Ver. 10.—1. A certain expectation of the heavenly reward, grounded on the promises and covenant of God, is sufficient to sup- port and encourage the souls of believers under all their trials, in the whole course of their obedience. 2. Heaven is a settled, quiet habitation. 3. All stability, all perpetuity in every state, here and hereafter, ariseth from the purpose of God, and is resolved there- into. 4 This is that which recommends to us the city of God, the heavenly state, that it is, as the work of God alone, so the principal effect of his wisdom and power. 5. A constant expectation of an eternal reward argues a vigorous exercise of faith, and a sedulous at- tendance to all duties of obedience.
Ver. 11.—1. Faith may be sorely shaken and tossed at the first appearance of difficulties lying in the way of the promise, which yet at last it shall overcome. 2. Although God ordinarily worketh by his concurring blessing on the course of nature, yet is he not obliged thereunto, 38. It is no defect in faith not to expect events and blessings absolutely above the use of means, unless we have a parti- cular warrant for it. 4 The duty and use of faith about temporal mercies are to be regulated by the general rules of the word, where
520 SUMMARY OF DOCTRINAL AND [CHAP. XI. 12.
no especial providence doth make application of a promise. 5. The mercy concerning a son unto Abraham by Sarah his wife was abso- lutely decreed and absolutely promised, yet God indispensably re- quires faith in them for the fulfilling of that decree and the accom- plishment of that promise. 6. The formal object of faith in the divine promises is not the things promised in the first place, but God himself in his essential excellencies of truth, or faithfulness, and power. 7 Every promise of God hath this consideration tacitly an- nexed to it, “Is any thing too hard for the Lorp?” 8. Although the truth, veracity, or faithfulness of God, be in a peculiar manner the immediate object of our faith, yet it takes in the consideration of all other divine excellencies for its encouragement and corrobo- ration.
Ver. 12.—1. When God is pleased to increase his church in num- ber, it is on various accounts a matter of rejoicing unto all believers. 2. An ungodly, carnal multitude, combined together in secular in- terests for their advantage, unto the ends of superstition and sin, calling themselves “The church,” like that of Rome, is set up by the craft of Satan to evade the truth, and debase the glory of these pro- mises. 3. God oftentimes by nature works things above the power of nature in its ordinary efficacy and operations. 4. Whatever diffi- culties and oppositions lie in the way of the accomplishment of the promises under the new testament, made unto Jesus Christ concern- ing the increase and stability of his church and kingdom, these promises shall have an assured accomplishment.
Ver. 13.—1. It is the glory of true faith that it will not leave them in whom it is, that it will not cease its actings for their sup- port and comfort in their dying, when the hope of the hypocrite doth perish. 2. The life of faith doth eminently manifest itself in death, when all other reliefs and supports do fail. 3. That is the crowning act of faith, the great trial of its vigour and wisdom, namely, in what it doth in our dying. 4. Hence it is that many of the saints, both of old and of late, have evidenced the most triumphant actings of faith in the approach of death. 5. The due understanding of the whole old testament, with the nature of the faith and obedience of all the saints under it, depends on this one truth, that they believed things that were not yet actually exhibited nor enjoyed. 6. God would have the church, from the beginning of the world, to live on promises not actually accomplished. 7 We may receive the pro- mises, as to the comfort and benefit of them, when we do not actually receive the things promised. 8. As our privileges in the enjoyment of the promises are above theirs under the old testament, so our faith, thankfulness, and obedience, ought to excel theirs also. 9. No dis- tance of time or place can weaken faith as unto the accomplishment
CHAP. XI. 16.] PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. 521
of divine promises. 10. Quiet waiting for the accomplishment of promises at a great distance, and which most probably will not be in our days, is an eminent fruit of faith. 11. This firm persuasion of the truth of God in the accomplishment of his promises unto us, upon a discovery of their worth and excellency, is the second act of faith, wherein the life of it doth principally consist. | 12. This avowed renunciation of all other things beside Christ in the promise, and the good-will of God in him, as to the repose of any trust or confidence in them for our rest and satisfaction, is an eminent act of that faith whereby we walk with God.
Ver. 14.—This is the genuine and proper way of interpreting the Scripture, when from the words themselves, considered with relation unto the persons speaking them, and to all their cir- cumstances, we declare what was their determinate mind and sense.