II. The reward is eternal life. This will make amends for all. By it is meant all manner of happiness.
1. Eternal life is a freedom from all misery whatsoever, in estates^ names, relations, bodies, souls. As the body is free from all weakness, so the soul is free from all sin ; faultless, without spot or wrinkle.
2. There is a perfect and entire possession of all manner of good ; God is all in all to them.
3. This estate is to abide for ever and ever.
Use 1. Let us examine whether we be in the number of those that shall be saved. Eternal life is believed of all christians, at least with a dead opinionative belief; they do not count it a lie or a fable. Now, who are those that shall enjoy it ? for God will not give it to all.
I answer — Here is a plain note and evidence by which you may judge your claim — (1.) They are such as seek it; (2.) They seek it in a. way of well-doing ; (3.) They continue thus to do.
1. They that seek it ; for God will never bring us to heaven with- out our wills nor against our consent, nor make that man happy that doth not desire to be so ; yea, that doth not seek it in the first place.
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Now this cutteth off a great many ; all them that do nothing towards the attaining of it, and all them that seek nothing, have no settled design, but live at haphazard, as occasion offereth, and leave the boat to the stream ; that come into the world they know not why, and go out of the world they know not whither. AH such careless and inconsiderate people can have no claim ; all such have no higher end than to enjoy their sensual pleasures while they may. Besides, they that do not seek it in the first place. They do something, but it is little or nothing to the purpose. The strength and choice of their desires and endeavours are not directed this way. Eternal life must be esteemed and chosen above other things which draw our hearts, and must be chiefly sought after in our endeavours, and then something may be gathered from seeking.
2. They seek it in a way of well-doing ; not only praying for it, but living according to the dii-ections of God's holy word ; that is to say, by seeking his favour in Christ, and maintaining communion with God in the Spirit, by serious converses with him in the means of grace, governing our affections and passions, and by a constant self-denial, mortification, and temperance, getting a victory over the world and the desires of the flesh. And as to others, by carrying ourselves in all meekness and charity, without envy, malice, injury, and oppression, and doing good to all as we have opport.unity, especially, to the household of faith. This is the well-doing recommended to us in the scripture, and this is our beginning and progress towards eternal life ; for wo must apprehend it not only under the notion of glory and immortality, but under the notion of exact holiness as well as complete happiness ; under the notion of conformity to God and communion with God ; for God's will is done in heaven as well as upon earth ; and the heaven of chris- tians is to see God and to be like him. Many seem to desire it as a state of felicity, but they hate it as a state of perfect holiness (which is the better part of it), a sinless, immaculate estate. Well, then, by this part of the evidence many are excluded. Partly all those who live according to their own humours and fancies, and vain desires, and the customs of men, or the course of this world, and were never acquainted with a life of holiness spent in communion with God and subjection to his will. Partly also all they that do evil, dishonour God, oppress and wrong their brethren by violence or slanders, and live in malice and envy, who were never acquainted with self-government, or bridling their sensual and worldly desires, so that the honours, profits, and pleasures of the flesh have the pre-eminence in their esteem, choice, and practice. Partly too all those that do no good ; that have not fed, visited, clothed, relieved the destitute, comforted the afflicted : Mat. XXV. 41-45, ' Then shall he say also to them on the left hand. Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels : for I was an hungry, and ye gave me no meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink ; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in ; naked, and ye clothed me not ; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they answer him, saying, Lord, Avhcn saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee ? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as yc did it not to the least of these.
154 SERMON UPON ROMANS II. 7.
ye did it not to me.' In short, all those who yield no ohedience to God, but cast off his yoke, or that yield a partial ohedience, submit- ting it may be to outward acts of worship, but neglecting the duties of justice and charity ; or, on the other side, make conscience of duties of commerce with men, but delight not in communion with God, and trouble not themselves with seeking his favour and reconciliation bv Christ.