Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers, Sermon 1

Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers · Sermon 1

p. 1SERMON I.

REV. II 7.

To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midſt of the paradiſe of God.

THE order of giving this Book of the Revelation is very obſervable; For God the Father gave it to his Son Jeſus Chriſt; Chriſt to his Angel, the Angel to John, and John to the Seven Churches in Aſia. Rev. 1.1, 4. It's obſerved, that this John was honoured to be an Evangeliſt in his Goſpel; an Apoſtle in his Epiſtles: and a Prophet in his Revelation. It is a Book of ſingular uſe to Chriſtians to the end of the world: And though many things in it are very p. 2myſterious, which Chriſt will reveal to his Servants in their proper ſeaſons, yet many things are more clear and obvious. The Epiſtles to the Churches, though directed to the Angel of each Church, yet concern the whole body, and each member; and therefore it's ſaid, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the ſpirit ſpeaks unto the Churches: This is ſpoken to each particular Church, which plainly ſhews they were all bound to attend the voice of the Holy Ghoſt in all that is delivered; yea, all the Churches that have been ſince, now are, or ever ſhall be, are concerned in it; for all that is written, is for our learning, upon whom the ends of the world are come, Rom. 15.4. The Text is the concluſion of that Epiſtle directed to the Angel of the Church of Epheſus: By the Angel, ſome underſtand the Miniſters, ſo ſtiled to ſhew both their dignity and duty. This Epheſus was that famous City, Acts 19. where the great goddeſs. Diana was ſo much eſteemed, in which a Church was planted, at firſt vigorous and flouriſhing; but at this p. 3time declining, both in her inward affection and outward converſation: called foreign from foreign, which ſignifies remiſneſs, ſhe abating of her firſt Love, and declining from her firſt: Works. Now the words of the Text are a gracous and ſweet promiſe given out to encourage her to repentance and a recovery of her ſelf: Having uſed threatning arguments, he concludes with this excellent and full promiſe, if by any means ſhe might be brought to remember whence ſhe was fallen, and might get Victory over her preſent dangerous Diſtempers: To him that overcometh, I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God. Here is

1. The matter of the promiſe, to eat of the Tree of Life, which is deſcribed by the ſcituation of it, in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God.

2. The condition of it overcoming, The Doctrine is this.

Doct. That Overcomers ſhall eat of the Tree of Life in Gods Paradiſe. Here is ſomething implied, and alſo ſomething expreſſed, of theſe in order.

p. 41 That which is implied is, that we have Enemies who fight againſt us, and ſeek our deſtruction for ever, againſt whom we are to manage a Spiritual Warfare; and though none under twenty years old in Iſrael, went forth to War, yet here none are exempted: not only are Miniſters called to act and quit themſelves as good Soldiers of Jeſus the Chriſt, 1 Tim. 2.4. as Timothy was, the Weapons of whoſe Warfare are not Carnal, but Spiritual, as St. Paul ſpeaks 2 Cor. 10.4. They are to fight by the preaching of the Word, weilding well that ſword of the Spirit, by Church cenſures, by enduring hardſhip, and the like; yet is not the War limited to them, but every one muſt come out to the battel, even young ones muſt ſtrive to fight this good fight, wherein the glory of God, and the cauſe of their Souls are eminently concerned. This world is the field in which the Battels are to be fought, and the War managed: In Heaven there are no Enemies, nor ſhall they there learn War any more; 'Tis true, we read there was war in Heaven, p. 5Rev. 12.7. and the Dragon and his angels fought; but it is meant of the Church here, often called Heaven in Scripture and in this Book of the Revelation; This world is the Enemies Country, and while the Church is here, it muſt be militant, in a conflicting and warring condition, and this without intermiſſion; the Enemies are reſtleſs and implacable, and will admit no truce, no ceſſation of arms: In Heaven above they are Triumphant, having Crowns on their Heads, and Palms in their hands in token of full Victory; but here we muſt all hold ſwords, and labour to be expert in war, every one having his ſword upon his thigh, Cant. 3. 8. becauſe of fear in the night; this war is both defenſive and offenſive; we muſt not only be ſtanding upon our guard in our own defence, but God hath provided armour by which we may overcome our Enemies and worſt them in the Combate: as they ſaid of old, to your Tents O Iſrael; ſo let me ſay, to your arms, to your arms, O all ye children of men, eſpecially, O all Believers; p. 6take to you the whole armour of God, whereby ye may be able to withſtand in every evil day, and having done all to ſtand: For this is not an arbitrary buſineſs, but of that abſolute neceſſity, that we muſt either fight or dye, kill or be killed, conquer our Enemies, or be finally and eternally overcome by them: The Trumpet of the Goſpel gives no uncertain ſound, 1 Tim. 6.12. but requires us to prepare our ſelves to the Battel. If any ſay, who, or where are our Enemies? I anſwer, the Fleſh, the Devil, and the World, are the profeſſed and avowed Enemies of our Souls.

