Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers, Sermon 6
SERMON VI.
REV. III. 12.
Him that Overcometh, will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he ſhall go no more out; and I will write upon him the Name of my God, and the Name of the City of my God, which is new Jeruſalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new Name.
EVery Promiſe is a Breaſt of Conſolation, from whence the Soldiers of Chriſt may draw freſh Auxiliaries in all their faintings and decays; ſuch ſupplies of ſtrength and life, as will revive their weak and weary ſpirits, as will recruit and renew their ſouls unto the holy War, in which they are engaged. The holy Scriptures are ſincere milk, but the Promiſes are flos lactis, as one ſaith, the cream, the pureſt of all. There is a ſtory of a fight between Hercules and Terrae-filius, who ſought to deſtroy each other: This Terrae-filius, when he was faint and weary, would caſt himſelf down upon the Earth, and having lain a little while, recovered and was freſh for the combate, and ſo Overcame his Enemy, A humble reliance upon, a believing improvement of the Promiſes, is a ſingular way of renewing ſtrength, a never-failing means of Victory over our Spiritual Adverſaries. As God gives us in his word Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept, ſo here he ſets down Promiſe upon Promiſe for our encouragement, to go on fighting till he bring forth Judgment unto Victory. Five of thoſe we have already ſpoken ſomthing to: Behold here another preſented to our Conſideration in this Text; It is firſtly directed to the Church in Philadelphia, a City in Lydia, or in Myſia or Eolia, ſeated in a dangerous place, therefore not populous; yet a Church planted there, and very famous. It is obſerved, that Smyrna and this Philadelphia, were the only Churches of all the ſeven, which Chriſt records nothing againſt; as Laodicea was the only Church of the ſeven which he mentions nothing commendable in. Concerning this of Philadelphia, Chriſt gives teſtimony of the preſent good that was in her, verſ. 8. I know thy works; thou haſt kept my Word, and haſt not denied my Name. By the word and name of Chriſt, we are to underſtand that whole Truth whereby God in Chriſt had revealed himſelf and his Will to his Church; Soundneſs of Doctrine, Purity of Worſhip, and Holineſs of Converſation, were the things ſhe held faſt; After this, he gives her aſſurance, Goodneſs and Mercy ſhould follow her, verſ. 9.10. Behold, I will make them that are of the Synagogue of Satan to come and worſhip before thee, &c. I will make them reverence thee as one belov'd of me, I will both ſubdue thy diſguiſed Adverſaries, and preſerve thee under all thoſe trials which are coming upon the world. Then he proceeds to exhort unto duty, To Hold faſt that, which ſhe had; the word foreign ſignifies to hold ſtrongly; put to thy utmoſt ſtrength, and keep vigorouſly what thou haſt. Many motives he uſeth to perſwade to this; as,
1. His intended ſpeedy coming, Behold, I come quickly; whether he means in a way of trial, as he had intimated before, verſ. 10. as ſome think; or in a way of mercy, to moderate the trial; or in a way of Judicature, to call to an account, and reward every man according to his works, as others, it is not material; for on every of theſe accounts, it is an excellent motive, and ſhould prevail with Chriſtians to hold faſt the good they have.
2. Leſt they loſe their Crown; whether her preſent Crown, the honour this Church had got by keeping cloſe to the Word & Worſhip of Chriſt hitherto; or the future Crown of life and glory in Heaven: the Argument is powerful.
3. Chriſt uſeth further ſweet Promiſes of high and glorious things to all that perſeveringly overcome, in the Words of this Text: The ſum of which take in this Doctrine,
Doct. Overcomers ſhall be made Pillars in the Temple of God, that ſhall go no more out, and excellent Names ſhall be written upon them, by Jeſus Chriſt; For thus he himſelf promiſeth to do, here in theſe words. To open this in two Branches.
Bran. 1. Chriſt will make Overcomers Pillars in his Houſe that ſhall go no more out: Three things ſeem chiefly intended in this Promiſe, viz. Stability, Beauty, and Perpetuity.
