Two Discourses, Part 2
TEXT.
Verſe 5. Now he that hath wrought us for the ſelf-ſame thing is God, who hath alſo given us the earneſt of the Spirit.
THe Current of the four former Verſes running thus ſteadily along in this Chanel, the Stream in this Verſe continues ſtill the ſame.
There is one word in this Verſe, [foreign, For this ſelf-ſame thing God hath wrought us,] which ſerves us as a Clue of Thread drawn through the Windings of the former Verſes, to ſhew us, that one and the ſame Individual Glory hath been carried on all along, and ſtill is in this Verſe alſo. So then we ſee where we are.
What this ſelf-ſame thing ſhould be, ask the firſt Verſe, and it will tell you, it is that Houſe eternal in the Heavens, a Building of God, prepared by him againſt the time that this earthly Houſe is diſſolved. Ask the ſecond Verſe, it is the ſame Houſe we groan to be cloathed upon with, when the other is pulled down. Ask the fourth Verſe, and more plainly: It is that Life, which ſucceeds this mortal Life the Soul now lives in this Body, and ſwallows up all the Infirmities thereof. And then here it follows, Even for this ſelf-ſame thing, &c. So then, if the Glory of the ſeparate Soul be the Subject of any of theſe Verſes, then of all, and ſo of this Verſe alſo.
And to be ſure it cannot be that extraordinary way of entrance into Glory, by ſuch a ſudden Change, both of Soul and Body into Glory at once, without diſſolution, ſhould be the ſelf-ſame thing here aimed at. For it was not the Lot of any of thoſe Primitive Chriſtians, of whom the Holy-Ghoſt here ſpeaks this, [He hath wrought us for this thing,] that they ſhould be in that manner changed, and ſo enter into Glory: but the contrary. For they all, and all Saints ſince for theſe 1600 years, have put off their Tabernacles by Death, as Peter did, and ſpeaks of himſelf, 2 Pet. 1. 14. and therefore the Scripture (or Holy Ghoſt) foreſeeing, as the Phraſe is, Gal. 3. 8. this change would be their fate, would not have uttered this of them, [God hath wrought us for this] whom he knew God had not deſigned thereunto.
Neither is it that thoſe groaning deſires, ſpoken of in the foregoing verſes, 2, 3, 4. is [that ſelf-ſame thing] here (as ſome would) for indeed as Muſculus well: If the Apoſtle had ſaid, He that hath wrought this thing in us, &c. that Expreſſion might have carried it to ſuch a Senſe: But he ſaith, He that wrought us for the ſelf-ſame thing: And ſo 'tis not that deſire of Glory in us is ſpoken of: But us, our ſelves and Souls as wrought for that Glory.
If it be asked, what is the ſpecial proper ſcope of theſe words, as touching this Glory of the Soul? The anſwer in general, It is to give the rational part of this Point, or demonſtrative Reaſons to evidence to Believers, That indeed God hath thus ordained and prepared ſuch a Glory afore the Reſurrection. And it is as if the Apoſtle had ſaid, Look into your own Souls, and conſider God's dealings with you hitherto, viz.
Firſt, the operation of his hands. For what other is the meaning or myſtery (ſays he) of all that God is daily ſo at work with you in this Life? What elſe is the end of all the workings of Grace in you, and of God that is the Worker? This is his very deſign, He that hath wrought us (that is, our Souls) for this very thing, is God.
Beſides the evidence the work gives, there is alſo over and above the earneſt of the Spirit given to your Souls now whilſt in your Bodies, in Joy, full of Glories of the ſame kind (as Earneſts are) of what fulneſs of Glory they are both capable of then, and ſhall be filled with, when ſevered from your Bodies, Who hath [alſo] given us [the earneſt] of the Spirit.