1. The Fleſh; our carnal and worldly luſts; theſe are our worſt Enemies; the greateſt fight is within; quot vitia, tot inimici: as many Adverſaries as there are corruptions: 2 Kings 11. 13, 14. when Athaliah heard the noiſe of the Guard and of the People in the Temple, She came into the Temple, and ſeeing them in their Warlike poſture, ſhe rent her Clothes, and cried Treaſon, Treason: when we look into our hearts, which ſhould be the Temples of God, p. 7and find ſo many luſts gathered together there, that are Enemies to Chriſt, and would not he ſhould reign in us, and ſeek to betray our Souls to the Enemies without us, we may well cry out Treaſon, Treaſon. Proud luſts, covetous luſts, unclean luſts, lying and hypocriſy, diſtruſt and infidelity, with a great Regiment beſides, theſe war continually againſt our Souls, and fight againſt the Government of Chriſt and the Dominion of his Spirit and Grace in us; againſt theſe therefore we ſhould bend our main Forces: more eſpecially;

1. Againſt the ſin of our Nature: This is called the Law in our Members, and is ſaid to war againſt the Law of our mind: Rom. 7.23. This enemy is ever preſent with us, as the Apoſtle St. Paul complained; when we ſhould doe good, it is preſent, either to divert us from it, or diſtract us in it. This is a very importunate evil, a wreſtleſs and unwearied Enemy: we may ceaſe evil acts, when we cannot avoid inward motions: this was it which made that excellent Apoſtle cry out, O wretched man that I am, Rom. 7.24. p. 8who ſhall deliver me?

2. The ſpecial, predominant, and moſt beloved Delilah, the ſin that doth more eaſily beſet us, we ſhould bend our utmoſt ſtrength againſt this: every one hath a peccatum in deliciis, a darling ſin, a right eye of pleaſure, a right hand of profit; and though no true Believer can have a beloved ſin, for he hates every falſe way, yet ſome ſin there is by which he is moſt eaſily overcome; and againſt this the heat of the Battel ſhould be directed; As it was ſaid of old fight neither with ſmall nor great, but with the King of Iſrael 1 Kin. 33.31.

So ſay I, fight above all with the Ruling luſt and predominant corruption: the ſin that we cannot well hear reproved, can hardly tell how to part with, are moſt delighted and pleaſed in the thoughts of it, is firſt in a morning and laſt at night with us: Oh this is that Enemy which when it kiſſeth, is ready to kill us; we may eaſily ſee the dagger it hath, ready to ſtrike us under the firth rib, even when it fawns and flatters moſt, as Joab did to Abner: we can never be too careful here, to p. 9ſtand upon our watch, to keep guard againſt it, as David did; Pſal. 18.23. I was alſo upright before God, ſays he, and kept my ſelf from mine inquity: No better means of ſafety, no greater ſign of integrity, then to keep our ſelves from our iniquity: Let our chief war be againſt theſe indwelling Enemies, eſpecially, againſt the ſin of our Nature, and the evil we are moſt apt to indulge, and are moſt addicted to, and the Victory over the reſt will be rendred much more facile and eaſy.

