Moses Choice, Treatise · Part 3 · Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX. There is glorious reward for the people of God.
BUt what was the ground that made Moſes thus eſteem reproaches? He had reſpect unto the recompence of reward: From whence the point of Doctrine is this, That
There is a glorious reward for the people of God, the reſpect unto which is a great encouragement to Gods Point.ſervants, to go on in a way of ſuffering and hardſhip for him.
It was this that helped David in the midſt of his ſore temptation, that did ariſe from his affliction in the way of God, Pſalm 37. 24. Thou ſhalt guide me mith thy counſel, and afterward receive me to glory: as if he ſhould ſay, Howſoever it be with the men of the world, who enjoy their proſperity according to their deſires; and howſoever it be with me, that I am afflicted, and muſt endure hard things here, yet this is that which upholds me through all, Thou ſhalt afterward receive me to glory. This is that which upheld the Spirit of Saint Paul, 2 Cor. 4. 17. where he brings in a moſt notable and high expreſſion of the glory that is to come, for the upholding his ſpirit in his ſuffering; For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. This is that which Saint Paul propounded unto Timothy, to uphold his heart in all his ſufferings, 2 Timothy 2. 12. If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him. This is that which ſtrengthned the Spirits of the Chriſtians, that ſuffered in the times of the Maccabees, Heb. 10. 34. As thoſe cluſters of Grapes that were brought from the land of Canaan, that ſhewed to the people, what the fruitfulneſs of that land was, was an encouragement to them, to paſs through all difficulties that they were like to meet withalin the poſſeſſion of the land, to fight againſt the children of Anak; ſo that which God hath revealed of Heaven, is like thoſe cluſters of grapes, thoſe little things that we have made known to us (in compariſon of the glory that is to come) are to that end revealed to encourage us in our way here. In the handling of this point, there are theſe five things we ſhall endeavor to do: Firſt, to ſhew that there is a reward for the righteous. Secondly, how far a Chriſtian may have an eye unto this reward. Thirdly, ſhew ſomewhat what this reward is. Fourthly, wherein lies the power of the believing of this, to help us to endure any hardſhip. Laſtly, make Application of all.
That there is a reward. Certainly, there is a more bleſſed condition for Gods people hereafter, they have 1.not received that which is prepared for them, there are other maner of things to be revealed, then thoſe that you ſee. Pſal. 58. 11. Verily there is a reward for the righteous; ſurely it is ſo: notwithſtanding a carnal ſenſual heart doth not ſee it, yet verily there is a reward; though the ways of Gods providence do ſeem outwardly to work otherwiſe, yet ſurely there is a reward: notwithſtanding our unbelieving hearts are ready to queſtion it, yet ſurely there is a reward, verily there is a reward for the righteous. There is a great deal of power in this one thing to raiſe up our hearts from the creature, from grovelling here below, to make us at leaſt to look upward to know our happineſs is not here, to know that there are glorious things to be expected, and that appears:
Firſt, God hath infinite riches of glory, infinite treaſures of happineſs, there are infinite great things in God, and God takes infinite delight to communicate himſelf, and let out himſelf unto the creature: now if there be ſuch infinite riches with God, ſuch glorious treaſures of happineſs, and he delights to communicate himſelf, certainly there are great things to be communicated then; for wherefore is it that God hath ſuch infinite riches in him, but that in due time he will make them known, and reveal them, and communicate them? it is but little that is revealed and communicated for the preſent; therefore there are other things to be revealed and communicated from God.
Secondly, God hath made mankinde to be of ſuch a nature, as to have a kinde of infinite capacity, whereby it is made capable of happineſs, beyond that which any creature, beſides Angels, is capable of: Properly no creature but the rational creature is capable of happineſs at all, but beſides it hath a kinde of infinite capacity, whereby it is made capable of the higheſt happineſs that belongs to the capacity of a Creature: and certainly God hath not made this in vain, God does intend to fill this capacity.
You will ſay, An infinite capacity of happineſs, how is that? Thus; for there are two things in the rational part of man, his underſtanding, and his will: now the capacity of this part, muſt be judged according to the objects that are ſuitable unto theſe two faculties in mans ſoul: For the underſtanding, it is not any particular thing that is the object of it, but truth in general: take truth in the utmoſt latitude of it, in the univerſality of it, that is the object of mans underſtanding; and therefore the underſtanding is infinite, becauſe it is not ſatisfied in this or that particular, but truth in the utmoſt extent. And for the object of the will, it is good in the general, it is not this or that particular good, but good in the univerſality of its nature; and therefore till it come to enjoy God, that does eminently contain all good in him, it can never come to have full ſatisfaction. And here obſerve the difference between the capacity of mans nature, and the capacity of other Creatures: as for other Creatures, their faculties can extend no further then ſome particular good, and they are limited within the narrow bounds of their own nature; and therefore if ſo be the eye have colour, it goes no further; and if the ear have ſound, it goes no further; and ſo taste, it goes no further then ſome particular good; but the intelligent ſoul, the rational ſoul goes beyond all particulars. Now God having made mans nature of ſuch a capacity for good and happineſs, certainly God intends great things for the children of men, other maner of things, then there are in this world; and if for any, ſurely for the righteous.
