[3.] This suiteth with the nature of the conditional and baptismal covenant. There is an absolute covenant whereby God promiseth to give faith to the elect, and a conditional covenant sealed in baptism, wdierein it is said that ' He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,' Mark xvi. 16. Now by this covenant none can be believers or disciples of Christ, but those that forsake all for Christ's sake : Mat. xiii. 45, 46, ' The kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant-man seek- ing goodly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.' Christ knew the nature of faith better than we do. Many cheapen the pearl of price, but do not go through with the bargain, because they do not sell all to pur- chase it, all that is inconsistent with this choice and trust. So Luke xiv. 26, ' If any man come unto me, and hate not father, and mother, and brother, and sister, yea, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple.' Shall we think to go to heaven at a cheaper rate, after such express declarations of the will of Christ? All christians are not called to lhis, but all must be ready for this : Eph. vi. 15, ' Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ; ' Actsxxi. 13, 'I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus ; ' 1 Peter iii. 15, ' Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.' This every disciple must be, prepared to undergo martyrdom if God calls him to it.
[4.] I prove it by the instances of believers, ordinary and extraor- dinary. Faith was ever a venturing all and a forsaking all upon God's veracity and truth of his promises.
(1.) Extraordinary. Noah had but God's bare word for the flood, Heb. xi. 7, yet notwithstanding the mocks of the incredulous world, with vast expense and care he prepareth an ark, which was the pre- .scribed means to save himself and household. Abraham leaveth his father's house, though he knew not whither God would call him, Heb. xi. 8. Here was venturing all on God's fidelity ; and afterwards we read that he was ready to off'er Isaac, leaving the way to God how to fulfil his promises, ver. 17, 18. So the Israelites passing through the Red Sea, ver. 29, there they put their all into God's hands, when upon
124 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIAXS I. 3.
his word themselves and little ones and all their substance ventured into the great deep. So Christ's trial of the young man : Mark x. 21, ' Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven,' &c. ; but the promise of eternal life and great treasure in heaven could not part the young man and his great estate.
(2.) Ordinary. Moses : Heb. xi. 24-26, ' By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to en- dure the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of reward.' So those that the apostle speaketh of, Heb. x. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye liave in heaven a better aad an enduring substance.' They had such a faith in Christ, that though they had lost their goods, yet because they lost not Christ and the hopes of heaven by him, they thought themselves happy enough. So Paul's quitting all honour and respect with his countrymen : Phil. iii. 8, ' I count all things but dung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.' It is endless to instance in all, but this is enough to show you that the true believers are still known by their self-denial. But you ' will say, if this be necessary to the very truth and being of faith (as certainly it is), how shall we know our growth, for we can but forsake all ? I answer — By your readiness and willingness to part with all for Christ. The weakest believer can part with no more but all, but the stronger this faith is, he doth it with the more readiness of mind, and with least defaults in his duty and blots in his fidelity to Christ. Would you know then whether your faith be strong or weak ? know it by this — The more you can adhere to Christ, whatever temptations you have to the contrary, if you can venture not only some, but all things, upon the account of the promise of eternal life —
{1st.) Deny the sinful pleasures of the flesh ; they were never worth the keeping. If 1 cannot deny a littf j vain pleasure, what can I deny for Christ ? Surely momentary delight is bought too dear if it must be bought with the loss of eternal joys. Esau is represented as a pro- fane person, that sold his birthright for one morsel of meat, Heb. xii. 15. If the vain delights of the world prevail so with men that all the promises of the gospel cannot reclaim them, these comply with the motions of the flesh, which is importunate to be pleased, but have no sense of the offers of Christ, who calleth upon us to save our souls. The true christian is a stranger and pilgrim on the earth, whose mind and heart is set upon better things, which are to come, 1 Peter ii. 11. Upon the security of God's word, he is taking his journey into another world.