2. Satan is another of thoſe Enemies to be encountred by us; for the Dragon and his Angels fight againſt us; they aſſault us with all ſorts of dangerous weapons: we read of the wiles of the Devil; Epheſ. 6. the devices or methods of Satan: 2 Cor. 2.11. the fiery darts of that wicked one: Diabolus eſt methodidicus ad fallendum: Hence the Apoſtle brings in Satan under the notion of a Soldier, againſt whom we are to combate: and a ſubtil Enemy he is 2 Cor. 11.13, for he has bin experienced in warring againſt mens Souls for above 5000 years; He p. 10labours ſometimes to beat their Armour out of their hand, eſpecially the ſhield of Faith, and the ſword of the Spirit, becauſe theſe prejudice him moſt. He watches the fitteſt time to aſſault; the policy of Souldiers is ſeen in obſerving the right ſeaſon, ſo doth Satan: he takes the time of Solitarineſs, the time of Sleepineſs, or the time of Wearineſs, and the like. He takes the advantage of place: Souldiers that are to fight, have a ſpecial regard to the ground they are to fight upon, that they may thereby get ſome advantage againſt their Enemies, ſo Satan does; he obſerves the ground we ſtand upon: if upon high places, he knows how to lay his ſnares there, and to entice us by the inordinate love of earthly things, from God and his ways; if upon low places, he has his wiles there, temptations ſuitable to a poor condition: Hence is the requeſt of that wiſe man, Give, me neither Poverty nor Riches; Prov. 30.8, 9. he was not ignorant of Satans devices. In both, in a word, he holds, correſpondence with that in party in us, which p. 11he knows is true to him, our ſin and corruption: this is the treacherous party within, which he engageth to betray us into his hand without: which makes our condition dangerous, by giving ſuch advantage to Satan. 2 Cor. 7.5. Without are fightings, and within are fears, becauſe he hath always a party in our boſomes true to his cauſe: It is this that renders him ſo formidable an Enemy; if all were right within us, he would loſe his deſigns upon us, as he did upon Chriſt: The Prince of this World cometh, ſays he, and hath nothing in me. Joh. 14.30. But in Believers he finds an army of doubtings and carnal fears; troops of carnal reaſonings and diſputings, theſe take part with him, and give him often to overcome them; others he takes captive at his will; but even good men by giving place to him, and by being betrayed by their corruptions, are worſted by him. How greatly then doth it concern them and all others to reſiſt this adverſary at the firſt, and not give way to him? Turpius ejicitur, quam non admittitur hoſtis: He is more eaſily kept p. 12out at firſt, than caſt out afterwards. Add to all this, He is an active and diligent enemy; called foreign for foreign the wicked one; becauſe he is always endeavouring to circumvent, and labouring to deſtroy Souls. He is a potent enemy; though he hath loſt all his holineſs, yet not his ſtrength; they are principalities and power ſtill. He is a preſent enemy, can be always at our right hand whereever we are; no place can be a ſanctuary to us from his aſſaults: Some think by ſhutting themſelves up in a cloiſter, they can ſhut out Satan, and that he dares not come where they ſprinkle holy-water; but he can be with us in any place, and let us be never ſo ſecret and cloſe, we cannot exclude two from being preſent with us, viz. God and Satan. He is a cruel enemy, eſpecially to thoſe who yield to him; the natural Lion, they ſay, ſpares him that ſubmits to him; hence that, Satis eſt proſtraſſe Leoni: But this mercileſs Lion, roars moſt terribly upon, and carries it moſt cruelly to thoſe who yield. In a word, he is a conſtant adverſary; 'Tis p. 13ſaid, Saul became Davids enemy continually, 1 Sam. 18.29. This is true here, Satan is an implacable, perpetual enemy, and therefore we muſt fight, per apertum mortem, by open defiance of him and all his attempts; and though we war, impari proelio, he being upon the upper ground, the Prince of the Air, ſpiritual wickedneſs in high places, ſo that we are like little David to great Goliah; yet if we act our parts well, though we be too weak, yet we have a good ſecond, Pſal. 89.19. God hath laid help upon one that is mighty; of which more afterward.

