[2.] These are the terms of the eternal covenant between God and Christ, that believers should have a right to heaven by Christ's death ; therefore, whenever the Father's love, and Christ's purchase are men- tioned, faith is the solemn condition. The Father hath meant to dispose of heaven to a sort of men, but upon what condition : John iii. 16, ' God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten son,' — what to do ? and upon what terms ? — ' that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life;' so again, John vi. 40, ' This is the will of my Father that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life ; and I will raise liim up at the last day ; ' upon that condition Christ bargained with God, and God with Christ. So for the purchase of Christ: Heb. ix. 15, * He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheri- tance.' When Christ died, as the mediator and testator, he made believers his heirs. There is no other name expressed in his will and testament, but they that believe, and they that are called, which are all one ; therefore they are called, Heb. vi. 17, ' heirs of promise.' Our inheritance was dearly pui-chased, Christ was to be a mediator by means of death, but it is made over to believers by will and testament.
[3.] Because faith is the mother of obedience, which is the way to eternal life ; faith gives a title, and works give an evidence. This is the drift of the apostle here — Enoch pleased God before he was tran- slated, therefore by faith he was translated ; for ' without faith it is impossible to please God.' God hath no respect to works without faith ; the way to be made happy is first to be made holy, and all the influences of grace are received and improved by faith. Faith is the mother of grace, and gi-ace the pledge of glory. All your works are not evidences of eternal life, but as they come from faith. It is faith that kindles love and inflames zeal, and quickens obedience,
[4.] By faith that life is begun which shall only be consummated and perfected in glory. The life of glory and the life of grace are the same in substance, but not in degree. Here faith takes Christ, and then life is begun, though in glory it is perfected : 1 John v. 12, ' He that hath the Son, hath life;' it is begun in him already. When the soul is changed by grace, there is a foundation laid for the changing of body and soul by glory : the Spirit will not leave his mansion and dwelling-place. When Christ hath once taken up his residence in the heart, and begun life there, he will not depart. Believers are said to be raised up at the last day by the spirit of holiness dwelling in
42 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXI.
the in, Rom. viii. 11 ; and Rom. v. 2, ' By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.' Faith anticipates heaven, and begins the life of glory by hope and the joys of the Holy Gliost.
Use 1. To press you to get faith upon this ground and motive, it will give you an interest in heaven. Heaven is the portion of believers. Dogs, and they that are without, cannot have the children's portion. Unbelievers are strangers to the comforts of religion for the present, therefore much more hereafter, when the definitive sentence is passed upon them. Oh, who w^ould not labour for faith upon this ground ? Faith must needs be an excellent grace, that bringeth such a salvation ; it giveth 3'ou an interest in Christ and lieaven. Faith ennobles the blood ; no birth like it ; it entitles us to the highest inlieritance that is in the world. Xo dignity like tliat to be a son of the king of heaven, to be of kindred with all the saints, to be of the royal and noble blood. See how the apostle compares one birth with another : John i. 12, 13, ' Who are born, not of flesh, nor of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God ; ' that is, not in that unclean lustful way that the children of the highest nobles and potentates of the earth are begotten. Faith can make the poorest beggar to be richer than the greatest monarch : James ii. 5, ' Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom ? ' the sons of the potentates of the world cannot show the like ; to be an heir-ap])arent of heaven is better than to be possessor of the whole world. Oh, do but consider the inheritance ! the birth is noble, but the estate exceeding large. If you would have me express it to you, I must tell you the best commendation of heavec is silence, when the great voice saith, Come up and see, then we shall know what heaven is ; but now our ear hath received a little thereof in the promises ; therefore I shall speak something of it.