Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers, Sermon 3

Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers · Sermon 3

p. 75SERMON III.

REV. II. 17.

To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the hidden Manna, and will give him a white ſtone, and in the ſtone a new name written, which no man knoweth, ſaving he that receiveth it.

WE have here another of thoſe excellent Promiſes made to Overcomers: It is the concluding words of that Epiſtle to the Church in Pergamos, as in the 12th Verſe is evident. Some ſay this was a great City, diſtant from Jeruſalem p. 76Two hundred and twenty eight miles, very populous, but very wicked: Hence we read, Satan's ſeat was there. A King ruleth over all his Subjects, yet he hath his Throne in ſome chief City of the Land. Satan that King of the bottomleſs Pit, as he is ſtiled, Rev. 9.1. reigns over all wicked men; yet in thoſe notoriouſly wicked, he may be ſaid to have his ſeat. This was, ſay ſome, the Seat or Court of Attalus, in whoſe time it was written, Diſcedat ab Aula, qui velit eſſe plus: Like that to the Prophet, Flee thee away, O thou Seer, for it is the King's Court, Amos 7.13. Afterwards it was the Seat of the Roman perſecuting Governours, (who were Satan's chief Inſtruments, in afflicting and deſtroying the Saints) and ſo is called Satan's ſeat. Chriſt takes ſpecial notice of the places of his peoples abode, I know where thou dwelleſt, even where Satans Seat is: He obſerves how perillous a place this Pergamos was, and what dangers as to Liberty and Life his Servants were in here. Antipas had already ſuffered Martyrdom for the Truth, (the p. 77name of ſome good Miniſter, or of the Paſtor of that Church, as many judge) an Honour not granted to the Angels of Heaven, as Latimer ſaith; yet we find a Church planted and preſerved here, who held faſt his Name, foreign, as with tooth and nail, or by main ſtrength. Chriſt will have to do where Satan reigns; ſome good he will have in the worſt places; a remnant of upright ones in a crooked and perverſe Generation. As Satan had a Judas among the Apoſtles, a Demas among the Diſciples, a Simon Magus among the Believers; ſo the Lord had a Noah in the ungodly world, a Job in an Idolatrous Ʋz, a Lot in filthy Sodom, a Joſeph in Pharaoh's Court, Saints in Nero's houſe, and ſome that held faſt the Truth even in Pergamos itſelf; thoſe he reſerves to be Witneſſes for him, and to teſtifie againſt thoſe to their Condemnation, who will not by their good Example be brought to Converſion. Let us all labour to be good in evil Times, it's excellent in itſelf, and will be our commendation before Christ at laſt, as appears by his p. 78Teſtimony of them here; Thee have I found righteous before me, ſaies the Lord to Noah, in this Generation, Gen. 7.1. What kind of Generation that was, is ſet down; It was a time when Iniquity abounded, all fleſh had corrupted their way, a deluge of wickedneſs had covered the Earth; for Noah now to be righteous, was excellent indeed: And it will be our glory, if we ſtudy to be Lights in a dark World, holy among the filthy, Lilies among Thorns, and as the Fiſh, freſh in Salt-waters. This may comfort us alſo in very evil Times, Chriſt will preſerve ſome from the ſtroak of Perſecution; Antipas was ſlain, yet ſome did remain; ſome, yea many may ſuffer hard things, yea 'tis poſſible ſome particular Churches may be extirpated, yet a Church Chriſt will have on Earth, againſt which the Gates of Hell, Satan's Seat ſhall not prevail. Many Faithful ones may be removed by a natural or violent Death, yet becauſe Chriſt lives, therefore his Truth ſhall live, his Cauſe and Intereſt ſhall live, and ſurvive all Enemies and Oppoſers. p. 79Let this help our Faith and Joy, though we dwell where Satan's ſeat is. Rome Antichriſtian is now eſteemed that Seat of the Beaſt, mentioned, Rev. 16.10. yet even there God hath his People, Come out of her my People, ſaies the Lord, Rev. 18.4. A People Chriſt had, and ſtill hath, where Antichriſt moſt prevails, though it greatly concerns them to come out thence, dangerous to continue there, both for Infection of Sin, and for Infliction of Puniſhment, as this Scripture expreſſeth, Come out, that ye partake not of her Sins, and receive not of her Plagues.

Pliny ſaith, That Mice will haſten out of a houſe that is ready to fall on their heads; And Spiders with their Webs will drop, before the houſe falls. Certainly, Antichriſt's ruine haſtens, and Babylons Fall approacheth, Come out of her therefore. O all the People of God, Come out from her Idolatries, be ye ſeparate from all her Abominations and Corruptions. And to encourage all to ſtrive to get Victory over the Evil of Evil Times, this further p. 80Promiſe in the Text is given to them of Pergamos, and to us in them; the ſum whereof take in this Propoſition.

