[4.] Some already have got home to God upon the same terms, and in the same way in which you expect to get home to him. Think often of the happiness of the blessed, who are now enjoying what we expect, and are in possession of that supreme good which we hope for. Tliey are entered into the joy of our Lord, and have neither miseries to fear nor blessings to desire beyond what they enjoy ; they possess all that they love. And though the time of our advancement to these privileges be not yet come, yet we should look and long for it. We are all of the same family : Eph. iii. 15, ' Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.' It is but one household ; some live in the upper room, some in the lower, some in heaven, some on earth ; but we are all of the same society and community : Heb. xii. 23, ' To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven.' We are said to be already come into this fellowship, only they have gotten the start of us, and are made perfect before us, that we should follow after. We are reconciled to the same God by the same Christ: Col. i. 20, ' By him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.' And we expect our portion fiom the bounty of the same Father. If he hath been so good to that part of the family which is now in heaven, will he not be as good to the other part also ? Therefore they that are working out their salvation with fear and trembling may encourage themselves, and look upon this felicity as prepared for them, though not enjoyed by them. It will one day be their portion, as well as those others who have passed the pikes, and are now triumphing with God.
SERMON UPON EOMANS II. 7,
To them ivJio, hy patient continuance in luell-doing, seek for glory ana honour and immortality, eternal life. — Rom. ii. 7.
In this scripture we liave a plain and full character of the heirs of promise, or a short but complete description of that good which is necessary to life. The words are occasioned by the apostle's mention- ing of the righteous judgment of God, which rendereth to every man according to their works. That general mentioned in ver. G is more distinctly explained in the next verses, wherein he showeth how the righteous judge will carry himself towards the good and towards the bad in the judgment of absolution and condemnation : towards the good in the text ; toward the bad, ver, 8, ' Bat unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indig- nation and wrath.' The one is a reward of grace, and the other is a punishment awarded by his exact justice. We are to consider the first of these, the reward of grace, 'To them who, by patient con- tinuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.'
In the words observe the qualification and the reward —
1. The qualification or description of the heirs of promise.
[1.] By their end and design : they ' seek for glory, and honour, and immortality.'
2.] The means or way wherein they seek it ; by ' well-doing.' 3.] Their constancy and perseverance in that way, Kaff" vTroju.ovrjv, by ' patient continuance.'
Well, then, here is a short and full description of those who shall be saved. They are those who, out of the hope of the eternal reward, persevere in the obedience of the truth ; for they that ' continue in well-doing' are opposed to them that 'obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness,' whereby is intended those that sin against the light of nature, and refuse the direction of the gospel. So that ' well-doing' must be stated partly by the light of nature, and partly by the light of scripture ; or rather, by this latter alone, as it compriseth and ex- plaineth the other. And their constancy and patient continuance in this work is as considerable as the work itself. Continuance im})lieth a constant tenor of righteousness and holiness ; and patient continu- ance implies continuance notwithstanding temptations to the contrary, or bearing the persecutions which they underwent for the duties of the
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146 SERMON UPON ROMANS II. 7.
cliristian profession, still going on in the pursuit of that reward which Christ hath promised.
2. The reward is ' eternal life.' This they looked and this they laboured for. They were not cai-ried on upon temporal encouragements, but eternal bliss in the world to come ; and this is an excellent counter- poise against the loss or the discomforts of the present life.
Doct. That Grod will give eternal life to all those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek after it.
The point will be best opened by discussing the circumstances of the text. I shall speak — (1.) Of the qualificatiou ; (2.) Of the reward.
I. The qualification. And there I must speak —
First, Of their design and aim: they 'seek for glory, honour, and im- mortality.' In all businesses and affairs the end must be first thought of.