3. It is the charter of our hopes : John xx. 31, ' These things are written that ye might have life through his name ; ' 1 John v. 11, ' This is the record that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.' Now the work of faith is to ' lay hold upon eternal life,' 1 Tim. vi. 12 ; that is, seize upon it as ours, as assured to us by the word of God, or to take it as our happiness, and accordingly pur- sue after it : Eph. i. 13, ' In whom ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.' Now, when we choose this felicity for our portion, set our hearts upon it, make it the chief care and business of our lives to seek it, and do all as means thereunto, carry ourselves as strangers and pilgrims in the world, and look for no great matters here, but wholly depend upon God's faithful word for this happiness to come, then is faith wrought in us.
4. It is our strength and preservative against all temptations from the devil, the world, and the flesh. The word of God is the ' sword of the Spirit,' Eph. vi. 17, a weapon of excellent use in the spiritual warfare ; and it is said, 1 John ii. 14, ' Ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.' This helpeth us to ward off the blow of any temptation. When the lieart is well stocked and furnished with this word of God, you have something to oppose still to darken the splendour of the world, to check the desires of the flesh, and so do the better carry on a continual warfare and watchfulness. And so the fleshly inclination is overruled, and the profits, honours, and pleasures of the world have less force upon us. When the devil showeth the bait, and the flesh is ready to swallow it, faith showeth the hook. A belief of the word of God being of a lively and vigorous nature, produceth noble efiects in us. It casteth down all that rebelleth against God, and casteth out all that would be preferred before him : Ps. xxxvii. 31, ' The law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide.' A lively active sense of his duty is kept fresh upon his heart.
SEKMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 133
5. To be our comfort and cordial in our afflictions : Ps. cxix. 59, ' This is my comfort in my affliction, thy word hath quickened me ; ' ver. 92, ' Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in my affliction,' Heb. xii. 5 ; 'Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.' So Ps. xciv. 19, ' In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.' God's comforts are such as God allowetb, or God worketh. The matter of both is in the scriptures, though the Spirit be the author of them, and the instrument he worketh by is faith. In wants and straits how sweet is it to a believer to consider how amply we are provided for in the covenant. When God's hand is heavy upon us, and providence represents him as an angry judge, yet the covenant represents him as a father. In a time of trial, one promise of God will give you more true comfort and support than all the arguings of men.
Fourthly, The notes whereby we discern a strong and grown faith as to this property of it, its respect to the word.
1. When the consolations laid down in the word of God are more prized than any extraordinary dispensations. Certainly it is a weakness when men undervalue the comforts of the word, as slender, empty, unsatisfactory, and would have the manifestations of God's love exhibited to them in some singular and extraordinary way. Eliphaz chargeth it on Job wrongfully, Job xv. 11, ' Are the consolations of God small with thee ? is there any secret thing with thee ? ' God's ordinary way is the sure way, the other layeth us open to a snare. Surely our consci- ences are best settled in the ordinary way of God's word, in a way of faith, repentance, and close walking with God ; but as Naaman despised the waters of Jordan, so many despise the ordinary comforts, and would have signs and wonders to assure them. These may long sit in dark- ness, because if God comforts them not in their way, they will not be comforted at all. Now, though God sometimes, in condescension to his people, may grant their desires, as Christ did to Thomas, yet it is with an upbraiding of their weakness and unbelief, John xx. 28. You should acquiesce in the common allowance of God's people, lest you seem to reflect on the wisdom and goodness of God, and lay open your- selves to some false consolation and dream of comfort, while we affect new rules without the compass of the word ; especially M'hen we find not our expectations there speedily answered, like hasty patients ready to tamper with every medicine they hear of, rather than submit to a regular course of physic. Gregory telleth us of a lady of the emperor's court that never ceased importuning him to seek from God a revelation from heaven that she should be saved. Rem difficileni petivit et inutilem. It was a thing difficult, and unprofitable; difficult for him to obtain, and unprofitable for her to ask, having a surer way by the scriptures : 2 Peter i. 19, ^e^aiorepov Xoyov, ' We have a more sure word of prophecy ' than oracles. The adhering of the soul to the promises is the unquestionable way to obtain peace. Luther, as he con- fesseth, was often tempted to ask for signs or some special revelation. He tells also how strongly he withstood these temptations. Pactum feci cum Domino meo, ne mihi miftat visiones, vel etiam anrjelos; con- tentus enim sum hoc dono, quod habeo scripturam sanctam quce ahunde