A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 20
HEB. VI. 4, 5. For it is impoſſible for thoſe, &c.
Serm. II.I Have cloſed with the firſt Qualification or Attainment of theſe Perſons ſpoken of in my Text; I ſhall now proceed to the Second, And have taſted of the Heavenly Gift.
1. By the Heavenly Gift, ſome underſtand the Heavenly Doctrine: What meant by the Heavenly Gift.In that ſenſe it may be true, for Herod had ſome kind of Taſte of the Heavenly Doctrine, which John the Baptiſt preached; he heard him gladly, or with Joy. As the Baptiſm of John is ſaid to be from Heaven, ſo all the Truths and Ordinances of the Goſpel may be ſaid to be but one intire Heavenly Gift.
2. Others by the Heavenly Gift underſtand the Holy Ghoſt, according to that in Acts 8. 20. Thou haſt thought the Gift of God may be purchaſed with Money. So Acts 10. 45. That on the Gentiles alſo was poured the Gift of the Holy Ghoſt.
Queſt. But what Gift of the Holy Ghoſt is it which theſe Perſons are ſaid to have a taſte of?
Anſw. 1. The miraculous Operations of the Holy Ghoſt in the Times of the Goſpel, in the extraordinary Gifts thereof, which are ſaid to come down from Heaven in a way of Eminency, as Acts 1. 4, 5. and of thoſe Gifts theſe Perſons might have ſome taſte, either by their receiving thoſe Gifts themſelves, (for that unſound Perſons may do, And in thy Name we have caſt out Devils: ſo 1 Cor. 13. 1, 2. And though I have all Faith, ſo that I could remove Mountains, and have not Charity, I am nothing:) or elſe they may be ſaid to have a taſte of thoſe Gifts, by being wonderfully affected, by beholding the miraculous Operations of this Heavenly Gift wrought by others.
2. By taſting of the Heavenly Gift, it may refer to the Doctrine of the Goſpel, it may denote their making ſome trial by Hearing, and diligently attending on the Doctrine of Salvation; there is a taſting for trial, either to receive, or refuſe, as we commonly do Meats or other things: Every taſting is not a digeſting, Men taſte before they eat, and digeſt food. Theſe Perſons may taſte of the Doctrine of Juſtification, taſte of the Heavenly Gift or Doctrine of God's Free Grace, taſte of the Ordinance of Baptiſm, and the Lord's Supper, and ſeem alſo to like the Heavenly Gift well in all theſe and in other reſpects, yet may feed all the while on ſome one Luſt or another, on the Love of this World, or on their carnal and ſenſual Pleaſures; and becauſe they were never ſavingly renewed, having no new Nature, they could not feed on ſpiritual Things ſo as to digeſt them. No doubt it was, or is ſuch a taſting as the full Stomach takes ſometimes of Food, a full Stomach will taſte, yet refuſe to eat, they have no Appetite, theſe being glutted with the Love of other things; the Heavenly Gift is not ſo ſweet to them, as Food is to an hungry Man.
The Sum then is this, theſe Perſons had, or may have, ſome Experience of the Holy Ghoſt in the miraculous Gifts, either in themſelves, or in others, their Underſtandings being enlightned, (for it is evident that 'tis a Taſte by Illuminations, by what we before ſhewed) and they alſo might taſte the Heavenly Doctrine or Miniſtration of the Goſpel, and might find the Truths, the Inſtitutions and Worſhip thereof to be good; they making a trial of it ſo far as their carnal and unſanctified Hearts were capable to do; yea they might find the Ways of God better than once they thought before they were inlightned, and from thence imbraced them to appearance, owned and walked therein for a time.
Doct. 2. That there is a Goodneſs, and an Excellency in the Heavenly Gift and Heavenly Doctrine of the Goſpel, which ſuch may taſte of that never receive the Truth in the Power and Love thereof.
Doct. 3. That the rejecting, and utter caſting off the Goſpel, and the Ordinance and Worſhip thereof, after ſome Taſtes and Experience of it, is an high Offence to God, and a fearful Aggravation of Sin, and a certain Preſage of Damnation.
So much as to their ſecond Attainment.
3dly. And were made Partakers of the Holy Ghoſt. This ſeems to How ſome unrenewed Perſons may be ſaid to be partakers of the Holy Ghoſt.be more than a bare taſting.
Object. Doth not this ſeem to interfere with your Expoſition of the Attainment you mentioned laſt?
Anſw. 1. To this take Dr. Owen's Anſwer. "It is (ſaith he) ordinary to have the ſame thing twice expreſſed in various words, to quicken the Senſe of them."
"2. The Holy Ghoſt is mentioned before, as he hints, as the great Gift of the Goſpel-Times, as coming down from Heaven; not abſolutely, not as unto his Perſon, but with reſpect unto an eſpecial Work, namely, the changing of the whole State of Religious Worſhip in the Church of God."
3. But here in theſe words when it is ſaid, They were made Partakers of the Holy Ghoſt, it is ſpoken chiefly in reſpect unto external actual Operations.
1. They partake of the Holy Spirit in the common Operations of it themſelves; they taſted the Heavenly Doctrine as it was adminiſtred by others, as it is hinted before: but here is a Reception, or a partaking of the Holy Spirit, whereby it had ſome great and viſible Operations upon their Hearts and Lives, though not ſaving Operations, not ſuch that changed them into a State of Grace.
2. Nay they partake not only of common Gifts, but common Grace alſo, even ſuch Grace that doth reform their Lives, bridle, reſtrain, and curb their inordinate Luſts and Paſſions; ſo that through the Knowledg of Jeſus Chriſt, they eſteeming him as their Bleſſed Saviour, they are ſaid to eſcape the Pollution of the World, as Peter plainly declares, though afterwards they are again 2 Pet. 2. 20.intangled therein and overcome.
3. They did no doubt by the Aſſiſtance of the Holy Spirit, leave and forſake thoſe evil Ways, and prophane Courſes and Practices in which they lived before: May be they were groſs Idolaters, Adulterers, Blaſphemers, &c. but the Spirit by its common Operations did ſo far ſtrive and prevail with them, that they became other Men: As it is ſaid of King Saul, The Spirit of God will 1 Sam. 10. 6, 9.come upon thee, and thou ſhalt be turned into another Man, but not a new Man; And God gave him another Heart.
