Looking Unto Jesus, Book 10 · Chapter 2 · Section 4
SECT. IV. Of hoping in Jeſus in that reſpect.
4. LET us hope in Jeſus, as carrying on the great work of our ſalvation for us in his ſecond coming. Hope is of good things to come; hope is an act of the will extending it ſelf towards that which it loves as future; onelyonly the future good as it is the object of hope is difficult to obtain, and therein it differs from deſire; for deſire looks at future good without any apprehenſion of difficulty, but hope reſpects the future good as it is gotten with difficulty. Lazy hopes that will not be in uſe of means, though difficult, are not true hopes; we ſee many deſirable things ſet before us, of which we may ſay, Oh that we had our part and portion of them! but ſhall we go on, and ſearch and find out the truth, whether we have any part or portion in them? or whether we have any hopes of any ſuch thing? oh this is worthy our pains! come then, let us yet make a further progreſs, let us not only deſire that it may be thus and ſo; but let us ſay, on ſome ſure and certain grounds, we hope it is thus and ſo; we hope Chriſt will come again, John 14.3.and receive us to himſelf, that where he is, there we may be alſo.
Heb. 9.12.Indeed there is the Chriſtians ſtay and comfort; ſuch an hope is a ſure Anchor, that will hold the ſhip in a ſtorm; onelyonly becauſe our ſouls lie upon it, we had need to look to it that our hopes be true; the worſt can ſay, They hope to be ſaved as well as the beſt; but I fear the hopes of many will be lamentably fruſtrated. Our Saviour brings in many pleading with confidence at the laſt day for life, who ſhall be rejected with miſerable diſappointment; Many ſhall ſay to me at that day, Lord, Lord, &c. and I will confeſs unto them, I never knew them; depart from me. Now to clear this point, that our hopes, are of the right ſtamp, and not counterfeit hopes, I ſhall lay down ſome ſigns, whereby we may know that Chriſt's coming is for us, and for our good, and for the grace that is to be given us at the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt.
1 Pet. 1.3, 4.1. If we are born again, then will his glorious coming be to glorifie us, Bleſſed be the God and Father of Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, to an inheritance incorruptible. Whoever hath the true hope of Heaven,John 3.3. he is one that is begotten again; ſo our Saviour, Except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God. Many things may be done, as Herod heard John the Baptiſt, and did many things: but except a man be born again, thoſe many things are in God's account as nothing. When Peter had told Chriſt, that he and his fellow-diſciples had forſaken all,Math. 19.28. and followed him; Then Jeſus ſaid, verily I ſay unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man ſhall ſit in the Throne of his glory, ye ſhall alſo ſit upon twelve Thrones, Judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael. q. d. Peter, you have forſaken all, and followed me; but know, that bare forſaking is not enough: but you who have felt the Work of God regenerating your ſouls, upon which ye have followed me, ye ſhall ſit upon twelve Thrones. In thoſe who are alive at the laſt day there will be a change, and this change will be to them inſtead of death;1 Cor. 15.51. Behold I ſhew you a myſtery, we ſhall not all ſleep, but we ſhall all be changed. Certainly in thoſe who at the laſt day ſhall ſit on Thrones with Chriſt, there muſt be a change likewiſe in this life; (i.e.) a new ſpirit, and a new life muſt be put into them: Oh what a change is this! ſuppoſe a rational ſoul were put into a beaſt, what a change would be in that Creature! ſuppoſe an angelical nature were put upon us, what a change would there be in us? oh but what a change is this, when a man is born again of water and of the ſpirit; I muſt tell you, that the higheſt degree of glory in Heaven, is not ſo different from the loweſt degree of grace here, as the loweſt degree of grace here is different from the higheſt excellency of nature here; becauſe the difference betwixt the higheſt degree of the glory of Heaven, and the loweſt degree of grace is only gradual; but the difference that is betwixt the loweſt degree of grace, and the higheſt excellency of nature is a ſpecifical difference. Oh there's a mighty work of God in preparing ſouls for glory by grace, and this change muſt they have that muſt ſit on Thrones. Come then, you that hope for glory, try your ſelves by this; is there a change in your hearts, words, and lives? is there a mighty work of grace upon your ſpirits? are you experienc'd in the great myſtery of regeneration? why here's your evidence, that your hopes are ſound, and that you ſhall ſit upon Thrones to judge the world.