Doct. That Overcomers ſhall have ſuch ſpecial and peculiar Favours given them by Chriſt, as none know but they that receive them. There are ſome things in which the men of the world intercommon with the Saints; as, Natural Endowments, Worldly Enjoyments, External Church-Priviledges, the common Gifts of the Spirit, and ſuperficial Taſtes of Heavenly things; Abſalom had Beauty as well as, yea, greater than David; Herod and Jonadab had Wit and Policy as well as Joſeph; the Fool in the Goſpel, was rich as well as Abraham; the fooliſh Virgins were in Church-Fellowſhip, as well as the wiſe; Apoſtates, ſuch as are not renewed to Repentance, may taſte the good Word of God, and the Powers of the World to come, as well as thoſe who had better things in them, even things that accompany, foreign, that have Salvation in them: Saul had the Gift of Prophecy, Judas Gifts of Preaching, Prayer, p. 81and working Miracles, as well as the other Apoſtles; yet notwithſtanding all this, there are peculiar benefits Believers ſhare in, which others have no part, no lot in: The ſecret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will ſhew them his Covenant, Pſal. 25.14. Not here meant of his providence, bleſſing him in outward things; of this Job ſpeaks, ſaying, The Secret of God was upon his Tabernacle, Job 29.4. But the underſtanding of the myſteries of his Word and Covenant (hid from the wiſe and prudent of the World) and their own intereſt in them.

Believers are the friends of God; as Abraham was called the friend of God, James 2. So Chriſt called his Diſciples friends; now the ſecret Cabinet is unlockt and ſet open to a friend, though ſhut to ſtrangers. Amicus alter idem: A friend is another ſelf; and a man cannot conceal any thing from himſelf, and therefore not from his friend. Whatſoever Chriſt heard of his Father he made known to his friends, John 15.15. His ſecret is with the righteous, Prov. 3.32. p. 82the very Arcana Imperii, the myſteries of the Kingdom are made plain to them, Luke 8.10. It is a favour to be of the Kings Court, but more to be of his Council; Courtiers know more than thoſe that live far remote from the Kings Court; but Counſellors know his ſecrets, the Privy-Counſellor is acquainted with the ſpecial myſteries of State. Carnal profeſſors and hypocrites may know many truths, which Heathens who live not under the ſound of the Goſpel may be ignorant of, and in an ordinary way cannot know; yet are they but of the Court; Believers only are of the Counſel, to whom the myſteries of grace and godlineſs are diſcloſed. It is ſaid, the Lord told Samuel in his ear, 1 Sam. 9.15. When a man tells his friend a ſecret he would not have others know, he whiſpers in his ear; ſo the Lord deals with his People, he reveals thoſe ſecrets to them which every one ſhall not know; which indeed eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, nor hath entred into the hearts of other men: Theſe God reveals to Believers by his ſpirit, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10. On p. 83this account is the Church ſtiled by Chriſt a Garden encloſed, Cant. 4.12. Not only are Believers, as to their perſons, ſo encloſed that they cannot fall away and miſs of ſalvation, nor are the graces of ſuch only ſo encloſed that they periſh not; but they are alſo encloſed in their myſtical enjoyments, that none partake of them but themſelves; To which agreeth that Prov. 14.10. The heart knoweth its own bitterneſs, and a ſtranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. Believers have bitter and ſweet, liſtings up and caſtings down, ſorrows and joys peculiar to themſelves alone.

Queſt. You will ſay, What are thoſe ſpecial favours Chriſt gives thoſe that overcome, which others cannot receive?

Anſw. There are many of theſe peculiar tokens of ſpecial love he doth beſtow upon them that by faith get Victory over their ſpiritual Enemies as true Believers do: we read that Abraham gave the ſons of the Concubines portions and ſent them away, but to Iſaac he gave all that he had, Gen. 25, 5, 6. God gives portions in this Life even to p. 84all, to the worſt of men; but ſome things Believers have, others ſhare not in; They have the Lord for their God, in a peculiar covenant-relation: 'tis ſaid, he is not aſhamed to be called their God, Heb. 11.16. others have none of the life of God given them, none of the fulneſs of God, none of the peculiar knowledge of God, no ſpecial intereſt in the attributes of God, none of the ſaving influential goodneſs of God; all which the Saints receive. Yea, they partake of Chriſt, they have received Chriſt Jeſus the Lord, Coloſ. 2.16. others are without Chriſt, no right to the Covenant, no intereſt in the Promiſes; no reconciliation, no righteouſneſs, no acceptance, no ſalvation, for theſe benefits are derived to men by Faith in Chriſt; I might adde, Believers only are partakers of the ſpirit of God; I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter, ſaith Chriſt, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, John 14.16, 17. And he is to them a Spirit of Light and Wiſdom, a Spirit of Power and Love, and of a p. 85ſound mind, a ſpirit of Grace and Holineſs, a ſpirit of Love and joy, none of which things others partake of. But I wave thoſe, and confine my diſcourſe to thoſe in the Text.

