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ings. But I shall give you some evidences that these great and excellent blessings are little believed.
(1.) Because we are far more swayed with temporal advantages, than we are with the promise of eternal blessings. These blessings are more excellent and glorious in their nature, more certain in their duration : 2 Peter i. 4, ' Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature.' And yet they have less influence upon us than perishing vanities. What tthouid be the reason ? Who would prefer a cottage before a palace P u lease for a year before an inheritance ? There is no compare be- tween the tilings themselves, but we are not equally persuaded of things to come, and things in hand, and of a present enjoyment. As in a pair of scales, though the weights be equal, 3'et, if the balances be not equal, a thing of less weight will weigh down a greater. Cyprian hriugelh in the devil vaunting against Christ, ' I did not die and shed my blood for them ; I had not heaven to bestow upon them, nor eter- nal hapj)ine.ss to reward them; I only propounded a carnal satisfaction in the pleasures of sin, that are but for a season, which, when they are gone, it is as nothing; and yet among all thy pensioners, 0 Christ! show me one that is so ready to follow thee as they are to follow me.' If we had faith, we would say with Paul, Eom. viii. 18. ' For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be com[)ared with the glory that shall be revealed in us ;' and as Moses, Heb. xi. 26, ' Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt ; for he had respect to the recompense of r.?ward.' But alas ! how many are there that pretend to believe as christians, and yet a little profit or pleasure in the world is enough to sway with them, to run the hazard and forfeiture of all their hopes in the world to come.
(2) Surely men do not believe heaven, because they are so little affected with it. If a beggar were adopted into the succession of a crown, he would please himself in thinking of the honoui', and hap- piness, and delights of the royal estate ; or, to put a more likely supposition, if any poor man did understand that some great inherit- ance were bequeathed to him, he would often think of it, rejoice thei'ein, long to go and see it, and take possession of it. But there is a promise of eternal life left us in the gospel of being heirs with God, and co-heirs with Christ ; and who puts in for a share, thiuketh of it, rejoiceth in the hopes of it, longs for it, taketh hold of this eternal life ? 1 Tim. vi. 18. Certainly if we were persuaded of these things, we would embrace them : Heb. xi. 13, ' These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them.'
(3.) Because we do so little labour after it. For outward advantage, let it be certain or uncertain, men will endure great pains. If the things be certain, a man toileth hard all day for a small piece of money, for a shilling or two; do we seek heaven with the like earnestness ? They that do believe will do so : Acts xxvi. 7, ' Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God night and day, hope to come.* Others do not. Or if the thing be unceitain, as with merchants: how- many hazards do they run ? Inrpiger exiremos currit mercator ad Indos. These are not uncertain ; and why do we no more abound in the work
78 THE LlFi: OF FAITH.
of the Lord ? 1 Cur. xv. 58, ' Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye 8teadf;ist and mimovable, always aboundiug in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain it) the Lord.'
(4.) Because we are contented with so sliii^ht assurance as to our title and interest: 2 Peter i. 10, 'Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure.' In matters of weight men love great earnest, great assurance. Do we labour to make all so sure aud clear as to heavenly things? Heb. iv. 1, 'Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.' We sliould put it out of all question ; as we should not come short, so we should not seem to give any a})pearance of coming short. Alas! any fond presumption or slight hope sei-veth our turn.
(5.) The pretended strength of our faith about future recompenses doth in some measure show the weakness of it, and that it is but a slight and ovei'ly apprehension. Most men will pretend to be able to trust God for their heavenly inheritance, and yet cannot trust God for their daily maintenance ; they find it difficult to believe in temporals, and yet very easy in spirituals or eternals : what should be the reason? Heaven and things to come are greater mercies, and the wjiy of bring- ing them about more difficult ; and they are not so commonly dispensed by God as temporals are, and there lie more natural prejudices against these mercies when men are serious. What ! can you easily believe that you shall live, though you die ? John xi. 25 ; that your scattered dust shall be recollected and raised up into a beaulil'ul and glorious body ? that a clod of eaith shall shine as the stars? What is more easily believed than this, that God will give you daily bread ? The whole earth is full of his goodness, and God feedeth all his crea- tures, not a worm but is sustained by his ])rovidence ; but he pardoneth but a few, saveth but a few, and blesseth but a few with S[)irilual blessings. But here is the mistake ; bodily wants are more pressing, and faith is put there to a present exercise. Men are careless of their souls, and content themselves with sonie general desii-es of ease and ho])es of eternal welfare ; and therefore it is they say they find no difficulty in believing their salvation and eternal life. Eternal life is sought in jest, talked of as a plausible fancy ; but worldly things are desired in good earnest.