1. Stability; This is promiſed in this Phraſe, I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God; It is by Expoſitors taken to be an Alluſion to the Pillars that were erected in Solomons Temple; the one was called Jachin, which ſignifies he ſhall eſtabliſh; the other Boaz, that is in it is ſtrength, 1 King. 7.21. Both amount to this, Firmneſs and Stability. Some think that the infinite Power of Chriſt is aimed at in theſe Pillars: it ſtill confirms this matter; Overcomers ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the Houſe of God by the Power of Chriſt himſelf; Him will I make a Pillar, ſaies he in the Text. It is a great Favour to have a Nail in his Temple, a Name, a Room in his Houſe and Family; though we be but weak Children, but bruiſed Reeds. To have Truth, though with much Infirmity and Weakneſs, is to be eſteemed an ineſtimable Mercy; but to be Pillars there, is a ſpecial Priviledge: To be ſettled and rooted, confirmed and eſtabliſhed there, is a very deſirable Bleſſing and very great Honour. Such Honour is here made the Portion of Overcomers.
We read of Jacob ſetting up a Pillar of Stone, Gen. 35. and of the Promiſe of God to Jeremiah, (being to go on his Errand to a furious and oppoſing People, and the Prophet timerous) I will make thee an Iron Pillar, Jer. 1.18. Stone and Iron both are very ſtrong. To be a Living Stone in God's Houſe is a great Mercy; but to be a Pillar of Stone, or of Iron, notes Spiritual and Divine Strength given to ſuch, that they ſtand firm and upright, and are Inſtrumental to bear up the Name, Truth and Intereſt of God in the world. Hence is the Church ſtiled, The pillar and ground of Truth, 1 Tim. 3.15. Not as if the Church were the Foundation of the Truth, as the Papiſts ſay; (for indeed the Truth is the Foundation of the Church: That's the t…ue Church which is built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles, (not upon their Perſons, but upon their Doctrines) Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief corner Stone, Epheſ. 2.20.) But as the Pillar Bears up the King's Proclamation, that it may be viſible and legible, ſo is the Church the Pillar of Truth; it holds forth the Truth of God to the view of all that will behold it: And keeps up the Doctrine, and Worſhip of the Goſpel from falling; or elſe in an ordinary way Truth would be born down by Errour, and Purity of Adminiſtration in Divine Worſhip would be caſt down by Idolatrous and Superſtitious Innovations. It is a great Mercy, when there are Breaches and Diviſions in a Land, to heal them by juſt Government: And when Righteouſneſs is falling, and Equity can ſcarce enter in a Nation, but all through Injuſtice and Oppreſſion ready to run to ruine and confuſion, To bear up the Pillars of the Earth, even when it and its Inhabitants are diſſolved, as David did, Pſal. 75.3. And it is no leſs Favour to be ſettled Pillars in the Temple of God, to keep up and to maintain his Intereſt in the world. We read that Abſolom in his life time reared up for himſelf a Pillar, having no Son, to keep his Name in remembrance, 2 Sam. 18.18. God rears up to himſelf Spiritual Pillars to keep up the Memorial of his Name in the world, which elſe would ſoon be forgotten among men. And how great the Bleſſing is to be ſuch a Pillar, who can declare? Inſtability darkens a mans excellency; Ʋnſtable as water, thou ſhalt not excel, was Jacob's ſaying to Reuben, Gen. 49.4. Water is eaſily moved by the Wind every way; He being thus unſettled, did not excel, either in the number of his Tribe, or Valour, or any excellent Atchievement. To be a Reed ſhaken with every wind of Doctrine, is diſhonourable. To ſeem to be Pillars, as Peter did, and yet not to walk▪ with a right foot, as he is charged to do, Gal. 2.9, 14. is very unbecoming: But to be ſo indeed, to be fixt and grounded in the Faith and Order of the Goſpel, to be rooted and confirmed in the Temple of God, is a Mercy promiſed only To him that Overcometh; to ſhew in what eſteem ſuch are with Chriſt.
