Exposition of Colossians, Sermons · Chapter 3 · Verse 3
VER. 3. For yee are dead, and your life is hid with Chriſt in God.
The firſt wordes of this verſe, containe an argument to confirme the Apoſtles dehortation, in the laſt wordes of the ſecond verſe, (namely) from minding and affecting things on the earth, and the argument is from the condition of the Coloſſians beleeuing in Chriſt (that they were dead) and it may thus bee framed, dead men hauehave no minde, nor further care for the things of this life, but yee are deade, therefore you ought not to minde them.
Now to this argument, happily the Coloſſians might take exception, they might reply and ſay, are wee dead? why then wee are not to minde and affect things aboue, dead men minde nothing, the Apoſtle therefore preuents this obiection, in the next words by further explication of his ſpeech, letting them vnderſtand that howſoeuer they were dead, yet not ſimply dead, but ſo as they had life, and hee ſets downe what manner of life they had (namely a life hid, yet are dead, and your life is hid) yet heereupon peraduenture the corrupt nature of man might further inferre, and ſay, is our life hid doth it not appeare, why then ſhould we ſeeke and affect things that pertaine to that life that appeares not, and omit the things of this life? this alſo the Apoſtle doth meet withall, and to this hee anſwers in the words following, ſetting before them how this life was hid (namely with Chriſt.)
Secondly in whom it was hid euen in God.
And thirdly, the time when it ſhould be fully reuealed, verſe the fourth, as if hee had ſayd, howſoeuer, it is true, that your life is hid, yet no otherwiſe then Chriſt is nowe hid, and it is hid in God, who is a ſafe keeper of it, and in time it ſhall certainely bee reuealed; ſo then in this third verſe, wee hauehave a reaſon yeelded, why the beleeuing Coloſſians ſhould not minde and affect things on the earth, becauſe they were dead. Which is further explained, how farre foorth they were dead, euen ſo as notwithſtanding they had life: and that life hidde, with the manner how, and in whome it was hidde (namely, with Christ in God.)
Let vsus now ſearch out the meaning of the wordes of this verſe (for yee are dead) that is with Chriſt, as wee hauehave it in the chapter before, verſe the twentieth, you being one with Chriſt by faith are dead with him, that is,Interpretation. as partakers of the power of his death, and are as dead men in regarde of ſinne, and of worldly happineſſe ſtanding in worldly pleaſures, profits and honours, and ſuch like, and your life) that is, your happy life begunne in this world, to bee made perfect in the life to come, that perfection of holineſſe, and glory, that once yee ſhall hauehave both in your bodies and ſoules; and that I gather to be the meaning of this worde (life) from the Apoſtles owne words, in the verſe following, where hee ſayth, that when Chriſt which is your life ſhall appeare, then ſhall ye alſo appeare …ith him in glory. Euen in perfection of glory, and ſo hee doth expound this word (life) now hid, to be that glory that ſhall be reuealed at the comming of Chriſt, & that is fulneſſe of happineſſe and glory, wherewith the bodyes and ſoules of true beleeuers ſhall then bee inueſted (is hid) that is not onelyonly kept from the eyes of the world, who hauehave no ſight of it at all, but in great meaſure from the eye of true beleeuers themſelues, who are therefore ſayd to walke by faith, and not by ſight, 2. Cor. 5.7. (with Chriſt) that is aboue in heauen, where Chriſt is, and is hid as Chriſt is now hid, who is hid from the eyes of all that liue on the earth, hee ſitting in fulneſſe of glory at the right hand of his father, (in God) that is, in the hand of God, in his grace, mercy and power, for as it is ſayd, Acts. 17.28 that in God wee liue, mooue, and hauehave our beeing, our life, our moouing, and beeing in this world is in him, that is in his hand and power, ſo the life and glory that ſhall be beſtowed on true beleeuers being (as the Apoſtle ſayth) hid in God, the meaning is, that it is layd vp in his gracious and powerfull hand: thus then wee are to conceiue the meaning of the words of this verſe as if the Apoſtle had ſayd.
