76 SERMON UPON ACTS VII, 53, 56.
convince the iinbelievinnj world, and to conquer the opposing wisdom and power of the flesh, John xvi. 8 ■, as also to beget and continue life in his people, that they may be actually put in possession of what he hath purchased for them ; for he hath promised to accompany the dis- pensation of the gospel with this Spirit to the end of the world : Mat. xxviii. 20, ' I am with you.' Not only by his powerful providence, but his convincing, supporting, quickening Spirit.
(2.) The second work Christ doth at the right hand of God belong- eth to his priestly office ; and that is his intercession : Eom. viii. 34, ' He sitteth at the right hand of God, making intercession for us.' As the high priest went into the holy place with blood, so Christ is gone to represent the merit of his sacrifice : Heb. ix. 24, ' Christ is entered into heaven, now to appear in the presence of God for us.' To answer the accufsations of Satan, 1 John ii. 1 ; to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, Heb. ii. 17. He doth interpose night and day to prevent breaches, to preserve a mutual correspondence between us and God, and sue out necessary grace for us in all our conflicts and temp- tations. And this not only for the church in general, but every believing soul, Heb. vii. 25, according to their particular wants, exigencies, and straits : ' He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.'
(3.) The third act respecteth his kingly office, or the actual adminis- tration of his kingdom, calling and gathering his people out of the profane world, and appointing laws to them for their direction to true happiness ; and then protecting and defending them by his divine power and providence, giving success to his cause and servants, and restraining and subduing their enemies, treading down Satan and all his instruments under their feet, disappointing their attempts, and bringing to nought their counsels, Ps. ii. ; but he doth most fully subdue them at his second coming : Phil. ii. 10, ' That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth.' Now this is a mighty encouragement. Poor creatures will be courageous in the eyes of their master, and he is ready to support and strengthen them, and able to do it. Therefore we should say, as the apostle, 2 Tim. i. 12, ' I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have com- mitted unto him against that day.'
3. The third object is heaven. Looking to heaven is a great ground of christian courage : 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' There is glory opposite to affliction ; a weight, a far more exceeding weiglit, to light affliction ; eternal, to what is momentary. Afflictions are leves et hreves, light and short ; not in themselves (for some may be grievous, and some very long) but comparatively, with respect to our glorious reward, which, being infinite, maketli them light; and being eternal, maketli them short. Alas ! no more than a point to the circumference, no more than a feather against a talent of lead. The good and evil of the present world is slight and inconsiderable, but that of the other world truly great. All the pleasures of sense are but as a may-game to our reward ; all the troubles of our obedience but as a flea-biting or the scratching of a pin to eternal torments.
SERMON UPON ACTS VII. 55, 5G. 77
[1.] The siglit of them. We have no visions and raptures, but first we have the prospect of faith. A believer, by the eye of faith, may by the perspective of the promises look witliin the veil, and see the reality of those eternal and glorious things which lie in the other world. An object, though never so glorious, cannot be seen without eyes. Now faith is the eye of the soul, Heb. xi. 1. It is defined to be ' the sub- stance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.' It is good to see how the light and sight of faith dififereth from all other lights.
(1.) Compare it with the light of sense, that can only discern things near, and present with us, and before our eyes, as that it is comfortable to eat and drink, and sleep well ; to be at liberty, and free from trouble, and to live a life of pomp and sensual pleasure and delight. The sweetness of honour, wealth, and pleasure are known easily, and known by all ; this every one can see ; but he that hath enslaved his reason to sense ' is blind, and cannot see afar off,' 2 Peter i. 9. The light of faith will discover there is no such danger as perishing for ever ; no such worth in anything as in salvation by Christ ; no such business of im- portance as seeking after eternal life.