Sermons Volume 2, 2 Corinthians 5 · Sermon 3
SERMON III.
2 Cor. 5.1.
For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an House not made with hands, Eternal in the Heavens.
Vse 1. Is an Exhortation to press you to several Duties: As,
1. TO Believe the promised Glory.
Here I shall First shew the necessity of this. Secondly, How Faith worketh as to the other World. Thirdly, How we shall rouze up our Faith to a more firm belief of the promised Glory.
First. The necessity. We had need press this much.
(1st.) Because eternal life is one of the principal objects of Faith, and the first motive to invite us to hearken after the things of God. The Apostle telleth us, Heb. 11.6. That without Faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. He that would have any thing to do with God, must be persuaded of his Being and Bounty. In the choosing of a Religion, we first look after a right object, whom to Worship; and a fit reward, what we may expect from him. For that is the great inducement to make up the match between our hearts and that object. Now God that knoweth the heart of Man, and what wards will fit the lock, doth accordingly deal with us. He propoundeth himself, as the first cause, and highest Being to be reverenced, worshipped, and obeyed by us, so also as the chiefest good to be enjoyed by us in an everlasting state of Blessedness. All the Doctrines of the Christian Faith tend to establish this hope in us, John 20.31. These things are written, that ye might believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have eternal life in his name. All that is written in the Gospel, is to establish Faith in Christ, as the Messiah, and that in order to eternal life. The whole sum of the Christian Religion is, That God hath chosen us to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the Truth, whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Thess. 2.13, 14. All the parts of Religion harmoniously concur to establish this hope. The whole Covenant of God implyeth it. A Covenant is a transaction of God, as the Soveraign with his Subjects, and consists of Precepts and Laws, invested with the Sanction of Promises and Threatnings. His Commands all of them imply such an estate. Some express it. All imply it: For they are work propounded to us in order to wages, or a reward to be given, and 'tis not fit we should have wages before our work be over. Some express it, as John 6.27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, &c. and Mat. 6.19, 20. we are commanded not to lay up Treasures upon Earth, but in Heaven, &c.—And Luke 13.24. Strive to enter in, &c. And if there were no such estate, all these Laws were in vain; and would the wise and faithful God give us Laws in vain, his Threatnings would be but a vain Scare-crow, if there were not a world to come, his promises but flatter us with a lye. All the Doctrines concerning Christ point out such an eternal condition to us, whether they concern his Person or Estates: His coming from Heaven the place of Souls, his going thither again, or sitting down on the right hand of God, and then his coming to Judgment. Wherefore was Christ apparelled with our flesh? But that we might be cloathed with his glory; if Christ were in the Womb, why not we in Heaven? 'Tis more credible to believe a Creature in Heaven, than a God in the Grave. Therefore he came into the world to purchase a right for us, and he went to Heaven again to plead, prosecute, and apply that right, Rom. 5.10. He is gone thither with the names of the Tribes on his Breast and Shoulders, Heb. 9.12. All the benefits of Christ tend to this. Justification: Our release from the curse, that we may be capable of life, Rom. 5.18. Sanctification, to prepare, fit us for it, and to begin this life in us; for he that hath the Son, hath life, 1 John 5.12. All ordinances. The word, Isa. 55.3. Hear and your Souls shall live. The Supper, Luke 22.20. all Graces. Faith to see it, 1 Pet. 1.9. Receiving the end of your Faith, even the Salvation of your Souls. Love to desire it, hope to wait for it. The comforts of the Spirit to give us a tast of it. So that this is the great object of Faith, and to which all the rest tend.