1. Hidden Manna; To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the hidden Manna, that is, of Chriſt himſelf; whom, though none of the Princes of this World knew, yet God reveals this hidden Manna to his hidden ones by his Spirit. It is an alluſion to the Manna God gave Iſrael the Wilderneſs, which was a famous and excellent type of Chriſt; as he himſelf largely declares, John 6. Moſes gave you not that Bread from Heaven, but my Father giveth you the true Bread from Haven. For this, pointing to himſelf, is the Bread of God which cometh down from Heaven, and giveth life unto the World. verſe 32.33. and ſo, verſe 48. I am that Bread of Life. Again, verſ. 56. This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven, whereof if a man eats he ſhall not dye. This Manna, God gave the Jews, was twice hidden;

1. It fell in the dew of the Morning p. 86and ſo was hidden from their ſight; for it is ſaid, when the Dew was gone up, they ſaw a little round thing, and when they ſaw it, they ſaid, it is Manna, Ex. 16.14, 15, 33.

And 2. It was hidden when ſome part of it was by Gods appointment put into a golden pot, and preſerved as a memorial of that wonderful Work to future Generations; unto this latter many take the Text to allude. The ſenſe of this Promiſe take in two things.

1. That Chriſt will give Overcomers to feed and feaſt upon himſelf, ſweet taſtes of himſelf here in Dunes and Ordinances; Even in theſe they ſhall be able to ſay as Chriſt did, I have meat to eat you know not of, Joh. 4.32, we have hidden Manna given us the World cannot taſte of. Of this they eat ſometimes in Prayer; when Hannah had prayed, ſhe was ſo ſtrengthened by this Manna, that 'tis ſaid, her countenance was no more ſad, 1 Sam. 1.18. An ancient once ſpeaking of what he met with of Chriſt in this Ordinance, ſaid, nunquam abs te abſ que te recedo: Lord, I never go from thee without thee: very ſweet are p. 87the Refreſhments victorious ſouls meet with in this Duty; ſo in hearing the word, they meet with more than a voice of words, even Angels food, the hungry ſoul is filled, they eat the word as Jeremiah ſaith he did, and find their weak hands ſtrengthened, their feeble knees confirmed, their fainting hearts comforted, their doubts reſolved, and their minds ſettled. Whilſt Peter was preaching the word, the Holy-Ghoſt fell upon all the hearers, Acts 10.44. Eſpecially, in that great Ordinance of the Lords Supper, Believers feed not only upon Sacramental Bread, but hidden Manna alſo; Here they eat his Fleſh, which is meat indeed, and drink his Blood, which is drink indeed, and ſup with Chriſt and he with them; Here they have a feaſt of fat things, and wine on the lees well refined; they are ſatisfied, as with marrow and fatneſs, and taſte his love which is better than wine; fat things both ſweet and filling, yet not cloying as other fat things are. My ſoul is ſatisfied with the goodneſs of thy houſe, even of thy holy Temple, ſays David, p. 88Pſal. 65.4. We read that the Iſraelites nauſeated the Manna, We have nothing beſides this Manna, Numb. 11. who ſhall give us fleſh to eat? The excellent Bread God gave them, was now but light Bread, and they loathed it, and grew weary of it, but the ſpiritual refreſhments Believers ſometimes are partakers of, have a preſent delight in them, and create an earneſt appetite in the ſoul after them. Such hidden Manna does Chriſt give them to eat here.

2. This Promiſe intimates, that they ſhall feed and feaſt themſelves upon him in Heaven: He is hid and laid up there, as the Manna in the golden pot was laid up in the holieſt of all, which was but a ſhadow of this myſtery. This none but themſelves can be admitted to ſhare in, for without are the fearful and the unbelievers: Here they eat by Faith, there by ſight; here now and then a little as they are able to bear, there fully and without intermiſſion: Here when the King ſits at the table, their ſpiknard ſends forth its ſavour, their graces and gracious affections ſlow forth; What will p. 89the Sweet-Meats of Heaven, the full and eternal fruition of this Banquet, the everlaſting enjoyment of theſe Dainties produce in them? Bleſſed is he that ſhall eat bread, this Bread of Life in the Kingdom of God, both of Grace and Glory. This is not meat that periſhes, but meat that endures to everlaſting Life, John 6.27. This is the firſt thing Chriſt here promiſes to them that overcome.