For ye beleeuing in Chriſt, are partakers of the power of his death, and are as dead men in regard of ſinne, and of worldly happineſſe and your happy life, your perfection of holineſſe, and glory, that once you ſhall hauehave both in your bodies and ſoules, is altogether hid from the eyes of the world and in great meaſure from your ſelues, euen as Chriſt now ſitting at the right hand of his father, is hidde from the eies of men on the earth, and is layd vp in the gracious and powerfull hand of God.
Now here firſt we are to obſerue, that as from hauing part with Chriſt in his reſurrection, our Apoſtle in the firſt ver. perſwaded to ſeeke and affect things aboue, ſo now from their fellowſhip with Chriſt in his death, he diſſwades from minding and affecting earthly things, he reaſons thus, you being partakers with Chriſt in his death, are as dead men in regard of ſinne, and worldy happineſſe, therefore doe not you minde and affect earthly things.
Hence we may take vp this concluſion, that fellowſhip Doctrin. 1 with Chriſt in his death,Fellowſhip with Chriſt in his death is able to make vsus as dead men in regard of louelove and affection to the things of this life. the hauing of part with Chriſt in the power of his death, is able to make vsus as dead men in regard of our louelove & affection to the things of this life, it will make our hearts as dead within vsus, in regard of any affection to earthly things, though we vſe them, & may lawfully vſe them, yea if it bee abundance of outward things that God hath giuen vsus, yet if we hauehave part with Chriſt in the power of his death, that will make vsus that wee ſhall not ſet our hearts vponupon them, but in the preparation of our harts, we ſhall be ready to forgoe all things wee enioy for Chriſt, and for the profeſſion of the Goſpell, if wee cannot holde them together, for as the Apoſtle ſayth, Gal. 2.19. they that are Chriſts are crucified with Chriſt, and being crucified with him they hauehave crucified the fleſh with the luſts therof & as it is Gal. 5.24. their affections are crucified, and dead in reſpect of ſins, pleaſures and the profits of this life, euen whatſoeuer is oppoſed to the kingdome of Chriſt, and to a new creature. Let this ſerue as a ground of triall to eueryevery man, wee perſwade our ſelues that Chriſt died for vsus, Vſe. and that we hauehave part in his death to our comfort,If we feele not the power of Chriſt his death making vsus as dead in regard of louelove and affection to earthly things, wee can hauehave no comfort in his death. heereby we may try it, if we finde Chriſt his death powerfull in vsus, to the mortification of our owne wicked willes and carnall affections, that we are as dead men, in regard of louelove and and affection to earthly things, then indeed wee hauehave fellowſhip, and part with Chriſt in his death to our comfort, but if our hearts and mindes bee as quicke and ready, as liuely as euer they were to meditate and thinke of, to louelove and deſire earthly things, and as ſtrongly carried after, and ſet on thoſe things; whatſoeuer wee ſay or pretend, it skils not, the truth is, we are neither partakers of the death of Chriſt, nor hauehave any liuely hope of a better life.
