Use 3. To inform us that the reason why we are not taken to heaven sooner, is not because heaven is not ready for us, but because we are not ready for it. As in the tenders of the gospel, ' all things are ready,' but we are not ready. Mat. xxii. ; so as to heavenly glory and happi- ness. Heaven was ready long ago ; it was designed, by the Father to the heirs of promise, purchased by Christ, and possessed by him in our names. Heaven is prepared, but we are not prepared ; we are not brought to our full stature in grace, to which we are appointed by grace in this life, Eph. iv. 13. We are not come to ovxr perfect growth, or that measure of perfection which we are capable of. If we long to be with God, let us sooner get ready ; if riper sooner, we should be sooner gathered to the company of the blessed, ' like a shock of corn in its season,' Job v. 26. Most of us are but as green corn, not fit to be reaped, not so much in respect of age, as the measure of spiritual growth. Some ripen speedily, whom God meaneth to take sooner to himself; others, after their long profession, keep to their childish ignorance and infh-mities, and make little progress' towards perfection.
Doct. 2. That God giveth his people the earnest of the Spirit, that they may look and long for heavenly glory with greater affection.
Here I shall show —
1. What is given by way of earnest. . 2. The nature of an earnest.
3. The use and end of au earnest.
1. Wliat is given by way of earnest. The Spirit, the Holy Spirit, doth not only bestow his gifts and graces upon believers, but cometh himself and dwelleth in them; not personally united to them, as the divine nature is with the human in Christ, nor in regard of his essen- tial presence, for so he is everywhere, Jer. xxiii. 24, nor in regard of his general providential influence. Acts xvii. 28, but his special resi- dence, as in his own temple, 1 Cor. iii. 16. By saving and gracious operations, whereby he worketh in them the habits of all saving graces at first conversion, Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27, and doth by his immediate, and strong, and special influence preserve those graces in life, Eph. iii. 16, and ordinarily make them grow and increase : Hosea xiv. 5, ' I will be as the dew unto Israel ; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his root as Lebanon ; ' and doth quicken and excite them to action.
484 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS T. [SeR. VIT.
2. The nature of an earnest.
[1.] An earnest supposeth a bargain and contract. When parties are agreed, then they give earnest to stand to the bargain. The right that we have to eternal life cometh to believers in a way of covenant and paction ; they resign themselves to God by faith, and God bindeth himself to give them forgiveness of sins, an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith : Isa. Iv. 3, ' Incline your ear, and come unto me ; hear, and your souls shall live ; and I will make an ever- lasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.' Upon our hearty consenting, God engageth himself to give us the mercy of the spiritual David, or the Messiah. All that life and blessedness which be hath brought to light in the gospel.
[2.] Earnest is given when there is some delay of the thing bargained for, and we do not enter upon possession of it presently. As soon as we enter into covenant with God, we have a right ; but our blessedness is deferred, not for want of love in God, but for wise reasons. He doth not give us jiossession upon right, but delayeth for a season ; partly that in the meantime we may exercise our faith and love. Our faith in looking : Phil. iii. 21, ' From whence we look for a Saviour.' Our love in longing : Eom. viii. 23, ' But ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies.' God's children are always groaning and waiting for a better estate than the world can yield to them ; the first-fruits or the taste is sweet and precious, and therefore they long for a more full enjoyment. These tastes are but scanty, these given in the midst of sorrows and temptations. Partly that the heirs of salvation may glorify him here upon earth. God hath a ministry and service for them to do in this part of the world ; they are to honour him with their graces, that they may be a means of conversion to some and conviction to others. Conversion : Mat. V. 16, ' Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven ;' and 1 Peter ii. 12, ' They may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.' And of conviction and just condemnation to others : Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world.' When they see others serious, heavenly, mortified about them, and they will not deny themselves.