grace which they had received. Now thus we are established, when faith, love and hope are increased in us ; for these are the principles of all spirit- ual operations ; and when they have gotten good strength in us, a Christian is more established. (1.) Faith is necessary, for we stand by faith : Eom. xi. 20, ' Because of unbelief they were broken off, but thou standest by faith.' We do not only live by it, but stand by it, and are kept by it : 1 Peter i. 5, ' Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.' He is strong that is strong in faith, as Abraham was, that believeth the gospel, and can venture his all upon it, and trust himself in God's hands, whatever befalleth him : Luke xxii. 32, ' I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.' That was the grace likely to be assaulted, and would most keep him; had he been persuaded that Jesus was the Son of God, would he have denied him with oaths and execrations ? (2.) Love is strong. We are told, Cant. viii. 6, 7, ' That love is as strong as death ; many waters cannot quench it : if a man would give all the substance of his house, it would utterly be con- temned.' It will not be bribed or quenched. Our backsliding cometli from losing our complacency in or desire of God : there is an averse- ness from sin and zeal against it ; as long as we have a sense of our obligations to God, and a value and esteem of his grace in Christ, then we continue in delightful obedience to him, and level and direct our actions to his glory. (3.) Hope is necessary to stablish the soul on the promise of eternal life ; for this is the sure and stedfast anchor of the soul : Heb vi. 19, ' Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast.' If hope be strong and lively, present things do not greatly move us.