Use 2. Of examination. Have you such a faith? What kind of actings have you towards the promises ? Do you see the blessings pro- mised afar off ? are you persuaded of them ? do you embrace them ? Are you contented with the word of promise though you have not the blessings promised ?
1. Are you careful to get an interest in the promises, to thrust in for a share in them, that you may see your own name in God's bond ? Negligence is a sure sign of unbelief ; if you hear of so great salvation, and are careless and negligent, and do not put in for a share, it is a sign you do not believe that which God hath promised. Not only actual doubting, but carelessness gives God the lie ; when you hear of precious promises, but regard them not, you do not count them true. You know what David says: Ps, cxix. 111, ' Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever, for they are the rejoicing of ray heart,' Now have you chosen these for your portion, and made it the scope of your lives not to grow great in the world, but to have an interest in the promises ? I do not say he is no believer that cannot say, I have an interest in the promises, but I dare say that he is no believer that doth not take the promises for his heritage, and doth not part with all
VeR. 13.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI, 307
things that he may get an interest in them. When a good bargain is ofifered upon easy terms, if men do not regard it, it is a sign they do not believe it. Here is the best bargain that ever can be offered to you, eternal salvation and the enjoyment of God and Christ ; if you do not put in for a share, it is a sign of unbelief
2. Do you prize and esteem them ? 2 Peter i 4, ' To us are given exceeding great and precious promises ; ' so they are in the account of every believer, not small things, but great and of great consequence to us. Do I believe these things, and am I no more affected with them ? If a great man that may be changeable in point of will, and defective in point of power, promises great matters to us, how do we build upon it, and are pleased with his promise ! When the great God hath promised great things of such high concernment, it is an ill sign not to be moved and taken with tliese things. David doth often profess his respect to the word : Ps. cxix, 14, 'I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches.' Faith sees more comfort in the promises than in the dearest things we have in the world ; gold and silver are nothing to them. Is there such an esteem of the promises ? That you may not deceive yourselves, know this esteem of the promises is accompanied with a disesteem of earthly things. When a man embraceth a thing, all other things fall out of his hands ; when the hands are full of the world, you cannot hug the promises. It will take you off from worldly admiration ; the world will seem less if the promises seem great and precious, for the promises do not estabhsh the love of the world, but the love of heaven : Prov. viii. 10, ' Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.' It is not said, ' and not above silver,' but ' and not silver ;' the soul by faith is diverted, and hath less esteem of these things. If you are as earthly- minded as ever, you have no faith.
3. Do you often call them to mind and comfort yourselves in the remembrance of them ? He that is a stranger to the promises doth not believe them. A man looketh upon his bills, and bonds, and evidences, and views them often, and consults with them, they are ali he hath to show for his estate ; so a believer consults with the promises, they are the obligation he hath upon God : Ps. cxix. 24, ' Thy testi- monies are my delight and my counsellors,' or the men of my counsel. Every strait drives him to the promises, there to consult with the mind and will of God ; as David went to the sanctuary, Ps. Ixxiii. 17. A man cannot have any satisfaction of his doubts, any allay of his fears, but by calling to mind the promises. In short, wants bring a man to the promises, the promises to Christ, and Christ to God. Wants bring a man to the promises ; for there is a plaster for every sore ; and the pro- mises to Christ, for in him they are all yea and amen; and Christ to God, as the fountain of all blessings. Saith David, Ps. cxix. 92, ' Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine afflic- tion.' Do you thus call to mind the promises, and reckon upon them in all straits and afflictions, and find real support from them: Heb. x. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your- selves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance,' that is, acting your thoughts upon it. It is good to see whence our supports come, and how we are borne up in all cases, it is by knowing and thinking upon what God hath promised.