2. Beauty is here alſo ſignified in this Expreſſion: Pillars are not only the Firmament, (as I may ſay) but the Ornament; not the Strength only, but the Glory of a Building; eſpecially in ſuch large and long Structures, where there are many, and rows of them, as in the Temple, 1 King. 7, 3. So then the ſenſe is, Overcomers ſhall be made by Chriſt the Glory of his Church, the Beauty of his Temple. In the Chariot Solomon made for himſelf, the Pillars were of Silver, Cant. 3.10. Some take it for the Graces of the Spirit of God; others underſtand it of the Miniſters of the Church, named Pillars in Galat. 2. fore-mentioned: Others to note thoſe of eminency in the Church, who labour to uphold and ſupport the truth of Chriſt therein, to be the Silver Pillars, to be the Beauty of the Church; yea, the Glory of Chriſt, as ſome are ſaid to be, 2 Cor. 8.23. Silver when purified is very beautiful; Victorious Chriſtians are Silver Pillars, an excellent glory in the Temple of God. Wiſdome hath builded her Houſe, ſhe hath hewen her out ſeven Pillars, Prov. 9.1, 2. Chriſt is here meant by Wiſdome; And though ſome take the Houſe he hath built, to be the World, and it is a truth, that Chriſt built this great Houſe and Fabrick of the Univerſe, Heb. 3.4. Yet moſt carry it to be the Church, that Spiritual Houſe which he is here ſaid to build. But what the ſeven Pillars are, is not agreed on: Some take the Seven Liberal Arts to be they; Others, the ſeven Days of the Week; Others, the ſeven Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, mentioned Iſa. 11.2. And ſome, (which is to the matter now before us) for a competent number of Faithful Perſons, who by their ſtedfaſt adhering to Chriſt and his Truth, not only ſupport, but adorn and beautifie his Church. As thoſe who through Cowardiſe and ſlaviſh Fear yield to the Enemy, are a Diſgrace and Diſparagement; ſo they that are firm and ſtable, are an Ornament to the Temple of God.
3. Perpetuity and Conſtancy is here alſo promiſed to Overcomers; for Chriſt engageth to make ſuch Pillars, that ſhall go no more out of his Temple. Some take this to be ſpoken to anticipate the fears that might ariſe in their hearts, and trouble them. The Prophet Jeremiah tells us, That the Pillars of that famous Temple of old were broken down, and the Braſs of them carried away to Babylon by the Caldeans, Jer. 51.17. Hence fears might ariſe in ſome, that notwithſtanding their preſent Settlement, they might afterward be utterly caſt out of God's Houſe. To prevent all ſuch Jealouſies of After-Apoſtacies, he aſſures them, They ſhall go no more out. It's true, thoſe that only ſeem to be Pillars and are not ſincere in the main, may, and will break and be utterly caſt down; as Judas, Demas, Julian, and many others were: But theſe were rotten Poſts, not real Pillars, and therefore were eaſily broken when the burden of Temptation was laid upon them: Hypocriſie will end in Apoſtacy. They went out from us, becauſe they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out from us, that they might be made manifeſt that they were not all of us, ſaies the Apoſtle, 1 Joh. 2.19. Here we ſee, Many are in the Viſible Church, who are not of the Church Myſtical; and theſe will manifeſt themſelves, at one time or other, what they are. Some were troubled to ſee ſo many forſake the Church, but he would not have them marvel at it; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: They were not right and ſound; if they had, they would never have done ſo. They now diſcover they were none of us, and ſo are the better avoided: We loſe nothing by their departure. The Corn loſeth nothing when the Chaff is gone, but is the purer; nor the Body when bad Humours are worn away, but is the more ſound and healthful; but yet every one that is upright ſhall ſo far overcome, as to continue his ſtation in the Myſtical Body of Chriſt. A true Believer may be ſo far worſted in a particular Combat, as to be caſt out of the Church by a Sentence of Excommunication, and that deſervedly; which was the caſe of the Inceſtuous Corinthian, 1 Cor. 5. Yet was not he totally and finally overcome by the Enemy, but was recovered by Repentance, and reſtored to the Communion of the Church again, and went no more out. Judas went out, and Demas forſook the Truth and Servants of Chriſt; but we find nothing of their Recovery, and riſing again by Godly Sorrow. Where there is no Root, there is no laſting Fruit; ſome haſty Bloſſoms, but they are ſoon nipt and quickly fall off. They are true ſincere Chriſtians, that are perſevering to the end; Sampſon pulled down the Pillars of Dagon's Temple, and the houſe fell, and all therein were ſlain, Judg. 16.29. But all the Powers of Earth and Hell combin'd ſhall not be able to deſtroy the Temple of God, nor utterly break one Pillar thereof. God gave his People charge to break down the Pillars that the Idolaters had ſet up, Deut. 12.5. But Believers are Pillars of God's ſetting up, and none ſhall deſtroy any one of them. 'Tis true, if left to themſelves, they are like to Sampſon, when God was departed from him; but as others, eaſily conquered by the aſſaults of their Enemies; as Peter reſolved to be more firm and conſtant than all men, Though all forſake thee, yet will not I, ſaies he; Yet how eaſily and quickly was he overcome to deny his Lord and Maſter? But being upheld by the ſtronger Pillars of God's Almghty Power, and immutable Covenant, they are not ſo totally routed and vanquiſhed as never to recover; but are renewed in their Life and Strength as Peter was: And as a Bone that hath been broken and once well ſet again is ſtronger than ever, ſo they gather ſtrength by their Falls, and are confirmed in the truth and ways of God unto the end. This is the firſt thing here promiſed to Overcomers. The Second follows.
