8. Do they engage yon to any self-denial ? Do you part Avith any- thing upon your hopes? as these patriarchs left their country, and lived as sojourners in a strange land, for they looked for a better country^ that is a heavenly. Whoever hopes for anything from God must leave something for God ; one time or another God will put him upon trial. Now what do you quit for God ? Do you live upon your hopes, or upon your riches, honours, and pleasures? God doth not count that you trust his promises unless you venture something on them. Every grace makes a venture, — charity : Eccles. xi. 1, * Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.' So saith the Lord,. Mai. iii. 10, ' Prove me if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing.' God would not have a proof of our fidelity, nor we a proof of his faithfulness, if we did not sometimes make ven- tures. Zeal makes adventures in a way of conscientious obedience ; and mortification, it ventures upon the promises — he that losetli hi» life shall save it ; he that parts with worldly conveniences for the interests of conscience shall have treasure in heaven. Now at what expense have you been, and what adventures have you made in a way of self-denial and obedience upon the promises ? By these things you may know whether you have such a faith as these patriarchs.
tlse 3. To press you to get such a faith as will wait for future bless- ings with such patience and contentation as if they were already enjoyed. The arguments I shall urge are these —
1. We have more cause than the patriarchs, for we live nearer to the accomplishment of God's promises. Every age downward hath great
310 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XLVII.
advantages of believing. The first patriarchs were so far from the things typified that they had the types ; Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob did not enjoy Canaan, the type of heaven; nor did they see the temple, the type of Christ ; nor the rites of the Levitical administration, which were the type of his sufferings ; nor the numerous posterity, which was a type of the calling of the gentiles. Tlie next age had more advan- tages ; they had the types, but not the things typified ; they were grown into a numerous multitude and a nation ; they had the temple, and legal administrations and sacrifices : but Christ was not come in the flesh ; the calling of the gentiles was not brought about ; they had not such discoveries of heaven, and of the glory God had prepared for them that love him ; the entrance into the holy place was not yet set open ; they were legalised, not evangelised. Afterward when Christ was come in the flesh, the first christians were not so near salvation ; heaven was still at a distance ; there was to Karej(ov, something that hindered the discovery of antichrist. They were to look for the discovery of antichrist, we for the ruin of antichrist ; they for the taking away what letted, that antichrist might bediscovered, viz., the Eoman Empire, we for the consuming of antichrist by the Spirit of Christ's mouth, and the brightness of his coming. There is but a little time between us and the day of judgment, it is the last times we now live in. All things are clearer to us than to the patriarchs ; that which was prophecy to them is history to us, and history is clearer than pi-ophecy, because it is more sensible ; our light is clearer, our means and helps are greater. What a shame is it that our faith should be so weak ! that they should have eagle's eyes to see things at a distance, and we should be such owls and bats. We have the experience of all former ages, and we draw nearer and nearer still to our great hopes ; surely then our con- demnation wdll be greater if we should not believe and wait for the blessings promised with such patience and contentation as they did. It is said, Zech. xii. 8, ' He that is feeble at that day shall be as the house of David.' God expects much from you, that you should be as Abraham and David, for you have greater helps, higher advantages, and clearer discoveries of the will of God.
2, Unless your faith work thus, to keep heaven in sight, it will be of no use and profit to you. Looking to present things is the ground of all miscarriages, you will not be able to bear afflictions if you have not such a faith as to be contented with the promises till performance come : Heb. xii. 11, ' No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.' When you feel nothing but the smart rod, you will certaiidy miscarry. Nor will you be able to withstand temptations, but present profits and present pleasures will withdraw your hearts from God : 2 Tim. iv, 10, ' Demas' (a glorious professor, one of the seven deacons) ' hath forsaken us, having loved this present world.' Nor will you be able to wait for the future glory ; the children of God have been always ready to confess their miscarriages when they have been in haste, when they have been all for the present : Ps. cxvi. 11, ' I said in my haste, All men are liars ; ' he speaks of Samuel and the prophets who had promised him the kingdom, and yet he was chased like a flea, and hunted like a partridge upon the mountains ; and Ps. xxxi. 22, ' I said in ray haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes.' Passion will