[2.] As God is invincible in his power, so he is unchangeable in the purposes of love ; for, according to his unchangeable nature, ' whom he loveth, he loveth to the end.' His new-covenant gifts are ' without repentance,' Eom. xi. 29. The matter is made sure between God and Ciirist : John vi. 39, ' This is my Father's will, that of all that are given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.' They are given him by way of recompense, and by way of charge ; if he take them into his custody and charge he will be faithful ; for he is to give an account for them at the last day by head and poll : Heb. ii. 13, ' Behold land the children which God hath given me.' Christ hath a special charge to keep all those safe whom God hath given liim ; and surely he hath sufficient power, and will be careful of his charge to keep them safe.
2. On the believer's jiart.
[1.] His relation to Christ : he is united to Christ, married to him in the covenant: 1 Cor. vi. 17, 'He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.' Impossibilc est Tnassam a pasta separari — leaven kneaded into the dough cannot be got out. Certainly it is a great means of our preservation. Why ? First, Partly because from this union of Clirist with believers there floweth life, which is not, like the animal life, obnoxious to death and corruption ; it is airepfia fxhov, 1 John iii. 9 ; 'an incorruptible seed,' 1 Peter i. 23 ; 'a fountain of living waters always springing up to eternal life,' John iv. 14, Secondly, From this life resultetli a double inclination, which serveth to preserve it and keep it up ; which is — (1.) A careful avoiding of what is contrary to it; none more tender and timorous of their own infirmities than they who are endowed witii it, Prov. xxviii. 14, more watchful against occa- sions of revolting : 1 Cor. x. 12, ' Therefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.' More diligent in using sanctified means of confirmation : 1 John v. 18, ' He that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that evil one toucheth him not.' They are chary of that life they have, and those hopes they are called unto : 1 Cor. ix. 27, ' But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when I have preaclied to others, I myself should be a cast- away.' This being tlieir disposition, the Lord by it fulfiUeth the pur- poses of his grace. (2.) A desire to maintain, promote, and increase this life by the use of all gospel means : 1 Peter ii. 2, ' As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby ; ' and James i. 18, 19, ' Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved, let every man be swift to hear.' (3.) The new nature is thus acting as under tlie care and protection of God, and most especially when we are most in danger to miscarry : Ps. xciv. 18, ' I said. My foot slippeth ; then thy right hand held me up;' so Ps. Ixxiii. 23, ' Nevertheless, I am continually with thee : thou hast holden me by
Vers. 36, 37.] sermons upon Romans viii. 399
thy right hand.' When was that ? See ver. 2, ' But as for me, my feet were almost gone ; my steps had well-nigh slipped.' God supports us by his grace when the temptation is apt to make too great a shock and impression upon us.
[2.] There is something more on the believer's part ; there are two graces which have a great influence upon our adherence to God, faith and love.
(1.) Faith hath a great influence upon our victory : 1 John v. 4, 5, ' For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world ; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ? ' For though God keepeth us, yet he keepeth us by our faith : 1 Peter i. 5, ' And are kept by the power of God through faith to sal- vation.' The love and power of the principal cause doth not exclude the means of our preservation. When we consider our great trials, we are apt to apprehend much matter of fear and uncertainty. As heaven is kept for us, so are we kept for heaven, that we may not be lost in the way thither. But how are we kept ? By the power of God as the principal agent, through faith, depending upon his promises both for assistance and pardon ; for it is a firm, cordial believing that Jesus is the Son of God, and so the great lawgiver of the church, and the fountain of grace to all his people. As a lawgiver, so we make conscience of his precepts, because his threats and promises are greater than all the terrors and allurements of sense. We can set hell against all the terrors of the world, and heaven against all the delightful things of the world, and so are not greatly moved with what befalleth us here. Faith layeth these things before the soul, as if they were before our eyes. Yea more, here is a prison, there is hell, Domine imperator, tu carcerem, ille Gehennam; here torments for the body, there God is ready to cast an unfaithful, fearful christian, both body and soul, into hell fire : here is pomp of living, contentments for the flesh ; there are pleasures at God's right hand for evermore : here is worldly glory ; there the glory, honour, and immortality of the other world, Eom. ii. 7 : here is escape from present torments, there is a better resurrection, Heb. xi. 35. All this belongeth to Christ as a lawgiver. But as he is the fountain of spiritual life and grace, so we receive Christ that he may live in us, and we in him ; and so are forti- fied against inward weakness, and look upon Christ as able to defend us, and to maintain us in the midst of temptations. We have a weak nature ; our God is unseen ; our great hopes are to come ; the flesh is importunate to be pleased, loth to hold out against so many trials. But look to Jesus, the captain of our salvation, and the fountain of our life ; we are encouraged, and receive supplies from him : Phil. iv. 13, ' I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.' The Lord enableth us to abound, or to be abased ; to undergo any con- dition, so we may discharge our duty to Christ. He strengtheneth our staggering resolution, and helpeth us to be strong in the power of his might for all encounters, Eph. vi. 10. Thus you see how faith helpeth us.