Heb. 9.28.2. If we long for his coming, then will he come to ſatisfie our longings. Bleſſed are they that hunger and thirſt, for they ſhall be ſatisfied; how ſatisfied, but in being ſaved? Chriſt was offered to bear the ſins of many; and unto them that look for him, ſhall he appear the ſecond time without ſin to ſalvation; unto them that look for him, or long for him, ſhall he appear the ſecond time unto ſalvation; it is very obſervable, how this looking for Chriſt, is in Scripture a frequent deſcription of a true believer in Chriſt. Who are true, ſincere, and ſound Chriſtians, but ſuch as live in a perpetual deſire and hope of Chriſts bleſſed coming?2 Pet. 3.12. they are ever looking for, and haſting unto the coming of the day of God. Here are two ſigns in one verſe, looking for, and haſting unto; true believers are not only in a poſture looking for the coming of Jeſus Chriſt, but alſo, as it were, going forth to meet Jeſus Chriſt with burning Lamps. Luther could ſay,Mat. 6.10. That he was no true Chriſtian, neither could he truly recite the Lord's prayer, that with all his heart deſired not this day of the coming of Christ. It is true, that whether we will or no, that day will come, but in the Lord's prayer Chriſt hath taught us to pray that God would accelerate and haſten the day of his glorious coming, thy Kingdom come, (i.e.) the Kingdom of glory at the Judgment, as well as the Kingdom of grace in the Church. It is true, that the day of the Lord is a terrible day, the Heavens, and Earth, and Sea, and Air ſhall be all on a bone-fire, and burn to nothing; nevertheleſs we according to his promiſe look for new Heavens, and a new Earth; we that have laid hold upon God, and laid hold on him by the right handle, according to his promiſes, we look for this day of the Lord, we look for it, and haſten unto it, we are glad it is ſo near, and we do what we can to have it nearer, with an holy kind of impatience we beg of the Lord,Rom 8.22, 23 Come Lord Jeſu, come, quickly. This was Paul's character, We know that the whole creation groaneth, and travelleth in pain together until now; and not onelyonly they, but our ſelves alſo, which have the firſt-fruits of the ſpirit, even we our ſelves groan within our ſelves, waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our bodies: God's children, ſuch as have the firſt-fruits of the ſpirit, the beginnings of true ſaving grace in them, they conſtantly look and long for the day of full deliverance, or of the coming of Chriſt. This the Apoſtle inſtanceth in his Corinthians, ye come behind in no gift, 1 Cor. 1.7.waiting for the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and in like manner he writes to his Philippians,Phil. 3.20. Our Converſation is in Heaven from whence alſo we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Tit. 2.13.And to Titus himſelf he writes the ſame things, We look for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Now Chriſtians lay this character to heart, do you long, pant, and look for this glorious and ſecond coming of Chriſt? have you any ſuch wiſhes, and ſayings of heart and mind as theſe are; Oh that Chriſt would appear! Oh that Chriſt would now break the Heavens, and come to Judgment! oh that I could ſee him in the Cloud, and on his Throne! oh that his enemies were ruined, my ſins ſubdued, my ſoul ſaved, that I might ſerve him without wearineſs, for ever and ever! Surely if theſe elongations of ſoul be in you, it is a comfortable evidence that your hopes are ſound, and that Chriſt will come to receive you to himſ…lf, and to bring you to glory.
3. If we love Chriſt's appearing, then will he appear on our ſide,2 Tim. 4.8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteouſneſs, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, ſhall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto them alſo that love his appearing. A true Chriſtian loves Chriſt's appearing in ordinances, and in all the means of grace, how much more in his own perſon? but how ſhould we love that we ſee not? O yes! there's a kind of an Idea of Chriſt, and of his glorious appearing in every ſanctified ſoul, and in that reſpect we love him though we cannot ſee him, Who having not ſeen ye love, 1 Pet. 1.8. Verſe. 7.ſaith the Apoſtle: and ſo your love and faith at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be found unto praiſe, and honour, and glory. Thoſe that have not ſeen Chriſt, and yet love the Idea of his ſight, even they ſhall appear at the appearing of Chriſt in praiſe, and honour, and glory. Is not the Crown laid up for them that love the appearing of Chriſt? is it not a ſign of a good cauſe to love a day of hearing? ſurely the love of Chriſt's coming cannot conſiſt without ſome aſſurance that a ſoul ſhall ſtand upright in the Judgdment. He that hath not a confidence in his cauſe, loves not the coming of the Judge; no guilty priſoner loves the Seſſions, or loves the judges preſence; it is the cry of Reprobates,Rev. 6.16. O ye mountains, and O ye Rocks fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that ſitteth on the Throne. But as for Chriſt and his Saints; O the mutual loves, and mutual longings in their breaſts! The laſt words that Chriſt ſpeaks in the Bible (and amongſt us laſt words make deepeſt impreſſions) are, Surely I come quickly; and the laſt anſwer that is made in our behalf, is, Amen, even ſo come Lord Jeſus. I know this Character is near the former, and therefore I ſhall paſs it over.