(2dly.) The believing of this constituteth a main difference between the Animal and Spiritual life: by which the world of mankind are distinguished. The Animal life, is that which is supported by the comforts and delights of the present world, such as Lands, Honours, Pleasures, Riches, and when these are out of sight, they are at loss, and utterly dismayed. But the Spiritual and Divine life is supported by the comforts and delights of the world to come, by reflecting upon everlasting happiness; and the glory and blessedness we shall injoy there, as in the verses before the Text, in the close of the former Chapter; when we believe these things, another kind of Spirit cometh upon a man, and hath such a life and strength derived into his heart, that he can bear up with joy and courage, when the outward and Animal life is exposed to the greatest difficulties and decays, because he is a man of another world. And therefore we are said to live by Faith, because we apprehend those great and glorious things which are kept for us in Heaven, 2 Cor. 413, 14. We having the same Spirit of Faith, according as 'tis written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: We also believe, and therefore speak, knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. Oh 'tis a mighty thing to have a Spirit of Faith; in the lowest condition; such an one can hold up his head, and avouch his hopes. He can own Christ, how dear soever it cost him None are of such a Noble and Divine Spirit as they. Without it a man that wholly loveth the Animal life, is but a wiser sort of Beast. Not only the Sensualist; or the Covetous, but even the Ambitious, who aspire after Crowns and Kingdoms, and great Fame by their Gallantry and Noble Exploits, are but poor base Spirits in comparison of those, in whose Breasts the sparks of this Heavenly fire, do ever burn, and carry them out in the zealous pursuit of the world to come.
(3dly.) We need press this sound belief of the world to come; Because whatever men pretend, eternal life is little believed in the World. The most part of those men who live in the common light of Christianity, are purblind, and cannot see afar of, or look beyond the Grave. Gods own Children have too cold and doubtful thoughts of this estate, not such a lively, clear, and firm persuasion of things to come, but that it needeth to be increased more and more. The Apostle prayeth for the converted Ephesians, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom, and Revelation, in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightned; that ye may know what is the hope of his Calling, &c.— Eph. 1.17, 18. That is, more clearly see, and more firmly believe those good things which they should injoy in Heaven. Alas we are so taken up with trifles and childish toys, that our Faith is very weak about these excellent Blessings.
The evidences that 'tis little believed, are these.
1. Because we are far more swayed with the promises of small temporal advantages, than we are with the promise of eternal life. The Blessings we expect in the other world, are far more excellent, and more glorious in their nature, and certain in their duration, yet they have less influence upon us, than poor, paltry, perishing vanities. What should be the reason? I Answ. When a thing of less weight weigheth down a greater, we judge then the ballances are not equal. The Soul doubteth of things to come, but readily closeth with things present. Who would prefer a Cottage before a Palace? A Lease for an year before an Inheritance. There is no comparison between the things themselves, but we are not equally persuaded of things to come, and things in hand, and of a present injoyment. Cyprian bringeth in the Devil vaunting against Christ, Ostende tuos tales muner… rios, O Christe, &c.— I had not Heaven to bestow upon them, nor eternal happiness to propound to them, only a little carnal satisfaction in the pleasures of sin, that are but for a season: Yet among all thy Pensioners O Christ, shew me one that is so ready to follow thee, as they are to follow me. If we had Faith as Moses had, we would choose rather to suffer affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, Heb. 11.25. But alas, those that believe as Christians, live as Heathens, a little profit, and a little pleasure in the world is enough to sway with them, to run the hazard and forfeiture of all their hopes in the world to come.
2. Surely men do not believe Heaven, because they are so little affected with it. Affections follow persuation, Heb. 11.13. Being persuaded of them, embraced them. We would find more considerable stirrings of joy and thankfulness when we hear of these promises, or read of them, or think of them. If a poor man did understand of some great inheritance bequeathed to him, he would often think of it, rejoice therein, long to go and see it, and take possession of it. There is a promise of Eternal Life left with us in the Gospel, of being Heirs with God, and joint Heirs with Christ; who putteth in for a share, thinketh of it, rejoyceth in the hopes of it? Longeth for it, is earnestly stirred up to put in his claim?
3dly. Because we do so little labour after it. Negligence is the fruit of unbelief. That's evident: Because when the Holy-Ghost would cure our neglects, it doth not somuch discourse of the worthiness of our hopes as of the certainty of them, Heb. 2.3, 4. And when it would provoke us to diligence, it thinketh it is enough to say the Gospel is no Fable, 2 Pet. 1.5. & 10. with the 16. There is the Argument. For outward advantages, be they certain or uncertain, men will endure great pains. Certain. A man toileth hard all day for a small piece of money, for a shilling or so; do we seek Heaven with a like earnestness, do we serve God instantly day and night, that we may come to the Blessed hope? Certainly if we were more perswaded of it we would think all pains too little, nothing more than needeth: Nay, for uncertain gains, as Merchants, how many hazards do they run, to increase their substance by Traffique? We are not uncertain, as we pretend, why do not we more abound in the work of the Lord? Why do not we seek Heaven in the first place?