3. The World is another enemy we are to combat and grapple with; we read much of overcoming the world in the Epiſtle of St. John, not by carnal weapons, for Chriſt bid Peter put up his Sword when he would be fighting; but with ſpiritual Armor. What is the evil, may ſome ſay, that is in the world to be overcome? I would ſay thus, Take the creatures as they come out of Gods hand, ſo they are good, and make no war againſt us, nor are we called to put p. 14forth any acts of hoſtility againſt them; but as our other enemies, Sin and Satan, make them inſtruments to ourhurt, and cauſe us to miſimploy them. Every creature of God it good, 1 Tim. 4.3, 4. if ſanctified by the Word and Prayer; but by the ſinful abuſe of them, turn to evil, and help on the ruine of men. Every thing is apt to become a trap and a ſnare to defile and deſtroy us; upon which account alone we are called forth to fight againſt them. To inſtance, In our attaining great things in the world, it is our enemy: They that will be rich, per fas, & nefas, right or wrong, 1 Tim. 6.9, 10. ſlighty in the great matters of their Souls and Eternity, but eager in coveting and purſuing earthly things; theſe fall into a ſhare, and into many fooliſh and hurtful luſts, which drown men in deſtruction and perdition; For the love of money is the root of all evil, and they who are violent in the purſuit of it, have erred from the faith, and pierced themſelves through with many ſorrows. Demas, Judas, and many Thouſands beſides have found the truth of theſe p. 15things; Soenior armis incumbet luxuria, Juv. So in our retaining the world, there is a dangerous ſnare, as well as in attaining of them: The hold-faſt; men have of theſe things, is like a mans holding red-hot Iron, or a Firebrand, againſt which he has need of ſome preſervative. This was the young mans utter ruine, of whom the Goſpel makes mention. There is that ſcattereth, and yet encreaſeth; and there is that with-holdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty, ſays Solomon, Prov. 11.24. Further, In the very enjoying of the world, there is an evil to be fought againſt, which is, that it ſtick not too near our heart: Wiſdom is good with an inheritance, Eccleſ. 7.11. Godly wiſdom: though wiſdom without an inheritance is apt to be deſpiſed: no man remembred that wiſe man who delivered the City, becauſe he was a poor man, Eccl. 9.15. yet an inheritance without wiſdom, is not good to the owner of it, but a temptation, fuel of luſt, pride, vanity, and ſo is harmful for want of this wiſdom to order and keep it in its p. 16right place, out of the heart. Moreover, there is hoſtility to be uſed againſt the world, even in our paſſing through the world; leſt it cauſe us to loſe our ſight of God, by interpoſing between him and us. A man may hide the Sun from his eye with his hand. A little of the world, if we be not careful, may be like a cloud, which will keep us from the ſight of God: But to be curnbred with a multiplicity of cares about theſe things, is to ſet great mountains between him and us, to cauſe an eclipſe of his countenance, that we cannot behold him: The Moon eclipſeth the Sun from our ſight; earthly things hide the gracious ſace of God from us, if we be not very watchful againſt them. Yet further, we are to fight againſt this enemy, as it doth oppoſe grace, and hinder us in our faith, hope, and charity. In our Faith; he that ſees a fair eſtate, had need pray and ſay, Lord, draw the curtain, and let me by faith ſee thee and thy beauty and glory: The God of glory, Acts 7. (or God in his glory) appeared unto Abraham, and this ſo darkned p. 17the glory of this world, that by Faith he left all at the call of God: So much as we fix our eye upon the creature, ſo much the leſs we ſee of God; and ſo much the more our faith is hindered. When Jacob had leaſt of this world, he ſaw moſt of God; and ſo it is with many: So for hope, the world often hurts that: the ſoul is ready to ſay, How ſhall I travel over the fords and deeps of the world? how ſhall I be able to reſign up my all? This is hard and difficult, to ſell all, to part with all; the hope of better things will carry us through it, but if we fix here, hope is loſt: ſo love and charity, they are defiled; there is ſpiritual whoredom between the Soul and the Creature, by the love of the world; Ye adulterers and adultereſſes, ſays St. James, Jam. 4.4. know ye not that the friendſhip of the world is enmity with God? Some take it for that ſpiritual adultrey, wherein a man gives his love away from God to the Creature: where love to the world prevails, the beſt things are ſlighted and undervalued; we ought to hate Father p. 18and Mother, Brother and Siſter, Houſes and Lands, yea, and our own Life alſo, for Chriſt's ſake, Luke 14.26. when they ſtand between us and God, then away with them; had we not need watch and war againſt the world, to ſubdue it and get the upper hand of it? 1 Cor. 6.12. All things are lawful, but I will not he brought under the power of any, ſaith St. Paul. He would ſtand upon the liberty and priviledg Chriſt gave him, he would have the upper hand of theſe things, nothing ſhould command his love, his fear, or his joy: and it is ſweet walking with God, when in this frame of Spirit. That man who ſtands in right terms with the things of the world, is content in every condition, inſtructed in all things, and can be in want or abound, as it pleaſeth God to order for him; and this we ſhould account better then the greateſt eſtate in the Countrey: theſe will come on faſter in all grace, that can caſt off this weight, and will run the race ſet before them, and none ſhall hinder them: this is the generation of Travellers: when Jacob p. 19went from his Fathers Houſe, he had but a ſtaff, and a ſtone; a ſtaff to walk with in the day, and a ſtone to reſt his head upon in the night; yet he returned two bands, and glorious viſions of God were given him, Gen. 31. Gen. 32. though he met with hardſhip, yet theſe made him pluck up his feet, and go on chearfully. This will put reſolution into the heart of a Chriſtian, Acts 20.23, 24. None of theſe things move me, ſaith St. Paul, neither do I count my life dear, ſo I may finiſh my courſe with joy. This is that which is implied, That we have Enemies to war and combate with, and we hear what they are.

2. That which is expreſſed is, that Overcomers; all that get Victory of theſe Enemies, ſhall eat of the Tree of Life in God's Paradiſe. Some, Queſtions follow for a brief explication of this propoſition.

Queſt. Who may be ſaid to be Overcomers?

