But is any so impudent as to put the lie upon God ? I answer — Yes : 1 John V. 10, ' He that believeth not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.' AVe accuse him not only of a lie, but of perjury —
[1.] By our carelessness, and the little regard we have to those great and precious promises that he has given us. Great things are offered, and you look upon them as notions and fancies. It was otherwise with the patriarchs of old: Heb. xi. 13, 'All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them,' We cast off the tenders of grace, as matters of which we never made any great account. We grasp after the world, and let heaven go ; when we mind it not, we believe it not. A man toileth hard all day for a small piece of silver ; do we seek heaven with a like earnestness ? How many adventures do merchants run, when the gain is uncertain ! But we are not uncertain of our reward: 1 Cor. XV. 58, ' Forasmuch as ye know that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.' Did we more steadfastly believe this, we should not be so cold in duties, and so bold in sinning,
[2.] By our despondencies in all cross providences. We have a sure word, and why are we up and down, and so full of distractions and unquietness of soul? James i. 8, 'A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,' unsettled in all his thoughts, uneven in all his ways, raised up and cast down with contrary hopes and fears, off and on, as worldly things ebb and flow. We shall never want discouragements ■ if we live upon sense, but if we could live upon the promises, we should not be at such a loss. The fruit of faith in the promises is strong con- solation, too strong to be overcome by sin, death, or hell. A believer is content with the promises, though all the world say, No : 2 Cor, i. 20,
SERMON'S UPON HEBREWS VI. 18 307
' For all the promises of God in him are, Yea, and in him, Amen/ Yea to our hopes, Amen to our desires. AVhatever changes happen, the promises are the same ; upon desire of such a thing, Amen, saith the promise ; upon hope of such a thing, Yea, saith the promise. In difficult cases you ask of the creatures, they say, No, but the promise saith, Yea.
[3.] When we will venture nothing on the promises. Christ told the young man of treasure in heaven, and he went away sad ; he doth not like such a bargain: Luke xviii. 22, 23, 'Sell all that thou hast,- and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come follow me. And when he had heard this, he was very sorrowful, for he was very rich.' Thus God dealeth with us : Prov. xix. 17, ' He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again ; ' Eccles. xi. 1, ' Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.' But the words and engagements of men, that deceive and are deceived, are esteemed above them. We would trust a man of sufficiency upon his bond with hundreds and thousands, if we have his hand and seal to show for it, but we refuse God's assurance. Who is careful to provide bags that wax not old, and to draw over his estate into the other world ? Luke xii. 33, ' Sell that ye have, and give alms ; provide yourselves bags that wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.' What adventures do you make upon God's bond or bill ? Do you account no estate so sure as that which is adventured in Christ's hands ? Can we believe the promises, and part with nothing for them, with neither our lusts nor our interests ?
[4.] When temporal things work far more than eternal things, visible things than invisible. If we had such promises from men, we would be more cheerful. If a beggar did hear of a great inheritance fallen to him, he would often think of it, rejoice in it, long to go see it. We have a promise of eternal life, who thinks of it, or puts in for a share of it ? We are contented with any slight assurance in matters of such weight. Men love great earnest and great assurance in temporal affairs, but any slight hope serves the turn in spiritual affairs. Why do we so little rejoice in it ? If the reversion of an earthly estate be passed over to us, how are we contented with such a conveyance ! but God hath made over pardon and grace, and we are not satisfied.
[5.] Our confidence bewrayeth it. The pretended strength of our faith about Christ and hopes of glory showeth the weakness of it, and that it is but a slight overly apprehension. Most men will pretend to be able to trust God for pardon of sin and heaven, and yet cannot trust God for daily bread ; they find it difficult to believe in temporals, and yet very easy in spirituals and eternals. What should be the reason ? Heaven and things to come are greater mercies, the way of bringing them about more difficult ; if conscience were opened, and the heart serious, they are more hardly obtained ; there are more natural pre- judices against our coming to Christ, and coming to heaven. The whole earth is full of his goodness. God feedetb all his creatures, even the young ravens that cry ; there is not a worm but he provides for it ; but he pardoneth but a few, blesseth but a few with spiritual blessings,