And it will put a kind of manner upon all our actions that they shall be acceptable to God. For how should we perform all that comes from us ? All should be done in sincerity, and constantly, and abundantly, and cheer-
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fully, readily, and willingly ; for God requires these qualifications in what we do. Now, what stirs us up to do all in this manner, acceptably to God, but this consideration ?
What stu's us up to do things sincerely to Christ ? He will appear in glory ; therefore let us do things that may stand with his judgment. It is no matter what the reprobates of the world judge ; let us do things so as we may stand before Christ at that day. A Christian studies to arraign himself before Christ, that he may do that that may approve him to him that shall be his judge ere long.
And so let us hold out ; we shall receive a reward. What will make us constant but this ? What makes a man sow his seed, that he scarcely can spare, but the hope of a harvest ? What makes a man run, but the victory and the crown ? So what makes a man work, but the hope of reward '? Be constant, ' for in him ye shall receive the reward if ye faint not,' Gal. vi. 9.
And so for abounding in good works, * your labour is not in vain in the Lord,' 1 Cor. xv. 58. What made Saint Paul press the abounding in good works ? * Finally, my brethren, be stedfast and unmoveable, alway abounding in the work of the Lord.' Why ? * for your labour is not in vain in the Lord.' Your bodies shall rise again ere long in glory; when Christ shall appear you shall appear, and be glorious with him. ' Therefore abound in the work of the Lord,' 1 Cor. xv. 58 ; ' sow to the Spirit,' Gal. vi. 8, and you shall reap glory. ' They that sow sparingly shall reap sparingly,' 2 Cor. ix. 6. What makes men abound in works of mercy and love, but this appearing of Christ ? If their love be perfect, they have comfort in this appearing, and if they abound in mercy, Christ will appear in mercy to them.
And so /or cheerfulness. That God also requires in every action. What enlargeth the heart of a man in God's work ? What puts fire into his affections but this, that Christ will come and appear in glory ere long ? That he will come and crown every good work ; that we shall not lose a good word that hath been spoken in a good cause ; not the least good action ; not a cup of cold water ; but all shall stand on our reckoning ' at that day when Christ shall come to be glorious in his saints.' This makes us do things sincerely, constantly, abundantly, and cheerfully.
I beseech you, consider from what ground these things come ; for these are principles that should be grounds of faith. They are pregnant, and spread themselves through the whole course of a Christian's life, and there- fore are worthy to be thought often on.
Again, Why doth God reveal these things beforehands, that we shall appear in glory in our hodj and soul, in our whole man ? As it shews us our duty and the manner of it, so it is a ground of comfort in all estates. A Christian may think, Now my life is a hidden, secret life. I pass under censures. It is thus in the world, and thus with me. Well, there will a time come, the time of resurrection, that will make amends for all — for this sickness of body and disquiet of mind, and all annoyance and adversity ; and it is revealed beforehand for our comfort that there shall be such a time, that we may make use of it, that we may ground our patience upon it. When Saint Paul exhorts to patience, saith he, ' The Lord is at hand,' Phil. iv. 5 ; and Saint James saith, ' The Judge standeth at the door,' chap. V. 9. Let us be patient in mfamies and sufferings; it will be otherwise ere long, Christ is at hand.
Again, That ue might continually he breathing out thankfulness to God.
216 THE HIDDEN LIFE.
Oiu' whole life slioukl bo spent in thankfulness to God. Even as the angels in heaven that stand in the presence of God, and the blessed spirits in heaven, thc_y spend that vigour that is in them, they spend all that is in them in prais- ing God, in thanks and laud to God, and sing, ' Glory, glory ; ' so beforehand knowing that ore long we shall appear with Christ, and appear in glory, let us thank him beforehand. As Saint Peter saith, ' Blessed be God, that hath begotten us again to an inheritance, immortal, undeliled, &c., reserved in heaven for us,' 1 Peter i. 3. Let us bless God beforehand, as if we were in heaven already. Certainly if we hope to be with those that shall sit in heavenly places in heaven to praise God, we will begin it on earth ; for the life of heaven is begun on earth. We arc kings now; we are priests now ; we are conquerors now ; we are new creatures now. We must praise God, and begin the employment of heaven now ; for what they do perfectly, that we begin to do. In heaven we know there is no ill company ; we will abstain from it now. There is no defilement of sin ; we will conform our- selves to that estate we hope for. There is nothing but praising of God ; as much as may be we will warm our hearts with the meditation of what God hath done, what he doth, and what he hath reserved for the time to come, with that we have in hope. The best things of a Christian especially, are in hope ; for that which we have by Christ principally is not in this world ; therefore considering that the best things that Christ died for are in hope, ' let us rejoice in hope,' and in rejoicing have our hearts enlarged with praising of God for that we hope for.