Oh that wicked worldlings whoſe hearts are glued to the world, and to the things of this world, would but duly conſider this, that the ſetting of their hearts on the honours, pleaſures, profites and preferments of this life is a plaine teſtimonie that they hauehave no part in the death of Chriſt; indeede it is not poſſible to be altogether voyd of all affection to the things of this life, ſo long as wee are in the body, ſuch is our corruption, and the things themſelues are needfull for the maintenance and wellbeing of the bodie in this world, yet take this with you, if wee bee dead with Chriſt, if wee hauehave part with him in the power of his death, certainely our hearts will eueryevery day more and more be weaned, & withdrawn from the louelove, and liking of the things of this earth, and more and more be ſet on things heauenly, and therefore it is a dangerous caſe, when men and women grow old, and in reſpect of their bodies are decrepit, decayed and halfe dead, and hauehave one foot as it were in the graue, if then their hearts bee more wedded to the world, and ſet on earthly things, and if then they bee more greedy of the things of this life, without queſtion, that is a dangerous caſe, it is a ſigne that they neuer had part in the power of Chriſt his death, for that would make their affections together with their bodie, by little and little, to die to the things of this world, and let vsus know, that if we hauehave no part in the power of Chriſt his death, we can hauehave no comfort in the merit of it, Gal. 6.14, God forbid (ſayth the Apoſtle) that I ſhould reioyce, but in the croſſe of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and marke what followes, whereby the world is crucified vntounto mee, and I vntounto the world: where he ſhewes plainely in the generall, that none can truely glory in the croſſe of Chriſt, but only they who by the power of it are dead to the world, and the world to them, as for others that feele not that power, they can no more glory in the croſſe of Chriſt, then a man may glory of the victory his Prince hath gotten ouer enemies, himſelfe in the meane time beeing a vaſſall, and ſlaue vntounto them, let this bee thought on by as many as finde their hearts wholly or chiefely ſet on earthly thinges, and let it ſtirre vsus vp neuer to reſt till wee finde, and feele Chriſt his death powerfull in vsus, to weane vsus from the louelove of the things of this life, yea, though wee hauehave abundance of them, and hold, and enioy them, yet let not our hearts bee ſet on them, the Papiſts ſay it is a ſtate of perfection to hauehave nothing to doe with the things of this life, now that is but a fancy, it is rather a ſtate of perfection,Note. or comming neere to perfection (for we are not to dreame of any abſolute perfection in this life) in the middeſt of the abundance of the things of this life, not to hauehave our hearts ſet vponupon them.
The next thing we are to conſider in this verſe is in theſe words, (your life is hid.)
Hence we are giuen to vnderſtand thus much, that the happineſſe, and glory,The happines and glory of true beleeuers prepared for thē in the life to come is altogether hid from the eye of the world. the comfort and ioy vnſpeakeable Doctrin. 2 and glorious as the Apoſtle Peter cals it, 1. Pet. 1.8. of true beleeuers begun in this life, and to be made perfect in the life to come, is a thing altogether hid from the eye of the world, the world hath no manner of ſight nor apprehenſion, nor vnderſtanding of it, no not ſo much as a glimps of the world ſees the outſide of a true beleeuer, his face, his countenance, his outward geſture and behauiour, and his viſible ſtate and condition in the world, but they neither ſee nor conceiue the beauty, and glorie that is within, as it is ſayd of the Church: Pſal. 45.13. She is all glorious within, and that glory the world ſees not, and as Eliphas ſayth, Iob. 22.20. our ſubſtance is hid, men of the world may ſee the colour & outward skin of true beleeuers, but they cannot diue into the ſubſtance of their happines, and comfort begun in this life, to be made perfect in the life to com.
One reaſon of this is giuen by Saint Iohn. 1.3.1. namely this, becauſe the world knowes not God, behold (ſayth he) what louelove the father hath ſhewed on vsus that we ſhould bee called the ſonnes of God, for this cauſe the worlde knoweth you not, becauſe it knoweth not him) it knowes not God to bee a grations father to his children, nor Gods dealing with his children, and therefore it knoweth not their adoption, their happineſſe, and the inheritance hee hath prouided for them, and the comfort he hath begun in their heart, in this life, and will perfect in the life to come.
Againe, true inward comfort in the heart, is a thing ſtrange and vnknowen to men of the world, they are not acquainted with it, they neuer felt it in themſelues, and therefore it is not poſſible, they ſhould diſcerne or take knowledge of it in others.
Vſe. 1 Firſt therefore this may diſcouer vntounto vsus whence it is, that wicked prophane perſons, doe hold the true ſeruice of God performed by true beleeuers a moſt vnprofitable thing,Whence it is that prophane perſons doe hold the true ſeruice of God which true beleeuers yeeld vntounto him a moſt vnprofitable thing. yea the greateſt drudgery in the world, and the life of a true Chriſtian, the moſt heauy dumpiſh and moſt vncomfortable life that poſſible can be, heere is the reaſon of it, they hauehave not eyes to ſee the comfort of that life, it is hid from them, and they iudge other men by themſelues, they thinke no priſon ſo irkeſome as the Church, no toile more painefull then prayer, hearing the word, receiuing the Sacraments, they hold no bondage ſo greeuous, as reſtraint from ſinfull and vngodly courſes, yea, as the Apoſtle Peter ſayth. 1.4.4. it ſeemes ſtrange to them, that true Vſe. 2 beleeuers runne not to the ſame exceſſe of riot with them, therefore they thinke no miſery ſo bitter,Comfort and encouragement of true beleeuers againſt the ſcorne and contempt that is caſt vponupon them by the wicked world. as ſound and ſincere profeſſion of the Goſpell, becauſe (indeed) they hauehave no apprehenſion of the comfort of that life.
