4. To embrace it with all affection : Acts ii. 41, ' They received the word gladly ;' aa/Jbevco<;. It is good news to a poor hungry con- science to hear of a pardoning God, and a merciful and faithful Kedeemer, and the offers of eternal life, and a sure way pointed out how to come at it ; it is the rejoicing of their souls. Therefore we must embrace it with hearty and unfeigned affection. The gospel is not only true, but good ; therefore to be received with the dearest affection. Christ is not only to be received understandingly, but heartily, 1 Tim. i, 15. Many relish not the gospel because their affections are pre-engaged. Swine prefer swill before better food.
5. To build our hope and confidence thereupon while we continue with patience in well-doing, I join both together, because resolutions of duty (in a sound heart) are always mingled with expectations of mercy. Such a good being offered under conditions, we are to per- form the conditions ; they that believe shall have the good things promised ; Ps. cxix. 166, ' Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.' None doth rightly rest and rely upon Christ but he that resigneth up himself to his service. Comforts are in order to work, and are never needed nor felt but while we are working. It is the laborious man that hungereth and hath an appe- tite. The last ground, which is the good ground, is that honest heart which, having heard the good word, keepeth it, and bringeth forth fruit with patience, Luke xviii. 15. This is to receive the testimony of Christ, when heart and conscience give way to it, and we sufter it to sway us to obedience, when the word dwelleth plenteously in us, ruling in our hearts. The degrees make way for one another ; attentive audience for knowledge; knowledge for faith or assent ; assent to the truth and goodness of wliat Christ offereth in the name of God, for
A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33. 387
embracing and prosec ition, and that for the subjection of the whole man and coustaut reliance upon God in the exercise of holiness. We must receive the precepts with a resolution to practise them ; the promises with a resolution to depend on them as our only happiness.
Tliirdly, He that thus receiveth doth ratify the truth of God, and solemnly bear witness to it. Here I shall — (1.) Speak of the manner of ratifying and confirming ; and (2.) Of the matter confirmed.
1. The manner of ratifying and confirming. It is not said, believed, or confessed, or protested, but ea^pwyiaev, 'hath put to his seal.* Those things that we doubt off we are not wont to confirm with our seal, but those things which we are assured of, and would have others to look upon as firm and authentic. Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, 1 Kings xxi. 8, to give them the greater credit. Nehemiah, when he had renewed his covenant with God, he and the princes and Levites and priests sealed it, Neh. ix. 38. So Esther viii. 8. ' Write ye also for the Jews in the king's name, and seal it wutli the king's ring ; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.' So Jer. xxxii. 10, ' I subscribed the evidence and sealed it.' But then here ariseth a doubt : How can we confirm the truth of God, and make it more authentic ? for God is worthy of credit though no man believes him ; he needeth only to say, Teste meipso : if he must stand to man's courtesy. Turn Deus si homini non placuerit, Deus non erit I as Tertullian saith in a like case. Again, what credit can the testimony of God have from man's seal, who deceiveth and is deceived ? I answer — It is not out of need, but out of condescension. God's truth is the same in itself, and needeth not our confirmation ; but he will put this honour upon us, that we should as far as we can honour his truth by our subscription. It is our honour that our testimony is taken in so great a matter. God is true, though every man be a liar, Eom. iii. 4 ; but our sealing is of great use and profit both to ourselves and others.
[1.] To ourselves ; to bind us more firmly to believe that doctrine, and live according to it, which we have owned and ratified by our own consent. You do, as it were, give it under hand and seal that you are one that will stand to this faith, and expect comfort and privilege by this covenant : Isa. xliv. 5, ' One shall say, I am the Lord's, and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord.' When you assent unto and embrace this doctrine, you subscribe to the God of Jacob, and give up your names to be entered into his muster-roll, and registered into the church-book of the first-born :■ Ps. Ixxxvii. 6, 'The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.' God hath his lease-book, wherein all that belong to him are registered. Now you do, as it were, under hand and seal list and enrol yourselves in his service, and, as a member of Christ's mystical body, engage your- selves to perform duty, and to wait for the comfort of the promises.