2. There is another hope, which cometh after much exercise in godliness, which requireth a great diligence, sobriety, and watchful- ness before we can have it : 1 Peter i. 13, and Heb. vi. 11, ' We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end.' The first hope may be accompanied with some doubts of our salvation, or the rewards of godliness, ex -parte nostri, as it belongeth to us, not ex parte Dei, as promised by him. For this hope apprehendeth all there as sure and steadfast, but our own qualifi- cation is not so evident. In short, the conditional hope is absolutely necessary in all christians ; the latter is very desirable, that we should have an assurance on our part of the thing hoped for, but that always cannot be. Now hope showeth itself both by looking and longing.
[1.] Looking. Hope is often described by that act : Jude 21, ' Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life ; ' so Tit. ii. .13, ' Looking for the blessed hope ;' and in many other places. 'AiroKapaSoKia t?]? KTLaea)^, stretching out the head, Eom. viii. 19, as Sisera's mother and her ladies looked through the lattice. We should dwell more upon the thoughts of the world to come, and live in the constant expectation of it. The vigour of the spiritual life is abated as this act is abated ; for when our thoughts of heaven grow cold, heartless, raw, and unfrequcnt, we grow remiss in our duty.
[2] Longing. Can a man believe blessedness to come and not long to enjoy it, have a house above and not come at it, desiring to be at home ? The saints are groaning, longing for it, Eom. viii. 23 ;
2 Cor. V. 2-5. Mind and heart are both set a-work by hope; a taste will make us long for more.
Thirdly, Prepare and diligently seek after it in the way of holiness.
VeR. 1.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 449
A christian's life is a continual pursuit or seeking after eternal happi- ness : Heb. xii. 14, ' Follow peace with all men, and holiness, with- out which no man shall see the Lord ;' Col. iii. 1, ' If ye he risen with Christ, seek the things which are above ;' Mat. vi. 33, ' Seek first/ &c. This is his work and his business. His whole life is a continual motion towards this eternal and glorious estate, every step an approach nearer, Eom. xiii. 11, and the nearer the more earnest, quo propius fruimur; as natural motion is the swifter the nearer the centre. Faith and hope set all the wheels a-going, ' I press onward, because of the high prize of the calling of God in Christ,' Phil. iii. 14, still getting more grace, more fitness. We have no reason to begrudge God's service, when we consider what wages he giveth. We do but talk of eternal life, not believe it, when we do no more m order thereunto. What labour and hazards do men expose themselves unto for a little of the present world ! and surely, if men did believe the world to come, our industry, care, and thoughts should be more laid out upon it. A man that spendeth all his time and care in repairing the house he dwelleth in for the present, but speaketh not of another house, nor sendeth any of his furniture thither ; will you say such a man hath a mind or thought to remove, that spendeth the strength of his life and cares on worldly things ? Surely he doth not believe a blessed eter- nity. We work as we do believe ; if indeed we are persuaded of such an estate, why do we no more prepare for it ?
Fourthly, Clear up your own interest. ' We know we have,' and ' henceforth there is laid up for me,' &c., 2 Tim. iv. 8. There are many necessary duties which can hardly be done without a sense of your interest ; therefore you should not be satisfied in the want of it ; as to ' rejoice in the Lord always,' to bear the afflictions of the present life, not with a quiet but with a joyful mind, which the scripture often presseth. Now, who can rejoice in afilictions, who is not persuaded they work for eternal good ? They are bitter to sense ; nature and grace teach us to have a feeling of our interests, and to be affected with God's providence when he maketh a breach upon us. The afflictions cannot be improved if we have not some sense of them. But now, not to be broken with difficulties and crosses, yea, to rejoice in them, surely that requireth some interest in better things. If God will whip us forward that we may mend our pace towards heaven, the christian seeth that he hath no cause to complain. ' None of these things move me,' saith holy Paul, 'so I may finish my course with joy,' Acts xx. 29. Another duty is to ' love the appearing of Jesus Christ/ 2 Tim. iv. 8. Who can long for this appearance but those that are assured of welcome at his coming, to whom he cometh as a redeemer, and not as a judge? They say, ' Even so come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.' Another duty is to desire to be dissolved, to get above the fears of death. How can they desire to be dissolved who have not made sure of another place to go to ? Well then, you must give all diligence to clear up your own interest.