VOL. XX [. L
162 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeK. XXIV,
on. He is serious in his faith: 2 Tiiu. i, 12, 'For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.' Diligence in his attendance upon this business : Phil. ii. 12, ' Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.' A man that acteth for eternity should mind what he doth.
[2.] All acts of grace are put forth with difficulty, and with some strife and wrestling. In the work of faith a humble sinner hath much ado to bring his soul to a resolution, and to venture all in Christ's hand, and to settle itself in the belief of God's power, and mercy, and word, and promises made to us in Christ ; to live upon the hopes of an un- known and unseen world. For if it were an easy thing, such a power were not needful, as is spoken of, Eph. i. 19, ' And what is the exceeding greatness of his power.' We should not find such a necessity of com- plaining of unbelief, Mark ix. 24, of calling upon God to increase our faith. It would not so often fail as it doth upon every temptation, Luke xxii. 32. And what is said of faith is true proportionably of all other graces. Self-love and carnal prepossessions hinder the love of God. Like a choice flower among weeds, so is love to the brethren,' Master, spare thyself.' Now things difficult, and planted with much opposition, must needs leave a notice and an impression of themselves upon the soul.
[3.] There is a special delight that accompanieth acts of grace, because of the excellency of the objects they are conversant about ; and the excellency of the power they are assisted withal ; and the excellency and nobleness of the faculties they are acted by. Can a man be seriously dealing with God about pardon of sin, and eternal life, and not find sweetness in his work ? Heb. vi. 4, 5, ' Who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were par- takers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come.' Take a view of the promised hope, and not be affected with it ? Heb. iii. 6 * Whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of our hope firm to the end/ There is a peace and joy in believing, Kom. xv. 13, excited in us by some impression of the comforting Spirit. Three words are used to express that delightful sense which the soul hath in the exer- cise or review of good actions — comfort, peace, joy. Comfort, the nature of which is, that it doth not altogether remove the evil, but so alleviates it and assuages it that we are able to bear it. The trouble that ariseth from the sense of sin aud the fear of God's justice is not altogether removed and taken away; yet so mitigated and allayed, that we are enabled to wait upon God: 2 Cor. i. 4, 'Who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God ; ' and to go about our duties with some alacrity. Peace implieth comfort, but withal a more full degree of it ; for peace doth so calm and settle the consciences of God's children, that they are assaulted either with none, or very little fears. We call that peace in a nation when they are not troubled with foreign war, or intestine tumults, or confusions, for some long space of time : Phil. iv. 7, * The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts
VeR, 19.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN ITL 1G3
and minds, tlivougli Jesns Clirist.' Tlie next notion is joy : as peace exceeds consolation, so doth joy exceed peace, and begets a more not- able sense of itself in the soul. In peace all things are quiet, but joy addeth a notable pleasure and delight of mind. In peace the soul is in such a condition as the body when nothing paineth it ; but in joy the senses are recreated by something pleasing to them : so the soul is feasted with spiritual suavities : 1 Peter i. 8, ' Whom having not seen ye love, in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' Now all these make the work of grace more notorious to the soul.
[4.] This serious, constant, uniform, self-denying course of obedience will evidence itself; for though conscience be unobservant of particular actions, yet the course, drift, and tenor of our lives cannot be hidden from it : he that in a journey doth not count his steps, yet observeth his way ; when a man mindeth the business of going to heaven, Phil, iii. 20 ; of approving himself to God : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' This is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience ; ' 2 Cor. v. 9 ' Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.'