4. Theſe Perſons may partake of ſuch Grace which the fooliſh Virgins had, to keep their Lamps of Profeſſion burning for a Time.
Doct. 4. The Holy Spirit may be with Perſons, nay in them, by his common Operations, with whom he is not by his gracious Inhabitation; they may partake of common, but not of ſaving Grace.
4thly. The fourth Attainment of theſe Perſons, or theſe falſe Profeſſors, is this, viz.—And taſted of the good Word of God.
Four things I ſhall do in ſpeaking unto this.
Firſt, Shew what is meant by the Word of God.
Secondly, Shew why it is called the good Word of God.
Thirdly, Shew what a taſte an unſound Chriſtian may have of the good Word of God.
Fourthly, And alſo ſhew what a taſte it is that a true Chriſtian hath of it.
Firſt, By the Word of God is meant, the Word of the Goſpel; Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Again it is Rom. 10. 17. 1 Theſſ. 1. 8.ſaid, From you ſounded out the Word of God, that is, the Goſpel of Chriſt.
Secondly, It is called the good Word of God.
1. Becauſe it bringeth good News to Sinners, the Tidings it Why the Word of God is called good.brings are good and profitable to all that receive it in Truth.
2. Becauſe it is a Declaration of that good and gracious Counſel and Purpoſe of God in ſaving poor Sinners by Jeſus Chriſt: it is Heavenly, Sublime; the Nature and Glory of God in all his Attributes is made manifeſt thereby.
3. It is good in the bleſſed Effects thereof. That which is excellent and precious in it ſelf, and alſo doth as much good, we eſteem very good. Now as divine Truth is pure, Thy Word is pure, therefore thy Servant loveth it; ſo it is precious above Gold, in the Effects Pſ. 19. 10.of it on the Heart.
1. It enlightens the Eyes, it illuminates dark Minds, it is a ſhining Light; Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet, and a Light unto my Pſal. 119. 105.Path.
2. It quickens and revives a Soul under Deadneſs, therefore it is good; Thy Word hath quickned me.Pſal. 119. 50.
3. It is that which inriches the Soul: Let the Word of God dwell in you richly. We have this Treaſure in earthen Veſſels, that the excellency Col. 3. 16. 2 Cor. 4. 7.of the Power may be of God, and not of us. Hence Miniſters, by preaching the Goſpel, though they may be externally poor, yet make many ſpiritually rich.
4. It may be ſaid to be Good, becauſe of the powerful Effects it hath on Mens Souls, where it comes not in Word only. The 1 Theſſ. 1. 5.Word of God is quick and powerful, ſharper than any two-edged Sword. It makes the Dead to live, infuſing through the Spirit, Life, and regenerating Grace into the Hearts of Sinners; it ſearcheth and purges out all Corruption; by the means of it young and old come to have their Hearts and Ways cleanſed: Now ye are clean through the Word which I have ſpoken unto you.Joh. 19. 3.
5. It is our Sword by which we offend and wound our Enemies, and defend our ſelves againſt all their Aſſaults and Temptations.
6. It is good in reſpect of that diſcovery it makes of God, of Reader, theſe things were enlarged upon, but I am forc'd to leave out the Enlargements here.Jeſus Chriſt, and of Salvation, as alſo of future Glory; there is contained in it a Revelation of the Incarnation of the Son of God, with all the Effects of infinite Wiſdom in the glorious Contrivance of our Redemption: What doth the Pagan World underſtand or know of theſe things, who have not the good Word of God with them?
7. It hath a comforting, a healing, and ſtrengthning Virtue in it; and it alſo preſerves from Sin, therefore it is good: Thy Word have I hid in my Heart, that I might not ſin againſt thee. It gives Pſal. 119. 11.peace and quiet to a diſturbed and diſtreſſed Mind, when the Promiſes are ſet home with Power upon the Conſcience: How many hath that one Word revived, that have been ready to drop into Hell in the ſenſe of their Sin; Come unto me all ye that labour and Mat. 11. 28.are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt.
8. It is our Food, I mean the Food of our Souls; yea, both Milk for Babes, and ſtrong Meat for Men of riper Age: nay, it is ſweet, ſatisfying and Soul-fatning Food, therefore it is good.
Sirs, if you have never taſted how good the Word of God is, your State doubtleſs is bad; but it is not enough to have a taſte of it, but you muſt feed upon it: Eat, O Friends; drink, yea drink abundantly, O Beloved.
Thirdly, I ſhall proceed to ſhew you what a kind of taſte an unſound Chriſtian may have of the Word of God. It is evident, that the Apoſtle here carefully keeps himſelf to ſuch Expreſſions as we have in the Text, to ſhew he intends not ſuch Perſons, who by Faith truly receive and ſpiritually feed on Jeſus Chriſt; therefore it is ſaid, have taſted. True, by taſting ſometimes is meant a ſpiritual feeding; O taſte and ſee that the Lord is good: Compared with Pſal. 34. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 5.that in Peter, If ſo be ye have taſted that the Lord is gracious.
Brethren, every one that feeds, may be ſaid to taſte, though he doth more than taſte; but every one that taſteth, may not be ſaid to feed; no, nor be ſaid to love, approve of, nor digeſt that which he taſteth of. Pray remember, to feed is more than to taſte; I did but taſte a little Honey, ſaith Jonathan: And it is ſaid of our Saviour, When he had taſted thereof, he would not drink; he Mat. 27. 34.taſted, but did not drink: So Men may taſte, and yet may not eat, not feed upon that they taſted of.
I ſhall now come to ſhew you what a taſte they may have of the Word of God.
1. As taſting reſpecteth Experience, or ſimple Knowledg of the Truth of a thing, ſo theſe Perſons may have a taſte, i. e. may have a ſimple Knowledg or Experience of the Truth of the Word of the Goſpel; they may taſte in this ſenſe, they may believe or be fully convinced in their Conſciences by what they have heard, and have met with by ſuch Operations of the Spirit that have paſt upon them, that the Goſpel is true, and that Chriſt is the only Saviour, and that the Inſtitutions and Ordinances of the Goſpel are his Bleſſed Appointments. Thus many of the Jews taſted of Chriſt's Word, i. e. They believed in his Name, when they ſaw the John 2. 23, 24.Miracles which he did; But Jeſus did not commit himſelf unto them, becauſe he knew all Men: They gave a true Aſſent to the Propoſition of his Word, yet did not cloſe in with him, they did not conſent to receive him, to deſire, love and obey him, they had no Union with him by ſaving Faith; and the like may be ſaid of theſe Perſons in our Text.