Bran. 2. Chriſt will give to ſuch, not only to be Pillars in his Temple, but excellent Names ſhall be by him written upon them. The Pillars in Solomon's Temple had very ſignificant Names engraven upon them, but theſe here promiſed are much more excellent. The Text mentions three; I will write upon him, ſaith Chriſt, the Name of my God, and the Name of the City of my God, and my new Name. Of theſe briefly:
1. Chriſt will write upon the Overcomer the Name of his God. Some carry the ſenſe thus; He ſhall be acknowledged to belong unto God: As things written upon Pillars are made viſible and legible to all; or as things openly marked, declare their Title, and ſhew whoſe they are; So Chriſt will ſet Marks and Characters of God's Image upon them that are Victorious, ſuch as ſhall extort and force this acknowledgment even from their very Enemies, who will he convinced in their Conſciences, and clearly ſee that they are the Servants and People of God. When Profeſſors are overcome by their Corruptions, Pride, Worldlineſs, Paſſion, Uncharitableneſs, Injuſtice and Unrighteouſneſs in their dealings, Unfaithfulneſs in their words and promiſes, then the world writes other Names upon them; then they are called Hypocrites, Diſſemblers, Formaliſts, a people that make Religion but a cover for Vice, a cloak for Covetouſneſs and for Maliciouſneſs; ſeem better, but are worſe than mere civil and moral men. O, ſay they, we had rather truſt or deal with juſt honeſt men, though they make not ſuch ſhews of Religion, than with many great Profeſſors, who for a pretence make long Prayers as the Phariſees did, but none more unjuſt and falſe than they; they will ſay or do almoſt any thing to wrong and defraud another, to over-reach and go beyond another: Oh! that theſe things were not too juſtly and truly ſpoken of too many that are called Chriſtians, and Church-Members, Pudet haec opprobria nobis: On the contrary, when any get Victory over theſe Epidemical Evils, and manifeſt it by a conſtant acting in a contradiction to ſuch ſinful waies, then men will ſay, Ay, theſe are the people of God indeed; if there be any Saints upon Earth, theſe are ſuch; If all Profeſſors were ſuch as theſe, we would be among them our ſelves. Oh! how deſirable is it to ſee the day come, that is propheſied of, Iſa. 60.14. when all they that have afflicted and deſpiſed the people of God, ſhall bow themſelves down at the ſoles of their feet, and call them the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Iſrael; They are Overcomers that muſt haſten the fulfilling of this: That which God promiſed, to put his Name in Solomon's Temple, 1 Kings 8. is made good to them, Chriſt will write his Fathers Name on their Foreheads.
He alſo promiſeth to write upon him the Name of the City of his God, even the new Jeruſalem, which cometh down from God out of Heaven. There is a threefold Jeruſalem; Terreſtrial, Celeſtial, and Myſtical.
1. The terreſtrial, or earthly Jeruſalem, called the City of David; The City of the great King, &c. Iſa. 22.4. Pſal. 48.2. This City was once one of the Wonders of the World; as the Gold among the Metals, ſo was Jeruſalem among the Cities. Here the famous Temple was built; here was the Ark of the Teſtimony, and the Tables of the Covenant; the ſacred Veſtments the Prieſts wore: and it was the Seat of the great King, even God dwelt there. In Salem (that is, Jeruſalem) was his Tabernacle, and his Dwelling-place in Sion, Pſal. 76.1, 2.