Againe, for further vſe of this poynt, let the conſideration of it arme all true beleeuers againſt ſcorne and contempt caſt vponupon them, by the wicked and prophane of the world, they are euer cenſuring true beleeuers, deriuing their profeſſion, and inſulting ouer their meane and miſerable condition (and as they thinke of it) & ſtick not to ſay What difference (I pray you) is betweene them and vsus, but onelyonly this; we ſee they thriue not ſo well in the world, they are many waies croſſed, yea, ſometimes they ſay, they can ſpeake by experience, themſelues hauehave beene profeſſors as forward as others, and yet yet neuer got good by it, as the Prophet brings in the wicked of his time quarrelling and ſaying, Mal. 3.14. It is in vaine to ſerue God. Alas poore ſoules, let them alone, let not this diſcourage any one that truely feares God, let vsus conſider that they hauehave no vnderſtanding of the happineſſe and comfort of true beleeuers; a ſinner …nnot diſc…rne the happineſſe of a true Chriſtian, nor conceiue how God deales with him, he is a meere ſtranger to his ioy and comfort, the Manna hee feeds on is hidden, Reuel. 2.17. Therefore let not the murmuring, or the ſcorne of wicked and prophane perſons, preuaile in the eares, or hearts or of any that hauehave vnderſtanding.
One thing more note we from hence, namely this. Doctrin. 3
That perfection of happineſſe and holineſſe, is in great meaſure hid from true beleeuers themſelues,Perfection of happineſſe & holineſſe is in great part hid from true beleeuers themſelues. though they hauehave the beginnings of it, yet the fulneſſe of it doth not appeare to them, 1 Ioh. 3.2. Saint Iohn ſaith plainely, That now we are the ſonnes of God, but yet it doth not appeare what we ſhall be. And Rom. 8.23.24. We which hauehave the firſt fruits of the ſpirit, euen we doe ſigh in our ſelues, wa…ing for the adoption, euen the redemption of our body.
We ought therefore with patience to wait for the accompliſhment of our happineſſe and holineſſe, Ʋſe. we are not to thinke (as the wicked doe) that there is no profit in ſeruing the Lord,We are patiently to waite for the accompliſhment of our hapineſſe and holineſſe. vnleſſe we hauehave preſent preferment in this world, our principal pay wil be in the life to come, we hauehave part in hand by grace in our ſoules, in this life, and the reſt is behinde till the pay day in the world to come; yea, let all Gods children heerein comfort themſelues, they groane vnderunder the burden of their ſinnes, and feele the want of holineſſe, let them know that in this life,Note they ſhall neuer feele duplicate page duplicate page holineſſe, as they feele ſinne; it is an excellent place to this purpoſe, the Apoſtle there ſaith, Gal. 5.5. That through the ſpirit we waite for the hope of righteouſneſſe through faith: that is, for full reuelation of righteouſneſſe imputed, and for the accompliſhment of the effect of it (namely) ſanctification, we are to waite for it through faith; if wee hauehave the firſt fruits of the ſpirit (namely) an hatred of our owne ſinne, a purpoſe of not ſinning, and the true feare of God in our hearts; let vsus comfort our ſelues in that, and waite for fulneſſe of grace and holineſſe in the life to come, as yet perfection of holineſſe is hid from vsus, in time it ſhal be reuealed, and we ſhall come vntounto it.
Come wee to the manner, how the life of true beleeuers is hid, expreſſed by the Apoſtle in theſe words (with Chriſt) that is no otherwiſe then Chriſt is now hid, who ſits at the right hand of his father, and is hid from the bodily eies of all that liue on the earth: to omit that which hence may be gathered, that our happineſſe ſhall not be hid for euer, but in time be reuealed, becauſe it is hid as Chriſt is now hidde, who in time ſhall ſhew himſelfe from heauen in glorie of that wee ſhall more fitly ſpeake in the next verſe.
