[5.] Another work of faith is earnestly to desire and long after the full accomplishment of glory. Faith bewrayeth itself by desire.-^, as well as thoughts. All things hasten to their centre. Heaven is our home, and we should be hastening thither, not only in thoughts but desires. The world to a christian is but libera custodia, a larger prison, where his soul is kept under a restraint, and from the full enjoyment of Christ ; therefore a christian's life is spent in desires and groans : Eom. viii. 23, ' We that have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.' Mark, * we that have.' A man that once hath tasted of the clusters of Canaan, he is weary of the wilderness ; so a christian is groaning for home, and for heaven, and for the full enjoyment of Christ, as the apostle saith, 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' They love his appearing.' Their hearts are always drawing towards Christ ; if Christ doth but say, I come, he echoes again, ' Come, Lord Jesus Christ, come quickly,' Kev. xxii. 20.
46 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXI,
Use 3. To exalt the mercy of God to believers ; once sinners, and by grace made believers. Observe the wonderful love and grace of God in three steps —
[1.] Tliat he hath provided such an estate for believers. What a miracle of mercy is this that God should think of taking poor despicable dust and ashes, and planting them in the upper paradise, that they should be carried into heaven and made companions of the angels. How would we wonder if God should take a clod of earth and place it among the stars, that it may shine there ! And how much more may we wonder when the Lord is pleased to take us out of the grave, and out of the earth, and lift us up above all heavens ! when a man that is made of the dust of the earth is ia-dyye\o<;, equal to the angels.
[2.] That this state is provided freely, and upon such gracious terms. The terms are faith, and not merit ; that is the tenor of the new cove- nant. Believe and live, not do and live ; but works serve to evidence that interest. The Lord hath said, John iii. 36, ' He that believes in the Son of God hath everlasting life ; ' he hath it, as sure as if he were possessed of it. God will exclude none that will but accept of the offer ; therefore if thou dost but rely upon Christ by a true and proper faith, thou art in a safe condition : Jolm v. 24, ' Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath ever- lasting life.' Amen, amen. Will you believe Christ upon a double oath, when he plighteth his truth ? Let us not straiten the promises ; all that believe shall partake of that marvellous glory — all the difficult work was done by Christ — ' He was taken from prison and judgment,' Isa. liii. 10, that we might not come into condemnation.
[3.] That God should send u}) and down the wnrld to offer this sal- vation to men. The prophet saith, ' The salvation of the Lord is gone forth,' Isa. li. 5 ; and ' Wisdom hath sent forth her maidens,' Prov. ix. 3. And God hath sent forth his ministers, given us commission to open the grace of the gospel ; and yet how is it scorned by men as if heaven were not worth the taking. If we did believe that there were such a glory, and that our eyes sliould behold it, how would it raise our hearts in thankfulness to God.
Use 4. Comfort to God's children against wants, and against troubles and persecutions, and against death itself.
[1.] Against wants. Let us be content with any condition in the world, since we are so well provided for in a better. Alas ! after a short time we shall have no need of these things : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom.' Oh, you need not distract yourselves with worldly cares, there is a king- dom provided ! It is grievous, I confess, to see wicked men abound with ease and plenty, and the childi-en of God humbled with wants ; but consider, if you have not so much money and means as others have, yet you have a better portion in Christ. God hath given you faith, and you are rich enough in Christ : James ii. 5, ' Hearken, _ my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith,_ and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love hini?' Alas ! wicked men that have large possessions, yet they may perish, notwithstanding their outward enjoyments.
[2.] It is great comfort against troubles and persecutions. Let us
VeR. 5.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 47
continue in tlie faith. There is comfort enough provided for us in the reward of faith : 1 Thes. iv. 18, ' Comfort one another with the.'^e words.' What words ? why, that Jesus Christ will come in the clouds and meet believers, and they shall be for ever with the Lord. We pitch too much upon a carnal hope, and we think that this way and that way deliverance will come from something we fancy in the world, but we do not look after the glory of the everlasting state. There is an eye of flesh, when there is no arm of flesh — suppositions of worldly help. God will whip us for this vain confidence. We should comfort ourselves that there is an everlasting portion. When the Lord would comfort the patriarchs concerning the murder of Abel, there was the translation of Enoch ; so when the apostle St Peter writes to the distressed Hebrews (he had much ado to wean those godly Hebrews from carnal thoughts of a temporal salvation and a tem})oral Messiah, from the pomp and splendour of an outward deliverer^, he proposes this to keep up their joy : 1 Peter i. 9, ' Receiving the end of your faith, the salva- tion of your souls.' The encouragements of the world run in another strain, looking for supplies in this and that corner of the world. St. Paul continued in steadfastness, not only under the difficulties but dangers of Christianity : 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.' Why ? — ' For hence- forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,' &c ; that is, that he was thinking of what comfort it would be when he should sit in heaven among the glorified saints with his crown of righteousness upon his head. The christian s life is not only a race but a warfare. We must not only run, but fight ; therefore the apostle saith, Heb. xii. 1, ' Piun with patience the race that is set before yon.' Now that wliich should keep us up is a garland of immortality and glory which Christ hath wreathed for us. The primitive christians, when they were under deep and dreadful persecutions, how did they comfort themselves vnth. the kingdom that is above ? The heathens suspected them as if they intended to change the government. AYhen you hear us talking of a Idngdom, you vainly and without reason suppose it is a human and earthly kingdom ; no, we profess to hope not for an earthly but heavenly kingdom.