Twenty Sermons, Sermon 8
The perſevering Saint, ſhall be the Crowned Saint.
REV. III. 11.
Behold, I come quickly; hold that faſt which thou haſt, that no man take thy Crown.
THE ſeven famous Churches of Aſia, mentioned in the three firſt Chapters of this Book of Revelations, had this honour put upon them, to have ſeven Epiſtles ſent unto them immediately from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf; and as they were the glory of the World, while they ſtood faſt to God and to his Truth, ſo were they after their declining from God and his Truth, made the Monuments of his anger and indignation. The words I have now read unto you, are part of the ſixth Epiſtle, written from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to the Church of Philadelphia; wherein, as he was a faithful Witneſs, and one that knew their ſpiritual Eſtate better than they knew it themſelves: therefore he ſets down in his Epiſtle ſomething by way of
Commendation,
Conſolation,
Exhortation.
Something is ſet down here by way of Commendation, in ver. 8, I know thy works, behold, I have ſet before thee an open door, and no man can ſhut it; By open door may be meant, either a free and full liberty and opportunity of ſpreading the Goſpel, as the Apoſtle uſes that phraſe, 1 Cor. 16.9, For a great door and effectual is opened to me, and there are many adverſaries; or elſe by open door may be meant a door of Hope, in reference to Eternity; that door of Heaven that ſin had ſhut againſt us, is by the merit of Jeſus Chriſt opened to us: Oh, bleſſed are they that have this door opened to them by Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Door, the Way, the Truth, and the Life; but ſays he, Thou haſt a little ſtrength, and haſt kept my word, and haſt not denied my name. This is by way of Commendation; though ſhe had but a little ſtrength, yet becauſe ſhe improved it, and did not deny the name of Chriſt, was not an Apoſtate Church, this our Saviour puts upon her account of Commendation.
2. Here is ſomething alſo by way of Conſolation, in ver. 9.10, Behold, I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan, which ſay they are Jews and are not; (that is, I will diſcover their Hypocriſie, I will make them known to be what they are, and reveal to whom they do belong) I will make them to come and worſhip before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee; that is, I will ſubdue thy Enemies under thy feet, and let them know that I have loved thee; and in ver. 10, Becauſe thou haſt kept the word of my patience, I alſo will keep thee from the hour of temptation which ſhall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth: Here is marvellous comfort; Jeſus Chriſt never brings his Children into a Wilderneſs, but he goes with them: when they go through the fire, and through the water, he will be with them: I will keep thee, and I will uphold thee, ſays he.
Then in the third place, Here is ſomething by way of Exhortation in the words of the Text: Behold, I come quickly, hold that faſt which thou haſt, that no man take thy Crown: In which words there are two things conſiderable:
1. A Duty preſſed.
2. Motives expreſſed.
The Duty preſſed, is Conſtancy and Perſeverance, Hold faſt that which thou haſt. The Motives expreſſed are two: the one is drawn from the ſuddenneſs of Chriſts coming to Judgment, Behold I come quickly; the other is taken from the danger of loſing their Crown ſet before them, That no man take thy Crown.
1. For the Duty preſſed, Hold faſt that thou haſt; keep it with might and main, uſe thy utmoſt endeavour to keep what thou haſt: What was that this Church had which Chriſt exhorts to hold faſt? It had both the profeſſion and poſſeſſion of true Religion: Now this true Religion conſiſted in two things, in purity of Doctrine, and in holineſs of Life and Converſation; both theſe this Church had: ſhe had purity of Doctrine, as I ſhewed you out of ver. 8, Thou haſt kept my Word, and haſt not denied my Name; thou haſt kept my Word. Then for holineſs of Converſation; ſhe had not denied Chriſts Name in the midſt of Perſecution, Thou haſt kept theword of my patience; Now ſays our Saviour, that which thou haſt, that true Religion thou profeſeſt, maintain and keep, & hold faſt againſt all oppoſition, both in profeſſion and practice; hold faſt the truth thou haſt embraced, and hold faſt the grace that thou haſt received: So then the Doctrine I ſhall commend to you hence, is this:
Doct. That Chriſtians muſt hold faſt, both the Truth and the grace they have received, with Conſtancy and Perſeverance.
There are two branches in this Doctrine, which we might make two Propoſitions:
The firſt this, That Chriſtians muſt hold faſt the truths they have received, with Conſtancy and Perſeverance.
The ſecond this: That Chriſtians muſt hold faſt the grace they have received, with Conſtancy and Perſeverance.