4thly. Because we are contented with so slight assurance as to our Title and Interest. In matters of weight men would be upon sure terms, and labour to bind the bargain as strong as they can by Earnest, by Covenants, by Witnesses. Do we labour to make all so sure and clear as to Heavenly things, to get the earnest of the Spirit, to have certain evidences to shew, 2 Pet. 1.10. Heb. 4.1. Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entring into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. We should put it out of all question, as not come short, so not seem to come short, or give any appearance of coming short. Alas! Any fond presumption, or slight hope serveth the turn, or we leave things at six and seven, at a meet hazard. If our belief were more strong, this could not be.
5thly. The pretended strength of our Faith about the future recompenses, doth in some measure shew the weakness of it; And that it is but a slight and overly apprehension. I demonstrate it thus. Most men will pretend, to be able to trust God for their Heavenly Inheritance, and yet cannot trust God for their daily maintenance, they find it difficult to believe in temporals, and yet very easy in Spirituals or Eternals. What should be the reason of this? Heaven, and things to come are greater mercies, and the way of bringing them about is more difficult, and they are not so commonly dispensed by God as temporals are. There lye more natural prejudices against them, when men are serious. what? Can you easily believe that you shall live though you dye? Joh. 11.26. That your scattered dust shall be recollected, and raised up into a beautiful and Glorious Body, that a clod of Earth shall shine as the Stars? What! more easily believe this than that God will give you daily bread? The whole Earth is full of his goodness, and God feedeth all his Creatures, openeth his hand and supplieth the desire of every living thing; not a worm but is sustained by his providence; he pardoneth, but a few, saveth but a few, blesseth but a few with Spiritual and Eternal Blessings; And in dispensing them God requireth qualifications. But here is the mistake, bodily wants are more pressing, and Faith about them is put to a present exercise; usually men are careless of their Souls, and content themselves with some general desires of ease, and hopes of Eternal welfare, and therefore is it they say, they find no difficulty in believing Salvation and Eternal Life. Eternal Life is sought in jest, and talked of as a plausible fancy, but worldly things are desired in good earnest. It fareth with them as with Martha. Joh. 11.24. I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Compare, verse 39. Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he hath been dead four days. It is not strange things that are afar off, and about which they have no present exercise, when yet their Faith is weak in the matter of the present tryal, though less difficult then that which they profess to believe; Martha can profess to believe the resurrection of all men, yet staggereth at his being raised presently. But 'tis but a pretence, the strength of our Faith about Eternity is not seen in health so much as in sickness, and in a sickness unto death.
6thly. Because we will venture so little upon our everlasting hopes. Where men have a great expectation, there they will make great adventures, because they know it will turn to a good account. God hath made us many great and precious promises, he hath told us, Give Alms, and ye shall have treasure in Heaven, Luke 12.33. Leave anything for his sake, and you shall have an hundred fold in this World, with Persecutions, and in the World to come eternal life, Mark 10.30. Again, Rom. 8.13. Mortify the deeds of the body, and you shall live. Now when we will not venture any thing upon Gods Bond, it is a sign we do not count him a good Pay-master: not an interest, not a lust: you make him a lyar in all his promises.
2dly. How Faith worketh as to the other World. It giveth us a sight; it giveth us a tast.
1. A sight; For it is described to be, Heb. 11.1 The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, it realizeth our hopes, and sheweth us the other world as in a glass. As the Devil shewed Christ the glory of the world as in a Map and representation: So doth Faith represent the glory of the world to come as in a Map; it giveth us a kind of Pisgah sight, or view of the promised Land. Other men have but a general guess, and tradition about Heaven, talk at the same rate other Christians do, but have not a lively affective sight of it. A Believer hath a sight of it; other an empty notion, he a real prospect. Many hang between believing and unbelieving, neither assent to the truth of the Promise, nor directly deny it. Oh, Could we by Faith lift up the Eye of the Soul, to view those everlasting Mansions! By Faith see Heaven in the promise, we should be other manner of Christians than we are; but most never thought seriously of it, to make their assent more firm and strong. Keep the Eye of Faith clear: The world is a blinding thing, 2 Cor. 4.4.
