Secondly, With respect to the general judgment, it reproves the security of the world. We are apt to think it is but a well-devised fable to keep the world in awe. Oh, consider, if Noah could believe the flood, we are nnicli more bound to believe the general judgment — why ? Because we have the word of God for it, which is of more force than an oracle, and we have a pledge already ; and therefore the future destruction of the world by fire being more credible to us, God looks for a more active faith from us.
Quest. But you will say, Who doth not believe the day of judg- ment ?
I answer, Flatter not yom'selves, for in the latter times men will be just as they were in the days of Noah ; there will be scoffers at the day of judgment ; and usually the best of us content ourselves with a loose and naked belief of things to come ; and therefore, that you may drive the privy atheism out of the heart, let me propound but two questions. — (1.) Are you affected with these things, as if you saw them ? (2.) Do you make a careful provision and preparation, as if this were a matter that you did believe, — ' As Noah was moved with fear, and prepared an ark ? '
1. Are you affected with these things as if they were present ? So it should be ; for faith is the evidence of things not seen ; it substan- tiates our hopes, and makes them real to our souls ; therefore we should live as if we did see Christ coming in the clouds with power and great glory ; as if we heard the blast of the great trump, and the voice of the archangel, saying, Arise, and come to judgment. God liath made a promise, 1 Cor. xi. 31, 'That if we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged of the Lord.' Now, art thou affected with this promise, as if the judgment were set, and as if the books were opened ? Consider, in the process of the great day, when all sinners stand trembling at the bar, and their faces gather blackness and paleness, if Christ should single thee out by name, and sny to you, If thou judge thyself, thou shalt not be put to this severe trial ; with what thankfulness would we receive this offer ? ' Now, an active faith should make this supposition. So again Christ saith, Luke xii. 8, 9, ' Whosoever shall confess me before meuj I will confess him before the angels of God ; but he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.' When thy heart is tempted to carnal compliance, canst tliou represent by a lively faith the day of judgment ? and say. Would I deny Christ before his face ? or by compliance betray the truth ? Would I do this act if I heard Christ say, Father, these are mine, and these are not mine, when Christ is making a distinction between sheep and goats, and the two herds were standing before mine eyes ? It is good to make suppositions and put cases concerning that great day.
Do you do as Noah did ? make serious preparation for things to come and yet unseen. God doth not look to opinions, but to the dis- position of your heart. Actions have a voice before God. We content ourselves with a naked and inactive belief, which, if it be searched to the bottom, will be found to be nothing but uncertain guess and con-
VOL. XIV. N
194 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. [SeR. XXXVII.
jectnre. Do we do as Noah did, venture njion a work of such charge and sucli difficulty ? Though the flood was }et a great while to come, he presently falls about it.
[1.] It was a work of great labour and trouble ; and so is the work of mortification, strictness, and the spiritual life ; it is a work of labour and trouble to weaken carnal desires, to subdue your affections to the just temper of religion ; yet, tbough it be harsh to nature, can you say, Heaven will make amends for all ? can you sa}', It is better to take pains than suffer pains ? can you say, If I digest the severities of reli- gion, ' if I mortify the deeds of the flesh, I shall live ? ' Eom. viii. 13. Can you reason as Noah did ?
[2.] It was a work which he should have no use of a long time ; so can you tarry God's leisure and wait for the season of the promises, and for tbe time of accomphshment ? Always between tbe making of the promise and the making good of the promise, there is a great deal of time. The Israelites were long in the wilderness ere they came to Canaan, and endured a tedious march ; they might have gone over in forty days, but God kept them in it forty years to exercise them. So David was anointed king a long time before he reigned, 1 Sam. xvi. 13, so long, that in the end he des})aired of the kingdom ; and therefore he saitb, ' I said in my haste, All men are liars,' Ps. cxvi. 11. So, can yon tarry God's leisure for the accomplishment of his promise, and during the time of your pilgrimage wait, ' And be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise ^ ? Heb. vi. 12. Sel- dom any go to heaven, but they have a long time to exercise their faith and patience. Can you be content in your journey to Canaan to tarry God's leisure, and wait for your deliverance ?