It is not good to cast off all conceit, and all hope of any man living. The worst sign is, when we see men malicious, and oppose known truths, because it comes near the sin against the Holy Ghost ; but because we may err in that, it is good to take the safest way. But where we see e\4dences of grace, though in never so little a measure, let us entertain and cherish a good hope ; because it will cherish that which we are all bound to, to love one another. We are bound to love one another, and to shew all the offices of love. Now that which stirs up love and all the offices of love, is hope. Faith works by hope, as well as by love. Faith works by love in all duties ; and it works by hope in this duty. If we hope that God will have mercy on them, that will stir up our endeavour ; but we are not much in this error : we are rather ready to conceit over- well, than too ill of men.
* I trust you shall acknowledge to the end.' Saint Paul here, besides his good conceit of them to the end, doth imply his own resolution and purpose to hold on in good courses to the end. My trust in God's grace is, that you shall acknowledge to the end what I have written to you of mine own courses. As if he had said, I am Paul now, and you shall find me Paul hereafter ; you shall find me always an honest man like myself; for as he whom I have trusted ' is yesterday, to-day,' to-morrow, ' and the same for ever,' so likewise by God's grace I hope to be the same that I have been, I hope I shall be hke myself.
The grounds of St Paul's trust that he should be so, is partly the act itself, together with the endeavour, ' I trust ' I shall be so ' to the end ; ' because I trust in God to the end, and God is good to them that trust in him. How often is it repeated in the Psalms ! ' He is the God of them that trust in him,' Ps. xxxvii. 3 ; ' he is a sun and a shield,' Ps. Ixxsiv. 11 ; he is all that is good, and he keeps away all evil. All the promises are entailed to trusting in God. Now because I have confidence in it that God will do so, I stir up my endeavour to shew that it is not a presumptuous trust. I trust in him that will perform the conditions of the covenant which is made to them that honour him by trusting in him.
St Paul knew what God had done. He knew that he that had bestowed the first fruits, he would make up the harvest ; he knew that he that had laid the first stone, he would set up the roof ; he knew that God had begun a good, work in him by experience, and that he would fijiish his own work. That he knew by former experience.
And then he knew the promises of God, the promises of the covenant. Many such grounds St Paul had to bear him up that he should continue to the end in a course of simplicity and sincerity, and in the grace of God.
But withal St Paul did add a holy and heavenly course to come to this end, together with his trust. What course did St Paul take '?
St Paul, that he might hold out constantly in holy resolutions to the end,
First, he did judicioushj consider what viiffht hinder hi)n, hctween that and the end of his race and course. He balanced all things that he possibly could suffer ; and he laid in the other balance the things that he had in hope and promise ; and he resolves, all that I can suffer that should shake me off
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from my course, it is not ' worthy of the glory that shall be revealed,' Rom. \'iii. 18. Siiith he, if you balance both, you will conclude this.
There are many thiiif^'B that may shake us in our Christian course. St Paul thought of all Satan's snares, * I am not ij^niorant of his enterprises,' 2 Cor. ii. 11, saiih ho. And tlusn for the world, that mif:;ht cast trumpery in his way, saith he, ' I am crncifiiHl to the world, and the world is cruci- fied to mo,' Gal. xi. 14. And for anything,' that mif^dit happen to liim, he knew that the issue of all thinj^s should work for the best to them that love God. He includes himself, Kom. viii. 28. Saith he, we know it before- hand, we believe, before troubles or evils come ; come what will, the issue of all things is in the regiment and power of God, and as he pleaseth all shall work for the best to those that love God ; and therefore as I am, so I will be. What should hinder ? if all things help me, nothing can hinder me.
And then St Paul took this course, he looked forward still, ' I press for- ward to the prize of the high calling,' Philip, iii. 14. He forgat that which was behind, and he resolved to go fonvard. He had a mind to grow better and better alway, and this comforted him that he should hold out to the end. For it is the reward of a growing Christian to have a sweet sense of his present state of grace in God's favour, and to hold out to the end. Such a man is like the sun that grows* up still, till he come to high noon- daj, as Solomon saith, Prov. iv. 18. St Paul took this course. He strove for perfection, he had a crown in his eye, a crown of righteousness and glory, and that will not sufler a man to be idle and cold that hath such a thing in his eye. St Paul, to whet his endeavour, not only looked forward, but to glory ; for as Christ looked to * the gloiy, and despised the shame,' Heb. xii. 2 ; so St Paul looked to the crown, and despised all his sufferings.