2. Nay, theſe Perſons finding Jeſus Chriſt to be the true and great Saviour, they may taſte the Word, or believe with ſome kind of Joy, though it be a falſe Joy; Who would not be ſaved, or have Chriſt as a Saviour? This they like, they would be ſaved from Hell and Wrath, but do not conſider that Chriſt came to ſave his People from their Sins; He will ſave none who abide in their Sins, who hold them faſt, and reſolve not to let them go: Many may taſte ſome ſweetneſs in hearing of the Power of Chriſt to ſave, who go on preſumptuouſly in their ungodly Practices: It is expreſly ſaid, that the ſtony-ground Hearers received the Word with joy, they had a taſte of it. A common Faith ſeems to give a Mat. 13. 20.taſte, the Name of a Saviour reliſhes ſweet.
3. They may taſte of the Promiſes of the Word, but may not like the Precepts of it, or what ſometimes follows and overtakes ſuch who profeſs the Goſpel; or may like ſome Precepts, but not like ſome others of them; every Word of God with theſe is not precious, they cannot deny themſelves and follow Chriſt whither ſoever he goes: They are not like David, who ſaith, Every Word of God is pure, therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold, yea, above Pſal. 119. 127, 128.fine Gold. Therefore I eſteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every falſe Way.
4. A bare taſte or a ſimple taſte of the Word is enough for theſe; a great deal of the World may be they think is too little, yet a little Religion, a little of the Word, ſhort Prayers, and little Preaching will ſuffice them: A great Portion is too little for their Children, but Six-pence or a Shilling they may think is too much for the poor Saints, or a ſmall matter a great deal to be given to the Children of God. It is evident theſe Perſons gave little or nothing to the poor Saints, by what the Apoſtle ſpeaks in the Verſes following our Text, and therefore no ſincere Believers: For God is not unrighteous to forget your Work of Faith and Labour of Love, in that ye have miniſtred to the Saints, &c. You, as if he ſhould ſay, are not of that ſort I am a ſpeaking of, they do not love the Children of God, though they have had a taſte of the Word: This one Vertue, Brethren, is more than all thoſe five Attainments mentioned in my Text, when that which a Man gives is given in love to Chriſt.
5. Yet this bare taſte, as you have heard, might have ſome Effect upon theſe Mens Hearts.
1. They might find ſome kind of delight in that Knowledg they have of the Doctrine of the Goſpel, and might ſpeak in the Commendation and Vindication thereof. Thus Balaam ſeemed wonderfully to be affected with the State of Iſrael, and with the Tabernacle and Tents of Jacob, yet he loved the Wages of Unrighteouſneſs.
2. It may work, as you heard laſt Day, a viſible Change in them, ſuch a Power may go along with that taſte; they, like Saul, might become other Men.
3. They might have the ſame Lamp of Profeſſion with true Chriſtians, and be taken for real Converts, not known to the Godly but to be ſuch. The wiſe Virgins doubtleſs thought well of the Fooliſh, they did not know they were unſound or fooliſh Ones.
4. Such a Work and Effect the Holy Spirit and taſting of the Word might have, that they might be full of great Expectation of b…ing embraced by Chriſt when he comes, if they fell not away before. 'Tis ſaid, the fooliſh Virgins went out to meet the Bridegroom; they had much Confidence, may be more Confidence (tho it was Self-confidence) that the Wiſe, for true Believers may be attended with many Doubts.
Dr. Owen ſpeaking of this ſort mentioned in my Text, ſaith, (and no doubt ſaith the Truth) "That there is an inferiour common Work of the Holy Spirit in the Diſpenſation of the Word on many to whom it is preached, cauſing in them a great Alteration and Change, as to Light, Knowledg, Abilities, Gifts, Affections, Life and Converſation, when the Perſons ſo wrought upon are not quickned, regenerated, or made new Creatures, nor united to Jeſus Chriſt; that in the Perſons thus wrought upon, there is or may be ſuch an Aſſent, and Light, and Conviction of the Truth propoſed and preached to them, as in its kind is true, not counterfeit, giving or affording to them a Profeſſion of the Faith." That is, they are blinded, and know not that they are unſound in the Main, their Hearts for want of true Light deceive them, as in the Caſe of the fooliſh Virgins; nay, and they may perhaps hold out in their Profeſſion conſtantly unto Death; nay, may give their Bodies to be burned. 1 Cor. 13. 1, 2.O ſee, Brethren, that your Faith is the Faith of God's Elect, and that you are ſavingly renewed: O look about you ſince it may be thus. The Doctor adds, "That among theſe Perſons are oft-times ſome that are endued with excellent Gifts, and lovely Parts, Qualifications and Abilities, rendering them very uſeful to the Church of God, being Veſſels in his Houſe to hold and convey to others the precious Liquor of the Goſpel, though never had their own evil Hearts changed."
To which let me add, they are ſuch, or of this ſort of Perſons who are liable to ſin the Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, or ſo fall, that it may be impoſſible for them to be renewed by Repentance: Yet before they ſo fall, it may not be impoſſible for them to become true Converts. The Nature of which Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, I purpoſe to open before I cloſe with this Text.
Fourthly, I ſhall proceed to ſhew you what a taſte of God, and What a kind of taſte a Believer hath of God and his Word. Pſal. 42. 2.of his good Word it is which all true Believers have.
1. 'Tis a taſte that ariſes from Spiritual Hunger: There is a true ſenſe of Want, they have a craving Appetite, and nothing but God in Chriſt can ſatisfy their Souls; My Soul thirſteth for God, for the living God, ſaith David. And hence it is that they are pronounced bleſſed; Bleſſed are they which hunger and thirſt after Righteouſneſs, Mat. 5. 6.for they ſhall be filled; not have only a taſte, No, no, but they ſhall be filled, they ſhall eat to ſatisfaction. They ſee that they want a Righteouſneſs whereby they may be declared Juſt and Righteous before God, namely, the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt; and alſo a Righteouſneſs that may declare them to be righteous before Men, namely, a holy and blameleſs Life: the one is the Righteouſneſs of Juſtification, the other is the Righteouſneſs of Sanctification. Others may have a taſte of both theſe; they may behold a Worth in, and a Want of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, but do not hunger after it, and ſo accept it as a poor hunger-ſtarved Perſon on Goſpel-Terms; and may attain to ſome degree of inward as well as outward Sanctification.
