[3.] That this reward is so freely dispensed, and upon terms of grace — ^aptcr/za — ' The grace of God is eternal life,' Eom. vi. 23. Such are the riches of his grace to lost sinners, that we can hardly believe, especially with application, what is told us of this readiness of God to do good to the creature, and to reward our slender services. But then how should this encourage us to draw nigh to the fountain of rich grace, for pardon, life, and glory, wlien so much is so freely pre- pared for such unworthy ones : Ps. xxxvi. 7, ' How excellent is thy loving-kindness, 0 God ! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.'
[4.] That all this is made known to us, and that we are not left to uncertain guesses and conjectures. The heathens were sensible of the recompenses of another world ; they had some dreams of elysian fields, and fancies about noisome rivers, and obscure grottoes, and dismal caverns in the earth, as places of punishment ; but they knew not whether this were a fable or a certain truth. As men that see a spire at a distance in travelling ; sometimes they have a sight of it, and sometimes they have lost it, and cannot tell whether they saw it or no. Thus it was with the heathens : saith Lactantius — Virtutis vim non sentiunt, cujus prcemium ignorant — they were ignorant of the power of godliness, because they knew not the rewards of godliness. But all is clear and open to us, and established upon certain terms : 2 Tim. i. 10, ' Jesus Christ hath brought life and immortality to light by the gospel.'" Well then, if these be the thoughts that enliven all our duties, how clearly may we take God under these notions — ' That God is, and that he is a rewarder.'
[5.] That it is so surely made known unto us. God foresaw that in this lower world, where God is unseen, where our trials are so great, where our hopes are to come, where the flesh is so importunate to be pleased and gratified with present satisfactions, God foresaw, I say, that we would be liable to much doubting and unbelief ; and therefore he hath not only passed his word that there shall be a reward, but hath given us a pawn and earnest of it in our heart, to assure us of it : 2 Cor. i. 22, ' Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.' The comforts that we have in well-doing in this world are not only dona, gifts of God, but arrha, an assurance that God will give us more ; they are a taste how good, and a pledge how sure our reward shall be.
[6.] That we have hopes and encouragements to put in for a share, and come and take hold of eternal life upon these terms ; that we can-
168 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXXIV.
not only say in general, ' God is a rewarder,' but he will be so ' to me,' 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory.' This was not peculiar to Paul only, for he saith — ' And not only for me, but for all that love his appearing.' All those that do believe the rewards of the christian religion, and act upon this encouragement, and serve God faithfully, all that prepare for it, may say, ' For me,' there is a crown of life ; this I expect from God's hand. Oh, then blessed be his name that hath given us ' so good hope through grace,' 2 Thes. ii. 16. That is cause of rejoicing and thanksgiving indeed : Luke x. 20, ' Kejoice that your names are written in heaven.' When we can see our names in Christ's testament, look upon ourselves as concerned in this reward, that we have a title to it ; or if we have not a title, the door is open, the promise is sure, the way is plain, the helps are many, and we may have a title if we will. And therefore let us bless God that there is a reward, a great reward, a reward so freely dispensed, and this made known and assured to us by the joys of the Spirit, and that we have hopes and encouragement to go on in well-doing upon this ground.
Use 2. If God be a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, then here is a reproof, because so few seek after God. Paul charges it upon all natural men : Pom. iii. 11, ' There is none that seeketh after the Lord ; ' we all at first go wandering after our own fancies, and never think of returning to God, as our chief good, till we have tried ourselves with a thousand disappointments, and are scourged home to him ; yea, it were well if we would seek him at the last or were brought to God upon any terms. But, alas ! some seek him not at all ; others do not seek him diligently, but in a slight and overly fashion.
1. Some do not seek him at all. Alas! there are many that run away from God, and are never better than when they can get out of his eye and presence — ' God is not in all their thoughts,' Ps. x. 4. As the prodigal went from his father into a far country, so a carnal man is ever running from God. He runs from his own conscience, and can- not endure to commune and hold a little parley with his own heart, because he finds God there. He shuns tlie presence of holy men, because they have God's image — they put him in mind of God ; slights the ordinances of worship, lest they revive a sense of God in his heart, and he meet with God in them. The word brings God too near him, and awakens his fears. Prayer he slights, because it engageth him to speak to God. He shuns the thoughts of death, because then the spirit must return to God that gave it. If the Holy Ghost stirs up any thoughts of God in his heart, he will not cherish them ; he abhors his own thoughts of God, and is ready to say as Satan, Mat. viii. 29, ' What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God ? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time ? ' Thoughts of God and Christ and heavenly things are a torment to him.