3. There is a particular promise that answereth to the dead womb. We are tried in that promise : John xi. 25, 26, ' I am the resurrection and the life ; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live And whosoever livetli and believeth in me shall never die. Be- lievest thou this ? ' Sarah's dead womb was revived as soon as she be- lieved ; so sure shall we revive again ; he that judgeth Christ faithful shall see life spring from death. But you will say, We know all this, and believe this well enotigh, as she, John xi. 24, ' I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' But yet that is little pro- bable, because present difficulties do so easily amaze us. But to try you a little in your faith and dependence upon this promise, if you hope against hope, and can believe a resurrection out of the grave, this faith will bewray itself in life and death. That hope is worth nothing that is good for nothing.
[1.] In life : we please ourselves in thinking that we believe the resurrection of the dead, when there is no such matter. He that judgeth Christ faithful in the promise of eternal life, notwithstanding death, esteemeth the faithful execution of his will dearer to him than all the pleasures of this life. Our thoughts are discovered in our actions, and our hopes in the course of our lives : 2 Peter iii. 11, ' Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness ? ' Implying that they that are not such manner of persons do not look for such things. A man that prostituteth his body to the service of lust, how can it be said that he looketh for a glorious resurrection to eternal life.
[2.] In death : can we desire death, and check the terrors of it with
280 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XLV.
the promise of eternal life ? Death is }'oni- last enemy • can yoii triumph upon your sick-beds in these hopes, that these your enemies you shall see them no more for ever ?
Thirdly, The next circumstance in the text is the ground of her faith — Bemuse she judged him faitliful that had i^romised. Hence observe : —
1. Wherever we put forth faith we must have a promise, otherwise it is but fancy, not faith. It is not a ground of expectation barely what God is able to do, but what God will do. As the two pillars of Solomon's house were called Jachin and Bonz, 1 Kings vii. 21 ; the one signifies ' Strength,' and the other, ' He will establish it.'
2. In closing with the promise, we should chiefly give God the hon- our of his faithfulness.
1. Because God valueth this most, he standeth much of his truth — ' Heaven and earth shall pass away before one jot or tittle of his word shall pass,' Mat. v. 18. The monuments of his power shall be defaced to make good his truth : Ps. cxxxviii. 2, ' Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.' All other attributes give way to this.
2. Because this giveth support and relief to the soul in waiting : Heb. X. 23, ' Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised.' God hath promised no more than he is able to perform ; his word never exceeded his power.
Use. Well then, meditate of this ; silence discouragements when you have a clear promise. The course of nature saith. It cannot be ; her own age saith, It cannot be ; but still faith replies, God is faithful. In all your debates let this be the judgment and casting voice.
SEKMON XLV.
TJiese all died in faith, not having received the promises, hut having seen them afar off, and ivere persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they loere strangers and 'pilgrims on the earth. — Heb. xi. 13.
Having laid down the particular instances of the patriarchs, he speaketh of what they had in common, they went to the grave in hope, albeit the promises were not performed in their time.
Here you have the trial of their faith and the victory of their faith.
1. The trial of their faith — They died, not having received the promises ; that is, they went to the grave ere the blessings God had promised were accomplished.
2. The victory of their faith, which is set forth —
[1.] By the several acts of the soul in and upon the promises, both elicite and imperate. There is an act of apprehension — They saio them afar off ; an act of judgment or firm assent — And were persuaded of them ; an act of affection — aaTraadfievoi, And embraced them — they hugged the promise ; this will yield a Messiah.
YeB.. 13. J SERMON'S UPOX HEBREWS XL 281
[2.] By the effect and fruit of it in their lives and couversa'ions — And confessed that they were stvangers and pilgrims in tlte earth.
Who are here spoken of? Some refer it to the numerous posterity of Abraham mentioned in the former verse, who did not till the time of Joshua enjoy the promised land of Canaan. But that cannot he, because many of these were buried in the wilderness, and died mui- muring, and in the displeasure of God. Therefore it is meant chiefly of the patriarchs last recited — Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Sarah ; and you may take in the faithful that came of their race — Joseph, and others that lived till the time of their jroinq; out of E<rvpt.