greater credibility in these visions and apparitions than what is commonly offered in the scriptures. Why ? how cometh the believer to have such a prospect into an unknown world, to be so sure and certain? I answer, partly by the intei-nal grace of God's Spirit opening the eyes of his mind to see the truth and worth of things to come, Eph. i. 17, IS ; and partly by the promise of God in his word, confirmed by his oath, and that giveth la'^^ypav TrapaKXTjaiv, Heb. vi. 17, 18, strong consolation; and the seal of miracles, Heb. iii. 4; and fulfilled prophecies, 2 Peter i. 19, with 16, 17, 18. The Old Testa- ment foretold the kingdom of the Messiah, and the privileges thereof, long before it came to pass. A transient voice is more easily mistaken and forgotten than a standing authentic record (as Samuel thought Eli spake, when the Lord first revealed his word imto him), and so l offereth a more sure ground for our faith to rest upon than a voice from heaven could be. Besides, this word of promise beareth God's image and superscription, as everything doth which hath passed his Land, even to a gnat and pile of grass, and so shineth to us by its own light, if man were not strangely depraved and corrupted by vile affec- tions : 2 Cor. iv. 2-4, ' By the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience. For if our gospel be hid, it is hid to those that are lost, in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. The truth of itself commandeth its own respect ; if men were not strangely per- verted and infatuated, they would see it. Cure the faculty, and the object is clear enough, and would evidence itself, as the sun is seen by its own light. Besides, this offer of pardon and life by Christ hath been blessed by God to the conversion of many souls, in all places, and throughout all succession of ages: Col. i. 6, 'The word is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it and knew the grace of God in truth.' That word which bringeth forth the fruits of a holy life in all those that heard of it and received it, is the very truth of God : John xvii. 17, ' Sanctify them through thy truth ; thy word is truth.' In the first age Christ did swiftly diive on the chariot of the gospel ; for within a few years after his death, in all the parts of the world it obtained its effect, and since, it hath held up its head against all enconters of time ; and therefore we may safely venture our eternal interests on this bottom, and build upon the promise of eternal life given us by Christ. Besides, God hath given the Spirit, which is God's earnest, sealing us up to the day of final redemption, 2 Cor. i. 22, and 2 Cor. v. 5, and Eph. i. 13, 14. Now, the Spirit first con- firmeth the scripture, before it confirmeth our particular interest; and its joys being disjiensed to the most holy men, in their most sober and severest moods, cannot be a phantastical impression, but doth con- vince us of the reality and excellency of the unseen glory. And therefore upon all these grounds a believer is confident. We know there is a blessed state reserved in the heavens for all that believe in Christ and love God. We do not build upon the promise of a deceitful man, but upon the word of the everliving God , and 1 The ineaniDg evidently is tliat tlie record ofi'eretii, &c. — Ed.
436 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. II.
hence ariseth the strength of our comfort. Our interest is a thing rather supposed than apparently asserted and pleaded in scripture ; and if men did not leap into faith by the advantage of their baptism and education, rather than take it up upon solid and certain evidence, there would not be such ado about it. As fire well kindled of itself bursts out into a flame ; so if we did believe these things more firmly, our joy would soon be full : 1 John i. 4, ' These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.' As if the certainty of religion well apprehended would soon make way for joy, and full joy.
2. The certainty of the person. We know that we have a present right, and shall have a future possession. The certainty of the thing itself dependeth upon the promise of God, who is able to give it, and hath decreed so to do, and to that end hath signified his purpose, and confirmed his promise by an oath ; yet because the promise requireth a qualification and performance of duty in the person to whom the promise is made, therefore, before we can be certain of our own interest, we must not only perform the duty and have tlie qualification, but we must certainly know that we have done that whicli the promise requireth, and are duly qualified, and then our title to heaven is incomparably more sure than any man's title to his possessions, and inheritance here upon earth. Therefore,