2. Faith giveth not only a sight, but a tast. It is a delightful confidence, a strong assent, and therefore they are said to tast the powers of the world to come, Heb. 6. Faith an anticipation of our Blessedness, or a prae-occupation of our everlasting estate. 'Tis such a sight as ravisheth the heart, and filleth it with joy, John 8.56. & Heb. 11.13. These all dyed in Faith, not having received the Promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them (hugged the Promises.) And 1 Pet. 1.8. In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing (that is, believing for eternal life) ye rejoyce, with Joy unspeakable, and full of Glory. To others the Promises are as dry chips, and withered flowers, Luke 6.23. Rejoyce ye in that day, and leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in Heaven.
3dly. How shall we rouze up our Faith, and more firmly believe the promised glory.
Foundation Stones can never be laid with care and exactness enough: None of us believe it so, but we may believe it again with more certainty and assurance of understanding: At least we need to revive it often, as when the Picture waxeth old, we refresh the Colours. The motives of credibility I have given you in former discourses. I shall only now mention its own intrinsick grounds, which have a more direct influence on the confidence of a Believer. A Blessed Estate is very sure to the Heirs of Promise.
1. Partly as being appointed to them from all eternity, Mat. 25.34. Come ye Blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World. A purpose so long ago thought of, and prepared with such solemnity, and designed to us in Christ, will not easily be broken off, 2 Tim. 1.9, 10. He hath saved us with an Holy Calling, according to his purpose and Grace which was given to us in Christ, before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light in the Gospel. It seemed good to God from everlasting to decree within himself concerning us, to give us eternal life by Christ Jesus, who came to free poor Creatures from Eternal death, and the wrath of God abiding on them, and to make the offer of a glorious estate to them in the world to come, as the fruit of his merit. Here was the first Stone laid towards this eternal building, even the foundation of God which standeth sure.
2. 'Tis secured to them by the promise of the faithful God, 1 John 2.25. And what needed God to promise what he would not perform? In other parts of Scripture we own Gods Authority? Why not in the Promises? The same God which gave the Commands, which you find so powerful on your Consciences, the same God gave the Promises. In all other promises God standeth to his word, and is very faithful and punctual in them: as in those which are of a present accomplishment, in ultimo non deficiet. God hath entred into Covenant with us. A Covenant supposeth both parties ingaged; it doth not leave one bound, and another at large. The Precept doth not leave us free, and the Promise maketh God a debtor. Therefore if he hath promised, he will be as good as his word.
3. The third ground which raiseth this confidence, is the raising and glorifying of Christ, who is entred into Heaven as our Fore-runner, Heb. 6.20. & 1 Pet. 1.21. God raised him, and gave him Glory and Honour, that your Faith and Hope might be in God. Heaven is possessed by our Head, and surely in our name, John 14.2. which is a sure pledge that the Members shall be glorified; if our Head be raised, he will not leave his Members under the power of Death: He hath carried our Nature into Heaven, our Flesh thither, and advanced it to the Fathers right Hand in Glory, let us follow him, and we shall get thither also. Well now, these are the grounds of Confidence, whereby we know that there is a Blessed estate reserved for us.
II. Hope for it. Next to a sound belief of such things, there must be an earnest expectation of them. For having a Promise, Hope waiteth for the accomplishment of the thing Promised, and looketh out to see it a coming. There is a twofold Hope; the one necessary to Grace; the other very profitable, but not absolutely necessary to the Life and being of a Christian. The one is the immediate effect of regeneration, 1 Pet. 1.3. The other the fruit of experience, Rom. 5.4. The one dependeth upon the promises of God, which are proposed to men, to beget in them an hope of the greatest good they can expect from God: The other dependeth upon our own qualification. The one is Antecedent to acts of Holiness, the other followeth after it, and resulteth from it.
