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Now what is it, that on our part is required, that this great design of God for his glory may be accomplished in and towards us ? Is it not our believing, and steadfastness therein? I need not stay to manifest it; nor yet give farther light or strength to our inference from what hath been spoken; namely, that if these things are so, then our believing and steadfastness therein is exceeding acceptable to God.
3. For the last demonstration of the point I shall add the consideration of one particular, that God useth in the pur- suit of his glory before mentioned, and that is, his institu- tion and command of preaching the gospel to all nations, and the great care he hath taken to provide instruments for the propagation of it, and promulgation therein of the word of his grace ; Matt, xxviii. 19. *Go preach the gospel to all nations : to every creature ;' Mark xvi. 15. What is this gospel, which he will have preached and declared ? Is it any thing but a declaration of his mind and will concerning his gracious acceptation of believing, and steadfastness therein? This God declares of his purpose, his eternal, unchangeable will, that there is by his appointment an infallible, an invio- lable connexion between believing on Jesus Christ, the re- ceiving of him, and the everlasting fruition of himself; this he declares to all, but his purpose to bestow faith eftectu- ally relates only to some : they * believe who are ordained to eternal life.' But this purpose of his will, that believing in Christ shall have the end mentioned, righteousness and sal- vation in the enjoyment of himself, concerns all alike. Now to what end hath the Lord taken care, that this gospel shall be so preached and declared, and that to the consummation of the world, but that indeed, our believing is acceptable to him?
But I shall desist from the pursuit of this demonstration, wherein so many things offer themselves to consideration, as that the naming of them must needs detain me longer from my principal aim, than I am willing.
31S THE STRENGTH OK 1 AITH.
SERMON VI.
The use of the point insisted on is to encourage to the duty so commended and exalted; or it contains motives unto steadfastness in believing the promises. Amongst the many that are usually insisted on to this purpose, I shall choose out some few that seem to be most effectual there- unto.
Use 1. We shall begin with the consideration of God himself, even the Father, and that declaration of his love, kindness, tenderness, readiness, and willingness to receive poor believers, which he hath made of himself in Christ Jesus. According as our apprehensions are of him and his heart towards us, so will the settlement of our souls in cleaving to him by believing be. We are amongst men free and easy with them whom we know to be of a kind, loving, compassionate disposition; but full of doubts, fears, and jealousies when we have to deal with those who are morose, peevish and froward. Entertaining hard thoughts of God ends perpetually in contrivances to fly, and keep at a dis- tance from him, and to employ ourselves about any thing in the world, rather than to be treating and conversing with him. What delight can any one take in him, whom he con- ceives to be always furious, wrathful, ready to destroy? Or what comfortable expectation can any one have from such a one ? Consider then in some particulars what God declares of himself, and try in the exercising of your thoughts thereon, whether it be not effectual to engage your hearts to stead- fastness in believing the promises, and closing with the Son of his love tendered in them.
(1.) He gives us his name for our support; Isa. 1. 10. He speaks to poor, dejected, bewildered, fainting sinners : give not over, let not go your hold, though you be in darkness to all other means of support and consolation, yet ' trust in the name of the Lord.' And, saith he, in case you do so, this ' name shall be a strong tower unto you;' Prov. xviii. 10. And what this name of God, which is such a stay and safe defence is, is declared at large, Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7, This name of his, is that glory which he promised to
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shew to Moses, chap, xxxiii. to be known by this name is that great glory of God, which he aims to be exalted in ; yea, and God is so fully known by his name, and the whole of the obedience he requireth of us is so ordered and dis- posed in the revelation thereof, that when our Saviour had made him and his whole will known from his bosom, he sums up his whole work in this: *I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world ;' John xvii. 6. The manifestation of the name of God to the elect, was the great work of Christ on the earth, as he was the prophet and teacher of his church. He declared the name of God, his gracious, loving, tender nature,' his blessed properties that were lit to encourage poor creatures to come to him, and to trust in him. This then is his name with whom we have to do in this matter. The name he hath given himself for us to know him, and call him by, that we may deal with him as such, as his name bespeaks him to be. He is gracious, loving, ready to pity, help, receive us, de- lighting in our good, rejoicing in our approach to him. This he hath proclaimed of himself, this his only Son hath revealed him to be. He is not called Apollyon, a destroyer ; but the Saviour of men. Who would not venture on him, in and by the way which himself hath appointed and ap- proved ?