2. Theſe therefore taſte and eat alſo, and that too out of pure Neceſſity: If I, ſaith the Soul, feed not upon Chriſt, eat not his Fleſh, and drink not his Blood, I ſhall periſh. Give me Chriſt or I ſhall die, is the Voice of this ſort: Others take a taſte, as if they cared not whether they eat or eat not.
3. A true Believer doth taſte, eat, and alſo digeſt the Word; 'tis that which they live upon, and hereby they come to have Union with Chriſt by Faith: The Soul partakes of the Divine Nature. But a common Taſting, or a common Faith, or a bare Credence of the Truth of the Goſpel, doth not do this, which the Perſons in our Text only had.
4. The good Word of God is to all true Chriſtians as their neceſſary Food; nay, eſteemed more, or above their neceſſary Food, as Job experienced it; therefore to theſe the Word, and God in Job 23. 12.the Word, Chriſt in the Word, is exceeding ſweet: How ſweet is Food to a hungry Perſon? O ſays the Soul, the Lord is good, his Word is good, his Promiſes and his Ordinances are exceeding good; I can reliſh the Word of God, I eſteem it above Gold; it is alſo Pſ. 19. 10.ſweeter than Honey, or the Honey-comb; I have an appetite to it: O how love I thy Law! it is my Meditation all the Day. This diſcovers Pſal. 110. 97.to us the goodneſs of our Condition, when there is nothing that we value or eſteem, love and delight in, above God's Word: Thy Words were found, and I did eat them, and thy Word was unto me Jer. 15. 16.the joy and rejoicing of my Heart. He did not taſte only, but did eat and greedily digeſt the Word alſo.
4. The Word of God, without the God of the Word, will not ſatisfy theſe Mens Souls; 'tis not a bare Ordinance, no, no, but they muſt have God in and with the Ordinance; 'tis not the Shell without the Kernel, it is not the Cabinet without the Jewel; it is not a Lamp without Oil that will ſatisfy the wiſe Virgins; Prayer and Preaching will not do with theſe, though they pray and hear every Day, except they meet with God and Chriſt in thoſe Duties; the Word and Ordinances without Chriſt, are but like dry Bread and lean Meat, that have but little Juice or Nouriſhment in them; they muſt be delighted with Fatneſs, knowing it is ſuch things God has prepared for them; Eat ye that which is good, Iſa. 55. 2.and let your Soul delight it ſelf in Fatneſs; they eat it appears to full ſatisfaction. Others labour for that which ſatisfies not; but of all true Believers David ſaith, They ſhall be abundantly ſatisfied with Pſal. 36. 8.the fat things of thy Houſe; and thou ſhalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleaſures. And in another place, ſaith he, My Soul Pſal. 63. 5.ſhall be ſatisfied as with Marrow and Fatneſs; and my Soul ſhall praiſe thee with joyful Lips.
5. That which true Believers taſte and eat, is turned into Spiritual Nouriſhment in the Heart: And in order to this,
1. There is required a laying up the Word, or hiding of it: Pſal. 119. 11. Luk. 1. 66.No Nouriſhment can be had by Food, unleſs it be received into the Stomach, where the Cauſe of Digeſtion and Communication are fix'd: And if the Word be not received into the Heart by fixed Meditation and Delight, it may affect and pleaſe a Perſon for a while, but it will not nouriſh the Soul.
2. Every Phyſician will tell you, that Food muſt be mixed and incorporated with the digeſtive Humour, Power and Faculty of the Stomach, whereinſoever it conſiſts, or it will not nouriſh. Give a Man never ſo much Food, if there be any noxious Humour in the Stomach hindering it from mixing with the Power of Digeſtion, ſaith a worthy Writer, it will no ways profit the Perſon: But the Dr. Owen, p. 50, 51. Heb. 4. 2.Word preached did not profit them, not being mix'd with Faith in them that heard it. Meat nouriſhes not without Concoction; ſo unleſs the Soul receives and digeſts the Word through Faith, ſo that the Word and the Heart are united together, all is nothing; but a bare taſte will never do this. And,
3. Like as Food when it is well digeſted is turned into Fleſh and Blood, and Spirits; ſo where a Perſon feeds on the Word by Faith, or eats and digeſts it, it is turned into a Principle of Life and ſpiritual Strength: As ſome Men who have for want of Food been brought ſo low and faint, that they were ready to die away; but by feeding on good Food, and digeſting it, ſoon perceive a renewing of their Strength, Life and Vigour ſeems to return to them again; ſo by feeding on the Word, the Strength of the Soul abides, it communicates abiding Strength, Faith and Experience; and 'tis hereby the Soul grows Day by Day, and his Love to God is increaſed, and by the Power of it he walks with God in Holineſs and Lowlineſs of Mind, and brings forth all the Fruits of the Spirit, like as the Ground bringeth forth, by the Showers of Heaven, Heb. 6. 6, 7.Herbs meet for him by whom it is dreſſed.
4. Theſe are delighted and cheared by the Word, as in a Banquet of Wine, and get great Power over their Corruptions: But ſuch a taſting and eating as this, and ſuch bleſſed Effects of the Word on the Soul did the Perſons never attain unto, who are ſaid in our Text to have taſted the good Word of God, &c. Evident it is, that the Apoſtle clearly notes concerning the Perſons in my Text, that whatſoever taſte they might have of the Doctrine of the Goſpel, called the Heavenly Gift, or of the good Word of God, yet they were fruitleſs Souls, even like the Earth that the Rain falls upon, and yet brings forth Briars and Thorns; See ver. 7, 8.
APPLICATION.
1. Learn from hence the deplorable Condition of all ſuch who ſatisfy themſelves with the meer Notion of Truth and empty Speculations about it, without getting ſo much as ſuch a taſte of the goodneſs of the Word, which may be had by thoſe who are not ſavingly renewed. How many thouſands are there at this Day, that do not deſire ſo much as a taſte of heavenly Things, their Hearts are ſo filled and glutted with the things of this World, nay, with their abominable and filthy Luſts.