4. If our works be good, then will he reward us according to our works. At that great day this will be the trial, works? are no works?Mat. 25.33, 34, 35, 36. Then will he ſay to them on his right hand, come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherite the Kingdom prepared for you, for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirſty, and ye gave me drink; I was a ſtranger, and ye took me in, naked and ye cloathed me, I was ſick, and ye viſited me, I was in priſon, and ye came unto me. Here were works,Verſe 46. upon which followed the rewards of Heaven for theſe went into eternal life. I know Works are not meritorious, and yet they are evidences; I know works without Faith are but gliſterrings ſins, and yet works done in faith are ſigns, and fore-runners of eternal glory; I know that if all the excellencies of all the moralities of all the men in the world were put together, theſe could never reach glory, and yet a cup of cold water given to one of Chriſt's little ones in the name of a Diſciple of Chriſt ſhall not loſe its reward. Mat. 10.24.If a Chriſtian doubt, how ſhould I know that my works are of a right ſtamp. I anſwer, 1. Look at the principle, is there not ſomething above nature? do I not find ſome new light let out by God, that ſhews a glory, and excellency, and beauty in good works? is there not ſomething in me that makes the ſame to be ſweet, or pleaſant, or agreeable to me? 2. Look at the end; natural works have no better end than ſelf and creature-reſpects; but in my works is there no aim at ſomething higher than ſelf? whatever I do, is not this in mine eye, that all I do may tend to the honour and glory of God? I had need take heed of vain-glory, and ſelf applauſe; the Godly at the day of Judgment do not know the good works they did; if my aim be at God I ſhall forget my ſelf, as if all I did were ſwallowed up in God. 3. Look at the manner of my doing works: Ʋzzah had a good intention, but his work was not good, becauſe the manner was not good; are my works according to the rule? do they carry a conformity to the Law of God? Let every man try his own work in this: O my ſoul bring thy works to the touch-ſtone, the Scripture, the Rule of goodneſs, is not all thy gold then diſcovered to be droſs? the Scripture doth not onelyonly tell of works, but tells us the manner of performing them; as for inſtance, if rightly done, they muſt be done in zeal, in fervency, in activity; thus Gods people are called a peculiar people, zealous of good works; a formal, cuſtomary, ſuperficial performance of holy works fails in the manner of performing them: what, are my works performed in zeal? is there not too much of coldneſs, emptineſs formality in all I do? why, thus may I know whether my works are of a right ſtamp; certainly all works, duties, actings, which are not done by a gracious heart, through a gracious power, to a gracious end, in a gracious manner, are ſins, and not ſuch works as ſhall have the rewards of Heaven. Some may object, this is an hard ſaying, who then ſhall be ſaved? I anſwer, 1. By conceſſion, very few; What is the whole company of Chriſtians, beſides a very few (ſaid Salvian) but a ſink of vices? are they only good works which are thus and thus qualified? it were enough to make us all fear all the works that ever we have done. But ſecondly, here's all our hope, that in a Goſpel-way Chriſt looks at our good works in the truth of them, and not in the perfection of them;Rom. 7.18, 19 no man goes beyond Paul, who when he would do good, found evil preſent with him: Alas, there's a perpetual oppoſition and conflict betwixt the fleſh and the ſpirit, ſo that the moſt ſpiritual man cannot do the good things he would do; and yet we muſt not conclude, that nothing is good in us, becauſe not perfectly good. Sincerity and truth in the inward parts, may in this caſe hold up our hearts from ſinking; as he in the Goſpel cryed, I believe Lord, help my unbelief; So if we can but ſay, I I do good works, Lord help me in the concurrence of all needful circumſtances, here will be our evidence that our hopes are ſound, and that Chriſt will ſentence us to eternal life. Come ye Bleſſed, &c. and why ſo? For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat, &c.