2. There is the Celeſtial, or Heavenly Jeruſalem, called a City, God hath prepared for Believers a City, Heb. 11.16. Of this ſome underſtand that, Pſal. 87.3. Glorious things are ſpoken of thee, O thou City of God.
3. There is the Myſtical Jeruſalem, which is the whole company of Believers here, this is the City ſet upon a Hill, Mat. 5.14. and it is called The City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jeruſalem, Heb. 12.22. in regard of the Original of it, and by Right of Inheritance, as a Learned man ſpeaks.
This is ſaid to come down from God out of Heaven, becauſe the Power and Mercy of God ſhall ſignally appear in building his Church, and making it glorious in the World. The two latter may be taken in here, though ſome wholly carry it to the laſt. The ſum is, Overcomers ſhall be enrolled as free Deniſon and Citizens of the New Jeruſalem, No more to be Forreiners and Strangers, but Fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houſhold of God, Epheſ. 2.19. Even here on Earth their City is in Heaven, as is ſaid, Phil. 3.20. Our Converſation, our foreign, our City-converſe and Behaviour is above. Some account it much to be Free of ſuch a City as London is, to have free Liberty to trade therein. O what a Favour is it then to have liberty of Acceſs to the great God of Heaven! To drive a free and full Trade Heaven-ward! to be Spiritual Merchants, who deal for goodly Pearls of great price! This is better than the Merchandiſe of Silver, and the gain of thoſe things than fine Gold; They are more precious than Rubies, and all we can deſire are not to be compared with them, as Solomon ſpeaks, Prov. 3.15, 16. And after all, you ſhall be taken up into the Celeſtial Jeruſalem; You that have been Fellow-Soldiers here, and Overcome, ſhall be Fellow-Citizens there and Triumph: And though it will be a very glorious ſtate, he will bring his conquering Church into here, yet Heaven will be Heaven when all is done. Notwithſtanding this, the ſtate here promiſed, that they ſhall trade freely Heaven-ward, and be helped to order their Lives here as Citizens of Heaven, is an ineſtimable Priviledg. To have their Hearts in Heaven, their Diſcourſes of Heaven, (as the Primitive Chriſtians had the Kingdom ſo much in their mouths, that their Enemies were jealous they had evil Deſigns againſt the Civil Government; but it was the Heavenly Kingdom they talked of) their daily recourſes to Heaven, their being Heavenly in earthly things, their deſires to be in Heaven, and the like, ſhew that Chriſt hath written this Name upon them, that theſe are the Citizens of the New Jeruſalem, ſo that he that runs may read it. This is the moſt ſublime and noble ſtate, the moſt pleaſant and delightful, the moſt profitable to perfect Divine Diſcoveries, to ſtrengthen their Graces, to encreaſe their Comforts; this is the moſt ſafe eſtate for prevention of Temptations: becauſe hereby their Souls are taken up with high things, and not ſo apt to be taken in Satans ſnare; as the Bird that mounts aloft, is not in danger to be caught in the Fowler's Net. And in a word, It is the moſt ſuitable eſtate, for they look to go to Heaven when they dye, and expect a Saviour from Heaven at the laſt Day. Almoſt all they have of any worth is there already: Their Names are written in Heaven, their Treaſure is in Heaven, their chief Relations are in Heaven, their Inheritance is in Heaven; and therefore to have a way and courſe of Life here, that is becoming a Citizen of that City, muſt needs be a choice and precious Mercy; and this is here promiſed to him that Overcomes.
3. Chriſt further promiſeth to ſuch, That he will write upon them his new Name. Some underſtand it of the Honour they ſhall ſhare in with Chriſt; When he had overcome, God gave him a Name above every name, the name of a King and Conquerour: So Overcomers ſhall be made Kings and Prieſts unto God, and ſhall reign on the Earth, Phil. 2.9. Rev. 1.6. Others take it to be meant of Adoption and Regeneration: But of this I have ſpoken in a former Sermon, A new Name written in the white Stone, Rev. 2.17. I come to the Ʋſe of this to our ſelves.