Obſerue we from theſe words onelyonly thus much.
Doctrin. 4 That the Lord Ieſus is now in heauen hid from the bodilie eies of all that liue on the earth,Chriſt now in heauen is hid from the bodily eies of all that liue on the face of the earth. the Saints in heauen in their ſoules now ſee Chriſt as he is in fulneſſe of glory, and in their ſoules they hauehave immediate fellowſhip with him, according to that wiſh of the Apoſtle, Phil. 1.23. and after the generall reſurrection, they ſhall ſee him with their bodily eies likewiſe, but he is yet hid from vsus now liuing in this world, we ſee him not with our bodily eies, for as the Apoſtle ſaith, 2. Cor. 5.6. While we are at home in the body, we are abſent from the Lord. He is abſent from vsus in his body, and we are abſent from him, and we ſee him not, he is aſcended into heauen, and as Peter ſaith Act. 3.21. Heauen muſt containe him untill the time that all things be reſtored.
Chriſt hath beene ſeene of ſome whiles they liued heere in this world, as of Stephen, Object. Act. 7.55. and of Paul in his iourney. Act. 9.
Let this be granted, that Chriſt was ſeene of ſome, Anſw. yet liuing in this world, yet wee muſt know their ſight of Chriſt was extraordinarie; and againe it can neuer bee prooued that they ſaw him out of heauen, the text is plaine, that Stephen looked ſtedfaſtly into heauen, and that Chriſt alſo ſpake to Paul from heauen, from whence the glorious light ſhined and yet a learned Papiſt in a booke latelie publiſhed takes on him by warrant of that appariſion of Chriſt to Paul Acts 9. to prooue that Chriſt his bodie (de facto) that is, actually, hath beene in two places at once, but hee can neuer from thence euince it, either by plaine euidence, or good conſequent; doubtleſſe that appariſion was from heauen, Chriſt ſtill being in heauen, and it was extraordinarie, and we are to hold it for a truth, that Chriſt is now in heauen hid from the eies of all that liue on the earth: and let vsus make this vſe of it.
Seeing it is ſo, that Chriſt is hid from our bodilie eie, Vſe. let vsus labour to ſee him with a ſpirituall eie, euen with the eie of faith, as the Apoſtle Pet. 1. Epiſt. 1.8. ſaith,We muſt labour to ſee Chriſt now hid from our bodily eies with a ſpirituall eie of faith. Labour that we may beleeue in him though we ſee him not. Now becauſe euerie one will thinke with himſelfe, ſurely this leſſon is ſoone learned, though I ſee not Chriſt with my bodilie eie, yet I doe eie, and looke on him by faith, and heerein the Deuill doth delude many a poore ſoule, making it thinke it doth eie Chriſt by faith, when indeed it doth not, that we be not therefore heerein deceiued.
We muſt know that we are to eie Chriſt by faith,How we are to eie Chriſt by faith. as hee is ſet before vsus to bee looked on in the word and Sacraments, for ſo is Chriſt the proper obiect of faith, wee are to looke on him by faith as as a perfect mediator, God and man in one perſon, and ſo to eie the vertue and ſufficiency of his meritorious obedience both actiue and paſſiue, euen the merit both of his fulfilling of the Law in his life, and of his ſuffering the curſed death of the Croſſe, for this is Chriſt propounded, and ſet before vsus to bee looked on in the word and Sacraments, many an ignorant perſon thinks hee doth eie Chriſt by faith, when hee hath onelie a generall and confuſed notion of Chriſt, hee liuing in the boſomc of the Church cannot chooſe but heare of Chriſt, but he hath no vnderſtanding of the perſonall vnion of his Godhead and manhood, and hee is not able to diſtinguiſh betweene his actiue and paſſiue obedience, and he knowes not whence it is, that Chriſt his obedience is of infinite merite and ſufficiencie; well, thus are wee to eie Chriſt by faith, euen as a perfect mediator, God, and man, in one perſon; and ſo the infinite value and merit of his obedience, both actiue and paſiue; and if we doe thus by faith eie Chriſt, without queſtion, that is vntounto vsus a ground of liuely comfort, wee then ſee Chriſt, and in him vnſpeakeable ioy and comfort, that curſe of the Law, and condemnation remoued, our ſinnes waſhed away in his bloud, and that wee in him hauehave right and title to all the comforts of the Saints of God in this life and for euer, and if we doe not thus ſee Chriſt to our comfort, certainely we ſhall one day ſee him to our euerlaſting confuſion.