5. If we believe in Chriſt, then ſhall we live with Chriſt; if we come to him and receive him by Faith, then will he come again, and receive us to himſelf, that where he is, there we may be alſo. Good works are good evidences, but of all works thoſe of the Goſpel are cleareſt evidences, and have cleareſt promiſes; come then, let us try our obedience to the Commandments of Faith, as well as Life; let us try our ſubmiſſion to the Lord by believing, as well as doing. Surely the greateſt work of God that ever any creature did, it is this Goſpel-work, when it apprehends its own unworthyneſs, and ventures it ſelf and its eſtate upon the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt: if we were able to perform a full, exact, and accurate obedience to every particular of the moral Law, it were not ſo great a work, nor ſo acceptable to God, nor ſhould be ſo gloriouſly rewarded in heaven, as this one work of believing in his Son Jeſus Chriſt. This is the work to which in expreſs terms ſalvation,John 3.36. Heaven, and glory is promiſed; He that believeth on the Son hath everlaſting life; and he that heareth my word…, and believeth on him that ſent me, hath everlaſting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation; but he hath paſſed from death to life — And this is the will of him that ſent me, John 5.24.that every one that ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him may have everlaſting life—And theſe things are written that ye might believe that Jeſus is Chriſt the Son of God, John 6.40. John 20.31. Acts. 16.31.and that believing ye might have life through his name— Believe on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved— And if thou ſhalt confeſs with thy mouth, the Lord Jeſus, and ſhalt believe in thine heart that God hath raiſed him from the dead, Rom. 10.9. Heb. 10.39.thou ſhalt be ſaved— And we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe unto the ſaving of the ſoul— And theſe things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, 1 John 5.13.that ye may know that ye have everlaſting life. Why this above all is the Goſpel work, to which are annexed thoſe gracious promiſes of eternal life. So that if we believe in Chriſt, how may we be aſſured that we ſhall live with Chriſt.
O my ſoul, gather up all theſe characters, and try by them. Every one can ſay, that they hope well, they hope to be ſaved, they hope to meet Chriſt with comfort, though they have no ground for it but their own vain conceits; but hope on good ground, is that hope that maketh not aſhamed; ſay then, art thou born again?Rom. 5.5. doſt thou look and long for the coming of Chriſt in the clouds? doſt thou love his appearing? art thou rich in good works, ready to diſtribute, willing to communicate? doſt thou obey the commandments of faith as well as life? ſure theſe are firm, and ſound, and comfortable grounds of an aſſured hope. Content not thy ſelf with an hope of poſſibility, or probability; but reach out to that plerophory, or full aſſurance of hope; Heb. 6.11.the hope of poſſibility is but a weak hope, the hope of probability is but a fluctuating hope, but the hope of certainty is a ſetled hope; ſuch an hope ſweetens all the thoughts of God and Chriſt, of death and judgment, of Heaven, yea, and of Hell too, whiles we hope that we are ſaved from it; and are not the Scriptures written to this very purpoſe, That we might have this hope? are we not juſtified by his grace,Rom. 15.4. Tit. 3.7. Pſal. 119.166. pſalm. 24.11. that we might be heirs in hope, heirs according to the hope of eternal life? and was not this David's confidence, Lord I have hoped for thy ſalvation? why then art thou caſt down O my ſoul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? hope thou in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him, who is the health of my countenance and my God.
If I may here enter into a Dialogue with my own poor, trembling, wavering ſoul.— Perſon—why art thou hopeleſs O my ſoul? wouldſt thou not hope, if an honeſt man had made thee a promiſe of any thing within his power? and wilt thou not hope when thou haſt the promiſe, the oath, and the covenant of God in Chriſt? —Soul— Yes; methinks I feel ſome little hope, but alas it is but a little, a very little.—Perſon— Ay but go on my ſoul, true hope is called a lively hope, and a lively hope is an efficacious hope; no ſooner faith commends the promiſe unto hope, but hope takes it, and hugs it, and reckons it as its Treaſure, and feeds on it as Manna, which God hath given to refreſh the weary ſoul in the deſart of ſin; go on then, till thou comeſt up to the higheſt pitch, even to that triumphant joyfull expectation, and waiting for of Chriſt in glory— Soul— Why, methinks I would hope, I would aſcend the higheſt ſtep of hope; but alas I cannot; Oh I am expoſed to many controverſies, I am prone to many unquiet agitations; though I have a preſent promiſe, yet I extend my cares and fears even to eternity: Alas, I cannot comprehend, and therefore I am hardly ſatisfied; my ſinfull reaſon ſees not its own way and end, and becauſe it muſt take all on truſt and credit, therefore it falls to wrangling; nay, Sathan himſelf ſo ſnarles the queſtion, and and I am ſo apt to liſten to his doubts, that in the concluſion I know not how to extricate my ſelf.