2. The white Stone is another of thoſe peculiar Favours; I will give him the white ſtone. 'Tis judged to be an Alluſion to that practice in uſe of old among the Romans, who gave both white and black Stones; white ones were given in the Election of Officers, and Abſolution of Malefactors. 1. In the Election of any to an high Office, they gave him a white Stone, as a certain Token thereof: The ſenſe then of the Promiſe is, that Conquerors ſhall have the aſſurance of their Election to be Veſſels of Mercy, that they are choſen to Salvation, through Sanctification of the Spirit, and the belief of the p. 90Truth, to the end and to the means, to Glory and to Grace; and though the means be the laſt in intention, yet they are firſt in execution; their Salvation is firſt intended, but Faith and Holineſs are firſt effected. Now to have the Aſſurance that we are choſen in Chriſt before the foundation of the world, that we be holy before him here, and happy with him hereafter, Who can declare the Refreſhment it carries with it? Comfortable it is,

1. In reſpect of Deluſion; They ſhall deceive, if it were poſſible, the very Elect, Mat. 24.24. In the ſuperſtructure of Truth they may be deceived, but fundamentally and finally they never ſhall; becauſe both the deceived and the deceiver are the Lords, Job 12.13, 16. Deceivers may diſtemper them, but it is not poſſible they ſhould poiſon them. The Elect are a people exempted from the fatal Infection of falſe Prophets, and falſe Chriſts who decive many; this is a great Comfort to ſuch in theſe erroneous days.

2. In reſpect of Accuſation, Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? p. 91Rom. 8.33. Who ſhall charge when God diſchargeth? True it is, many will be ready to lay things to their charge, Satan will accuſe them, he is the Accuſer of the Brethren, Rev. 12. the Law will accuſe them, the World will accuſe them; but God will juſtifie them, which makes all their Accuſations null and void; as Chriſt cauſed all the Womans Accuſers to go out, ſo will Gods acquitting them, make thoſe Accuſers and all their Accuſations to vaniſh.

3. In reſpect of publick Calamities, which are ſhortned upon their account. For the Elects ſake thoſe days ſhall be ſhortned, Mat. 24.23. What days? Even the days of Tribulation which were to come upon the Jews; except thoſe days ſhould be ſhortned, no fleſh ſhould be ſaved, no Jew ſhould be alive, all would fall under deſtruction when thoſe Calamities come. Many others fare the better for the Elects ſake; theſe are the Salt of the Earth, that being ſprinkled here and there, preſerve it from periſhing. God gave all that were in Zoar to Lot, and all that were in the p. 92Ship to Paul; if it were not for his Elect in the world, he would make a ſhort work in the Earth. And

4. In reſpect of their own perſonal oppreſſions; Shall not God hear and avenge his Elect, that cry unto him night and day? I tell you, he will avenge them ſpeedily, Luke 18.7, 8. When their Enemies are above Fear, and they below Hope, when there is not Faith on the Earth to believe, there are Bowels in Heaven to relieve them.

5. In reſpect of his working for them at the Reſurrection and Day of Judgment; whereas they will lye ſcattered here and there, he will gather together his Elect from all parts of the world by his Angels, Mat. 24.31. Who will know them by their Fathers mark upon their Foreheads: And as Servants know their Maſters Corn from anothers, and the Wheat form the Tares; ſo will the Angels ſoon diſcern and ſingle out the Elect from the reſt, by the Glory and Cheerfulneſs which he will put upon them, and into them.

6. In reſpect of the co-operation of all things here for their good, according to that Promiſe, All p. 93things ſhall work together for good to them that are called according to his purpoſe, Rom. 8.28. They ſay the Philoſophers-Stone turns all it touches into Gold; This white Stone, as a Token of our Election according to God's Eternal purpoſe, turns all Conditions and Diſpenſations to good. How unſpeakably full of Comfort are theſe things to all Overcomers from this Gift of the White Stone, as a Sign of their Election!

