Fifthly, Having thus solemnly entered into covenant with God, certainly we are bound to make it good, if we would have benefit by it. For it is not enough to make covenant, but all the promises run to him that keepeth covenant. Salvation is promised not to the under- taker, but the conqueror : Rev. ii. 7, ' To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God;' and ver. 11, 'He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death;' and ver. 17, 'To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that re- ceiveth it ; ' and ver. 26, ' He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations ; ' and chap.
VeR. 29 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 13
iii. 5, ' He that overcometli, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will con- fess his name before my father and before his angels.' Therefore it is not enough to undertake, but we must perform ; it is not enough to renounce, but we must overcome, not only forsake the devil, but resist him : James iv. 7, ' Resist the devil, and he will flee from you ; ' Peter V. 9, 'Whom resist, steadfast in the faith.' We must not only renounce the flesh, but we must mortify and subdue it by the Spirit: Gal. v. 24, ' They that are Christ's liave crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof ; ' Rom. viii. 13, 'If ye, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.' We must not only renounce the world, but overcome it : 1 John v. 4, ' Whosoever is born of God over- cometh the world, and this is the victory whereby we overcome the world, even our fliith ; ' and we must be crucified to it : Gal. vi. 14, ' The world is crucified to me, and I unto the world,' and so persevere in our duty to God.
Use 1. To inform us of the nature of true faith, so to believe the pro- mises as to be ready to do what God commandeth, to obtain the benefit of them. It concerneth us very much to understand the nature of faith, for we live by it : Gal. ii. 20, ' I live by the faith of the Son of God ; ' and can we live by it and not know what it is ? What is it then ? It is such a trusting ourselves in the hands of Christ, upon a confidence of his pro- mises, that we are willing to do anything and suffer anything rather than commit the least sin, and be unfaithful to him. Or a resolution to go on with our duty, trusting ourselves entirely in his hands, what- ever dangers befall us. This is called a committing of our souls to him in well-doing : 1 Peter iv. 19, ' Wherefore let them that suffer accord- ing to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well- doing, as unto a faithful creator.' And the apostle saith, 2 Tim. i. 12, ' I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that wh^ch I have committed to him against that day.' The Israelites, when they went into the Red Sea, did entirely commit and put themselves into God's hands. It is a notable faith when we can so readily believe God, and hold on our duty with quietness, whatever evils do befall us, or whatever dangers threaten us : Ps. xxxvii. 34, ' Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall cause thee to in- herit the land.' Obey God's directions, and see how God will make good his word.
Use 2. Reproof. It condemneth several sorts of persons — 1. Those that are always urging difficulties against their duty, and pretend danger when there is no cause ; Prov. xxii. 13, ' The slothful man saith, There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.' And again, Prov. xxvi. 13, ' The slothful man saith. There is a lion in the way, a lion is in the streets.' In those countries lions were frequent, and their range was in the night, when they went forth to seek for their prey : Ps. civ. 20, 21, ' Thou makest darkness, and it is night, wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.' Now "the slothful man's pretence was, that if he should go forth too early to his labour, he should meet a lion in the very streets. Now it is used proverbially of those that urge any slight danger against their
14 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LXIII.
duty ; because sometimes the lions came into the cities and inhabited places, therefore he durst not go out of his house. There are some that will not venture a frown or a scorn for Christ, and dare not own religion, when there is no probable cause for fear ; and so are frighted out of their necessary duty, not only by real dangers, but by imaginary fears : the shadow of any trouble quite discourageth them.