Ʋſe 1. See here the different eſtate of Believers and Unbelievers, of them that Overcome, and of them that are Overcome by the Enemy: Unbelievers have no part, no lot in theſe Promiſes. They may be in the Temple of God, and ſeeming Pillars there, but they will not continue long, but either go out, or be caſt out for ever; none of the promiſed Names ſhall be written on them, but Names of Contempt and Reproach. Believers ſhall have the Stability, Beauty and Perpetuity, and all the excellent Names here ſet down. O the Miſery of the one! O the Felicity of the other! Who would be an Unbeliever ſtill? What ſhould diſcourage Believers?
Ʋſe 2. Let us all then ſtrive for the Victory. If a man ſtrive for Maſtery, he is not crowned, except he ſtrive lawfully, ſaith St. Paul, 1 Cor. 9. 2 Tim. 2.5. and therefore much leſs they that ſtrive not at all. To move us unto Courage in this War, many things might be urged; Conſider,
1. the Juſtneſs of the Cauſe: Though Soldiers be never ſo ſtrong and well furniſhed, yet if their Conſciences tell them they fight in a bad Quarrel, it will abate their Valour, and make them timerous. But our Cauſe is moſt juſt, and our War lawful; for God who is Juſtice it ſelf, hath proclaimed it by his Heraulds the Apoſtles; ſaying, Fight the good fight of Faith; Endure hardſhip as good Souldiers of Jeſus Chriſt; Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to ſtand and withſtand in the evil day; Reſiſt the Devil, and he will flee from you, 2 Tim. 6.12. 2 Tim. 2. Epheſ. 6.10, 11. Jam. 4.7. Beſides, the Glory of God and the Salvation of our Souls lye at the ſtake; our Enemies Deſign is to diſhonour God, and to deſtroy us: And can there be a Cauſe of greater Importance? If we would not treacherouſly betray theſe by our Sloathfulneſs and Cowardice into the hands of our Enemies, let us enter the field, and never ceaſe our couragious fight, till we have obtained a full Victory.
2. The Enemies at this day are full of Rage and Wrath, and a time of great Trial ſeems to be at hand; terrible ſhakings there are already upon us: Philadelphia is warned of an hour of Trial, which was the Perſecution under Trajan the Emperour, as Expoſitors judge. Some write that Philadelphia was, Terrae motibus concuſſa, often ſhaken with Earthquakes; whatever of theſe proper natural Earthquakes as a City ſhe was liable to, ſhe was, as a Church, ſhaken by the violent Aſſaults of enemies. And it is the judgment of many Learned and Godly Men, that an Hour of Temptation is drawing on upon the preſent Reformed Churches of Chriſt in Europe, wherein they are like to be extremely ſhaken. Satan's rage and wrath he is come down in, is very great; and his great Agent, the Beaſt, ſpoken of, Rev. 13. is very powerful, and his Worſhippers begin to boaſt and make Challenges, ſaying, Who is like unto the Beaſt? Who is able to make war with him? We have heard of the Prophecy of the late Reverend Biſhop Ʋher, and what probability there is of its accompliſhment, any one may ſee by the preſent dark Providences going over us; which if God ſhall order to come to paſs, O what terrible ſhakings will there be! Not the Earth only, but the Heavens will be ſhaken. The Pillars of the Earth are the Lords, ſaies Hannah, and he hath ſet the world upon them, 1 Sam. 2.8. Yet we read, that the Pillars of Heaven and Earth tremble, Job 9.6. and 26.11. By the Pillars of Heaven, ſome underſtand the Angels; by the Pillars of the Earth, Political Pillars, Kings and Princes; and Eccleſiaſtical Pillars, ſuch as Peter and John were. Whether they be State-Pillars or Church-Pillars, if Antichriſt once again prevail over us, they will be terribly ſhaken; Men and Angels will be filled with Amazement and Aſtoniſhment at the Providences of God. I have read of one Simeon, who is ſaid to have been Prophetical, that he paſſing through a Temple, ſpake to the material Pillars, and Prophecying of an Earthquake, bid them Stand faſt, for they ſhould ſhortly be ſhaken. Things work in our days ſo ſtrangely, as without a Spirit of Prophecy, I may ſay, to all the Churches of Chriſt, to all that ſeem Pillars in the Temple of God, Stand faſt, for you ſhall ſhortly be ſhaken; God will ariſe ſuddenly to ſhake terribly the Earth: Stand ſure therefore, that ye be not worſted and overcome by the Adverſary.
