[3.] The immediate effects are such as are comprised in the very nature of it, as an holy boldness and courage, which is the very notion, and the same importance of the word in the text, ' We are confident,' or of good cheer and courage. This is seen in four things.
(1.) In our continuing faithful with Christ, and professing his truth and ways, notwithstanding opposition, in a bold profession, without any fears of persecutions and sufferings ; as Heb. iii. 6, ' Whose house we are, if we bold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope firm to the end ; ' and in ver. 14, ' For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;' and again, Heb. x. 35, ' Cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.' In all which places confidence noteth a bold owning and avowing of Christ, or fearlessness and courage in our christian profession, arising from our certain persuasion of and dependence on Christ's rewards in another world. The great use of faith is to fortify us against all temptations and difficulties and inconveniencies that we meet with in our passage to heaven, even against death itself Then are we confident, when borne up against all dangers and sufferings. There is a like word used, John xvi. 33, ' Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' God's children may be bold or of good cheer in the midst of all their afilictions, for faith assureth them the end shall be glorious. Therefore we are bold, perform our duty, and pass on in our pilgrimage with a courageous and quiet mind. This courageous, confident encountering with
490 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. VIII.
trouble is the immediate fruit of faith ; because faith enableth us to look to the end of trouble and our salvation as sure and near.
(2.) It is seen also in a generous contempt of all the baits and pleasures of sense, and the delightful things in this world, and cheerfully carrying on our duty, though the flesh would tempt us to the contrary. Faith is an obediential confidence, and the strength of it is seen in checking of temptations, or an affiance on God, as it draweth our hearts after better things than the world offereth. We can more easily want and miss the contentments of the flesh, and the pomp and ease and gratification of the present life. So that to be confident is to be prepared and resolved to do those things which God commandeth, though with denial of those sensual good things which the flesh craveth ; as to endure what bappeneth in the way to heaven, so to refuse and reject what hindereth us from it. For we are exercised with trials, both on the right hand and on the left, and we need the armour of righteousness, both on the right hand and on the left, 2 Cor. vi. 7. Our way to heaven lieth ;per blanda et aspera. As the terrors of sense are a discouragement to us, so the delights of sense are a snare to us ; confidence hath an influence upon both, it breedeth a weanedness from the baits of the flesh, and a rejection of what would divert us from the pursuit of eternal life, and is much seen in morti- fication ; 1 Cor. ix. 26, 27, ' I run not as one that is uncertain, there- fore I keep under my body.' As if he had said, I am confident, therefore I am mortified, contemn the allurements of sense : as they dieted themselves for the Isthmic games. Hope to get a crown of laurel made them look to their bodies, that they were in fit plight for the race. There is much more confidence of an eternal crown.
(3.) There is another branch of this boldness, that carrieth the name of this confidence also ; and that is, child-like freedom with God iu prayer : Eph. iii. 12, ' We have access with confidence and boldness, through the faith of him ; ' and 1 John iii. 21, ' If our hearts condemn us n,ot, then have we confidence towards God ; ' and 1 John v. 14, ' And this is our confidence, that whatsoever we ask of him he heareth us ;' and Heb. x. 19, 'Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus,' a holy boldness with God in prayer, or a filial, child-like access to God in prayer, for obtaining what he hath promised. There is a shyness of God. His presence reviveth our guilty fears ; as David, when he had sinned, hung off from the throne of grace, Ps. xxxii. 3 ; or as Adam ran to the bushes when he heard the voice of God in the garden. Now this is done away by faith in the promises. This holy, comfortable addressing ourselves to God by Christ is a great branch of this confidence ; it emboldeneth us to go to him in prayer, and to trust in him, and expect salvation from him. In the hour of his extremity he is not to seek of a God to pray to, or a mediator to intercede for him, or a spirit of adoption to enable him to fly for help, as a child to his reconciled father, having been frequently entertained and accepted by him.