—Perſon—Sayſt thou ſo? ſurely in this caſe there's no cure, no remedy, but onelyonly the teſtimony of God's Spirit; but ſaith not the Apoſtle,Rom. 8.16. That the ſpirit of it ſelf bears witneſs with our ſpirit, that we are the children of God? if a Man or Angel, or Archangel ſhould promiſe Heaven, peradventure thou mighteſt doubt; but if the Supream Eſſence of the Spirit of God bear witneſs within, what room for doubting? why, this voice of the ſpirit is the very voice of God; hark then, enquire O my ſoul, if thou haſt but this teſtimony of the ſpirit, thou art ſure enough—Soul—Oh that it were thus with me! oh that the ſpirit would even now give me to drink of the wells of ſalvation! oh that the ſpirit would teſtifie it home! oh that he would ſhine upon, and enlighten all thoſe graces which he hath planted in me! fain would I come to the higheſt pitch of hope, oh that I could look upon the things hoped for as certainly future.—Perſon—Thou ſayſt well O my ſoul, and if theſe wiſhes be real, then pour out thy ſelf unto God in prayer; this was the Apoſtles method, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, Rom. 15.13.that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghoſt; let this be thy practiſe, pray as he prayed, pray thou for thy ſelf as he prayed for others; if an earthly Father will hearken to his child,Luk. 11.13. how much more will God the Father give the ſpirit to them that ask the ſpirit of him.—Soul—Why if this be it; to thee Lord do I come, O give me the Spirit, the witneſs of the Spirit, the firſt-fruits of the ſpirit, the ſealing of the ſpirit, the earneſt of the ſpirit. O give me the ſpirit, and let the ſpirit give me this hope. O the hope of Iſrael, and Saviour thereof in the time of trouble, why ſhouldſt thou be as a ſtranger in my ſoul, and as a way-faring man that turneth aſide to tarry for a night? Come, O come, and dwell in my ſoul, Come and blow on my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out: come and fill me with a livelv hope; yea Lord excite, and quicken, and ſtir up my ſoul to act this hope, yea, ſo illighten, or ſhine upon my hope, that I may know that I hope, and know that I joyfully expect, and wait for the coming of Chriſt: O Let me hear thy voice, Say unto my ſoul I am, and will be thy ſalvation.—Perſon—Well now, thou haſt prayed,Pſal. 35.3. O my ſoul, Come, tell me, doſt thou feel nothing ſtir? is there nothing at all in thee that aſſures thee of this aſſurance of hope? is there no life in thy affections? no ſpark that takes hold on thy heart to ſet it on flame? no comfort of the ſpirit, no joy in the holy Ghoſt?—Soul—Yes! methinks I feel it now begin to work, the Spirit that hath breathed this prayer into me comes in as Comforter; O now that I realize Chriſt's coming and my reſurrection,Pſal. 16.9. I cannot but conclude with David, Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoyceth, and my fleſh alſo ſhall reſt in hope. Oh what an earneſt is this? what a piece hath the ſpirit put into my hand of the great ſum promiſed? not onelyonly that he in great mercy promiſed me Heaven, but becauſe he doth not put me into a preſent poſſeſſion, he now gives me an earneſt of my future inheritance. Why, ſurely all is ſure, unleſs the earneſt deceive me; and what? ſhall I diſpute the truth of the earneſt? oh God forbid! the ſtamp is too well known to be miſtruſted; this ſeal cannot be counterfeit, becauſe it is agreeable with the Word; I find in my ſelf an hope, a true ſincere hope, though very weak: I find upon trial that I am regenerate, that I look and long for the ſecond coming of Jeſus, that I love his appearance even before hand: that my works, though imperfect, are ſincere and true, that I believe on the Name of the Son of God, and fleſh and blood could never work theſe duties or theſe graces in me; it is only that good ſpirit of my God, which hath thus ſealed me up to the day of redemption. Away, away deſpair, trouble me no longer with a muſing thoughts; I will henceforth (if the Lord enable) walk confidently, and chearfully in the ſtrength of this aſſurance, and joyfully expect the full accompliſhment of my happy contract from the hands of Chriſt. The Lord is my portion, therefore will I hope in him; Lam. 3.24, 25, 26.the Lord is good to them that wait for him, to the ſoul that ſeeketh him; it is good that I both hope and quietly wait for the ſalvation of the Lord— It is good that I hope to the end, 1 Pet. 1.13.for the grace that is to be brought unto me at the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt.