2, Because by this means a temptation is turned into an argument. Men doubt of the being of God, of providence, and the future estate, because of the afflictions of the good ; and this is one means to settle vou in the belief of these things. It is good to observe how differentlv men will reason from the same principles ; for the wicked draw another •conclusion hence, either that there is no God, or he hath no respect to human affairs, or that all things are governed by chance, or the like, iSo elsewhere you may see what contrary and different conclusions the ■carnal and the spiritual draw from the same premises ; as David infers the immutable certainty of God's promises : Ps. cxix, 89-91, ' For evei-, ■O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven; thy faithfulness is unto all generations. Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth: they continue this day according to thine ordinance.' But the scoffers said, * Where is the promise of his coming ? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation,' 2 Peter iii. 4. Because the frame of nature had kept one constant tenor and course, they plead for the eternity of the world, and the falsehood of the promises ; but David was hereby confirmed in the belief of God's constancy and fidelity. So from the brevity of life ; see the different -conclusions drawn from hence : 1 Cor. vii. 29, 30, ' The time is short : it remaineth that both they that have wives be as if they had none, and they that weep as though they wept not, and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not, and they that buy as though they possessed not, and they that use the world as not abusing it,' On the contrary : 1 Cor. XV. 32, ' Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.' So from the grace of God ; Jude 4, 'Turning the grace of God into lascivious- ness ; ' compared with Kom. vi. 1, ' Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?' So also, 2 Sam, vii. 2, 'I dwell in an house of cedar
142 SERMONS UPON 1 CORINTHIANS XV. 39.
Lilt the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.' Observe tlie workings of David's heart : The I^ord liath built me a stately house, but what have I done for God ? But those Avretches, Hag. i. 2, ' This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be Ijuilt.' So 1 Sam. iii. 18, ' It is the Lord; let him do Avhat seemeth him good ; ' compared with 2 Kings vi. 33, ' Behold, this evil is of the Lord ; why should I wait for the Lord any longer ? ' See Prov. xxvi. 9, * As a thorn goetli up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.' All is as the heart is.
3. Because if the perverse carringe of things now be not a confir- mation to your faith, it will at least be an help to your meditation. Improve the argument as it was set forth before, by your most serious thoughts; thus: Surely there is a God; he is wise, holy, just, and good, and v/ould not impose duty upon a man, but he hath encourage- ments and rewards to quicken him to the performance of it. Few christians are so firm and strong in believing but they may find it a prop to their faith. Certainly all are so barren of thoughts that they will find it an help to their meditation. Would God make laws with a sanction of penalty and reward, and never look after them more ? Doth he delight in the prosperity of his servants or their afflictions ? Would he raise hopes and desires which he never meant to satisfy ? give the wicked power to afflict and vex his people, and never call them to an account ? bid us venture our all for him, and give us no recom- pense ? If such thoughts were more frequent with us, God would bless them to the increase of faith, love, and hope.
Use 3. Is to persuade us to live in the constant hopes of this blessed estate in the life to come. Hope is a certain and earnest expectation of the promised blessedness. Let me show you — (1.) The necessity of this hope ; (2.) The encouragements of it,
1. The necessity that the hope of eternal glory should always be cherished in us.
[1.] Because it is a special act of the new nature : 1 Peter i. 3, 'Who hath begotten us to a lively hope.' As soon as we are children, we look for a child's portion. The new nature presently discovereth itself by its tendency to its end and rest, which is the fruition of God in heaven. Indeed, the scriptures speak of a twofold hope — one that is the imme- diate effect of regeneration, and flows from our acceptance of the new covenant, and dependeth upon the conditional offer of eternal life ; we' take it for our happiness, resolving to seek it in God's way ; without this we are not new creatures. There is another hope, which is the fruit of experience, and belongetli to the seasoned and tried christian, who hath approved his own fidelity to God, and hath had much trial of God's fidelity to him. This is spoken of, Kom. v. 4, 'Patience worketh experience, and experience hope.' This produceth not a con- ditional certainty, but an actual confidence of our own salvation. The former is more necessary, for we live by it, but this is very comfortable.