4. To show the condition of our present state, therefore it is called an heritage. Here we have little in hand like an heir that doth live in hope ; so it is said : Titus iii. 7, ' That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.' We live altogether upon hope. Servants and mercenaries must have pay in hand, they covenant from quarter to quarter ; so carnal men that are hired servants, they must have their reward, secular conveniences : Mat. vi. 2, ^ ATrexovat rov ^icrOov avTwv, ' They have their reward,' they give God a discharge. If he will give them honour, wealth, and riches in the Avorld, they look for no more. They do not look after heaven ; as a servant in the family doth not regard the heritage ; he knows the master
222 SKRMONS UPON HEiiKKWS XI. [8eR. XXXIX.
reserves that for his son, but he must have his ])resent wages. But we live in hope God will make amends for everything ; not a frown or ill look of the \vorld, but God Avill recompense it ; as children are content with their present maintenance and education, they know when the heritage falls they shall have enough. Only there is this difference between the earthly and the heavenly heritage ; in the spiritual heri- tage we possess in our father's lifetime. Men give their estates when they can possess them no longer ; but Christ and we possess it together, we are glorified with him. In the outward heritage the father dies to give place to the son ; but here the son must die that they may covenant with the father.
Doct. 3. That our title to this heritage is evidenced to be right and good by the operations of faith. Then ' he became heir of the right- eousness which is by faith ; ' that is, in his own sense and feeling. God speaks to us by the Spirit, which witnesseth to us that we are heirs and children. Now this never will be till faitli hath produced some good fruits ; for without this conscience cannot witness, and the Spirit will not.
1. Conscience cannot witness. Habits lie out of sight till they are drawn out into action, then they come under the view of conscience. The seed lies hidden in the ground till it spring up into a stalk ; the sap is an inward thing which you cannot see, it is only discovered by the blossom and fruit : so the inward habit of grace doth lie out of sight ; it is discovered to the notice and view of conscience by the operations of it : 1 John iii. 19, ' Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.' We may come and make good our claim when once faith appears in the fruits of holiness : 1 John ii. 3, ' Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.'
2. The Spirit will not witness without this. This is God's method. The testimony of the Spirit is always subsequent to the testimony of a renewed conscience : Eom. viii. 16, ' The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.' It is God's method, first to pour in the oil of grace, then the oil of gladness ; first to make Christ ' a king of righteousness,' and then ' king of peace,' Heb. vii. 2. And ' after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,' Eph. i. 13. In the original there are three articles ; ye are sealed ' by the Spirit,' ' by the Holy Spirit,' and ' by the Spirit of promise.' The apostle shows Imw the Spirit comes and seals up grace to the soul ; as the ' Spirit of promise' upon gospel terms, ' after that ye believed;' and 'as the Holy Spirit,' having wrought holiness in the heart. We have a title as soon as we believe, but this title is not evid- enced to us till faith be discovered to us in the fruits of holiness.
Use. To press you to examine yourselves. Are you, as Noah was, heir of the righteousness of faith ? is this your condition ? All depends upon that, and therefore I will propound two questions : — Have you the title of an heir ? Have you the spirit of an heir.
1. Have you the title of an heir ? Once clear up that, be a child, and thou shalt be sure of a child's part and portion. Now what can you say to this ? Have you received the spirit of adoption ? Faith is your title ; and that faith must be evidenced by holiness. We are apt to mistake the work of faith, and cry up presumption for faith. Conscience will still be entering process against us, and citing us before the tribunal of God, if you cannot produce the fruits of holiness. How will you evidence
VeK. 7.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. 223
your faith ? St Paul saith, ' We are justified by faitli/ Eoiu. iii. 28 ; St James, that ' we are justified by works, and not by faith only,' James ii. 24. By faith we are justified from sin before God, and so we have peace with God ; and by works we are justified from hypocrisy in the court of conscience, so we have peace with ourselves. This way must your title be made out to you. Is there a care of duty and a diligent resistance of sin ?