2. It is a new recovery of life lost and forfeited. After our long exile from God, he hath found out a way how we may return to him again, and live in communion with him. The work of redemption Christ himself hath performed for us, without asking our consent, or imposing any conditions upon us. He took our nature, fulfilled the law, satisfied the offended lawgiver, merited grace, conquered death, the devil, and hell. But to apply the comfort of these benefits, some- what is required of us ; for a neglected Christ will not profit us. Of how much sorer punishment shall we be thought worthy if we despise God's second dispensation ? Then to the breach of our duty will be added the slighting of our remedy : John iii. 18, ' He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.' And if salvation itself cannot save us, nor life quicken us, what will become of us ? If God offereth his grace, and we will not lay hold of it and retain it, we are justly miserable.
20 SERMON UPON PROVERBS III. 18.
3. Here is motive enougli to recompense all tlie difficulties and troubles in getting and keeping Christ.
[1.] In getting. Christ is not to be had with a large wish or a cold prayer. There is much waiting and striving, and praying and medi- tating ere the soul is well settled, and can be brought to trample upon all things so we gain Christ. The tree in paradise was provided by God, and planted in the midst of paradise without Adam's labour: so is Jesus Christ provided for us by the mere grace of God ; but before we get to him, we must conquer guilty fears, rebellious lusts, and much averseness of heart ; many a bitter pang before we come to lay hold of this grace, which is troublesome to them which would sleep quietly in their sins. But if you will set yourselves in good earnest to get him, it will be worth your pains ; for ' he is a tree of life to them that take hold of him,' and your first faith is rewarded with a sweet taste of this blessed fruit.
[2.] In keeping. The trouble will be recompensed : Ps. cxxvi. 5, ' They sow in tears, but they shall reap in joy.' You have your temptations to overcome ; you make your way to heaven by conflict and conquest every step : ' Without are fightings, within are fears.' Now we have the wrestling life, overcoming first one difficulty and then another. We make a snare to ourselves if we look for too much satisfaction in the world : but the clearer sight we get of heaven by faith and hope, the more we are strengthened. Here we must expect our conflicts, but there our quietness and rest. Now the happiness God hath pro- vided for his people in heaven is enough to sweeten our crosses and encourage our obedience. Surely if we kept this recompense in our view it would strike temptations dead : Kom. viii. 18, ' For I reckon that the sufierings of this present time are not worthy to be com- pared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.' The reward is sufficient, though we lay down our lives for Christ ; for the case is, whether we will yield it as a debt to nature, or resign it to Christ, who hath promised to render it again with advantage.
4. There is wisdom in it. Surely they walk most wisely that are guided by God's counsel. Carnal men think their own way to be wisest, who spend all their time and care in attaining profit, and pleasure, and pre- ferment in the world. There is present advantage, and they judge the way of the godly to be mere folly, who spend their strength in looking after spiritual and heavenly things, which they count to be but fancies ; but a little time will discover this error. They who thought themselves to be the only wise men shall certainly be found to be mere fools, and the godly the wisest adventurers, whose wisdom shall be to them a tree of life. Oh, what poor things are present delights, which draw away the carnal, if compared with these choice satisfactions and pleasures which are to be had at God's right hand for evermore ! Death will soon show that they are in an happier condition that sufi'er all things for an unseen world and the life to come, than the sensual and ungodly, that have their good things here : Luke xii. 20, ' Thou fool ! this night thy soul shall be required of thee : then whose shall these things be which thou hast provided? ' Jer. xvii. 11, 'At his end he shall be a fool'
Use 2. To inform us that life is to be had and best preserved by
SEKMON UPON PROVERBS III. 18. 21
obedience and close adherence to God. Which, though it be princi- pally roeant of life eternal, which is God's gift : Rom. vi. 23, ' The gift of God is eternal life ; ' assured to us by promise, if we believe in Christ, and obey the gospel : 1 John ii. 25, ' And this is the promise that he hath promised to us, even eternal life ; ' yet in its proportion it holdeth irood of life natural also. Our life and breath is in his hand : Dan. v. 23, ' And the God in whose hand thy breath is,' to take it away or con- tinue it at his own pleasure : Ps. civ. 27, ' Thou takest away their breath, and they die.' The sound in the pipe continueth no longer than he that pipetli bloweth in it. Now obedience or disobedience are the terms of communicating or withholding of it. It is said, Job xxxvi. 6, ' He preserveth not the life of the wicked.' Though it be continued by him, yet it is not out of any respect to them. They have not a moment's assurance of the continuance thereof. If therefore we live by him, let us live to him and for him, and then, when he is pleased to put a period to this natural live, we may live for ever with him.