2. White Stones were given of old in the Abſolution of Malefactors, as black ones were given to perſons Condemned, as a Token they muſt dye; ſo white ones to them acquitted in their Courts of Judicature. 'Tis as if Chriſt had ſaid, To him that overcometh will I give an evidence of the Remiſſion of his Sins. And what a Fountain of Conſolation is in this particular? Son, be of good chear, thy Sins are forgiven thee, Mat. 9.2. Well might he be cheerful; to have the aſſurance of our ſins being pardoned, is able to make any one everlaſtingly merry; Yea, though under preſent afflictions: This Palſy-man was not cured p. 94of his diſeaſe, when Chriſt bid him rejoyce; yet ground enough of joy he had, to be aſſured from Chriſt's own mouth that his ſins were forgiven him. Bleſſed is the man whoſe iniquity is forgiven, and whoſe ſin is covered, Pſal. 32.1. for this is an infallible evidence of Gods favour: outward mercies we may receive from an angry God, ſilver and gold, and precious ſtones in abundance, and yet from the wrath of God; but this white ſtone of Abſolution is a certain token of Love and Reconciliation. 'Tis not a giving-God for our Bodies that can give grounds of Comfort ſo much, as a forgiving-God for our Souls can do. This evidenceth our Redemption by Chriſt, In him we have Redemption through his Blood, the Forgiveneſs of Sin: This bringeth Salvation. John Baptiſt's going before the face of the Lord was, To give knowledg of Salvation to his People, by the remiſſion of their Sins, Epheſ. 1.7. Luke 1.77. Reconciliation ſtands in it; God was in Chriſt reconciling the world unto himſelf, not imputing their ſins, 2 Cor. 5.19. In a word, it is the inlet p. 95to, and uſhers in all other Good and Mercy; Take away all Iniquity, and take up good, or give us good, as it is, Hoſ. 14.2. They muſt pray for good, O but your Sins keep good things from you, Jer. 5.25. Therefore firſt their requeſt is, Take away all Iniquity: No good to be given, till ſin be forgiven; but when that is removed that withholds good from them, then the paſſage is cleared, and way is made for all good to come unto them: It makes way for the Liberty and Deliverance of the Church from Troubles, Speak comfortably to Jeruſalem, tell her that her Iniquity is pardoned, and her Warfare is accompliſhed: When Sin was pardoned, her Afflictions and Troubles ſoon had an end: It brings health to a whole Land. The Inhabitant of the Land ſhall not ſay, I am ſick; the Land ſhall be free from infectious, peſtilential and Epidemical Diſeaſes. How comes this about? The People that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their Iniquity, Eſay 33.24. Oh this is that which ſweetens all other Comforts and Contentments; as the want of it imbitters p. 96all our ſweet things: What are we the better for Houſe, Land, Silver and Gold, when our Sin is not pardoned, when the Curſe and Wrath of God hangs over our heads, and is ready in this condition to fall upon us, and arreſt us every moment, to draw us to Hell for ever? But then Mercies are Mercies indeed, when they come to us in the ſtream of Chriſt's Blood, with a Pardon in their hand. Hence Believers are taught to pray, Give us this day our dayly Bread, and forgive us our ſins; to ſhew, that our Bread is ſweet, when it comes with pardoning Mercy. God had given David the healing his Diſeaſes, and crowned him with loving Kindneſs and tender Mercies. What made it ſo, but forgiving Mercy? Firſt he ſets down that, Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities; then follow the other Mercies, Pſal. 103.2, 3, 4. Pardoning Mercy is Crowning Mercy. Yea, this fits us for holy Duties; Prayer or Sacraments: as ſin unpardoned makes God hide his face, that he will not hear, or appear to the Soul. It turns Prayer into Sin, and Sacraments into p. 97Sin: So if this be taken away, the perſon is accepted, and then all Duties are accepted, and God will be ſeen in them to the Soul, and give it communion with himſelf. In a word, this fits us for a Suffering ſtate and time. How will the ſenſe of Pardon, that aſſures a man he ſhall never be caſt into Hell-fire, make him even willingly embrace and ſubmit to a Fiery Trial for Chriſt's ſake? It prepares for Death, whether natural or violent. All muſt die, and as a mans Death is, ſuch is his Doom: As Death leaves us, Judgment findes us. Job prayed earneſtly for the white Stone of Abſolution, as it is an excellent preparative for his Diſſolution; And why doſt thou not pardon my ſin, for now ſhall I ſleep in the duſt? Job 7.21. As if he had ſaid, Lord, my great Afflictions ſeem to haſten on my great change, and therefore now eſpecially I beg the pardon of my ſin, and the ſenſe of it unto my Soul, and then I am prepared to ſleep in the duſt. We ſhould not lye down in our Beds, much leſs in our Graves, with ſin unpardoned: If that p. 98be taken away, no matter how ſoon we dye; Feri Domine, feri, tantum ignoſce mihi peccatum, ſaid Luther; Smite me, Lord, ſmite as thou wilt, though by ſharp Afflictions or Death, all is welcome, if ſin be forgiven: This is that the Lord here promiſeth to victorious Chriſtians, when he ſaith, He will give them the white Stone.

