Use 2. To encourage us to seek after this glorious estate, by contin- uance in well-doing with all diligence and patience. The heirs of promise are described, Eom. ii. 7, to be them ' who by patient continu- ance in well-doing do seek for honour, glory, and immortality : ' where mark — (1.) The end; (2.) The way; (3.) The manner of pursuit.
1. The end or aim is 'glory, honour, and immortality.' In all business and affairs the end must be first thought of. Now the persons who are here described propound to themselves the noblest and highest end which the heart of man can pitch upon, even glory, honour, and immortality. Among men the ambitious who aspire to crowns and kingdoms, or aim at perpetual fame by their virtues and rare exploits, are judged persons of greater gallantry than covetous muckworms or brutish epicures ; yet their highest thoughts and designs are very base and low in comparison of sincere christians, who look for glory, honour, and immortality at the last day, and whom nothing less will content
27G SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. [SeR. IX.
and satisfy than the enjoyment of God in his heavenly kingdom, and all that happiness which he hath promised to his faithful servants. The threshold would not content them, but the throne ; their end is far more noble than the designs of all the rest of the world. Others are unworthy of an immortal soul, but these carry themselves as pos- sessed with a divine spirit. All the business and bustle of others is to have their wills and pleasures for a while, as if they had neither hopes nor fears of any greater thing hereafter ; but their business is to get true glory and excellency. The apostle calleth it, 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' A far more exceeding weight of glory.' By which they vanquish all the temptations of disgrace and scorn which they meet with here in the world. The difference between the godly and the wicked is not that the one seek honour and glory, and the other not. No; they both seek honour and glory, but the one seek it in the present world, and the other in the world to come ; the one seek it in vain things, the other in solid and substantial blessedness ; the one seek it in corruptible things, outward pomp, and a fair show in the flesh, and renown in the world ; if our fame survive us, what good will it do us when we are dead ? Alas ! it is but a poor shadow of that eternal glory and honour which Christ will put upon the saints. The glory of the other world is immortal and never withering, the glory and honour of this world is uncertain ; their Hosanna is soon turned into a Grucifige, Crucify him : 2 Sam. xix. 43, with 2 Sam. xx., 'We have ten parts in the king, and more right in David than ye ; ' but in the next verse, ' We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jesse ; every man to his tents, 0 Israel/ They who but now claimed ten parts in David presently disclaimed and disowned all interest in him, as having no part in him at all ; so suddenly are men's affections and esteem of us altered. But the saints look higher; they seek glory, honour, and immortality, or a glory which will abide with them, and they with it, to all eternity. Their design is, that ' Their faith may be found to praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Christ,' 1 Peter i. 7. Then the saints shall be much commended and gloriously rewarded, which doth abun- dantly recompense and make up all the shame and disgrace of their trials.
2. The way they take or means they use to attain it, ' By continu- ance in well-doing.' A good design without a good way will come to no effect ; therefore, next to the fixing of a right end, we must choose a right way ; and if we desire glory, honour, and immortality, we must follow the course that leadeth to it. The apostle saith it is by well- doing and continuance therein.
[1.] For well-doing; that must be stated. The world is filled with ill notions ; every man applaudeth himself in his course, be it never so vain. The covetous, the ambitious, the dissolute, when they think they thrive in their several ways, they think they are well : Ps. xlix. 18, ' Though whilst he lived he blessed his soul, and men will praise thee when thou doest well for thyself.' A man's own self-deceiving_ heart measureth good and evil by his present affections and condition in the world. The brutish worldling applaudeth himself in his way when it succeedeth, he doth well because he thriveth in the world. The glutton thinketh he doeth well when he maketh much of and pam-
YER. 10.] SEIVMOXS UPON 2 THESSALOXIANS I. 277
pereth bis flesh, and hath wherewithal to do it; the ambitious ap- plaudeth himself in his fortune, that he gets the honour that he sought after ; the prodigal when he spendeth, thiuketh he doeth well ; and the covetous when he spareth, thinketh he doeth well. Thus men set up their own fancies as their rule. No ; that is well-doing when we dis- charge our duties to God, and that really turneth to our eternal good. We do well when we walk according to the rule, which is the will of God, revealed by the light of nature and scripture ; then only we do well when we act agreeably to those obligations which lie upon us by virtue of the law of God, or the rule which he hath given us in his word. Some duties concern our entrance into the christian state, others our progress in it.