494 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. VIII.
confident. It is his work within us to promote it and to maintain it. This Cometh of the Spirit of God ; he causes us to live in peace and hope and joy, and die in hope and peace and joy.
3. By way of gracious improvement on our part. For if God giveth the Spirit as an earnest, we must make use of him as an earnest. The Spirit and grace of Christ is not only given us to subdue corruption, to carry us on delightfully to converse with God, but as an earnest, that we may live in hope. But we may reason within ourselves, God hath not only offered me this happiness when I had no thought of it, but followed me with incessant importunity, till my anxious soul was troubled, began to make a business of it. By the secret drawings of his Spirit he inclined my heart to choose him for my portion, since given me the comfort of the pardon of my sins, bound up my broken heart, visited me in ordinances, supported me in troubles, helped me in temptations. His Spirit still liveth, dwelleth, and worketh in you ; therefore I am confident, and wait on him : 2 Cor. i. 20, 21, ' For all the promises of God are yea and amen, in Christ Jesus, to the glory of God by us. Now he that hath established us with you, and hath anointed us, is God ; who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.'
Use 1. Is to show us that true confidence is not a devout sloth or idle expectation, but breedeth iu us a noble, choice, excellent spirit, maketh us vigorous in our duty, watchful against sin, patient under the cross, longing and breathing after more of God, and hastening our preparation for the enjoyment of him.
Use 2. To put us upon self-reflection.
1. Have we the earnest of the Spirit ? His comforts are not so sure an evidence as his sanctifying influence. Are our hearts changed ? God giveth earnest before he giveth heaven.
2. Do we improve it to a holy confidence, such as showeth itself in diligence ? 1 Cor. xv. 58, ' Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord ; ' and courage ? Phil. i. 28, ' And in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.' A spirit of courage under sufferings, which is the same with confidence here, so as not to be driven from our duty, or to take any sinful course for our safety.
Use 3. To press us to seek after this confidence with diligence ; it may be kept up : Heb. vi. 11, ' And that you do show forth the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end.*
END OP VOLUME XH.
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