Use 2. To exhort you sincerely to believe this testimony, that you may make out your title to eternal life. It is now a testimony to us : Mat. xxiv. 14, ' This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.' If we receive it not, hereafter it will be a testimony against us : Mark xiii. 9, ' They shall deliver you up to the councils, and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten ; and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.' You are told of the punishment of the wicked and of the reward of the sanctified. Now you must assent to these things with your minds, that you may embrace the happiness offered with your affections, and practise the duties required with all diligence and seriousness. Dead opinions will never be taken for true faith ; such dead opinions as are begotten in us by education, and the tradition of the country where we live, and possibly by some common illumination of the spirit, but have no life and seriousness in them : James ii. 14, c What will it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith ? can faith save him ? ' men may stand to it with great instance that they do believe, but it is but a dead opinion, therefore not saving.
Two sorts will never be allowed for true believers — (1.) The care- less ; (2.) The unsanctified.
1. The careless. They do not contradict the testimony of Christ, rather than positively believe it ; talk by rote after others, but never seriously consider either the truth or weight and importance of the things which are to be believed : Mat. xiii. 19, ' When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart,' ov awiei, do not consider the necessity, end, and use of this doctrine. Faith is God's work : Acts xvi. 14, ' Lydia, who worshipped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things spoken of Paul.' If you would be counted believers, you must rouse up yourselves : Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ? ' &c.
2. The unsanctified. Both the characters in the text. The contrary
284 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONTANS L [SER. X.
practice is a denying of the faith, 1 Tim. v. 8, that cannot endure this strict life, love a sinful, sensual life, coldness in duty. The strength of your faith must appear by the fervour of your duties and seriousness of your endeavours, 2 Thes. i. 11, 12. If there be cold prayers and carnal conferences, slightness in religion, it shows you do not believe the gospel. You may know a believer by his affection, diligence, self-denial, and his faith and fear ; as Noah : Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith Noah, being warned of God of tilings not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark/ &c.
SEKMON X.
Wlierefore also ive pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the pleasure of his goodness , and the work of faith with power. — 2 Thes. i. 11.
The apostle had given thanks for them, ver. 3 ; now he prayeth for them. He gave thanks for the work begun and carried on hitherto ; he prayeth now that God would perfect the work of salvation begun in them of his mere mercy. Love and power began this work, and love and power still carry it on. In his thanksgiving he saith, ' We thank God always for you, brethren ; ' and in his prayer, ' We pray always for you.' That is said to be done always which is often done, upon all meet occasions. If you have any success, we always give thanks for you ; if any fear or danger of receding from the faith, we always pray for you. The apostle durst not trust the event or force of his own ministry, nor the experiment of their sincerity, but ascribeth all to God, commendeth all to God ; the beginning, progress, and end of our salvation cometh from him alone. They had begun well, there- fore he blesseth God ; that they might end well, he prayeth to God, ' Wherefore also we pray always for you/ &c.
The matter of his prayer is delivered in three expressions, ' That our God,' &c. All which intimate — (1.) A double cause ; (2.) A double effect.
1. The double cause — (1.) God's free goodness ; (2.) Infinite power. God's goodness appointed this happiness for us ; his power bringeth us to the enjoyment of it.
2. The double effect— (1.) Perseverance in their duty ; (2.) Attain- ment of everlasting happiness. All the expressions concern both end and means.
Now, that I may give you the full meaning of the text, I shall first lay down a general observation ; secondly, open the three expressions, which contain the matter of the apostle's prayer.
For the general observation, take it thus —
Doct. That the whole business of our salvation floweth from the plea- sure of God's goodness, and is effectually accomplished by his divine power.