350 SERMON UPON 2 TIMOTHY II. 19.
sense, for the foundation of an house ; in the lawyer's sense, for the foundation of an estate which I expect from another, upon any bargain' or contract with him : the evidences and deeds of conveyance are the foundation which I have to build upon for my right and title. Now, to take ' foundation ' here in the builder's sense, would make but an odd interpretation in this place. Whoever heard of the sealing of the foundation of an house, and inscriptions on that seal ? And therefore * foundation ' is taken here for a covenant or bill of contract ; as also, 1 Tim. vi. 19, * Laying up in store for yourselves a good foundation' against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.' It would be incongruous to take ' foundation ' there in the builder's sense, as if good works were the foundation of eternal life. No ; they are only the evidences and assurances of it. The notion of a bond or obligation is more proper. Upon a contract I found or build my con- fidence of expecting good from another ; so, Prov. xix. 17, ' He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again.' Lending noteth some contract and promise, and expectation grounded thereon ; so here, * The foundation of God ' is his bill or bond, which is as a pledge or security left with us ; and thereby is not meant so much God's eternal purpose of election, a» his covenant, that deed and instrument of law by which he conveyeth- pardon and life to us. Now this may be considered two ways — either as offered or applied ; either as externally preached according to the- approving or commanding will of God, or as acted and effectually applied to the hearts of the elect according to the decree of God. As offered, so the proposition asserts the immutability of the gospel cove- nant, contrary to the doctrine and offence occasioned by these false teachers ; as applied, so it asserts the perseverance of the saints ; both which are confirmed by the seal annexed. Both are contrary to the scandal offered by these false teachers. They denied the resurrection, or hopes of the other world. God will give the blessings promised to his people ; if they suffer here, or be miserable here, they shall be happy hereafter. The covenant is applied against the offence ; God would be faithful, if they would be vigilant; and he would preserve them in a state of grace, though others did fall away. Well, then, the truth which we are to discuss is, that God's covenant will be sure, firm, and stable, to all those that are sincerely entered into the bond of it. It must needs be so.
1. It is everywhere sure on God's part ; and,
2. He will make it sure on our part. If he will not depart from us, and we shall not depart from him, surely then it is steadfast.
1. On God's part there is no danger of failing. There is his eternal love, backed with an infinite power, and engaged by an infallible truth. God's love and mercy were the only reasons which engaged him to make this covenant with us ; the pleasure of his will gave it a being, and his truth is engaged to make it good : Micah vii. 20, ' Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.' The promise was out of mercy given to Abraham, with whom the covenant was first made ; but out of truth and fidelity it descended to Jacob, and was established with his seed. In the managing of the same covenant God showed his power i
SERMON UPON 2 TIMOTHY II. 19. 35 1
Gen. xvii. 1, * I am God all-sufficient.' That solved all difficulties to- Abraham. We have the same grounds to depend upon in the- covenant made with the christian church in the promise of eternal life. Surely Christ would not feed us with chimeras, who was ever plain- hearted and open with his disciples : John xiv. 2, ' If it were not so, I would have told you.' He meaneth. as he speaketh, and persisteth in the same mind, and is able to make his word good. His everlasting love provided this happiness for us before the world was : Mat. xxv. 34, ' Then shall the king say to them on his right hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' So Luke xii. 32, 'Fear not, little flock; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' It is secured by the promise of the faithful God, and he hath confirmed it by an oath : Heb. vi. 18, ' That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible- for God to lie, we might have strong consolation. Yea, and it is possessed by our surety and head in our name : Heb. vi. 20, ' Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec' And the power of God is engaged to prevent the dangers by the way : 1 Peter i. 5, ' Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.' Heaven is kept for us, and we for it ; which power of God is engaged to solve all the difficulties about the end and happiness itself : Phil. iii. 21, ' Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.' So that on God's part it is sure. They that have the word of the eternal God to build upon, do build upon a sure foundation : Ps. Ixxxix. 34, ' My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.' It is compared with the stability of hills and mountains: Isa. liv. 10, 'For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall never depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.' It is compared also with the covenant of night and day, which cannot be disannulled by any created power : Jer. xxxi. 35, 36, ' Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar, the Lord of hosts is his name : If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever;' Jer. xxxiii. 20, 21, ' Thus saith the Lord, If you break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the- night, and that there should not be day and night in their season, then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant.'