2. But for the Lord's Sake take heed you reſt not ſatisfied with a bare taſte of heavenly Things, or with ſome ſeeming reliſh thereof: Such indeed may not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven: But alas, alas, if they go no further, they will never come there; and if they totally fall away, their State will be worſe in the end than it was at the beginning; nay, far worſe than their Condition who never were enlightned at all, but remain under the Power of natural Blindneſs, &c.
3. You that are Profeſſors, may alſo, from what hath been briefly hinted, perceive whether you have had a right taſte of God, and of his good Word, or not: Whether you have received Chriſt, and do live upon the Bread of Life, or not: Or whether you have by Faith applied the Word, and by Meditation digeſted it, or not.
4. Hath the Word changed your Hearts? Have you got Power over your Corruptions and Temptations thereby? Doth nothing ſatisfy your Souls ſhort of God and Jeſus Chriſt; and it is as well a Likeneſs to him as an Intereſt in him? Will not the Word and Ordinances quiet you, unleſs you meet with Chriſt in them?
5. This may be for a uſe of Terror to ſuch who reſt ſatisfied with the common Operations of the Word and Spirit of God; they may go far, yet fall away, nay ſo fall, as it may be impoſſible for them ever to be renewed by Repentance. But,
5thly. I ſhall now come to the fifth and laſt Thing or Attainment mentioned in our Text concerning theſe Profeſſors who are in danger of Final Apoſtacy, And of the Powers of the World to come: They have not only taſted of the good Word of God, but alſo of the Powers of the World to come.
Two things I ſhall propound to do here.
1. Shew you what is meant by the World to come.
2. Shew what a kind of taſte theſe Perſons may be ſaid to have of it.
1. Some by the World to come aſſert, is only meant, the Goſpel-Church-State, What is meant by the World to come.or Spiritual Kingdom of the Meſſiah, which begun in the Apoſtles Days: Nay, I find Reverend Dr. Owen is much of this Perſwaſion, as you may ſee in his Expoſition of the firſt Chapter to the Hebrews; "By the World to come, ſaith he, the Apoſtle in this Epiſtle intends the Days of the Meſſiah, that being the uſual Name of it in the Church at that time, as the New World which God had promiſed to create, whereof theſe Powers, by Signs, Wonders, and mighty Works were then wrought by the Holy Ghoſt, according as it was foretold by the Prophets that they ſhould be ſo, Joel 2. Acts 2. Theſe the Perſons ſpoken of, are ſuppoſed to have taſted; either they had been wrought in and by themſelves, or by others in their ſight, whereby they had experience of the glorious and powerful working of the Holy Ghoſt in the Confirmation of the Goſpel. Yea, (ſaith he) I do judg that they themſelves, in their own Perſons, were partakers of theſe Powers in the Gift of Tongues, and other miraculous Operations, which was the higheſt Aggravation poſſible of their Apoſtacy." I will not deny this to be intended by the Powers of the World to come: But this Expoſition ſeems too much to interfere with the ſecond and third Attainment mentioned of theſe Perſons: and if this be granted to be intended hereby, yet it muſt be carried alſo further, I mean, to the after-State of Chriſt's Kingdom; for the Kingdom that is now expected, and the latter-day-Glory, we all allow to be the Kingdom of the Meſſiah: Nor can any doubt of a World yet to come, or glorious viſible Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt to be ſet up in the laſt Days; the Holy Ghoſt poſitively affirming, That the Kingdoms of this World ſhall become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt; And Rev. 11. 15.that when the ſeventh Angel ſoundeth his Trumpet, and not till then, which brings in the third and laſt Wo upon the Antichriſtian State and Kingdom. Yet I queſtion not but that the beginning of the Kingdom of the Meſſiah was in the Apoſtles Days, and did commence from the Reſurrection of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, being uſhered in and eſtabliſhed with the miraculous Gifts and Operations of the Holy Spirit: Which wonderful Appearance of God's Power, doth no doubt appertain to the Kingdom of Chriſt as ſuch: And at the pouring forth of the latter Rain, we may expect as great, nay a greater miraculous working-Power, than ever accompanied it to this Day; becauſe the Glory of the latter Houſe ſhall exceed the Glory of the former. And there ſeems to me to be the like Parity of Reaſon for thoſe miraculous Operations in the laſt Days, in order to the ſpreading the Goſpel over all the World, and the eſtabliſhment of Chriſt's more viſible Kingdom, as there was at firſt; the Appearance of Chriſt will be with Power and great Glory.
2. Therefore let it be conſidered, and not doubted of, but that there is yet a World to come, and another kind of World than this World is, and a more glorious Kingdom of Chriſt than at preſent we behold: That the World to come will conſiſt of a new Heaven, and a new Earth, which we look for, as the Apoſtle Peter obſerves, is evident according to God's Promiſe, this preſent World, yea, theſe Old Heavens and Old Earth ſhall paſs away and be diſſolved: Nevertheleſs we, according to his Promiſe, look for a New 2 Pet. 3. 13.Heaven and New Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs. It was not then come, but expected to be revealed in the laſt Days.
3. It will be a World between this and the ultimate Glory in What is meant by Chriſt's delivering up the Kingdom to the Father.the Kingdom of the Father, I mean, when Chriſt ſhall give up his Kingdom to the Father, that God may be all in all; that is, Chriſt will yield up his Rule and Government as Mediator: for his Mediatorial Kingdom ſhall ceaſe, and the Kingdom and Glory of God, i. e. Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, ſhall only be magnified; Chriſt ſhall then, as Mediator, no longer ſit and rule upon his Throne, his Work will be done, and the Date of his Commiſſion be expired.
4. Let it alſo be conſidered, that the World to come in the Glory of it, ſhall not be revealed until this preſent World paſſes away, is burnt up and diſſolved, and therefore cannot be expected until the Reſurrection of the Juſt; For Man lies down and riſes not Job 14. 12.till the Heavens be no more. This the Holy Ghoſt clearly ſhewed alſo to John, And I ſaw a new Heaven, and a new Earth; for the firſt Rev. 21. 1.Heaven, and the firſt Earth were paſſed, and there was no more Sea. And that the World to come ſhall begin in its greateſt Glory at the Reſurrection, doth appear by our Saviour's own words; But they Luke 20. 35, 36.which ſhall be worthy to obtain that World to come, and the Reſurrection from the Dead, neither marry, nor are given in Marriage: Neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the Angels, and are the Children of the Reſurrection. It appears, the World to come, or Kingdom of the Meſſiah in its greateſt Glory, and the Reſurrection, commence together, or at one and the ſame time. And this is further confirmed, becauſe in one Place it is ſaid, that thoſe who follow Chriſt, and ſuffer for him, ſhall be rewarded at the Reſurrection of the Juſt, as Luke 14. 14. And in another Place it is ſaid, in the World to come, as Luke 18. 30.
So much ſhall ſerve to ſhew you what is meant by the World to come; but before I ſpeak to that Taſte of the Powers of the World to come, which the Perſons ſpoken of in our Text are ſaid to have, let me add a word or two as touching the Nature and Glory of the World to come, though we have as yet but only ſome dark glimpſe of it. But to proceed:
The Nature and Glory of the World to come opened.1. It ſhall be a World, not under the Curſe of Man's Sin as this World is: The Earth is under the Curſe, Briars and Thorns are the Fruit of the Curſe, and all Creatures groan under the Curſe the Sin of Mankind hath brought upon them: But when the new World comes in, there ſhall be no more Curſe; inſtead of the Rev. 22. 3. Iſa. 55. 13.Thorn ſhall come up the Fig-tree, and inſtead of the Briar ſhall come up the Myrtle-tree. The Creature groans under the Curſe, But it ſhall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption, into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God. Envy ſhall depart from the Creatures, Rom. 8. 21.they ſhall not tear and devour one another in the World to come, as they do in this World; ſee Iſa. 11. 6, 7, 8, 9. It is in the World to come that all things ſhall be reſtored to that glorious State ſignified by the Reſtitution of all things; Whom the Heavens muſt receive until the Times of the Reſtitution of all things, which God hath Acts 3. 21.ſpoken by the Mouth of all his Holy Prophets ſince the World began. That which all the Prophets have ſpoken of and expected, ſhall certainly come or be fulfilled.
2. The World to come ſhall be a World without Sin, a Holy World, a Righteous World: this preſent World is a wicked World, an ungodly World; but all the Inhabitants of that World to come ſhall be Holy, they ſhall be all filled with Righteouſneſs: Hence it is Peter ſaith, We, according to his Promiſe, look for a new 2 Pet. 3. 13.Heaven and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs.
3. The Government of that new World ſhall be alone in the Hands of the Saints, no wicked Man ſhall be in any Place of Power there; no corrupt Judges, nor Juſtices, Righteouſneſs ſhall then bear Rule: The People alſo ſhall be all Righteous, they ſhall inherit the Land for ever, the Branch of my planting, the Work of my Hands, Iſa. 60. 21.that I may be glorified.—The Kingdom and Dominion, and greatneſs of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven, ſhall be given to the People of Dan. 7. 27.the Saints of the moſt High. Whether they ſhall have the Kingdom before Chriſt comes, or not, I cannot determine, (though I ſuppoſe part of this Prophecy will be fulfilled before then) but beſure then they ſhall have all Kingdoms under the whole Heavens, Dan. 7. 27.and the Glory and Greatneſs of them for ever.
4. The World to come ſhall be a World without Sorrow, and that is becauſe it ſhall be a World without Sin; whilſt Sin remains, Sorrow will remain, but then no more Pain nor Miſery ſhall any of God's Children indure for ever: And God ſhall wipe all Tears from all Faces, and there ſhall be no more Death, neither Sorrow Rev. 21. 4.nor crying, neither ſhall there be any more Pain, for the former things are paſſed away. The Inhabitant of that City ſhall not ſay, I Iſa. 33. 25.am ſick.
5. There ſhall be no Devil to perplex, to tempt, nor to diſturb God's People, Satan ſhall be bound; though others think that ſhall be before this World begins in the greateſt Glory of it.
6. It ſhall be a World of great and wonderful Light; which may be taken, as I conceive, both literally and myſtically: The Iſa. 60. 10.Sun ſhall no more be thy Light by Day, neither for Brightneſs ſhall the Moon give Light by Night; but the Lord ſhall be unto thee an Everlaſting Light, and thy God thy Glory. Compare it with Revelation 22. 4, 5. And there ſhall be no Night there, and they need no Candle, neither Light of the Sun, for the Lord God giveth them Light, and they ſhall reign for ever and ever. God will never withdraw himſelf from his People, nor hide his Face in that World, as ofttimes he doth in this.
7. It ſhall be a joyful World, nothing but Joy and Singing in that World; thoſe who will not ſing now, if Godly, ſhall ſing then: Behold my Servants ſhall ſing for Joy of Heart; but ye ſhall Iſa. 65. 14.howl for Vexation of Spirit. The World to come will be a ſad and woful World to the Ungodly, for there is a World to come for them, I mean, Eternal Miſery in Hell: But Believers ſhall ſing in Jer. 31. 12.the Heights of Sion, and flow together in the Goodneſs of the Lord. In the Heights of Sion, or in the Time of the greateſt Glory of the Kingdom of the Meſſiah: Moreover it is ſaid, They ſhall rejoice Iſa. 35. 2.even with joy and ſinging.
8. They that dwell in the World to come, ſhall have good and bleſſed Company, glorious Company, Chriſt's Company, and the Company of all his Saints: They ſhall ſit down with Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, in the Kingdom of God. Behold, the Tabernacle of God is Rev. 21. 3.with Men, and he will dwell with them. He ſhall come then in the Clouds with Power and great Glory, and we ſhall be taken up to meet 1 Theſſ. 4. 16, 17.the Lord in the Air, and ſo ſhall we ever be with the Lord. To meet him in the Air, he does not meet us, we ſhall not be going up to Heaven, as ſoon as raiſed; no, no, but Chriſt will come down to us, to dwell and reign with his Saints on Earth when that World begins: Bleſſed are the Meek, for they ſhall inherit the Earth. He hath made us Kings and Prieſts, and we ſhall reign on the Earth. All the Mat. 5. 3. Rev. 5. 10.Godly are under this Promiſe, therefore it muſt refer to the World to come, and not be fulfilled till the Day of the Reſurrection.
9. It will be a World of great Riches, Wealth and Glory; the chief City in that World, the Walls of it ſhall be Jaſpar, and the City was of pure Gold. Though this City may be a Figure of the Church, yet no doubt there is more intended, it is that City Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob ſought for, that had Foundations; every Saint in that World ſhall have a Kingdom, and a Crown of Glory: though it be all but one Kingdom, yet it ſhall be as if every one only poſſeſſed it himſelf; Henceforth there is laid up for 2 Tim. 4. 8.me a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which God the Righteous Judg will give to me in that Day, and not only to me, but to all them alſo that love his appearance. Some Saints have hardly enough Bread to eat in this World, that ſhall have a Crown, a Kingdom in the World to come. Hearken my beloved Brethren; Hath not God choſen the Poor of this World, rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom, which he hath promiſed Jam. 2. 5.to them that love him? They ſhall ſit upon Thrones; Know ye not that the Saints ſhall judg the World? Even ſuch poor Saints that this World diſdains and do contemn.
10. This World will have an End, and the Time is near; and the other World will begin in the Glory of it. The World to come, Brethren, that ſhall never end, it is an Eternal World; tho the adminiſtration of it as in the Hands of Chriſt as Mediator, ſhall ceaſe and have an End, yet the Kingdom and Glory of the World to come ſhall never have an End: the Riches of it, the Glory of it, and the Joys of it, ſhall abide for ever; it is a Kingdom, and a Crown that fadeth not away.
Laſtly, It will be a peaceable World; Wars will ceaſe, Jeruſalem ſhall be a quiet Habitation: Nation ſhall not riſe up againſt Nation, nor learn War any more in that World.
I ſhould now come to ſpeak to the ſecond Thing, namely, to ſhew what a taſte it is that the Perſons in our Text had or may have of the Powers of the World to come; but I ſhall make a little uſe of this firſt.
APPLICATION.
1. By way of Reprehenſion: Brethren, what Fools be they who value this World above the World come? Theſe are like the vain French-Man, who ſaid, he would not part with his part in Paris for a pure in Paradiſe: Alas, he knew not what a Place Paradiſe is. O the Vanity of Mens Minds, how blind and deceived are poor Mortals!
2. This ſhews, and clearly may demonſtrate, that God's People are Men and Women of greateſt Wiſdom, they are not ſatisfied with corruptible Things; it is God and his Eternal Riches, Kingdom and Glory their Eyes are ſet upon: they are Rich it appears in Reverſion, though they have but little now in Poſſeſſion; they love Riches, though not the Riches of this World; they ſhall have one day rich and immortal Robes, Robes beyond thoſe of beaten Gold: At thy right Hand did ſtand the Queen in Gold of Pſal. 45. 9.Ophir. It is not a few little Houſes, no nor earthly Palaces; 'tis not Bags of Gold and Silver that can ſatisfy them; no, no, it is nothing leſs than a whole Kingdom and Crown of Glory in the other World; of which they are joint Heirs with Chriſt: They Rom. 8. Rev. 21.ſhall inherit all things, all Riches and Happineſs.
The Riches of the World to come opened. Phil. 3. ult.1. Riches that inrich the Soul, ay and the Body too: the Bodies of the Saints ſhall be inriched in the World to come; our vile Body ſhall be changed and made like Chriſt's Glorious Body.
2. They ſhall have true Riches; the Riches of this World are faiſe Riches, deceitful Riches, counterfeit Riches, ſhadowy Riches; they are but a Figure or a Shadow of the Riches of the World to come.
3. They have right to incorruptible Riches; not like the Worldings Riches that canker and corrupt, and the Ruſt of which will riſe up as Witneſs againſt them at the laſt Day.Jam. 5. 2, 3.
4. They are certain and and abiding Riches; the Riches of this World are uncertain Riches, they are but for a Moment, and are gone: Charge them that are in this World, (ſaith the Apoſtle) that they be not high minded, nor truſt in uncertain Riches, but in the 1 Tim. 6. 17.living God. O how poor and miſerable are ſome Men who are rich in this World!
5. The Riches of the World to come, are Soul-ſatisfying Riches: Gold and Silver ſatisfy not, but Believers ſhall ſee God in the other World, have a glorious Viſion of God; they ſhall be like him, for they ſhall ſee him as he is. Nothing but a Poſſeſſion of 1 Joh. 3. 2, 3.God, and a Likeneſs unto him, will ſatisfy a gracious Soul: I ſhall be ſatisfied, ſaith David, when I awake in thy Likeneſs: I ſhall not Pſa. 17. ult.be fully ſatisfied until then, (as if he ſhould ſay) but then I ſhall be ſatisfied to the full indeed. What is there more for a Man to deſire than God? They that have God for their Portion, may ſay with Jacob, that they have all.
6. The Riches of the other World are had without Care, without Perplexity: Alas, Cares and Snares attend the Riches of this World; there is Pains in getting them, and Cares in keeping them, and Fears of loſing them, and theſe things eat out the ſweetneſs that ſeems to be in them: but as there will be no Cares in keeping of the Riches of the World to come, ſo there will be no fear of loſing them.
7. The Riches of the World to come will be the Perfection of Riches. No Man can be perfectly rich here; tho he hath ſome Riches, yet he hath not all Riches; and though he be rich in ſome things, yet he is not rich in all things; and though he be rich externally, and for a time rich, yet he may be ſpiritually poor: But they that attain to the Riches of the World to come, are every ways rich, perfectly rich, rich in the Body, and rich in the Soul; they are ſuch Riches that Chriſt and the Angels do poſſeſs.
Secondly, The Honours of the World to come.The Honours of the World to come will be great, far ſurpaſſing all the Honours of this preſent evil World.
1. 'Tis no ſmall Honour to be the Sons of God; now are we the Sons of God: This is a Privilege that appertains to the preſent Spiritual Kingdom of Chriſt; but it doth not appear what we ſhall be; that is the Time of the manifeſtation of the Sons of God: then Chriſt will honour his Saints, and God will honour them: If any Man ſerves me, him, ſaith our Saviour, will my Father honour.Mat. 12.
2. Will it not be an Honour to be crowned with a Crown of Glory? Glory, Honour and Immortality is the Portion of all who by well-doing ſeek it.
3. Will it not be a great Honour to judg the World, yea, to judg the fallen Angels?
4. Will it not be an high Honour to be the Lamb's glorious Bride, to be the Spouſe of the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, to have the Attendance of the Holy Angels, and to have the Wicked to bow down to your very Feet and lick up the Duſt?
5. Will it not be a great Honour to ſit with Chriſt on the Throne? Beſides, it will be Eternal or Everlaſting Honour, it will abide for ever.