3. Anew name written in the Stone, is the third and laſt of thoſe ſpecial Favours promiſed to Overcomers in the Text. There are ſome that take it to be an Alluſion to that Cuſtome of giving Stones to men, with their Names written on them, as Tickets, ſhewing them ſuch as ſhould be admitted to thoſe Solemn Feaſts, held in honour of thoſe that were Victorious in their ſacred Games: Then the meaning is, that Chriſt will give conquering Chriſtians a privy Mark, whereby they may be known and admitted to the Heavenly Banquet of the hidden Manna, as welcome Gueſts. And, O! how high a Favour is it to carry the Privy-Seal of Heaven about us? To have a Token p. 99that we ſhall be taken up to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb, when others ſhall not taſte of thoſe Dainties? But moſt take the new Name here to be Filius Dei, an Adopted Son of God, and make it an Alluſion to that of Iſaiah, 65.15. God ſhall call his Servants by another Name. A name better than the name of Sons and Daughters: For by this they are Called and Tranſlated out of the old family of Sin and Satan, to be of the Family of God, of the houſhold of Faith; a Priviledge far excelling the civil Adoption in uſe among men; for he takes many Sons and brings them to Glory, a man but one: And when he hath done that, he cannot communicate his own Likeneſs to him. But God with the new Name gives a new Nature; with the Spiritual Adoption conveys a Principle of the Divine Nature, 2. Pet. 1.4. If a man adopts, it is either becauſe he hath no Son of his own, or elſe becauſe his Son is prodigal and diſobedient; but God had a Son from all Eternity, one who never diſpleaſed or diſobliged him in thought, p. 100word, or deed: So that this new Name giving is an act of free and rich Grace. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God, 1 Joh. 3.1. If men Adopt, it is but to ſome earthly Inheritance; But God gives an Inheritance in light, incorruptible, undefiled, that never fadeth away, reſerved in Heaven for them, 1 Pet. 1.4. So that all his Children are Heirs, Heirs of God, and Joint-heirs with Chriſt, Roman. 8.17. Heirs of the Promiſes, Heb. 6.17. Heirs of the Righteouſneſs which is by Faith, Heb. 11.7. Heirs of Salvation, of the Kingdom of Heaven, Heb. 1. ult. Jam. 2.5. They have a glorious Liberty, called The Liberty of the Sons of God, Rom. 8.21. A Liberty from ſins Dominion and Pollution, from the Covenant and Curſe of the Law, from the Power of Satan, the World, and Death. They have a gracious Acceſs to God their Father, I will ariſe and go to my Father, ſaies the Prodigal, Luk. 15. And his pity in all their Troubles: As a Father pities his Children, ſo the Lord pities them that fear p. 101him, Pſal. 103.13. They have acceſs with boldneſs to the Throne of Grace, and have his eye, his ear, his heart and his hand. We read of a Child., who finding himſelf not well, ran to his Father, and cried out, My head, my head, 2 King. 4.19. Thus may God's Children go to him, and ſay, My head, my heart. Oh! this ignorant head, Father, enlighten it; Oh this carnal heart! Father, ſpiritualize it; Oh this dead, hard, earthly, divided heart of mine! Father, quicken, ſoften, make Heavenly, and compoſe it, unite my heart to fear thy Name: Yea, as a Father ſpares his obedient Son, ſo the Lord will ſpare his, As a man ſpares his own Son that ſerves him, Malac. 3.17. If he correct them, it is in love and in meaſure, and he will provide for them here; Your Heavenly Father knoweth you have need of all theſe things, Matt. 6. Jeſus Chriſt is your Brother, he is not aſhamed to call you Brethren, the Angels are your Guard; the King's Son hath the Nobles and Peers of the Realm to wait upon him: The Angels are all Miniſtring Spirits p. 102ſent forth for their good: yea, you ſhall be ever with your Father. The Son abides in the houſe for ever, John 8. as that Father ſaid, Luke 15. Son, thou art ever with me. He that is a Servant to day, may be none to morrow; but if God be a Father, and we his Children by Adoption, this relation abides unchangeably, he is an everlaſting Father, and we his Sons and Daughters for ever. O what an excellent Priviledge is this new Name here promiſed! To be a Son of God, is an old Name, for Adam was called the ſon of God; but it was only by Creation: The Angels in that ſenſe are alſo called the Sons of God; but to which of all the Angels did ever God ſay, Thou art my Adopted Son? This is the new Name here ſpoken of, and is the peculiar Priviledg of true Believers. 'Tis ſtoried, That Alexander the Conquerour was by the flattering Oracle ſaluted as a Son of Jupiter; but the Believer, who overcomes the Devil, Sin, and the World, in a more noble Spiritual way, is by the true Oracle ſtiled, the Son of God; To as many as received him, to them gave he p. 103Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe in his Name, Joh. 1.12. The Believer is no longer a mere Son of Adam, but in the inſtant of his Believing is united to Chriſt the natural Son of God, and ſo becomes an Adopted one. And this is not an empty Title, For they are born of God, and are of the Seed-royal of Heaven; yea, this Adoption is, Quaedam Similitudo Filiationis aeterni, as a Learned man expreſſes it, a Shadow of the Eternal One.

The natural ſon is the Image of Gods nature, the brightneſs of his Fathers glory, and the expreſs Image of his perſon, Heb. 1.2. The adopted Son is the Image of his will, of his own will begat he us by the word of truth, James 1.18. And this puts a luſtre upon Believers, beyond what is to be ſeen upon the Princes and Potentates of the earth. All the great ſwelling names thrown upon them by men, is but, fumus ſeculi, a little ſmoke which quickly is ſcattered; but this divine Adoption is, radius coeli, a beam of heavenly glory, which makes them ſhine in the eyes of the Angels, and continues p. 104an indelible character upon them. You ſee by theſe things ſomewhat of the new name here promiſed, and is this a little matter in any mans account? When Sauls ſervants told David of the purpoſes the King had to give him one of his Daughters to wife, David ſaid, Seemeth it a light thing to any of you to be a Kings Son-in-law, ſeeing I am a poor man, and lightly eſteemed? 1 Sam. 18.23. What may Believers then ſay as to this Divine Adoption? Shall it be a light matter to be a Son or Daughter of the moſt high God, the King of Kings? That they who may ſay to corruption, Thou art my Father, or as 'tis ſaid, Thy Father was an Amorite, and thy Mother a Hittite, Ezek. 16. ſhould receive the ſpirit of Adoption, crying, Abba, Father, even to God himſelf? This, This is that new Name which is here promiſed to all that overcome.

