VeR. 13.] SEKMONS UPOX HEBREWS XI. 303
not be so coldly affected as they are. We that are so dead-hearted to heavenly things, surely "we do not judge them real. It may be we do not actually call them m question, but we have not a firm persuasion of the truth of them ; if we had, we would more ' rejoice in hope of the glory of God," Rom. v. 2. For we should find the scripture always maketh delight a fruit of faith : 1 Peter i. 8, ' In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' Eejoicing is wrought in us by believing, and being persuaded of the reality, and worth of things that are come. So Eom. xv. 13, ' Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.' This is the natm-al order : faith is wrought in the soul, then these affections, and embracings, and rejoicings in God are stirred up.
3. Tiie affection that is exercised in this embracing is joy. There are other affections, I know, that are exercised, as hope and love, but chiefly our joy, as appears by that parallel place, John viii. 56, ' Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad.' John Baptist did not only leap in the womb, because of Christ's day, when it was ready at hand, but Abraham, that lived at so great a distance. Joy is the affection proper to enjoyment, but faith behaveth itself as if it wai'e already come to possession. This joy ariseth from the certainty of the promise, and the excellency of it, and our interest in it ; they rejoice because such great and precious promises are made over to them in Christ, being assured they shall be made good to them in due time : so did the patriarchs, and so doth every believer.
4. This joy is manifested two ways, partly by the lively act of it in meditation, partly by the solid effects of it in our conversation.
[1.] By the lively act of it in meditation, it doth our hearts good to think of it. Thus they hugged the promises, 0 sweet promises ! A man cannot think of a little pelf, or any petty interest in the world withotit comfort, when he knows he has a right to do it ; and can a man think of the promises, and not be affected with them ? Carnal men may think and think again, they have no spiritual apjietite. and therefore they feel no savoin*, their joy is intercepted and prepossesed with vanity and carnal delights, and therefore the promises to them are as a dry chip, or withered flowers. Swine do not value pearls ; but now to believers their hearts leap within them to think of the promises, and what God hath provided for them in Christ : Luke vi. 23, ' Eejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy ; for behold your reward is great in heaven.' "Whatever our condition be in the world, this maketh us full of comfort ; there is an actual rejoicing, a hugging our happiness, as if we were in the midst of the glory of the world to come. A carnal man feeleth contentment, sudden rapt motions of joy every time he doth actually think of his bags, riches, and honours; and shall not a christian find contentment, when he thinks of the heavenly glory? What ? an heir of God, and co-heir with Christ, and be no more affected ? 1 Sam. xviii. 23, ' Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law ? ' We should ' rejoice in hope of the glory of God/ Eom. V. 2. In meditation laith and hope is acted.
[2.] By the solid eftects of it in our conversation. It is not a joy for a pang or fit, the practical joy is the best sign. The solid effects of it are these, cheerfulness in duties, comfort and support in afllictions, and weanedness from worldly pleasures.
304 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SeR. XLYL
(1.) Cheerfulness in duties. When we go cheerfully about our work, because we have heaven in our eye, it is a sign we have embraced the blessings made known to us in the promises : 1 Cor. xv. 58, ' Be ye stedfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, foras- much as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.' It will quicken us to obedience. A christian is persuaded that whatever he does will turn to a good account, and therefore he cheerfully holds on his course in holiness. You know a horse goes cheerfully, when ho goes homeward ; so a christian that is hastening to God, and every day draws nearer his home, goes cheerfully on in his work. So far as you are backward in God's work, so far is your delight in the promises- weakened. Therefore a christian is cheerful, and holdeth on his journey to lieaven with delight, because he looketh upon grace as a bud of glory, and upon duty as the way to heaven.
(2.) Comfort and support in afflictions. There is not only an extra- mission of acts of faith, but an intromission of comfort and strength to support the heart. As the heart acteth towards the promise, so doth the- promisework upon the heart. David professeth his experience in this kind, Ps. cxix. 50, ' This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hatli quickened me.' True faith draweth life, comfort and quickening out of the word of promise ; so ver. 81, ' My soul fainteth for thy sal- vation, but I hope in thy word.' Faith looking to the word gathereth strength and hope. This is no disparagement to the Spirit of God, for faith is the instrument, the word the means, and the Spirit the author of all this grace which we receive. This is God's established order, the Spirit by the word, through our faith conveyeth strength and support to us, God doth not cast in comfort and quickening into the soul whilst we are idle ; it is by his grace, but upon the acting of our faith : Ps. cxix. 92, ' Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine afflictions." The worth of the word and the excellency of faith would not have been known unless God had cast into afflictions ; then is the time to make trial of the virtue of the word, the excellency of faith, and the comforts of another world.