Anſw. This Apoſtle doth beſt of all reſolve the Queſtion: which he firſt propounds, and then anſwers. 1 Jo. 5.5. p. 20Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jeſus is the Son of God? Though the world is only named, yet all the Enemies are included; for he that gets victory over one, overcomes them all: ſome will ſay, who doth not believe this, that Jeſus is the Son of God? There will ſoon be an end of the war, if this be all, the Victory will be eaſy: let ſuch know, that though there be no great difficulty in giving our aſſent to this propoſition, yet the Deity of Chriſt hath been denied and oppoſed by none of the meaneſt for learning; not onelyonly by the Phariſees whilſt he himſelf lived, but in the times when this Apoſtle wrote his Epiſtle; and afterwards by the Arrians, and Socinians of late. How few imbrace it with a Divine Faith, which is the only Faith that overcomes in the day of tryal? Some take this up upon reaſons of antiquity, Authority and Conſent of the Church in which they live, but this Faith will not give us Victory; if great trials ariſe upon this Fundamental Article in the Creed: when the Apoſtle p. 21wrote this, it was the critical point, the Shibboleth, as I may ſay, by which one was diſtinguiſhed from another; the diſcriminating Doctrine; the word of Chriſt's patience. Perſecution roſe ſo high upon the defenders of this great truth, as their Liberties and Lives were in danger to be taken from them for maintaining it; at ſuch a day not to be afraid to confeſs Chriſt to be the Eternal Son of God, gave a comfortable ground to conclude them true Believers; ſuch Faith might charitably be judged right, by which they thus overcame the world. 'Tis an eaſy thing when a Proteſtant Prince reigns, to declare we believe that Tranſubſtantiation is an error, contrary to Scripture, reaſon, and our very ſenſes; but if Popery ſhould come in like a flood, and be the prevailing Intereſt, and condemn them to be burnt for Hereticks who deny it, as was the caſe of the Martyrs in the Marian days; then to be ſtedfaſt even to the death in this perſwaſion, would be a very hopeful evidence of the truth of our belief, and of our Victory over the World. So in p. 22the caſe this Text mentions; O how few would find Faith and Patience, to help them to ſeal to this, That Chriſt is the Son of God, Coeſſential and Coeternal with the Father, with their blood! How few would dare to appear to own it, as it is ſaid, Athinaſius did, when the World was in a manner, over-run with Arianiſm? When St. Peter had maid that excellent confeſſion, Matth. 16.16, 17. Thou art Chriſt, the Son of the living God, what ſays Chriſt to this? Bleſſed art thou Simon, &c. and though he was afterwards foiled, yet he overcame all in the end. Acts 4.19.

Queſt. 2. What is that Paradiſe of God promiſed here to Overcomers?

Anſw. Heaven, even the third Heaven, the true Celeſtial Paradiſe. For what in one verſe, 2 Cor. 12.2, 4. St. Paul ſtiles the third Heaven, in another, he calls it Paradiſe: And thus to be taken in the Text and Doctrine now before us. Here ſeems to be an alluſion to the Garden of Eden, where God diſpoſed of Adam after he had created him, Gen. 13.10. ſtiled the Garden of God; which was a p. 23large circuit of ground, richly furniſhed with all good things, as became ſo excellent a Workman; and was every way anſwerable to the ends for which it was prepared, Cant. 4.12. Some judge it was a type of the Church, which is called a Garden encloſed, and a Figure of Heaven: It was doubtleſs the choiceſt ſpot of ground in the World; there were all ſort of pleaſant Trees, and delightful Fruits; and free liberty to eat of them all, one onelyonly excepted. Who can declare the delights of the Celeſtial Paradiſe? Eden had a very famous River that ran through it, and watered it, Pſal. 46.4. So there is a River in Heaven, far excelling that, the Streams whereof make glad that City of God: It doth overflow to refreſh the Church here, but runs with a full current there, and raviſh the Inhabitants of that Paradiſe with unexpreſſible pleaſures for evermore. In Eden of old, the Covenant between God and Adam was perfect, till man brake it: In Heaven, the new Covenant and all the myſteries of Grace therein are accompliſhed. Adam was p. 24without ſin and ſorrow, and might eaſily have ſo kept himſelf, when he was in Eden: But there is no poſſibility of ſin or trouble in the heavenly Paradiſe. In the Garden of Eden, Adam had free acceſs to, and fellowſhip with his Creator; but in Heaven they have it with God as a Father, and more fully and durably then Adam had; by which we may ſee the Paradiſe, what it is.

Queſt. 3. Who and what is the Tree of Life mentioned in the Text?

Anſw. Chriſt himſelf, and he onelyonly, is the true Tree of Life. Pro. 3.18. So ſtiled by Solomon, under the name of Wiſdom; thus he ſpeaks of Chriſt; She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon her; an alluſion to that Tree of Life which was in the Garden of Eden; which is made by ſome a Sacrament, and Seal of that Covenant, by which God aſſured Adam the continuance of his natural Life during his abode on Earth; and Eternal Life when he ſhould be removed from hence, in caſe he kept this Covenant. They who lay hold on Chriſt by true Faith, have the beſt Seal that can p. 25be of Spiritual and Eternal Life; 1 Jo. 5.12. He that hath the Son, hath Life; the Fountain of Life, the Bread of Life, the Water of Life, the Well of Life, the Tree of Life. That Tree in Eden was, as ſome judge, both alimentum and medicamentum; food and phyſick; ſo is Chriſt: he is the Tree of Life that is ſaid to bear twelve manner of Fruits every month, and whoſe Leaves are for the healing of the nations, Rev. 22.2. That Tree of Life in Eden, ſtood in the midſt of the Garden, Gen. 2.9. that it might be often in the view of our firſt Parents, which way ſoever they went, either to their Food or to their Employment. Chriſt is in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God, and will be in the view of all Believers for ever. Thoſe Trees of Righteouſneſs will be round about him to all Eternity. But you will ſay,

Queſt. 4. What is it to eat of this Tree of Life?

