2. In our passive obedience. We are uncertain what changes we may see; it is past our skill to understand the methods of providence. We know not what God will do with us ; but whatsoever he doth, you must say, ■ If by any means I might attain the resurrection of the dead.' If we never suffer, we must be sure to have a heart to suffer if God call us to it. You may be saved without suffering, yet not without a heart that is willing to suffer, if God put you upon it : Acts xxi. 13, ' I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' We must be ready. Some cannot suffer a scoff, a frown, or a scorn. This part also doth much concern us in the Lord's supper ; because —
[1.] Here we renew our belief of the promise of eternal life : John vi. 39, 40, ' And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life ; and I will raise him up at the last day.' Christ hath engaged his fidelity to take charge of our very dust, and to gather it up again, and to give a good account of it at the last day, and raise it up in glory. Our death and rotting in the grave doth not make void his interest, nor cause his affection to cease. Though we die, Christ is still living, and under this obligation to God, and engaged to us by his promise to us, and inclined by his love to receive our dead bodies.
[2.] Here we come to make application of Christ : John vi. 54, ' Whosoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.' A sincere application of Christ begins that life which shall be perfected by the vision and fruition of God, and he will raise us up that we may enjoy the perfection of it.
[3.] Here we come to bind ourselves by any means to seek after this life, to make a full resignation to give up ourselves to be what God would have us to be, and to do what God would have us to do.
[4.] Here we come to get that peace which may enable us to en-
VER. 11.] SERMONS UPON' PHILIPPIAN3 III. 73
counter all troubles which may befall us in our way to heaven : Eph. vi. 15, ' Having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.' No going to heaven without this shoe. When the quarrel is taken up between God and us, we can -the better bear the frowns of the world. He calleth it the ' gospel of peace/ because it mainly dependeth on the terms of grace revealed to us in the gospel or new covenant. The law discovereth the enmity and breach, but the gospel discovereth that peace and friendship may be had. He calleth it the ' preparation,' because this peace breedeth a firmness and resolution to go through all difficulties, and hardships, and crosses : Acts xxi. 13, ' I am ready, not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem ; ' 1 Peter iii. 15, ' And be ready to give an answer to every man of the hope that is in thee.' The peace renewed between God and sinners breedeth a resolution to hold on our way to heaven, not broken with crosses and continual hardships.
Use 3. When we are actually tried we must do four things —
1. Be sure you do not ask counsel of the flesh ; that will prompt us to present ease. The voice of it is, Favour thyself, love the present world. Ease is pleasing to flesh and blood. We are all by nature addicted to sensuality, or the gratifying of the senses ; to say with Issachar, Gen. xlix. 15, ' That rest is good.'
2. Get a right esteem of this world : 1 Cor. vii. 29, ' The fashion of the world passeth away.' It is momentary and fading, and can never give us full content.
3. Look not to the state in which we are, but to that to which we are a-going. God is preparing us for this felicity. And set faith, hope and love a- work.
[1.] Faith, to see it as present. We have it in the promise, though not in possession: Heb. xi. 1, 'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' You see not the world to come that you are passing to, but faith believeth the reality of it.
[2.] Hope, which is an earnest expectation, a looking joined with waiting : 1 Peter i. 13, ' Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;' Titus ii. 13, 'Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.' Think often what you must be and do and possess for ever.