I might here add Reaſons of this point; The love of God to them, his chuſing-love is the cauſe of this. The Lord loveth the righteous, Pſal. 146.8. Therefore his ſecret is with the righteous, p. 105Prov. 3.32. Delilah could not believe Samſon's love was ſo great to her as he pretended; becauſe he told her not that great ſecret, where his ſtrength lay. It ſprings alſo from the purchaſe of Chriſt: He bought a peculiar people, and purchaſed for them peculiar favours: Their common, much more their ſpecial Mercies are the price of Blood; and what Chriſt hath purchaſed, God will give out unto them: To all which, add his engagement by Promiſe, as in the Text, And faithful is he that hath promiſed. The Ʋſe follows, and briefly.

Ʋſe. 1. See here the great miſtake of the men of the world, who are ready to think none outgo them in their Enjoyments; They exceed in outward things, and knowing no better, conclude themſelves the only Favourites of God; And others miſerable, who want them. This Errour proceeds from Ignorance of; and Inexperience as to higher things; Every one is ſatisfied with what he apprehends moſt ſuitable, as the Prodigal with his Husks; but having a new Nature, muſt p. 106have new Food, and began to think of the Bread in his Father's houſe. How much are all in a ſtate of Unbelief to be pitied, who judge good men have no ſuch Priviledges, as to be acquainted with God's Secrets more than themſelves: They meaſure a good man by themſelves, and therefore are ready to ſay in this caſe, as Eliphaz did to Job in another, Haſt thou heard the Secret of God? What knoweſt thou that we know not? What underſtandeſt thou that is not in us? Is there any ſecret thing with thee? Job 15.8, 9, 11. Yet Believers do know and underſtand what worldly men know not, For the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. The Secrets of his Counſel are reſerved in his own breaſt; but the Secrets of his Providence are many times revealed to them; Surely, the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his Secrets to his Servants the Prophets, Amos 3.7, And the Lord himſelf ſaith of Abraham, Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I will do? Yea, the Secrets of his Truth are with Believers; for he hath promiſed his Spirit of Truth p. 107ſhall lead them into all Truth; the Secrets of his Love and Grace are with them, of which the world knows nothing, no more than of the Word of God, which the Spirit only can ſavingly diſcover, which Spirit the world cannot reeeive, Joh. 14.16, 17. As wicked men have Bread which they eat in ſecret, Prov. 9.17. of which good men deſire no knowledg; ſome ſecret Luſt which is as a ſweet Morſel under their Tongue, as to which good men are ready to ſay with the Patriarch, O my Soul, come not thou into their ſecret; or with David, Let me not eat of their dainties. So they that are truely good, have Spiritual Comforts peculiar to themſelves, which the world knows not of, never taſted of. Oh pity ſuch, and pray, if perhaps any may be delivered from their preſent deluſion.

Ʋſe 2. This Truth and Text is full of Comfort to all true Believers, who are victorious in their holy Warfare. Set theſe Divine Refreſhments here promis'd, againſt all Diſcomforts and Diſcouragements of ſpirit. Are you weak and feeble p. 108by the aſſaults of the enemy? here is hidden Manna to ſtrengthen and revive you: Are you caſt down with the fears of Sins Guilt and Gods Wrath? Here is a White-Stone in token of your Election and Abſolution; which may alſo relieve againſt the black coals of Scandal and Reproach, with which men are ready to dirty and defile you: And if your Names be caſt out among men, Chriſt hath given you a new Name that ſhall be had in everlaſting Remembrance, when the name of the wicked ſhall rot. And that your Joy may be yet more full from this Text, conſider how much the Mercies promiſed in it, exceed the things alluded to; The Manna God rained down to Iſrael was Material, this is Spiritual; That came from the Clouds, this from the higheſt Heaven, from the boſome of God the Father; That was hidden in the Dew and in the Golden Pot, this in the Virgins Womb, and now in the Heavens; that fed the Body, this the Soul; That was apt to breed Worms, and ſtink, this can ſee no corruption; That preſerved none p. 109from Death, Your Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderneſs, and are dead, Job. 6.49. But he that eats of this hidden Manna, lives for ever. So of the White Stone; They were material the Romans gave, this is Spiritual; They were inanimate, this is a Living Stone; Thoſe were Tokens of a Temporal Election and Abſolution, this of a Spiritual and Eternal; Thoſe its probable were given ſometimes to vile and wicked perſons, this to none but true Believers. So for the new Name, it is a name of Dignity and Honour, excelling the names of the great ones of the Earth. Let Believers labour to drink in the Comfort of theſe things.

