SERMON UPON MATTHEW XIX. 30. 43
4. la matters of religion it may bear a good sense, that God's latter dispensation is better than the former, and those that live under it ex- cel the other.
[1.] Our condition under the covenant of grace is better than that in innocency under the covenant of works ; as a vessel that is soldered is strongest in the crack, or an hedge that is mended is more firmly fenced than it was before the gap or breach. Take, for an instance, Adam and Job. Job is more happy in his misery than Adam in bis inno- cency ; he was victorious on the dunghill, when the other was defeated on the throne ; he gave no ear to the counsel of his wife : Job ii. 10, ' Curse God, and die,' when the woman seduced Adam. He despised the assaults of Satan, when the other suffered himself to be worsted at the first temptation ; he preserved his righteousness in the midst of his sorrows, when the other lost his innocency in the midst of paradise, where he had all manner of delights and pleasures. So that the grace of the Redeemer doth much excel the innocency of Adam.
[2.] The last edition of the covenant doth excel the former, and they that live under the gospel of Christ are in a much better condi- tion than those that lived under the economy of ]\Ioses. They had more of outward prosperity, but these have more of the Spirit. They were more exempted from suffering, but these are more fortified against suf- ferings ; Christ hath not taken away the fight, but secured the victory ; and though all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer perse- cution, yet they have an hundredfold in this life, and in the world to come life everlasting : ' For many that are first shall be last, and the last first,' Mark x. 30, 31.
5. In matters of religion some may have the precedency of others ; either — (1.) In reality and truth; or (2.) In appearance only; or in their own opinion ; or in the opinion of others.
[1.] In reality and truth. Some may have the precedency two ways; either — (1.) As to time ; (2.) As to zeal and fervency in the profes- sion of religion.
(1.) As to time. As they began sooner, or have served God longer, so they are first. Surely this is a precedency and a privilege. The apostle saith of Andronicus and Junia, they * were in Christ before him,^ Eom. xvi. 7 ; Eph. i. 12, ' That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.' Those who do not retard or delay their conversion, but are converted early to God, are more obliged by his mercy to serve and honour him, because he did so soon break off the yoke of their slavery to sin and Satan, and also they take the way to honour and obey God sooner than others that yet lie in their sins. They are sooner capacitated to serve him, and therefore it is their honour and glory that they are first.
(2.) As to zeal and fervency in the profession of religion. Some are in the first rank of christians, and are more forward than others ; as the apostle made boast of the forwardness of the Corinthians, and thereby stirred up other people, yet was afraid this boasting might seem a vanity and over-confidence of them : 2 Cor. ix. 2-4, ' For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago ; and your zeal hath pro- voked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of
44 SERMON UPON MATTHEW XIX. 30.
you sliould be in vain in this behalf ; that, as I said, ye may be ready : lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, you) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.' This the apostle doth lest the rich Corinthians would be disgraced before the poor Macedonians, the business cooled again ; he- was forced to quicken them. We see many in their youth are emi- nently zealous, willing to run all hazards with Christ ; but when their first heats are spent, grow worldly, careless, if not greatly profane, and are strangely withered and blasted in their age.
6. Those that have these advantages of being first may become last.
[1.] Some that come after them in time may exceed them in labour and christian diligence; and though the other keep up the life of grace still, yet they may be much outshined, and outstripped ; as, for in- stance, these apostles of our Lord who left their all, and seemed to de- serve so much of him, were exceeded by Paul, who professed himself to be ' one born out of due time,' 1 Cor. xv. 8, yet laboured more abun- dantly than they all, ver. 10. Well, then, the first may be last; though called sooner, yet may do less service than those that were called after- wards ; so to be last doth not imply a loss of grace, but an excellency in latter converts.