Come we now to the laſt words of this verſe, wherein the Apoſtle doth expreſſe, in whom the happy life of true beleeuers is hid (namely) (in God) and before I come to that I chiefelie intend to ſtand on in handling of theſe words I hold it not amiſſe, vponupon occaſion of theſe words, to diſcouerA popiſh ſhift diſcouered. a ſhift that the Papiſts hauehave deuiſed to vphold their interceſſion of Saints, and their praiers to Saints departed; they beeing preſſed by vsus after this manner, that to pray to them, is to aſcribe vntounto them, that which is proper to God alone, euen to know the hearts and inward deſires of men.
They anſwer, that Saints in heauen do clearely behold God, and ſee him face to face, now (ſay they) God containeth all things in himſelfe, yea the inward comfort that is in the hearts of true beleeuers in this life; and therefore, though Saints departed do not ſee the ſecrets of our hearts, as they are in our hearts, yet being preſent to the face of God, they doe behold in it all things, as it were in a moſt cleere glaſſe, this is their ſhift which indeed is a meere forgerie, and a vaine deuiſe of an idle braine, without all warrant of the word of God, wee finde it not in any place of Scripture, that the Saints in heauen, beholding God face to face, doe in him, as in a glaſſe ſee the comfort that is in the hearts of true beleeuers, which the Apoſtle here ſaith is in hid God, and other things ſaid, or done on the earth, that conceit is contrarie to the Scripture which teacheth that God alone ſearcheth the hearts, and ſecret thoughts of men, and we finde that the Angels who he hold the face of God in heauen, are notwithſtanding ignorant of many things, as of the wiſdome of God, in calling and ſauing the Gentiles, Epheſ. 3.10. and of the day of Iudgement, and they know not the thoughts of mens hearts, vnleſſe it pleaſe God by ſpeciall diſpenſation to reueale them vntounto them, the Lord vſing their miniſtrie for the good of his choſen, much leſſe doe Saints departed know them, whom the Lord neuer vſeth as miniſtring Spirits, as hee doth the good Angels, and if Saints departed did, or might, know things done or ſaid heere on the earth, as well as God, yet it followes not, that therefore we ſhould pray to them, hauing neither commandement, nor promiſe, nor example in Scripture, to warrant ſuch kinde of praier; wee ſee then that this is but a meere ſhift of the Papiſts to blinde the world withall, that the Saints in heauen behold the face of God, and in him ſee all things, and that therefore we may pray to them.
Now in that the Apoſtle ſaith, that the life of true beleeuers is hid in God, wee are giuen to vnderſtand thus much.
That the happineſſe and comfort of true beleeuers, Doctrin. 5 begunne in this life to be made perfect in the life to come,The happines and comfort of true beleeuers is laid vp in the grace, merciemercy, and power of God. and laide vp in the gracious and powerfull hand of God; it is hid in his grace, mercy, and power, for indeed it reſteth in the gracious promiſe of God, by his free promiſe they hauehave right vntounto it, and hold it, and as the Apoſtle Peter ſaith, 1. Epiſt. 1.5. They are kept by the power of God through faith vntounto ſaluation. Their eternall happineſſe is kept for them, and they kept for it, and both of them by the power of God. And hence it is that God is ſaid to bee the God of conſolation, Rom. 15.5. as indeed the fountaine and ſtorehouſe of all true comfort: and hence it is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Tim. 6.16. That he onelyonly hath immortality, and dwelleth in the light that none can attaine vntounto. He onelyonly hath immortall and eternall life of glory in himſelfe by nature and doth giuegive it to whom he will, and hee will giuegive it in time to all true beleeuers.