3. Conſider the Honour and Profit that will accompany this Victory, if ye get it: Great is the Reward laid up in all theſe Promſes; Everlaſting Honour and Recompence will be the portion of all ſuch. Brevis eſt labor, as one ſaith, praemium vero aeternum. Earthly Soldiers will purchaſe Honour, and get their Pay with the hazard of Life; the Commendation of their Captain, the Applauſe of People, or a little Money will make them courageous: What hazard then! Should not we run in fighting this good fight? who ſhall have the commendation of Chriſt, the Captain of our Salvation, and the Praiſe of the bleſſed Angels, who obſerve and look upon us, how we quit our ſelves in this holy War? If it were only the preſent Profit and Benefit which will accrue to us, it ſhould move us to fight, how terrible ſoever it ſeems to fleſh and blood: For that is truely here verified, Pax Belli filia, Peace is the Daughter of War. We no ſooner enter the field to fight againſt theſe Enemies, but preſently we have Peace with God, and Peace of Conſcience; if not the ſenſe, yet the ground of it. What then ſhould the receiving of a Heavenly Kingdom move us to do? Satans pay to his Soldiers is but the Pleaſures of Sin for a Seaſon; the Honour and Profit of the world for a moment; and in the end everlaſting deſtruction both of Body and Soul. Whereas they who keep cloſe to Chriſt's Standard, and overcome the Enemy, beſides what they have here, ſhall be filled with ſuch Rewards and Joys, as Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, nor Heart of man can conceive.
Laſtly, We have ſure grounds of Victory, for our Enemies are already overcome to our hand; Chriſt hath cooled their Courage, and abated their Strength: And he that calls us to the Fight, will help us to Overcome; Deficientes ſublevat, & vincentes coronat; When we faint he ſuſtains us, and crowns us when we overcome.
Beſides, God gives us to ſee the end from the beginning; He ſhewed David the Victory before-hand, This uncircumciſed Philiſtine, ſaies he, ſhall be as one of them, meaning the Lion and Bear he had ſlain, 1 Sam. 17.36. We may ſay, as the Church of old, Rejoyce not againſt me, O mine Enemy, for though I fall, yet I ſhall riſe again. She that is mine Enemy ſhall ſee it: ſhame ſhall cover her that ſaid unto me, Where is the Lord thy God? Mine eyes ſhall behold her, now ſhall ſhe be trodden down as the Mire in the Streets, Mic. 7.8, 10. Behold Earth's Triumph in the midſt of the Enemies Inſultations; to ſee this before-hand is ground of hope of Victory. Further, every piece of Armour ſpeaks them Conquerors; It is the Armour of God, the Armour of Righteouſneſs, and ſecures on the right hand and on the left. Though Saul's Armour was too cumberſome for David, yet this is fitted and ſuited exactly to all that rightly take it to themſelves. Their Girdle and Helmet of great Strength and Purity; Their Breaſt-plate ſuch as ſecures the Vitals of Godlineſs and Religion; Their Shoes impenetrable, though the way be ſtrewed with Thorns and ſharp Stones; Their Sword better than Goliah's, and it may be ſaid of it moſt truely, There is none like it; Their Shield better than the Shields of the Mighty, quenching all the fiery Darts the Enemy can throw upon them. Moreover, Whatever fights againſt us, fight for us? All theſe things are againſt me, ſaies Jacob, Gen. 42.32. yet found all for him; whatever reſiſts Believers in a Conflict, doth encourage them: Their former and preſent Trials beget future Truſt; Their former Aſſaults are their after Experiences. By theſe they learn how to ward off ſuch a Blow, how to evade ſuch a Snare and Stratagem, how to withſtand ſuch a Temptation; and to add no more, In their Inability lies their Ability; out of weakneſs they are made ſtrong, and wax valiant in fight, as they of old, Heb. 11.34. Many are valiant to fight at firſt, but to grow ſtrongeſt at the laſt piece of Service, to ſo ſay as St. Paul, When I am weak, then am I ſtrong; this is encouraging indeed. Theſe and other grounds of Victory Believers have; let all ſuch ſtand and withſtand in the evil day, for you ſhall certainly overcome at laſt. Aſſurance of Victory will make a Coward fight ſtoutly and courageouſly. O let not your hands be weakned, or your hearts faint and fail, ſeeing you are ſure to prevail. There is a notable Speech of Charles the Fifth, who (venturing into apparent danger in War, was diſſwaded from hazarding himſelf, …eſt if he were killed, the whole Army ſhould be routed and broken) ſaid, An Emperour was never ſhot through with a Bullet. Let the hearts and hands of Believers be ſtrengthned by this. A true Believer was never totally and finally overcome by the Enemies of his Soul; but though foiled, and his Weapons beaten out of his hand, yet recovers and ſtands when they are fallen and deſtroyed: Only be ſtrong and of a good courage, put forth your utmoſt endeavours to overcome. Qui creavit te ſine te, non ſervabit te ſine te, was the Saying of an Antient. It is not Armour in the Magazine, but put on and well uſed, that defends us and offends our Enemies.