Ʋſe 3. If this Doctrine be true, Then let all the Saints from theſe Promiſes wax valiant in fight, quit themſelves like men; yea, like good Soldiers of Jeſus Chriſt endure the greateſt fight of Afflictions, Heb. 10.32. Put on and handle well your Armour of Righteouſneſs, to repel and repulſe Temptations on the right hand and on the left; Set your Watch, and keep it ſtrictly, as Soldiers p. 110muſt do upon Pain of Death. A Soldier being aſleep when he ſtood Sentinel, his Officer ran him through, thinking it an act of Juſtice to leeve him as he found him. It's a time of War, and our continual dangers ſhould move us not to ſleep as do others; but to watch and be ſober: Let Chriſtians keep cloſe to the Standard. 'Tis Death by Martial Law for Soldiers to run away from their Colours; they that forſake the Lord ſhall be conſumed. Follow Chriſt your Captain in all ways, dirty and clean, in all weathers fair and foul, in all Ordinances, in all Providences. If any man ſerve me, let him follow me, ſaies Chriſt, Joh. 12.26. And ſtrive to make good your ground; yield not to your Spiritual Adverſaries. Divines obſerve there is no armour provided by Chriſt for the back, to ſhew, that we muſt give no ground to our Enemies. A Captain delights not in Renegadoes. If any man draws back, my Soul ſhall have no pleaſure in him, Heb. 10.38. They are the Prophets words, ſay ſome; but God's, ſay others; It's true both ways: Neither p. 111God nor his People can take plea-pleaſure in Apoſtates. Fight couragiouſly againſt your Spiritual Enemies; as for your Bodily Enemies, you have another Rule, Love your Enemies, pray for them that perſecute you, Mat. 5. And if your Enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirſt, give him drink: Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. But as to your Soul Enemies, fight manfully and ſtoutly againſt them, give them no Quarter: If you ſpare them, your Life, your Soul muſt go for it. It was the Saying of a Captain to his Soldiers, having the Spaniſh Army before them, and the Sea behind them, Either you muſt drink up this Sea, or eat up theſe Spaniards. So it is here, either we muſt fight and overcome our Sins, or drink up the Sea of God's Wrath. O ceaſe not combating, till all your foes be made your foot-ſtool. This Church of Pergamos was overcome by the Doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, holding both Adultery and Idolatry lawful, Doctrines pernicious to ſound Truth and a holy Life; only ſome held p. 112faſt Chriſt's Name, and did not deny his Faith, Antipas reſiſted unto Blood; the reſt are called upon to ſtrive to overcome theſe Doctrines, by theſe ſweet Promiſes in the Text: And hath not the Dragon poured out a flood of Errors amongſt us of late? Are not many carried away with divers and ſtrange Doctrines? Do not ſome go about to null the Eternal Decrees of God? to make void the Satisfaction of Chriſt? to deny and deride the Imputation of his Righteouſneſs to Believers in the matter of Juſtification? to maintain the Doctrine of Free-will, and final Apoſtacy from Grace? And doth it not then concern us to keep the word of Chriſt, as Soldiers muſt keep the Word their General gives them? ſo let all Chriſt's Soldiers keep the word of Precept, the word of Promiſe, and the word of his Patience, that he may make the ſame honourable report of you, which he doth of them, Joh. 17.6. And they have kept thy Word. Who knows how ſoon the ſame Trials may be upon us, that were upon Antipas… …ere in his p. 113Church? Oh! that we may be found faithful Martyrs as he was. Know, our Call to the battle is clear, our Cauſe is good, and our Comforts ſweet, when we have been ſlaying our Luſts, conquering Errors and Temptation from the Devil and the World, Chriſt will meet us, as Melchizedek met Abraham, when he came from the ſlaughter of the Kings, bringing forth bread and wine, ſupports and comforts to our ſouls. Melchizedek's Bread and wine were to Abraham Pawns and Pledges of Canaan, the Land of Promiſe; and Chriſts ſupports and comforts ſhall be to us Earneſts of Heaven and Glory. See what conſolations flow in theſe promiſes to the Overcomer; as the Manna of old fell about the Camps of the Iſraelites, and was preſerved in the Golden Pot: ſo hidden Manna falls about the Overcomer, and is preſerved in his heart. Pardon is the white ſtone, and Adoption the new name; and all theſe, though ſecrets to others, are well known to himſelf: Let all that are liſted to fight under Chriſt's Banner, encourage themſelves, p. 114and one another, with theſe words, To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the hidden Manna; and will give him a white ſtone, and in the ſtone a new name written, which no man knoweth, ſaving he that receiveth it.