Vſe. 1 Now this is of excellent vſe. Firſt, hence we are taught, where we are to ſeeke, and to looke for life, breathing and true comfort in time of any diſtreſſe,Wee are to ſeeke and to looke for life and true comfort in all our diſtreſſes at the hand of God. euen at the hand of God who onelyonly hath it in his keeping, it is neither men nor Angels that of themſelues can giuegive it vntounto vsus, but onlie God▪ Whither will a man that needs anything goe, but where he knowes ſupply is to bee had? If hee neede but water he will goe to the Well or Conduit: ſo we in time of ſickeneſſe or any other diſtreſſe, ſtanding in neede of comfort, are to goe to God, in whoſe hand is laid vp the happineſſe, and comfort of all his children, and wee are by earneſt ſupplication and praier, to ſue for it at his hand, and then doubtleſſe (if we be in the number of thoſe, to whom his promiſe belongs) we ſhall not faile to obtaine it, through his promiſe, the Lord is become a voluntarie debter vntounto vsus, and our comfort being laide vp in his promiſe, and wee ſuing to him according to his promiſe, and reſting our ſelues on his promiſe, we cannot miſſe of it in time of neede, and wee are not to doubt of it; for God is faithfull who hath made the promiſe, Heb. 10.23. If God can be vnfaithfull, then doubt of comfort in time of need, but that is vnpoſſible that God ſhould bee vnfaithfull, therefore make no queſtion of it, but wee ſhall find it in time of neede: and conſider further with thy ſelfe, doſt thou beleeue there is eternall happineſſe, and comfort in heauen, laid vp for thee in the hand of the Lord? and wilt thou then doubt whether there be comfort for thee in his hand in time of this life, and in this world, or no? Oh let it be farre from thee, remember that God is faithfull, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 10.13. and will not ſuffer thee to be tried aboue thy ſtrength, but will either inable thee to beare thy triall with comfort, or giuegive thee deliuerance out of it as ſhall be beſt for his glory, and thy good.
Againe, is it ſo that the happineſſe, and comfort of true Vſe. 2 beleeuers is laid vp in the gracious hand of God.The happines and comfort of t…ue beleeuers is in a ſure hand being laid vp in the glorious hand of God. Then let vsus know that it is kept moſt ſafe and ſure; at the firſt God truſted man with his owne happineſſe, and hee wittingly and willingly loſt it, but now it is kept in the hand of God, and therefore it is moſt ſafe, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 2. Tim. 1.12. Hee is able to keepe that which is committed vntounto him, &c. Yea, the happineſſe, and true comfort of true beleeuers is ſo ſafely kept in the hand of God, that neither the fraude nor force of the world, or the Deuill without, not the fleſh within, can depriue them of it, though the deuill and his inſtruments, maliciouſly purpoſe by their vexations, to make Gods children miſerable, yet can they nor do it, they cannot come neere their happines, it is not only hid from their eies that they cannot ſee it, to hurt it, but it is hid in God, whom they neither can, nor dare aſſault; yea that which Gods children hold it by, is hid from them euen the hope of true beleeuers, as an Ancre is caſt within the vaile of heauen, Heb. 6.19. If then wee hauehave in vsus the beginnings of heauenly life and comfort, let vsus aſſure our ſelues, we ſhall neuer bee depriued of it, the fulneſſe and perfection of that comfort is laid vp in the powerfull hand of God, and nothing is able to wreſt or wring it out of his hand, indeed if it were committed to our truſt, and left in our hands, to hold or to looſe, wee had iuſt cauſe (as the Papiſts teach) to doubt of the holding of it, but wee muſt remember, it is laid vp in the gracious hand of God, euen in the promiſe of God, who cannot lie, and it is built one the eternall louelove of God from which nothing can deuide vsus, Rom. 8.39. and vponupon the vnchangeable decree of God, that ſtands faſt for euermore, and therefore the aſſurance of eternall happineſſe wrought in the hearts of true beleeuers, is built on a rocke which neuer ſhall be ſhaken.