1. An Antecedent Hope there must be, before the effect of the holy life can be produced. For since Hope is the principle of all humane endeavours, and actions, 'tis Hope that sets every Man awork in the world. The Merchant Tradeth in Hope, the Husbandman Ploweth in Hope, the Souldier fighteth in Hope; So 'tis Hope that sets the Christian awork. The Twelve Tribes serve God instantly day and night, that they may come to the Blessed Hope. Before a Man can ingage in the Spiritual life, he must have some Hope, and indeed this Hope dependeth upon the conditional offer of eternal life, according to the terms of the Gospel. This conditional offer is very comfortable to hunger bitten Sinners, who do seriously mind their own happiness. Of this Hope the Apostle speaketh, Heb. 3.6. Whose House are we, if we hold fast the Confidence, and the rejoycing of the Hope firm unto the end. This is the first tast of the pleasures of the world to come.
2. There is another Hope which cometh after much exercise in Godliness, which requireth a great Diligence, Sobriety, and Watchfulness before we can have it, 1 Pet. 1.13. and Heb. 6.11. We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of Hope unto the end. The first Hope may be accompanied with some doubts of our Salvation, or the rewards of Godliness, ex parte nostri, as it belongeth to us, not ex parte Dei, as promised by him: For this Hope apprehendeth all there as sure and stedfast, but our own qualification is not so evident. In short, the Conditional Hope is absolutely necessary in all Christians, the latter is very desirable, that we should have an assurance on our part, of the thing Hoped for, but that always cannot be. Now Hope sheweth itself both by looking and longing.
1. Looking. Hope is often described by that act, Jude 21. Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. So Tit. 2.13. Looking for the Blessed Hope: and in many other places; foreign, stretching out the Head, Rom. 8.19. as Sisera's Mother and her Ladies looked through the Lattis. We should dwell more upon the thoughts of the world to come; and live in the constant expectation of it: The vigour of the Spiritual life is abated, as this act is abated. For when our thoughts of Heaven grow cold, heartless, raw, and unfrequent, we grow remiss in our Duty.
2. Longing. Can a Man believe Blessedness to come, and not long to injoy it, have an House above, and not come at it; desiring to be at home? The Saints are groaning, longing for it, Rom. 8.23. 2 Cor. 5.2, 3, 4, 5. Mind and heart are both set awork by Hope; a Tast will make us long for more.
III. Prepare and diligently seek after it in the way of Holiness. A Christians life is a continual pursuit, or seeking after eternal happiness, Heb. 12.14. Follow peace with all men, and Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord, Col. 3.1. If ye be risen with Christ, seek the things which are above, Mat. 6.33. First, Seek, &c.— This is his work and his business. His whole life is a continual motion towards this eternal and glorious estate; every step an approach nearer, Rom. 13.11. and the nearer, the more earnest, quo propius fruimur; as natural motion is the swifter, the nearer the center. Faith, and Hope set all the wheels a going, I press onward, because of the high Prize of the Calling of God in Christ, Phil. 3.14. still getting more Grace, more fitness. We have no reason to begrudge Gods service, when we consider what Wages he giveth. We do but talk of eternal life, not believe it when we do no more in order thereunto. What Labour and hazards do men expose themselves unto for a little of the present world; and surely if men did believe the world to come, our industry, care, and thoughts should be more laid out upon it. A man that spendeth all his time and care in repairing the House he dwelleth in for the present, but speaketh not of another House, nor sendeth any of his furniture thither; will you say such a man hath a mind or thought to remove, that spendeth the strength of his Life and cares on worldly things? Surely he doth not believe a Blessed Eternity. We work as we do believe, if indeed we are perswaded of such an estate, why do we no more prepare for it.