This Church of Philadelphia had but a little ſtrength, yet improving it well kept Chriſt's word, and denied not his Name; For to him that hath, ſhall be given. If a man hath Faith in the Habit only, though it were as ſtrong as Abraham's, yet it will do little towards a Victory: but Faith, though but as a grain of Muſtard-ſeed, yet in lively exerciſe will do wonders. Hence it is, a ſtrong Believer that ſuffers ſloth and ſecurity to grow upon him, will fall before the Enemy; when the weak Chriſtian, improving his little Strength, ſhall be victorious and get the better of him. If any object, we find the Enemy too ſtrong for us, as the Sons of Zeruiah were too ſtrong for David; ſo may ſome ſay, The evil Heart within, Satan and the World without are too hard for me, I ſhall never overcome, I ſhall one day periſh by the hand of Saul, by the Policy and Power of my Adverſaries. Let ſuch look to their Captain for freſh Auxiliaries, and fear not; God gave St. Paul, and will thee, Victory; not for, or by thine own Endeavours, though they muſt be uſed, but through Jeſus Chriſt. Particularly,
1. Through the Strength of Chriſt: I can do all things, and ſuffer all things too, ſaith the Apoſtle, through Chriſt that ſtrengthneth me, Phil. 4.13. A Chriſtian in Chriſt walks up and down the world like a Conquerour; but without him they can do nothing, John 15.5.
2. Through the Blood and Croſs of Chriſt. 'Tis ſaid that when Conſtantine was going to fight againſt his Enemies, the Sign of the Croſs appeared to him, with theſe words written upon it, By this ſhalt thou Overcome. I know no Vertue to be in the Sign of the Croſs; but I read the Saints overcame the Dragon by the Blood of the Croſs, that Blood of the Lamb ſhed upon the Croſs; Chriſt's Blood is Sin-conquering, Satan-ſubduing, and World-overcoming Blood.
3. Through the Word of Chriſt. The Apoſtle ſaith, That Young men having the Word of God abiding in them, overcome the wicked One, 1 Joh. 2.14. Young Saints by this applied and improved, overcome old Adam; yea, that old Serpent the Devil.
4. By the Love of Chriſt. Believers are ſaid to be more than Conquerours, through him that loved them, Rom. 8.37. Many waters cannot quench the flame of this Love, nor the floods drown the ſenſe of it: Love is ſtrong as Death, and Death overcomes all, none can ſtand before it.
5. By the Victory of Chriſt; Hence he doth cheer up the hearts of his troubled Diſciples, ready to faint at the conſideration of his Departure from them, and the Hatred of the world againſt them; Be of good comfort, I have overcome the world. This he did as a publick Perſon, for himſelf, and for his Church, and every Member of it. When Satan conquered the firſt Adam, he overcame all Mankind, all being in him their Head and Repreſentative So all in Chriſt, the ſecond Adam, do and ſhall Overcome by his victory. Therefore be of good cheer, I have overcome the world; As if he had ſaid, My Victory is yours, and for you: elſe if they had no Intereſt in it, what ſupport could this give to them? Well then, Let all that are of a fearful heart, be perſwaded to fight, as if they had no Captain, no Chriſt; yet to rely on the Strength, Blood, Word, Love and Victory of Chriſt, as if they had not ſtruck a ſtroke; ſo ſhall they certainly Overcome their Enemies, and enjoy the good of theſe Promiſes.