Thirdly, The Joys and Pleaſures of the World to come.The Pleaſures of the World to come will be tranſcendent Pleaſures, far ſurpaſſing all the vain and carnal Pleaſures of this preſent World.
1. I once told you when I was ſpeaking of Eternal Joys, that the Pleaſures of the World to come will not only delight the Soul, but the Body too; though not carnal ſenſual Pleaſures, yet the glorified Bodies of the Saints ſhall be filled with Delight and Pleaſure, as well as their Spirits, you may be ſure, and that in a wonderful manner.
2. The Joys of the World to come will be the Fulneſs of Joy and Delights: Thou ſhalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleaſures. Pſal. 36. 8.Rivers of Pleaſures denote fulneſs, Pleaſures to full ſatiſfaction: all the Pleaſures of this preſent World are but a Shadow of the Pleaſures of Heaven, and of the World to come; and though theſe ſatisfy not, yet thoſe will ſatisfy the Soul.
3. They are Pleaſures for evermore; we ſhall ſwim in Pleaſures in that World. Thou wilt ſhew me the Way of Life; in thy Preſence is fulneſs of Joy, and at thy right Hand are Pleaſures for Pſa. 16. 11.ever more.
4. The Joys and Pleaſures of the World to come will be ſo ſweet, that, as Mr. Caryl ſaith, a whole Eternity will ſeem to be but as a Moment.
5. They will be Pleaſures without Pain, without a Sting: O what a Sting have ſome Men found to be in, or to attend their carnal Pleaſures! Here are Sorrows cleaving to Men as well as Joy; Pain and Miſery, as well as Delights and Pleaſure: but in the World to come there will be all Sweet, and no Bitter; all Pleaſure, and no Pain; all Joy, and no Sorrow.
6. Is God able, think you, to delight, to rejoice, and to fill the Souls of his Saints with Joy and Pleaſure? Be ſure then he will do it: God's Love is ſuch, ſo infinite, ſo inconceivable to his Children, that he will fill them with the fulleſt Joys imaginable: Will not earthly Parents make the Lives of their Children as ſweet and happy as they can? They are called Joys unſpeakable and full of Glory: All the lawful Pleaſures of this World are, Brethren, but a Figure or Shadow of them: The Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear 1 Cor. 2. 9.heard, neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for thoſe that love him. The Eye hath ſeen much, and the Ear hath heard of more than the Eye ever ſaw, and the Heart conceives of more than ever the Ear heard; but the Heart cannot conceive how ſweet the Joys of Chriſt's Kingdom will be, or comprehend how tranſcendent the Joys of Heaven are.
7. The Pleaſures of the World to come, are the Effects of God's infinite Love and Goodneſs, according to the Perfection thereof: And as none know the Power of God's Anger and Wrath in Hell, that is let out againſt ungodly Sinners that hate him; ſo none know the Power of his Infinite Love, Grace and Goodneſs, let out in Heaven to delight and raviſh the Hearts of all them that love and ſerve him.
8. The Pleaſures of the World to come never will ceaſe indeed, no ſhorter a Time than an endleſs Eternity can ſerve to let out the infinite Goodneſs of the Eternal Deity, and thoſe varieties of Joys and Delights that flow and will flow like Rivers from him: as none can imagine what the Nature of that perſonal Communion which the Saints ſhall have with Chriſt will be, ſo alſo they will be Eternal; Eternal Joys, ſaith one, are the longeſt, and yet the ſhorteſt. Longeſt in reſpect of Duration, yet the ſhorteſt in reſpect of Apprehenſion. An Eternity of Joy will ſeem to us no more tedious than one Minute or ſmall Moment, 'twis be ſo full of Joy and Pleaſure: 'tis ſuch Satisfaction that breed no weariſomneſs, it doth not …loy nor glut the Soul; we living at the Fountain-head of Joy and Comfort, in immediate Communion with Chriſt, our Delights will renew as much as continue. They are certainly blind or unthinking Perſons that do not ſee how the Deity or Holy God delights in Varieties; it may eaſily be diſcerned, by beholding the different Varieties of Creatures, Faces, Colours, or varieties of things to delight all our Senſes here in this World. O no doubt, the Joys and Varieties of the World to come, will be Wonderful, and take up a whole Eternity for God to let out; Joys will be as it were every day freſh, and renewed upon us.
From hence ſaith a beloved Writer, freſh Appetite, and fulneſs of Satisfaction, are perpetually interchangeable, the Joys are ſo many, the Years ſeem ſo few. Eternity of Joys makes Eternity but as a Moment, as eternal Pain and Torment makes every Moment ſeem an Eternity.
Theſe things being ſo, O who would not deſire an Intereſt in Chriſt! O happy, happy Believer, what a Choice haſt thou made!
Exhortation. Sinner, what ſayſt thou? come ſeek a Portion, a Part in the World to come: you are very buſy to get a Part or Portion in this preſent evil World; Alas, alas, what good can all theſe thing do you, and how long can you keep them? Come be perſwaded to ſeek this better Country; Chriſt hath redeemed us from this preſent evil World, and hath purchaſed for us another World, even this World to come; Will you ſeek it? You may have a ſhare and part in the World to come.
Queſt. You will ſay, which Way, or how may we get a part in it?
Anſw. I anſwer, You muſt marry the Prince and Heir of that How to have Intereſt in the World to come.World, and ſo you ſhall have a Portion in it, and a true Title to it; you muſt by Faith eſpouſe Jeſus Chriſt, there is no other way to have an Intereſt in the World to come. Sinners, you may gain the World to come, and ſave your Souls; but whilſt you ſeek to gain this preſent evil World, you may loſe your Souls: What will it profit a Man to gain the whole World, and loſe his own Soul? Alſo you may have an Aſſurance of the World to come: O ſtrive Mat. 16. 26.to make it your own peculiar Inheritance, take hold of the Foretop of Time. Now I may ſay Time is, hereafter it may be ſaid Time was; and then Time is paſt and loſt for ever. Remember that in this World, while you are here, the World to come in the Glory of it, will be got or loſt for ever; if you obtain Grace, you ſhall have Glory; but if you have no Grace in this World, no Glory you are like to have in the World to come.
Laſtly, Remember this World is near at an End, 'tis ready to paſs away; and the World to come in the Glory of it is juſt about to begin, it is not far off: He that teſtifieth theſe things, ſaith, Rev. 22. 20.Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even ſo come Lord Jeſus.