Use 2. Is to press you to lay up this truth in your hearts ; for it is the ground and foundation of all religion.
1. This is the ground of close adherence to God, when we cease from man, and cleave to God alone ; then you live as those that from their hearts do believe that there is a God, and that he is a ' rewarder of those that diligently seek him,' Heb. xi. 6, which are the fundamental principles which^are at the bottom of all christian practice ; and the more you live upon them, the more cause you will see to stick to God, and please God rather than man. They that trust in him, and do stand or fall to him alone, they are the best christians ; you so far withdraw yourselves from God as you look to man. If once man get the pre-eminence of God, and be set above him in your hearts ; that is, be loved, trusted, obeyed before God, so far your hearts grow dead to God, and religion presently withereth and decayeth : Prov. xxix. 2.5, ' The fear of man bringeth a snare, but he that trusteth in God shall be safe.' The soul that cannot entirely trust God, whether man be pleased or displeased, can never long be true to him ; for while you are eyeing man, you are losing God, and stabbing religion at the very heart.
2. This keepeth us from shifting and helping ourselves by unlawful means : Gen. xvii. 1, ' I am God all-sufficient, walk before me, and be thou upright.' Were we soundly persuaded that his power is above all power, and his wisdom above all wisdom, and his goodness and fidelity invincible, it would save us from many sinful miscarriages and unlawful means that we take for our own preservation. We often lose ourselves by seeking to save ourselves without God, and because we cannot depend upon his all-sufficiency. Well then, since it hath such an universal influence upon all our conversations, we should get it rooted and settled in our hearts, that we may not be tossed up and down with the various occurrences of this life ; God is our happiness, and not the creature.
3. This filleth us with courage and magnanimity in the most des-
336 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XLIL
perate cases : Dan. iii. 17, 18, ' 0 Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter; our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace ; but if not, we will not serve thy god, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.' This is true fortitude, to look to God alone ; he will deliver from death, or by death ; he can save us from trouble ; or if not, he will hasten our glory. Yet we must resolve to stick close to him, however he determine the event.
4. This maketh us live quietly from cares and fears, when we can commit and submit all to God : Phil. iv. 6, 7, ' Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.' It is a blessed frame, questionless, to be care- ful for nothing. This is to be had by ceasing from man, and trusting in the Lord, who hath the government and disposal of all things.
Directions—
1, Let the will of God be your sure rule. For God must institute that religion which you expect he should accept and reward. None trust in the Lord but those that keep his way : Ps. xxxvii. 34, ' Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land.'
2. Let the favour of God be your happiness. Be quieted in his accep- tance, whether man be pleased or displeased : 2 Cor. v. 9, ' Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.' Let God be enough to you, without and against man.
SERMON XLIL
He that spared not his own son, hit delivered htm tip for us aU, how shall he not luithhim also freely give us all things? — Rom. viii. 32.
The apostle had been speaking of God's eternal decree, which is his hidden love ; now he speaketh of redemption by Christ, which is his open and declared love. In predestination his love was conceived in his own heart ; in redemption it is manifested in the effects and com- mended to us : that was the rise, this the visible demonstration. In the former verse the apostle reasoned a causa ; here is argumentum a signo. Once more : the former question is a comfort against that trouble which may arise ex prcesentia mali, this against our trouble which may arise ex absentia honi. The covenant-notions by which God is ex- pressed are two, suitable to the two sorts of blessings we have by him, positive and privative ; that he is a sun and a shield : Ps. Ixxxiv. 11 ; and Gen. xv. 1, ' Fear not, Abraham, I am thy shield, and thy exceed- ing great reward.' Do you fear evil ? God is our shield ; and ' if God be with us, who can be against us ? ' that is, so as to procure our utter and eternal ruin. Do you want good ? God is our sun, and our exceeding great reward. There is blessing enough to be had in