IV. Clear up your own Interest. We know we have. And henceforth there is laid up for me, &c. 2 Tim. 4.8. There are many necessary duties, which can hardly be done without a sense of your Interest; Therefore you should not be satisfied in the want of it: As to rejoice in the Lord always, to bear the afflictions of the present Life, not only with a quiet, but with a joyful mind, which the Scripture often presseth; now who can rejoice in afflictions, who is not perswaded they work for Eternal good? They are bitter to sense, nature and grace teach us to have a feeling of our Interests, and to be affected with Gods providence, when we maketh a breach upon us. The afflictions cannot be improved, if we have not some sense of them. But now not to be broken with difficulties and Crosses, yea to rejoice in them, surely that requireth some Interest in better things. If God will whip us forward that we may mend our pace towards Heaven, the Christian seeth that he hath no cause to complain. None of these things move me, saith Holy Paul, Acts 20th 29. so I may Finish my Course with Joy. Another duty is to Love the appearing of Jesus Christ, 2 Tim. 4.8. Who can long for this appearance, but those that are assured of welcome at his coming, to whom he cometh as a Redeemer, and not as a Judge. They say, even so, come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Another duty is to desire to be dissolved, to get above the fears of death. How can they desire to be dissolved who have not made sure of another place to go to? Well then, you must give all diligence to clear up your own Interest.
V. Improve it to the vanquishing of Temptations.
1. Those which arise from the delights of sense, or the pleasures, honours and profits of the world. The proper notion of a Christian is that of a stranger and pilgrim, and the duty of strangers and pilgrims is to abstain from fleshly lusts, 1 Pet. 2.11. And the force and strength of it ariseth from our confidence in the promises, Heb. 11.13. The great use of Faith is to teach us to reject those …orbid and bewitching pleasures, which would withdraw us from looking after those pleasures which are at Gods right hand for evermore; Those deceitful riches which would beguile us of the better, and enduring substance, those slippery and vanishing Honours, which would bereave us of the Glory, from whence we shall never be degraded: To beget, an holy weanedness and moderation in us to all these things.
Vse. 2. 2dly. To comfort and support us under all the afflictions and sorrows of the present Life, of what nature soever they be. 1. Against all fears, Luk. 12.32. We must look for hardships here in the world, but all will be made up when we get home to God; therefore bear up with a generous confidence. 2dly. When pained in sickness, and full of the restless weariness of the flesh; Consider— I shall shortly be in Heaven, and there Everlastingly at ease, Psal. 73.26. My flesh, and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my Heart, and my portion for ever. 3dly. Against Imprisonment, when shut up in a streight, nasty Room— Oh! What a comfort is it to consider, I shall be with Christ; In my Fathers House, are many Mansions, Joh. 14.2. 4thly▪ against loss of fading Riches, Heb. 10.34. That took joyfully, the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better, and an enduring substance. My solid estate lyeth elsewhere, out of the reach of Thieves and Flames. 5thly. Against loss of Love and respect from men. If we shall Everlastingly injoy the Love of God, nothing should trouble us, Rom. 8.37, 38. Nay at length we shall meet all the Holy ones of God, Heb. 11.13. and shall all join in comfort there. There is no pride or envy to divide us, or to make us contemn one another, but Love and Charity reigneth so, that the good of every one is the good of all, and the good of all the good of every one. They all make up one Body, and have one heart, and one Soul, and one God, who is all in all. 6thly. Against Persecution, Matth. 5.11, 12. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you …lsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding Glad, for great is your reward in Heaven: For so persecuted they the Prophets, which were before you. And 1 Thes. 1.6.7— Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy-Ghost. 7thly. Against exile. When cast out of Cities, Towns, driven from House, and home consider we shall abide with Christ for ever. 8thly. Against Death of friends 1. Thes. 4.14. to the 18. He concludeth, Wherefore comfort one another with these words. They are not genuine comforts of Christianity which are not fetched from the world to come. 9thly. Against sin. 'Tis our trouble here, it must be mortified. There it will be nullified; Our Inheritance is incorruptible, and undefiled, and fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 1.4. Our carnality will be for ever gone, our Temptations will be over. There is no Serpent in the upper Paradice. 10thly. Against spiritual wants. There all desires will be accomplished, our expectations fully satisfied, and the Soul filled up with all the fulness of God. And Lastly, Against Death, which is the last enemy. This Christ hath conquered, and will conquer for you, 1 Cor. 15.56, 57. The sting of Death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law: But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Death is yours, 1 Cor. 3.22. All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours; And ye are Christs, and Christ is Gods.