454 COMMENTARY ON
as if present to the soul. It cnlargcth the soul with thanks beforehand. Therefore when the apostles speak of the glorious condition to come, pre- sently they break out into praises. As they believe, so they speak, as Peter praycth, ' l\y the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that hath begotten us again to an inheritance immortal, undcfiled, reserved for us in the heavens,' 1 Pet. i. B, 4. Ho believeth heaven is kept for him, and ho for heaven, and therefore ho praiseth God for it. If we believe the blessed state to come, we will speak the praises of God before hand ; and therefore it is the state of God's children in time to come, revealed now, that God may have present praise. Faith sets the soul in heaven in some sort, anc^ as it setteth us in heaven where Christ is our head, so it setteth us into the em- ployment of heaven ; and what is that ? To have a heart enlarged to praise God.
Likewise if we believe we will speak to men, not only to God in prayer, but of God to men, ' in the great congregation,' as the prophet speaks, Ps. xxii. 25 ; wc will not be ashamed of God, but speak to him by prayer in all things, and of his truth; and speak for him too when religion is opposed, and his children disgraced. He that hath not a word to speak of God for the benefit of others by way of edification, that hath not the spirit of pru- dence to speak a word in season, nor a spirit of courage to speak for God, I will never believe he will speak to God as he should, I will never believe he doth believe. For he that believeth, he will speak to God in prayer, and praises, and of God, and for God. Beloved, in this world God puts his cause and his truth, and the state of God's people, into our hands, and counts himself beholding to us if we will stand for him, and trieth what we will do for him, whether help him in his church and people or no. He crieth, Who will be on his side, who? as Jehu said, 2 Kings ix. 32. Spe- cially in times of opposition and lukewarm times, when there is a clouding of religion, men will be of all sides, and no side to serve their turn. There- fore ' Curse ye Meroz, for he helped not the Lord,' Judges v. 23. God thinks himself helped by us when we speak for a good cause, for a good person, for justice, for truth ; and if we will not own the cause of God in doubtfuls, God will never own us. Doth God honour u» so far as to put his cause into our hands, making himself beholding to us for his word ? And shall not we speak a word for his church, his children, but rather join with backbiters, and slandei'ers, and secret papists ? All slander her religion, her faith. What saith our Saviour Christ ? Is not that an idle thing ?* ' He that is ashamed of me before men, I will be ashamed of him before my Father which is in heaven,' Mat. x. 32, 33. They have the name of God in their foreheads. As the antichristian limbs carry his mark, so tliej that belong to Christ carry his mark ; that is, thc,v are bold for the Lord, known of their Master, to speak as to him, so for him, when occasion is offered. ' Wisdom will be justified of her children,' Mat. xi. 19, and therefore they that believe will justify wisdom, will justify the cause of religion. And they that do it not do not believe, for he that believeth will speak. Christ is called T-.oyog, the speech, the word, because as a word expresseth the mind, so Christ expresseth what is in the bosom and heart of God towards us. And as he hath truly expressed from God to us what is the Father's good pleasure to us, being the word, so every Christian must be the word to express what Christ hath done for him and for the church. And we must do this bodily, f sincerely, freely, and roundly, without ter-
* Qu. ' That is not an idle thing ' ?— G.
t That is = personally.— G. Qu. ' boldly '?— Ed,
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. IV, VER. 13. 455
giversation, equivocation, or delusion; we must be bold for a better Master. It is true out of the nature of the thing we cannot but speak. A convinced understanding and sanctified heart cannot but speak when an opportunity is offered. I wonder any should ever think to look the blessed Saviour in the face with comfort, and yet notwithstanding betray his cause, betray religion here. And therefore, I beseech you, consider the connection of these two together,-' I believe, therefore I speak.'
By this therefore I have spoken, you may learn what to judge of your natures. Those that are partial of both sides, and of neither, that count it a policy to conceal themselves, they think whatsoever shall fall out they will be sure to displease no party beforehand, that so they may have friends ; and so, to redeem a peace to themselves, they betray religion and the cause of Christ. You may say. What wisdom is that ? It is a wisdom of the flesh, and a plain discovery they have no faith at all, or at the least a very weak faith, no faith at all.