Thirdly, ſurely there is a reward, becauſe it is the 3.great deſign that God had in the making of the world, in all his works to lift up, and advance the glory of the riches of his mercy and grace: now if this be Gods great deſign, to advance the glory of his infinite mercy, then certainly there muſt needs be a glorious condition for ſome of the children of men, for that is not yet done; though there be ſomething of Gods mercy manifeſted, that we have cauſe to admire at; yet certainly, God does not reveal that in the world, whereby he ſhould attain to the great deſign, of lifting up of the glory of his great Name.
Fourthly, the chief of the deep infinite counſels of God, and the works of his wiſdom, that have been 4.from all eternity, have been, and are yet exerciſed about this eſpecially; namely, to bring mankinde to his eternal eſtate, and to communicate unto the children of men, that glory that he hath appointed for them, that it might be in the moſt glorious way that can be: now if God have ſet his infinite wiſdom on work from all eternity about this; namely, what might be the moſt glorious way of communication of himſelf in the riches of his goodneſs unto mankinde, certainly, when this comes to paſs, that God ſhould communicate himſelf as much as he does intend, it muſt be infinitely glorious: certainly, there are great things, and glorious things to be communicated hereafter.
Fifthly, the power of God hath been already exerciſed, in ſubſerviency to other attributes of his, to 5.make known his wiſdom, and his bounty, and his general goodneſs; the power of God have been wonderfully manifeſted in the works of creation and providence: now certainly, the power of God is as well to be put forth in a way of ſubſerviency unto his grace and mercy; now if there be ſuch a time, as Gods infinite power is to be let out, and work unto that end, that it might be ſubſervient unto the infiniteneſs of his mercy, then certainly there are glorious and great things to be revealed and made known.
Sixthly, certainly there are glorious and great things 6.for mankinde, in that God hath raiſed the nature of man unto ſuch a heighth, as he hath done in Chriſt; namely, to unite mans nature unto himſelf, unto the ſecond perſon of the Trinity, and that with the neareſt union that poſſibly can be; namely, an hypoſtatical union: certainly then God intends great things for the children of men, for that nature, that is one perſon with the Divine nature. This is ſuch a great work of God, as all other of the works of God are darkned in the honor of this great work.
Seventhly, the great purchaſe that Jeſus Chriſt hath made, in that he hath been content to leave ſo much 7.glory, certainly this was to purchaſe great glory; and in that he was content to be made a curſe for mans-ſin, and to ſhed his blood, and to give his life for man, ſurely this was not onelyonly to purchaſe outward comforts in the world, it was to purchaſe higher things; and therefore great muſt needs be the fruit of the purchaſe of the blood of Chriſt; and therefore great are the things that are to be revealed hereafter.
Eighthly, there are in Scripture many glorious promiſes which yet are not fulfilled, abundant rich and 8.glorious promiſes, that have infinite treaſures of good in them, there muſt be a time of fulfilling of them all, to the utmoſt extent of them: and therefore certainly there are great things to be revealed hereafter. Thy word O Lord is ſetled for ever in Heaven, Pſal. 119. 89.
Ninthly, the great things that God hath done for his enemies, is a demonſtration that there is a glorious 9.condition for Gods people afterward, in that God hath filled their bellies with his hid treaſure: what treaſures hath God to fill the ſouls of his own people with, when as he does fill the bellies of the wicked, whom he does intend to caſt out as accurſed?
Tenthly, it appears there are great things for the people of God hereafter, becauſe of the great hopes 10.that are wrought in the hearts of Gods ſervants, by the power of the Holy Ghoſt. Now ſurely ſuch hopes as are wrought by the power of the Holy Ghoſt, they muſt attain unto glorious things: Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghoſt: the hope of Gods people is that which is not onelyonly wrought by the Holy Ghoſt, but by the power of the Holy Ghoſt; and ſuch an hope, as God is pleaſed to ſtile himſelf the God of this hope; and therefore certainly glorious things are to be revealed.
Another demonſtration is this, the very natures and 11.excellency of grace, is to take off our hearts from theſe preſent things in the world, and from all the good that is here in the creature, God does give grace for this end; now then I reaſon thus: if the chief excellency of grace be to take the hearts of the Saints from the things of the world, and to ſettle them upon higher and better things, then certainly there are glorious things to come.
The laſt demonſtration is this, becauſe there are 12.ſuch glorious firſt fruits of that which is to come, that Gods people do finde for the preſent; thoſe bleſſed rays of heavenly conſolations, and thoſe beginnings of Heaven that they finde here: if there were a thouſand worlds filled with that glory that this is filled with, they would not take it for one ray, one beam, that is made known unto them, as the firſt fruits of that glory they ſhall have hereafter: now put all theſe together, and we may conclude, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a glorious condition for Gods ſervants; happy are they that ſhall be made partakers of theſe things, certainly there are great things to come.
Before we go any further, me thinks the thoughts of theſe ſhould raiſe our hearts: what do we here minding ſuch poor empty things? are theſe the things that God hath made us for? are not the thoughrs of God concerning the children of men, higher and more glorious then theſe outward things? ſurely there is ſomething elſe, that God hath made mans immortal ſoul for, above any thing that it hath ſeen in the world: men do live for the preſent, as if there were no other condition for them, no greater good, but onelyonly to cat and drink, and have money, and brave cloathes, and the like: O know there are better things for us to look after! but thus we paſs from the firſt thing, that there are bleſſed things for the children of men hereafter.