I begin with the firſt, That Chriſtians muſt hold faſt the truths they have received, with Conſtancy and Perſeverance. For the proof of this, conſider that place, 2 Tim. 1.13, Hold faſt the form of ſound words which thou haſt heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jeſus; the word is foreign, that Model, or that Plat-form of Goſpel-Truths, thoſe fundamental Truths which the Apoſtle had wrapt up in a bundle to be received and embraced; ſo Tit. 1.9, Holding faſt the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by ſound Doctrine, both to exhort and convince gainſayers: holding faſt the faithful word; as Adverſaſaries pluck one way, ſo do you pluck another way, ſtriving earneſtly for the faith of the Goſpel. So Heb. 10.23, Let us hold faſt the profeſſion of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promiſed: Prov. 4.13, Take faſt hold of inſtruction, let her not go: keep her, for ſhe is thy life. Prov. 23.23, Buy the truth, and ſell it not; buy it at any rate, ſell it at no rate: thus you ſee this Duty commanded; ſee it commended in one Example moſt remarkable and imitable, becauſe it was in the pureſt times, the Primitive-time of the Church, Acts 2.42, And they continued stedfaſtly in the Apoſtles doctrine and fellowſhip, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
For the better explication of this Point, it may be demanded.
1. How muſt Chriſtians hold faſt the truth they have received?
2. Why muſt Chriſtians hold faſt the truth they have received?
1. How muſt Chriſtians hold faſt the truth they ave received?
I anſwer: They muſt hold it faſt theſe three ways:
In their
Memories,
Affections,
Practice and Converſations.
1. They muſt hold faſt the truth in their Memories, Heb. 2.1, Therefore we ought to give the more earneſt heed to the things which we have heard, leſt at any time we ſhould let them ſlip: We ſhould learn of the bleſſed Virgin Mary, of whom it is ſaid, That ſhe kept all theſe things, and pondered them in her heart, Luke 2.19. It is not the great getter, but the great ſaver that becomes the rich man; it is not the hearing, but the keeping of Truths that will make us ſpiritually Rich.
2. We muſt hold faſt the truth in our Affections, we muſt cleave to the truth in love and liking; thus did David, Pſal. 119.31, I have ſtuck unto thy teſtimonies, O Lord, put me not to ſhame; and in ver. 20, My ſoul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy Judgments at all time; O how love I thy Law! it is my meditation all the day, Ver. 97, and ver. 167 of the ſame Pſalm: My ſoul hath kept thy teſtimonies, and I love them exceedingly. On the contrary, when men have not a ſincere love to the Truth, they loſe both the Truth and their own Souls too, 2 Theſſ. 2.10, 11, Becauſe they received not the love of the truth, that they might be ſaved; and for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions that they ſhould believe a lye, that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs. This is the caſe of many Papiſts and Atheiſts at this day: they are drawn away to believe lyes, lying miracles, lying doctrines; when God ſees men careleſs and remiſs in their love to the Truth, he ſays to ſuch careleſs wretches, Take him Jeſuit, take him Satan; bind him and blind him, and lead him to deſtruction. Hence are all thoſe frequent Exhortations which are fcattered up and down in the Scripture, to love Wiſdom, Underſtanding and Inſtruction, Prov. 3.3, My ſon, forget not my Law, but let thine heart keep my Commandments; let not mercy and truth forſake thee, bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart. Prov. 4.6, Forſake not wiſdom, and ſhe ſhall preſerve thee; love her, and ſhe ſhall keep thee. Prov. 7.4, Say unto Wiſdom thou art my ſiſter, and call Ʋnderſtanding thy kinſwoman. What a man loves, that he will keep carefully: if he loves a Jewel he will be careful to preſerve it; if he loves a Picture, he will be careful not to deface it; a man will part with that laſt, which he loves beſt.
3. Hold faſt the Truth, not only in Memory and Affection, but likewiſe hold faſt the truth in Practice and Converſation; you ſhould yield conſcionable ſubjection to every known Truth, without holding any one part of the Truth in unrighteouſneſs: the more a man practiſeth what he knows, the more he ſhall know what to practice, John 7.17, If any man will do his Will, he ſhall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I ſpeak of my ſelf. True knowledg is the mother of Obedience, but obedience is thenurſe of Knowledg: when a Scholar hath taken out one Leſſon well, it is an encouragement to a Maſter to teach him another; certainly if we would practice more, we ſhould know more: The ſecrets of the Lord are with them that fear him, and he will ſhew them his Covenant, Pſal. 25.14. Look as the Widows oyl by laying it out was encreaſed, ſo knowledg laid out in practice is put forth to advantage; therefore put forth every known truth into practice: This is the way to hold faſt the Truth you have received.
The ſecond Quaery by way of Explication is this; But why muſt Chriſtians hold faſt the truth they have received, with Conſtaney and Perſeverance?
The Reaſons are theſe:
Firſt, Becauſe the Truth hath many Enemies to oppoſe it, corrupt it, gainſay it, malign it, deface it, and diſgrace it; though Truth cannot be aſhamed, yet it is many times blamed; Jeſus Chriſt himſelf had not more Enemies upon Earth, than his Truth hath at this day; yea, our bleſſed Saviour had the more Enemies, becauſe he did bear witneſs to the Truth: John 8.40, But now you ſeek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God; this did not Abraham. That was the great quarrel they had againſt our Saviour, becauſe he told them the truth. Now as Jeſus Chriſt, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, was oppoſed, ſo will his Truth be oppoſed to the end of the World.
Firſt, The Devil is a grand Enemy to the Truth; that Prince of darkneſs would not willingly have one Lamp of the Sanctuary unblown out: the moſt of his rage is againſt the faithful Miniſters of the Goſpel, who hold forth the word of Truth to Gods people.
Secondly, Ignorant, Unbelieving, Atheiſtical wretches, that count Preaching fooliſhneſs, that will be ready to undervalue it.
Thirdly, Subtile and undermining Prieſts and Jeſuits: thoſe Frogs out of the bottomleſs pit, they will endeavour to corrupt it.
Fourthly. Scandalous Proteſtants, which bring not forth fruit, theſe will caſt an aſperſion and ſcandal upon the Truth; therefore becauſe of theſe Enemies, Chriſtians ſhould hold forth the truth they have received; That's the firſt Reaſon.
Secondly, The ſecond reaſon is this: Truth is worth the holding faſt, becauſe we have many bleſſed priviledges by it, as for Example:
1. The truth of the Goſpel is our Cap of Maintenance; it is the Charter of our Priviledges, it is the evidence of our everlaſting Inheritance: Thy Teſtimonies have I claimed for my heritage, ſaith David; And will you not keep your evidences for a good Inheritance?
2. Here is another Priviledg: If you will keep the Truth, you may be ſure the Truth will keep you; as we ſay of a Tradeſman, If he will keep his Shop, his Shop will keep him. The truth will be your Shield and Buckler, if you keep it, to defend you againſt all gainſayers, Pſal. 91.4, He ſhall cover her with his feathers, and under his wings ſhalt thou truſt, his truth ſhall be thy Shield and Buckler; hold faſt the Faith, and that will hold you up; the Apoſtle bids us in one place, to ſtand faſt in the faith, Rom. 11.20, and in another place, by faith we ſtand, 2 Cor. 1.24. From both thoſe places together, you may gather thus much: when we ſtand in it, then we ſtand by it: when we ſtand faſt in the Faith, then we ſhall be ſure to be eſtabliſhed by the Faith againſt all oppoſitions.
Thirdly, The holding faſt the Truth, will yield and afford you the ſweeteſt joy and comfort upon your Death-beds: What was that made Saint Paul rejoyce at death? 2 Tim. 4.7, I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith; He had not let go his hold; this was the ground of his joy and hope, when he was ready to be offered, and his departure was at hand.
Fourthly, The truth of the Goſpel is a Teſtament ſealed with the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, wherein ſo many precious, rich, and royal Legacies are bequeathed unto us, by the Teſtator our bleſſed Mediator, our deareſt Friend, that hath redeemed us with his own precious blood. Now, ſhall we not look after the proving of the Will of this bleſſed Teſtator? So much for the Explication.
Now for the Application of this Point; And the firſt Uſe is by way of Reproof; does not this Doctrine juſtly and ſharply reprove the unconſtancy and unſetledneſs of many Profeſſors at this day? Doth it not meet them as the Angel did Balaam, with a drawn Sword of a ſharp reproof? O that this Reproof might take hold on thoſe that are concerned this day; you know we read that Paſſage this day, What went ye out into the wilderneſs to ſee? a reed ſhaken with the wind? No, John Baptiſt was not a Reed, but a Rock; But alas, look upon Profeſſors at this day, and we have more Reeds than Rocks, we have more falling than fixed Stars: More Children that are carried about with every wind of Doctrine (Epheſ. 4.14.) than men ſetled, rooted, and ſtabliſhed in the preſent truth, that are conſtant in nothing but unconſtancy: are there not ſome that can be content to part with Religion, and let Truth go, and Goſpel-priviledges go, and all go, ſo they may but enjoy their Trades and Profeſſions, their places and preferments: (though I hope better things of many of you that hear me this day): will not the Lord, think you, ſharply rebuke ſuch in his anger? will he not ſpeak to them in his hot diſpleaſure? What, have I given you the Goſpel, ſuch precious Truths, and do you ſlight them! do you trample them under feet! do you prefer the puddles of Popery, before theſe wholſom ſtreams and clear fountain of Truth? Well, if the Goſpel be a burthen to you, I will eaſe you of your burthen; and how doleful would this be, if God ſhould ſay, the priviledges you are weary of, ſhall be taken from you, you ſhall be eaſed of them!
Ʋſe 2. Therefore give me leave in the Name of Chriſt, and in the cauſe of the Goſpel, to beſeech you to hold faſt that which you have received: hold faſt the Truth againſt Errour, hold faſt the truth of the Proteſtant Religion againſt Popery, and Popiſh Innovations and Superſtitions: this I forewarn you of, the rather upon this account, becauſe there are ſome among us which are well conceited of that curſed Religion, becauſe they never have ſmarted under the Antichriſtian tyranny, as our forefathers have done: they have forgotten the blood of our Martyrs that was ſhed in Queen Maries days: Nay, that blood that was ſpilt in Ireland but twenty one years ago; therefore that you may be fenced againſt the flatteries and inſinuations of Popiſh Doctrine, take notice that Popiſh Religion is an Idolatrous Religion; they are guilty of as groſs Idolatry as every was practiſed among the Heathens: for,
1. They worſhip the Saints with a religious worſhip, which is proper to God only; they pray to Saints departed, which is a diſhonour to God the Father, and Jeſus Chriſt the only Mediator between God and man: They pray to the Virgin Mary, and make her their Redeemer, by praying to her, ſaying, Save us, O Savioureſs, and redeem us, and in the hour of death receive us. This is a great diſhonour to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; What can be greater Idolatry than this, to attribute that to a creature, which is proper only to the Creator?
2. They ſet up Images to be worſhipped contrary to the ſecond Commandment, which ſays, Thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelf any graven image, nor how down to it, nor worſhip it, &c. But they will object and ſay, They do not worſhip the Image, but God in the Image. I anſwer, Neither did the children of Iſrael worſhip the golden Calf, but they thought they worſhipped God, in or under the Image of the golden Calf, Exod. 32.4, yet it was groſs Idolatry, as appears, 1 Cor. 10.7, Neither be ye idolaters as were ſome of them; as it is written, the people ſate down to eat and to drink and roſe up to play.
3. Their Idolatry exceeds the Idolatry of the Heathen, in that they worſhip a piece of Bread, or the bread Tranſubſtantiated (as they call it) into the body of Chriſt. Now, if the body of Chriſt be in Heaven, as we are ſure it is, as appears by that of the Apoſtle, Acts 3.21, Whom the heaven muſt receive until the time of reſtitution of all things, which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets ſince the world began; The Apoſtle ſays, the heaven muſt receive him until the time of the reſtitution of all things, that is, until the day of Judgment: It Chriſts body be in Heaven, then certainly they worſhip not the body of Chriſt, but a piece of Bread; and what more abominable Idolatry than this? One of their own Religion, Coſterus, confeſſes, It is more tolerable to worſhip a Dog, or a Cat, or a Crocodile, than to worſhip a piece of Bread: This their Idolatry is a great ſtumbling-block both to the Jews and Heathens: Therefore Averroes, a great Philoſopher, being asked why he would not be a Chriſtian? becauſe, ſays he, The Chriſtians eat the God they worſhip; therefore, ſays he, Let my Soul be among the Philoſophers.
Again, As they are Idolaters in their worſhip, ſo they are erroneous in their Doctrines; witneſs their doctrine of Juſtification, denying the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and truſting to their own righteouſneſs: witneſs their doctrine of Merits by Works, yea, their doing works of ſupererogation: witneſs their Popiſh pardons, and Purgatory-ſatiſfaction, as if the ſatisfaction of Jeſus Chriſt were imperfect: witneſs their robbing of Jeſus Chriſt of all his Offices, both as King, Prieſt, and Prophet, as might eaſily be proved. In brief, the Popiſh Religion is a looſe and licentious Religion, a Sintolerating Religion; for the Pope can diſpence with murthering of Princes, and the like, if it will promote his intereſt; forbidding Prieſts marriage, and yet ſuffering at the ſame time Stews and Brothel-houſes. It was a ſaying of Sir Walter Raleigh, Were I to chuſe a Religion for liberty and wickedneſs, I would chuſe the Popiſh Religion; therefore in Gods fear, hold faſt the truth againſt Popery: And hold it faſt likewiſe againſt the errour of Arminianiſm, which advances mans free-Will above Gods free-Grace: And hold faſt the Truth againſt Socinians, that deny the Divinity of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. In brief, be rooted, ſetled and eſtabliſhed in the preſent truth; ſtick cloſe unto the Word of God, as David did: ſtand for it, plead for it; chuſe to loſe Liberty, Eſtates, Comforts, Life and all, rather than to part with the Truth. David made the Truth his Inheritance: Now as Naboth ſaid to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I ſhould give the Inheritance of my Fathers unto thee, 1 Kings 21.3. Could he ſay ſo of a temporal Inheritance, and ſhall not we ſay ſo of a ſpiritual Inheritance, which is tranſmitted to us by the blood of Martyrs? Shall the Miniſters of the Goſpel have cauſe to complain, as in Jer. 9.3, And they bend their tongue like their bow for lyes: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth? Shall we deal with the truth as the Prieſt and Levite did with the man that went down from Jeruſalem to Jericho, and fell among Thieves, left him wounded, and half dead, nay, dying in the ſtreets? Hath God ſaid, Buy the truth, and ſell it not, Prov 23, and ſhall we ſell it for our luſts and profits? God forbid. Conſider who it was that abode not in the truth: it was Satan, a Lyar, who hath no truth in him, John 8.44. Even ſo all wicked men are ſaid to be deſtitute of the truth, and to hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs, Rom. 1.18: that is, they ſtrive againſt the light of truth in their hearts: thoſe common principles of truth which they had in their underſtandings, they ſuppreſſed and choaked, that ſo they might ſin more freely; but God forbid that we ſhould do ſo. Will not this make the Spirit of truth to forſake us, when we forſake the truth? What an heroical reſolution was that in holy Paul, 2 Cor. 13.8, For we can do nothing againſt the truth, but for the truth? Oh what an honour is it to a Chriſtian, when truth hath ſuch ſoveraignty in his heart, that it is dearer to him than his own life! Tit. 1.9, Holding faſt the faithful Word: Hold forth the word of Life, and hold faſt the word of Truth: hold forth the word of Life by a true profeſſion and converſation, and hold faſt the word of truth by courage, conſtancy and reſolution.
1. But may be you will ask me, What means may we uſe thus to hold faſt the truth?
I anſwer briefly:
1. Embrace the truth, not only in the light of it, but in the love of it; what you love, you will be ſure not to part with: Oh, get your hearts fired with love to the truths of the Goſpel, that you may ſay, Lord, I love thy truth exceedingly!
2. Love not the truth for the perſon's ſake, but love the perſon for the truths ſake; love no mans parts or perſon to admire him, and be a folower of him farther than he follows Chriſt, Be ye followers of me, even as I alſo am of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 11.1, ſaith the Apoſtle. It was a great fault in Barnabas, Gal. 2.13, that he was carried away by Peters diſſimulation; by his admiring Peters perſon ſo much; by his reſting and relying too much upon Peter, he fell into Peters errour.
3. Be ever jealous of your own ſtrength, and truſt not too much to your own ability; this will provoke God to leave you to your ſelves, and then you will fall fearfully, 2 Cor. 12.10, For when I am weak, then am I ſtrong; when I am weakeſt in my ſelf, then am I ſtrongeſt in a Saviour; but when I am ſtrongeſt in my ſelf, in my own opinion, then am I weakeſt in a Saviour; no man ſtands by his own ſtrength, for by humane ſtrength can none prevail.
4. And laſtly, Get your hearts eſtabliſhed with grace, Heb. 13.9, It is a good thing that the heart be eſtabliſhed with grace; be ballaſted with grace, as the word foreign ſignifies: A Ship that is well balaſted, is not ſo ready and apt to reel, as one that is not; and when the Apoſtle puts in a caveat againſt unſetledneſs and falling from grace, what means does he preſcribe? 2 Pet. 3.17, 18, Ye therefore, beloved, ſeeing ye know theſe things before, beware leſt ye alſo being led away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſs; but grow in grace, and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, ſays he: O that you and I could grow more in grace; O that we could grow more in the practical part of Religion, in our hearts and houſes, in our lives and converſations: I beſeech you therefore, hearken to this firſt Exhortation and Duty here preſt upon you, namely, to hold faſt the truth you have received: hold it faſt in your memories, in your affections, and in your converſations: ſo much for the firſt branch of the doctrine, That Chriſtians muſt hold faſt the truth they have received, with constancy and perſeverance.
I come now to the ſecond Propoſition, or ſecond branch of the Doctrine, that is this, Chriſtians muſt hold faſt that Grace that they have received, with conſtancy and perſeverance.
For the proof of this, the Scripture is abundantly plain and pregnant: in Pſal. 119.23, Teach me the way of thy Statutes, O Lord, and I will keep it to the end. Matth. 24.13, He that endures to the end, he ſhall be ſaved; it is not ſetting our feet in the way of Chriſtianity, but it is a continuance in that courſe that will bring you to the end of your hopes, the ſalvation of your ſouls: So in Heb. 3.14, We are made partakers of Chriſt (ſaith the Apoſtle) if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: this will be an evidence that we are partakers of Chriſt indeed, if we perſevere and continue in the grace we have received, to the end of our days: ſo we are commanded to ſerve the Lord, not ſome few days, but all the days of our lives: Luke 1.75, He that puts his hands to the Plow, and looks back (ſaith our Saviour) is not fit for the kingdom of God, Luke 9. ult. and in John 8.31, If you continue in my words, then are you my diſciples indeed; without this perſeverance, we are but nominal, not real Diſciples. But if you ask me, Why muſt Chriſtians continue in grace, and hold faſt the grace they have received? Hear but ſome Scripture Arguments, ſtrongly pleading for this truth.
Firſt, Unleſs Chriſtians hold faſt the grace and holineſs they have received, they loſe all they have, and all they hope for: All they have, viz. Their preſent endeavours; and all they hope for, their future Reward.
1. They lofe all they have: all their praying, reading, hearing, and communicating, and humbling themſelves before God; all this will be loſt if they do not perſevere; does not God himſelf ſay ſo; Ezek. 18.24, When the righteous turneth away from his righteouſneſs, (he does not ſpeak there of one truly and really righteous in a ſtate of grace, one that is ſavingly righteous) when he turns away from his righteouſneſs, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth, ſhall he live? all the righteouſneſs that he hath done ſhall not be mentioned: in his treſpaſs that he hath treſpaſſed, and in his ſin that he hath ſinned, in them ſhall he die. So that a man loſeth all he hath done in the buſineſs of Religion. Saith Hierom, We muſt be judged, not by our paſt, but by our preſent condition. As the Tree falls, ſo it lyes: as death leaves us, ſo ſhall judgment find us.
2. He loſeth all he hopes for too, for the Crown is promiſed to none but to thoſe that do hold out: Be thou faithful to the death, and thou ſhalt receive a Crown of life, Rev. 2.10. Chriſtianity is compared to a Race: Let us run the race that is ſet before us, Heb. 12.1. Now as in a Race, it is not enough for a man to begin well, but he muſt hold out, elſe he loſeth the Gole; ſo is it in the Race of Chriſtianity; therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, ſo run that you may obtain; not only run, but ſo run, that you may not loſe the Gole, 1 Cor. 9.24.
2. Such as Chriſts love is to us, ſuch muſt our love to Chriſt be. Chriſts love to us is a conſtant and unchangeable love: whom he loves, he loves to the end, John 13.1. The Lord Chriſt is not only the beginner, but the finiſher of our faith, Heb. 12.2. He did not leave the work of our Redemption imperfect, but he held out until he came to conſummatum eſt, till he cryed out upon the Croſs, it is finiſhed.
Reaſon Third, may be this: Chriſtians muſt hold faſt the grace they have received, becauſe Apoſtatizing and turning our backs upon God is a moſt dangerous, damnable, ſoul-deſtroying ſin.
1. It is dangerous in the Original of it: it ſprings from four bitter roots.
1. It ſprings from Infidenlity, or Unbelief: take heed, ſaith the Apoſtle, leſt there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelieſ, in departing from the living God, Heb. 3.12. Unbelief is a damnable ſin, where it is not bemoaned, bewailed, and ſtriven againſt; but reigning unbelief is a damnable ſin; ſo ſaith our Saviour, Mark 16. ult. He that believes not, ſhall be damned: And he that believes not, the wrath of God abides upon him for ever, John 3. ult. Now this Infidelity makes the ſoul depart from God, and it makes God depart from the ſoul; It was a great obſervation of an eminent Divine, now with God; Look as the firſt return of the ſoul to God is by Faith, (for Faith ſets the Soul in joint, it brings Chriſt and the Soul together) ſo the firſt departing of the Soul from God is by unbelief; for from thence comes a departing to other ſins; and this departing to other ſins, encreaſeth our unbelief; and unbelief being encreaſed, the rent or breach between God and the Soul is made wider and wider, till at laſt the Soul comes to a total departing from God, and then God totally departs from the Soul; and ſays, Depart from me thou curſed wretch, I know thee not. Now this ſame Apoſtacy it ſprings from Unbelief.
2. This Apoſtacy ſprings from Hypocriſie; for uſually Hypocriſie ends in Apoſtacy, as I have told you often: Judas the Hypocrite, proved Judas the Apoſtate; Amaziah did that that was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart, 2 Chr. 25.2. therefore Amaziah the Hypocrite, proved Amaziah the Apoſtate. In Pſal. 78.37, it is ſaid there, Their hearts were not upright, neither remained they ſtedfaſt in his Covenant. Why were they not ſtedfaſt? why did not they keep conſtant to the ways of God, to the Vows and Covenants made with God? their hearts were not upright; where grace is ſincere, it will be laſting; but that which is counterfeit will be loſt; whatever is counterfeit, is fading.
3. It ſprings from Pride and Preſumption: when men think they have grace enough, and holineſs enough, and have gone far enough in the way to Heaven, this is the root of Apoſtacy; there is a gradual as well as a total Apoſtacy; the Saints and Servants of God may be guilty of gradual Apoſtacy; ſo Peter was, though not of total Apoſtacy; it was Peters preſumption that was one principal cauſe of his fall; lofty Cedars are thrown down with a Tempeſt, when the lower Trees in the Valley ſtand firm and faſt: So likewiſe lofty Chriſtians, high in their own conceits, many times neſtle themſelves on high, and their fall is great: whereas Chriſtians that walk humbly, are ſupported and preſerved. Look as a man that gazeth at the Stars, looks up on high, quickly catches a fall, becauſe he looks not to his feet: So a man that is highly conceited in his own opinion, lifts up his head on high, many times catches a feaful fall; it is juſt with God to leave ſuch men to try them. Hezekiah, though a very gracious King, yet when his heart was liſted up with Pride, 2 Chron. 32.25, the Text ſaith, God left him to himſelf, to try what was in his heart, in ver. 31. That Solomon ſpeaks of falling into miſery, is as true of falling and declining in grace, Prov. 16.18, Pride goes before deſtruction, and a haughty Spirit before a fall.
4. Apoſtacy ſprings from Covetouſneſs and worldlineſs; look as the ſeed in the thorny ground, it brought nothing to perfection, becauſe it was choaked with the cares, riches and pleaſures of this world, as you may read in the Parable of the Sower, Luke 8.14. So it is here, where the heart is ſtuft with covetouſneſs, and the cares of this life, that is uſually a forerunner of a fearful fall; Demas hath forſaken me, having embraced this preſent world; what was the ground of his Apoſtacy, but his worldlineſs and ſelfiſhneſs? ſo that Apoſtacy is dangerous in the Original of it.
Secondly, It is damnable in the effects of it; for,
1. This puts Jeſus Chriſt to open ſhame; in Heb. 6.6. Apoſtates crucifie Chriſt afreſh, and put him to open ſhame; for by falling away from him, we do as much as tell the world, we have found his ſervice that it was an unprofitable ſervice; the ſervice of the world is better than his ſervice, and that we have not found in Chriſt what we expected: when we turn our backs on Chriſt and go to the world, we do as much as openly proclaim, the world is a better Maſter than Chriſt is. When Soldiers forſake their General, it is a diſhonour to him.
2. Then it is damnable in the effects of it, becauſe it puts Religion to open ſhame: it makes the Name of God to be blaſphemed, Rom. 2.24. It is a ſcandal to the weak: it ſtaves men off from the profeſſion of Religion, and it opens the mouth of Adverſaries to ſpeak evil of the ways of God; thus it is damnable in the effects.
Thirdly, It is deſtructive in the end and iſſue of it: for,
Firſt, God will reckon Apoſtates amongſt Reprobates; God will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, thoſe that turn aſide to their crooked ways, Pſal. 125. ult. Lead them forth, that is, put them in the ſame condition with the moſt profligate and ſcandalous ſinner that is.
2. Their latter end ſhall be worſe than their beginning, as our Saviour ſhews in the Parable, Mat. 12.43, When the unclean ſpirit is gone out of a man, and returns again, he brings ſeven Devils more, and the end of that man is worſe than his beginning: The Apoſtle tells us, in 2 Pet. 2, and the two laſt Verſes, It had been better men had never known the way of holineſs, than having known it, to turn aſide from the holy commandment: it fares with them according to the Proverb, the Dog is turned to his vomit again, and the Sow that was waſhed, to her wallowing in the mire.
Before I come to make Application of this truth, there is one doubt to be reſolved.
You ſay, Chriſtians muſt hold faſt the grace they have received: Why, may ſome ſay, Can a man that hath received ſaving grace, loſe that grace he hath received?
To this I anſwer, No: He cannot loſe ſaving-grace totally or finally; this is Mary's part, which cannot be taken away: Mary hath choſe that good part which cannot be taken away, Luke 10.42, The Apoſtle ſaith, he that is born of God, ſins not, cannot ſin to death, becauſe the ſeed of God, as a principle of ſpiritual life, abideth in him, 1 John 3.9. therefore he cannot ſin unto death; the righteous are ſaid to be built on an everlaſting foundation, Prov. 10.25: that is, he abides unmovable in grace, till grace be turned into glory: and the reaſon of this is, ſaving-grace beſtowed upon the Elect, is built on four immutable and unmovable Pillars.
1. The love that God bares to his people, it is an everlaſting love, Jer. 31.3, I have loved thee with an everlaſting love; we are very fickle and unconſtant in our love to God: but God is not fickle or unconſtant in his love to us.
2. The Covenant of grace is a ſtedfaſt Covenant, ſo ſaith David in the laſt words of that ſweet Singer of Iſrael, when he was to leave the world, He hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, ſure and ſtedfaſt, and ordered in all things, 2 Sam. 23.5. It is a Covenant ſealed with the blood of Chriſt, therefore it is called the blood of the everlaſting Covenant, Heb. 13.20. this everlaſting Covenant cannot be broken: True indeed, ſin may break the peace of the Covenant, but it cannot break the bond of the Covenant of Grace; it may break the peace of the Covenant, Pſal. 89.31, If thy children break my ſtatutes, and keep not my commandments, then will I viſit their tranſgreſſions with a red, and their iniquities with ſtripes: but I will not ſuffer my faithfulneſs to fail, my covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth.
3. The third Pillar is this, the Power of God, which is irreſiſtible and unconquerable: on this Pillar our bleſſed Saviour builds the ſalvation of his Elect, John 10.29, My father that gave me theſe ſheep, is greater than all, and none can take them out of my fathers hand: and on this Pillar St. Paul built his hope of Salvation; He is able to keep that I have committed to him: he is able to keep my depoſitum, 2 Tim. 1.12.
4. The fourth Pillar is the Interceſſion of Chriſt: and his interceſſion is a prevailing interceſſion, Heb. 7.25, Wherefore he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt thoſe that come to God by him, ſeeing he ever lives to make interceſſion for them. Whence was it that Peter, though he fell fearfully, yet he did not fall finally? becauſe our Saviour prayed for Peter, I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not, Luke 22.31. But mark, though this be true, That ſaving grace once wrought in the heart cannot be loſt, for it is built on theſe four immutable Pillars: the Love of God, the Covenant of Grace, the Power of God, and the interceſſion of Chriſt; yet it is poſſible for a man in the ſtate of grace to have his declinings (as I ſhewed you not long ago), he may have his declinings in regard of the meaſure of grace, and the comfortable feeling of grace, and in the operations and vigour of his grace.
Firſt, A child of God may loſe the former heat and fervency that he had. The Church of Epheſus fell from her firſt love.
Secondly, He may loſe the comfortable feeling of Grace: David prays, Reſtore to me the joy of thy ſalvation.
3. Grace may be as a ſpark of fire covered over with a heap of aſhes, that yields neither light nor heat, and ſo he may loſe the vigour of his grace; therefore Chriſtians ſhould take heed of theſe declinings, and ſhould hold faſt the grace they have received.
Now to make ſome Application.