Anſw. To eat, is to preſs forth the vertue and ſweetneſs that is in our Food, that we may partake of the benefit thereof. Overcomers ſhall participate of the p. 26fulneſs of Chriſt to their own joy. In eating there is a natural delight ariſing from the taſte of our meat: 'tis ſaid, They did eat, Neh. 9.15. and delighted themſelves in thy great goodneſs: ſo of others, that they did eat and were all filled: 1 Kings 19. Elijah did eat and was ſtrengthened: of another 'tis ſaid, 1 Sam. 30. he did eat, and his Spirit came again, and he revived. They that get Victory over their Spiritual Enemies, ſhall feed and feaſt themſelves upon Jeſus Chriſt the true Tree of Life in Heaven, whereby all their deſires ſhall be ſatisfied, and their Appetites quenched, and they everlaſtingly ſtrengthened, to behold his glory, and to follow him whetherſoever he goeth.

Queſt. 5. Why does the promiſe run in theſe terms, That he will make them eat of the tree of life in the midſt of the paradice of God?

Anſw. Partly to mind us of that firſt ſin by which we were overcome in Adam, as he was the publick head and repreſentative of all mankind, that we may be humbled for it; and partly to p. 27ſhew us that this happineſs then loſt, is recoverable by Chriſt, the ſecond Adam, and ſhall be the portion of them that overcome: Not that they ſhall return again to the Garden of Eden, as ſome have concluded from this Text; but a far more excellent eſtate and felicity than we ſhould have had, if Adam had never fallen: which cauſed ſome to cry out, O felix peccatum! O happy ſin of Adam, which has occaſioned the bringing in of a far better estate! The Uſes follow:

Ʋſe 1. Are theſe things true! Behold here the miſery of all ſuch as are totally and finally overcome by the grand enemies of their ſouls; they are excluded for ever from the good of this promiſe; as Chriſt ſaid of them who ſlighted the invitation of the Goſpel, Luke 14.24. They ſhall never taſte of my ſupper. So he ſpeaks of theſe here, I will never give them to eat of my fruits, thoſe fruits which grow upon me the tree of Life. They have temporal delights which are a paradiſe to them, and are ſo well ſatisfied with theſe things, That a Noble man in p. 28France is reported to ſay, He would not change his part in Paris for a part in Paradiſe. Such a one was the young man in the Goſpel, who would not quit his earthly treaſures for heavenly, and theſe aſſured by Chriſt himſelf. Worldly contents are their chief joy, though but a Fools paradiſe. Thou fool, ſays Chriſt to him that bid his ſoul take its eaſe, for he had goods for many years, Luke 12.20. Solomon among other vanities, planted Orchards and Gardens with variety of Trees, Eccleſ. 2. but not a Tree of Life amongſt them all. Oh! that men could believe how ſad their end will be, who have no better things than theſe, who get no ſpiritual conqueſts over the enemies of their Souls; their end will be eternal expulſion and excluſion from the Paradiſe of God. As God ſent forth, and drove out Adam from the Garden of Eden (whether by his word of command, or by forcible ſtrength, is not material) never to return thither again, Gen. 3.23, 24. ſo will he drive away all the wicked like chaff, and ſcatter them like ſmoke, that they never enter in the celeſtial p. 29Paradiſe: And as God ſet an Angel with a flaming Sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the Tree of Life, that Adam might not eat of it, having by his ſin loſt his right unto it; ſo whoſoever is finally overcome by Sin, Satan, and the World, living and dying under the full power and dominion of theſe enemies, the flaming Sword of Divine juſtice will for ever keep them out of the Paradiſe of God, and from eating of the Tree of Life that grows there; Oh! that men would believe this report, and in time labour to prevent it.

Ʋſe 2. This Doctrine is a ground of ſtrong conſolation to all overcomers:

1. They ſhall enjoy the heavenly Paradiſe, where are far greater delights than in the Garden of Eden; Eden was earthly, this is heavenly: The Serpent got into Eden; Satan that old Serpent, can never wind himſelf into the heavenly Paradiſe. In Eden our firſt Parents ſinned and broke covenant with God; in Heaven they have an impoſſibility of falling. Adam was driven out from the Garden p. 30of Eden; but none are expelled from the Paradiſe above.

2. They ſhal… …at of the Tree of Life, feed upon Chriſt there: this is the Paradiſe of Paradiſe, the Heaven of Heaven it ſelf. Pſal. 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? ſays that holy David.

This was the living Cordial Chriſt gave the penitent Thief in his dying hour, Luke 23.43. To day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. To have Chriſt be with us here, though in affliction, in priſon, is an ineſtimable good and precious favour; but to be with Chriſt is beſt of all. This may ſweeten your Chriſtian warfare, if you conſider how much this Tree excels that in Eden; that was material, this ſpiritual; that grew out of the Earth, this grew in God's Boſom, and was from Heaven; that Tree had no life in it ſelf more then any other of the Trees of the Garden, but ſhould have continued life to Adam if he had not ſinned, during the Divine pleaſure, meerly by God's inſtitution; but Chriſt hath life in himſelf, and quickens whom he will. Adam never eat of that Tree of life; all p. 31true …lievers ſhall partake of this. The… was a flaming-ſword to keep all from coming to that Tree in Eden; but here will be no obſtruction, nor any cauſe of ſeparation from Chriſt. That Tree of old is long ſince periſhed, and that Garden deſtroyed; but theſe abide freſh and glorious for ever. Methinks the ſerious conſideration of theſe things might allay the bitterneſs of preſent troubles; Exod. 15.25. when the waters were bitter, ſo that the Children of Iſrael could not drink of them, Moſes took a Tree which the Lord had ſhewed him, and caſt it into the waters and they became ſweet: The moſt bitter waters of affliction, may be ſweetned by Faith acted on Chriſts love in them; Whom the Lord loves he rebukes and chaſtens: They all come through Chriſt; every rod of affliction is gathered off this Tree of Life by a Fathers hand: A few leaves of this Tree put into the cup of affliction, takes away the bitterneſs thereof, and turns it into a cup of conſolation, yea, a cup of ſalvation to all believers. Oh that you would comfort p. 32your ſelves, and one another, with theſe things! If any object and ſay, I fear I ſhall never overcome, but my ſin and the world will conquer me, the Devil will at laſt prevail, and I ſhall one day periſh at their hands; Let ſuch a Soul know and believe, that what is ſpoken to Dan for his encouragement, Gen. 49.19. is for its comfort in all its wars and combats with theſe enemies; A troop ſhall overcome him; but he ſhall overcome at the laſt. A man that wreſtles or fights with his enemy, may be foiled and worded at firſt, and yet recover himſelf, and get the victory in the end. Peter was worſted at firſt in the combat, yet gets up again and conquers all oppoſition, Acts 4.19. He that is thrown down by his enemy, and lies ſtill in and under his fall, not ſtriving to riſe and recover himſelf, this man is fully overcome; but thus it is not with any true believer: Let none ſuch be diſcouraged, though never ſo weak, but remember that of Solomon, Eccleſ. 9.11. The race is not to the ſwift, nor the battel to the ſtrong; only believe and ye ſhall ſee the Glory of p. 33God, the glorious wiſdom and power of God working out your Victory. When ſome brought an ill report upon the promiſed Land, Num. 13.17, 28, 29, 30. and weakened the hands and hearts of the people, by telling them of the walled Cities, and the Children of Anak, and other things to diſcourage them from fighting, Caleb a man of excellent Faith and Courage ſtilled the people before Moſes, and ſaid, Let us go up and poſſeſs it, for we are well able to overcome it: This was he that afterwards God brought into the Land, Numb. 14.24. being a man of another Spirit, and followed the Lord fully, when the other died in the Wilderneſs and never came thether: Heb. 3. ult. and the Scripture ſaith, they could not enter in becauſe of unbelief: O let all take heed of an evil heart of unbelief, and the day is yours; believe you ſhall overcome, and you ſhall ſurely overcome. 1 Joh. 5.4. This is the Victory whereby every one that is born of God overcometh the World, the Devil, and their Corruptions, even their Faith: 1 Tim. 6.12. Fight the good fight p. 34of Faith, ſays the Apoſtle to Timothy: above all take the ſhield of Faith Eph. 6.16. this overcomes all before it: Even Chriſt himſelf yields to this. Thus he ſpeaks to the Spouſe, Cant. 6.5. Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: he yields himſelf conquered to the Faith of his people: and much more will it overcome the Enemies. Gen. 32.28, when Jacob had prevailed over the Angel, he ſoon ſaw a Victory over his Brother Eſaus wrath, Gen. 33.10. Oh! that you would ſtir up Faith, all things are poſſible to him that believeth: the Lord encreaſe our Faith. To conclude,

Ʋſe. 3. Let us be exhorted to courage and▪ confidence to this holy war, for you fight not as uncertain of Victory, not as thoſe that beat the air; Let nothing here below hinder us, 2 Tim. 2.4. no man that warreth, entangleth himſelf in the affairs of this Life: but strives to pleaſe him that hath choſen him to be a Souldier. If a Soulder be in Gariſon he may work on his Trade, yet ſo as to be p. 35ready to march at the beat of the Drum, or ſound of the Trumpet, but when in the Field, he; muſt wholly attend the war: we may uſe the world, but as if we uſed it not; in our employments and enjoyments of it and in it, we muſt be abſtracted from it, or we ſhall never come off well in the day of Battel; if we be entangled and enſnared by it in our affections, and not in a conſtant readineſs at the call of God to engage the Enemy, we ſhall come of with diſhonour and damage, diſhonour to him that calls us to fight, and damage to our own Souls. There are many things to encourage Chriſtians to look about them, and quit themſelves like men, and be ſtrong: as,

