The excellency of the heavenly kingdom. Things, the nearer the heavens they are, the purer they are. 1, heaven is a most holy kingdom : no vm- cleanness can enter there ; 2, it is a large kingdom ; and 3, an everlasting kingdom. Other men's kingdoms detennine with their persons ; perhaps they may live to out-live then- gloiy in the world, as Nero did (the king that Paul was under now, when he wrote this epistle), who came to a base end. But this kingdom can never be shaken. God's preservation shall end in eternal glory.
Use 1. Here is a special ground to God's children of perseverance in icell- doing. "What ! doth God undertake even from himself, to deliver us from evil works, which might endanger our salvation, and to preserve us until he have put us into heaven ! Where is the popish doctrine of falUng away, then ? Ohj. Oh, but I may sin, and so fall away. Sol. Aye, but God will deliver us from evU works ; he takes away that objection. He that keeps heaven for us, keeps us for heaven, till he have put us into posses- sion of it. * We are kept (we are guarded (A-), as the word is) by the power of God to salvation,' 1 Pet. i. 5. Salvation is kept for us, and we for that. If we endanger heaven any way, it is by ill works, and God keeps us from them. What a most comfortable doctrine is this !
Use 2. But, to add a second against that foolish, vain, and proud point of popish merit. We see what a strain they are in. 1. Before conversion they will have merit of congruity, that it befits the goodness of God, when we do what we can, that we should have grace. 2. When we are in the state of grace, they will have merit of condignity ; but how can that be,
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whenas free gi*ace runs along in all ? God preserves us from evil works, and preserves us to his heavenly kingdom, of his mere love and mercy. Where then is the merit of man ? Indeed, we do good when we do good, but God enables us ; we speak to the praise of God, but he opens our mouth ; we believe, but God draws our heart to it : as Austin says, we move, but God moves us.*
Use 3. I beseech you, observe fm-ther here : Hoiv complete God's favours are to his. He deals like a God, that is, fully and eternally, icith his chil- dren. If he deliver, it is from the gi'eatest evil ; if he preserve, it is to the greatest good. Who would not serve such a master ? Oh, the baseness of the \dle heart of man, that is a slave to inferior things, and afraid to displease men, never considering what a blessed condition it is, to be under the government of a gracious God, that will keep us from ill, if it be for cm- good, for ever, outwardly from evil works, inwardly from the terrors of an ill conscience, that will preserve us here in this world, and give us heaven when we have done. I beseech you, let this complete and fuU dealing of God quicken us to a holy courage and constancy in his service.
Use 4. And see here 2i point of heavenly ivisdom ; to look, when tee are in any danger, with the apostle, to the heavenly kingdom. When we are sick, look not at death. Paul cared not for that, but says he, • The Lord will preserve me to his kingdom.' He looked to the bank of the shore. As a man that goes through a river hath his eye still on the shore, so the apostle had his eye fixed upon heaven still. I beseech you therefore, in all dangers and distresses whatsoever, if you would keep your souls without discourage- ments, as 3'ou should, be much in heaven in j^our thoughts, minding the things above, and conversing with God in yom- spirits. Look to the crown that is held out to us ; let our minds be in heaven before our souls. It is a wondrous help to om- weakness in the time of trouble, not to think, I am fuU of pain, I must be turned into the grave, and rot, and what shall be- come of me then ? &c. Away with this carnal reasoning. It much weakens faith, and damps the hearts of Christians.
Use 5. Again, How doth this arm the soul with invincible courage in any trouble. God may call me to trouble, but he will preserve me in it that I shaU not stain my conscience. What a ground of patience is this! Patience is too mean a word ; what a ground of joy and triumphing is it ! * We rejoice under the hope of glory,' Eom. v. 2. A Christian should triumph in soul over all evils whatsoever, and be, as the apostle saith, ' more than a con- queror,' Rom. \dii. 37 ; considering that God will be present with him all his life long, and after that, bring him to an everlasting kingdom. What an encouragement is this ! Heaven is holy, and shall we not fit ourselves for that blessed estate ? There is much holiness required for heaven ; the sin- ful, wicked, malicious, poisonful world, lays reproaches upon holiness ; but ' without it no man shall see God,' Heb. xii. 2-1. Doth that man believe he shall obtain a heavenly kingdom, who never fits himself with holiness for it ? Oh no ; ' Faith and hope have this efficacy in the breast, wheresoever they are, to frame the heart to the thing believed.' If I believe a kingdom to be where righteousness and holiness dwelleth, this beUef forceth me to carry mj'self answerable to the state there, 2 Pet. iii. 13. And therefore, saith the apostle, ' our conversation (/) is in heaven, fi-om whence we look for the Saviour,' &c., PhiHp. iii. 20. Because he was assured of heaven, therefore he conversed as a citizen of heaven before he came there. He praised God,