1. The paucity of thoſe who conquer; To him that overcometh, ſays the Text: Not to them, but to him, to note they are but few. Chriſt propheſied that many will be offended, Matth. 24.9, 10. The love of many ſhall wax cold, and it is but a He that endureth to the end. Oh how great a mercy will it he to be found in that remnant. David had many Soldiers, few Worthies; many make a p. 36ſcuffle and ſeem to fight, few are in good earneſt and fight valiantly:

2. There are ſome advantages Believers have, which if well improved may give them the upper hand of their Enemies;

1. They have the armour of God; that belongs to every Chriſtian: when David was to fight againſt Goliah, 1 Sam. 17.38, 39. he was preſented with the beſt Armour, even by the King himſelf, which was no ſmall encouragement. Believers are preſented with a whole coat of excellent Armour, every piece of it is Armour of proof, and this by the King of Kings: Saul's Armour was too heavy for David, he attempted to go in it, but could not: God hath made every piece of the Spiritual Armour fit and ſuitable to every true Believer.

2. They have Chriſt for their Standard-bearer, whoſe heart fainted not, nor melted away, as the Prophet Eſay mentions, Eſay 10.18. The Standard-bearer fainteth; when he ſees the Army routed, he caſts away his Colours and flecth; ſo did not Chriſt; hence that of St. Paul, Gal. 6.14. God forbid I ſhould glory in any p. 37thing ſave in the Croſs of Chriſt, viz. in the death and ſufferings of Chriſt; I will not leave my Colours, I find the world, and my worldly affections dead, and doubt not but to have compleat Victory in due time.

3. They have the miniſtry of Angels, and the ſpecial conduct of God with them.

All things come alike to all in the Court of Nature, but things come in ſpecial to ſome in the Court of Grace: they have more for them than againſt them, 2 Kings 6.16.17. which if their eyes were open they might ſee: And if God be for them, who can be againſt them? Rom. 8.31. The ſucceſs muſt needs be on their ſide, becauſe having ſuch a conduct, they can march on, preventing and avoiding the ſtratagems of the Enemy: The Apoſtle Paul took it for a ſingular priviledge, 1 Cor. 9.26, 27. that he could ſo run and ſo fight as to obtain, and keep under his Enemy, and not be a caſt-away; yea, by this they do not only ſpy out the drift of the Enemy, but can fetch in Recruit and freſh Auxiliaries in time of need, Heb. 4.16. When their p. 38own ſtrength fails, God gives in aſſiſting Grace, freſh anointings, ſurmounting the Grace they had before, as he ſees the matter requireth: David could encourage himſelf in the Lord his God: hence could ſay, Pſal. 18.1. I will love thee, O Lord my ſtrength; and he had good reaſon, 1 Sam. 30.6, 7. for when the Amalekites had carried away all, God ſtrengthened him to purſue after them, and to recover all again. Yea, more, they have the advantage of undergoing things patiently and quietly; when the Lord makes them poor, they make many rich; when corrected, yet not killed, always bearing about them the dying of the Lord Jeſus: Sick and yet quiet, poor and yet quiet, proſecuted and buffetted, yet quiet: In a word, they have that intereſt above, and Influence from above, that they can ſet themſelves againſt the world, and do more by Faith and Prayer, than others can do by Wit and Policy; for they can lead captivity captive, and by their ſpiritual ſtrength tread down ſtrength: I mean in a ſpiritual ſenſe; for Chriſtians p. 39ſhould be peaceable ſubjects to their King, and peaceable neighbours with their neighbours; but to war againſt ſpiritual Enemies, here they can ſay, 1 Cor. 15. Thanks be to God who giveth us the Victory. I have fought with beaſts at Epheſus, ſaith the Apoſtle Paul; a great Victory, whether you underſtand it as ſome do, of ſavage beaſtly men, or litterally, as others; they ſay he was condemned by the ſentence of the Heathen, to be committed to the wild Beaſts to be devoured by them, unleſs he were able to reſcue himſelf, which he did; he lived and acted by the Faith of the Son of God, who loved him; and gave himſelf for him, ſo that he had Victory over the World, and could ſay, O my worldly Enemies, where is your Venom, your Gall? where is now your Enmity, your Victory? To conclude, Believers have many excellent promiſes to encourage them to fight and overcome: Seven in this and the next Chapter, of which the Text is the firſt: O let us fear leſt we ſhould ſo much as ſeem to fall ſhort p. 40of them: Heb. 4.1. meditate much upon this in the Text; 'Tis ſweet in the very reading of it: How pleaſant will it then be in its accompliſhment? I end with that Parallel Scripture, Rev. 22.14. Bleſſed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates into the City.