1. By way of Reproof: How juſtly taxable and reprovable are they that do not hold faſt the grace they have received, but fall from their firſt love? Oh, how many back-ſliders are there, many that did begin well, but they are weary of well-doing! the Lord awaken them out of their drowſineſs; know you not it will be bitterneſs in the latter end? will you loſe all you have, and all you hope for? God forbid.
Therefore to cloſe up this Point with a word of Exhortation:
I beſeech and exhort you, in the Name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, That you will hold faſt the grace you have received, the ſavour of Religion that you have got, the principles of Religion, and the practice of a holy Converſation; hold faſt theſe. Take heed of Apoſtacy, as you love your God, as you love your Souls, as you tender your own everlaſting Salvation; be not found in the number of thoſe that draw back to perdition: but be ſtedfaſt and immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know your labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15. ult. That you may perſevere and not be weary, Let me give you theſe three or four helps.
1. Be not content with a notional and traditional Faith; for ſuch a Faith will change as the time changes; but labour for a divine, well-grounded, lively, working, effectual Faith, experimental Faith, ſuch as the Samaritans had: Now do we believe, ſay they, not becauſe thou toldſt us this is the Chriſt, but becauſe we have heard him our ſelves, and we know indeed this is the Chriſt the Saviour of the world.
2. Be much in Duty; if you would not be weary of well-doing, be much in well-doing; It is a Paradox in other things, to ſay, He that would not be weary of running, let him run the more; and if you would be weary of working, work the more: I, but here in Divinity it is a truth; the more you are doing, the better you will be able to do: be acting grace, and in the acting of it, your grace will be encreaſed: grace acted, intends the habit; and the habit intended, does encreaſe ſtrength; therefore up and be doing, and God ſhall be with you.
3. Walk in the ſpirit, and then you ſhall not fulfil the luſts of the fleſh: if the Spirit of God help you, you ſhall run and not be weary; walk, and not faint, Iſa. 40. ult. Remember what I have told you, It is not the ſtrength of habitual grace, but it is the auxiliary, the aſſiſting-grace of the Spirit that carries you through every duty: Though you do duty, yet the Spirit of Chriſt is the moving and working-cauſe; for without him you can do nothing.
4. Set before you the example of the Saints, that is another help to perſeverance: it is ſaid of Moſes, he held out, though he met with temptations on the right hand and on the left, he held out; why? becauſe he ſaw him that was inviſible, Heb. 11.27. So Job, Job 23.11, My feet hath held his path, his way have I kept, and not declined: So David, I was almoſt conſumed on earth, by trouble and perſecution that he met with, yet have I not forgotten thy Law, Pſal. 119.87. So Daniel, when he knew the Writing was ſealed, and his Religion would coſt him not only his liberty, but his life; Daniel was Daniel ſtill, he went on his courſe as he was wont to do, Dan. 6.10. The bleſſed Martyrs that went through impriſonment, bonds, reproaches, perſecution, yet with what courage did they preſs towards the Mark? and ſo with courage they held out to the end, and in the end.
5. Be often meditating on the rich and royal Reward, thoſe rich and glorious hopes laid up for thoſe that perſevere; this, if any thing will bear up your hearts and hopes when they are ready to faint: What made the Apoſtle hold out in the midſt of all temptations? 2 Cor. 4.16, For this cauſe we faint not; Why? becauſe, ſays he, our light afflictions which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; Ver. 17. Moſes he held out, chuſing rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon; Why? he had an eye to the recompence of reward, Heb. 11.26.
A Traveller after a long journey, when he is weary and faint, and ſits down, if he ſee the Town before him, it puts life into him, and he plucks up his feet, and reſolves not to be weary till he be at his journeys end. O look at the Crown and white Robe ſet before you, and faint if you can: get on the top of Mount Nebo, look on the Land of Promiſe, thoſe good things ſet before you: taſte the grapes of Canaan before you come to Canaan. Conſider two things: from what you are delivered, and to what you are appointed: You are delivered from wrath, and appointed to mercy; delivered from Hell, and appointed to Heaven; delivered from a hopeleſs condition, to a moſt hopeful and happy condition, that the heart can conceive or tongue expreſs. If theſe things were ſoundly digeſted, and ſeriouſly conſidered, they would awaken your drooping drowſie ſpirits, and ſet the wheels a going, and make us redouble our endeavour, and encreaſe our diligence, that the Kingdom of Heaven might even ſuffer violence; yea, theſe things will conſtrain us in the midſt of all afflictions, temptations, and tryals, to preſs towards the Mark: therefore awake thou that ſleepest; the Apoſtle ſpeaks of a ſleep of drowſineſs, Rom. 13.11, For, ſays the Apoſtle, your ſalvation is nearer than when you believed. A ſtone, the nearer it comes to the Center, the ſwifter the motion will be: Redeem and recover loſt time by double diligence: ſet on Heaven by a new reſolution; ſet thy face towards Sion, as one that looks on all theſe creature-comforts as vaniſhing into ſmoak, and as one that reſolves to have Heaven or nothing: do much, and ſuffer much, thou wilt never repent; Be ſtedfaſt and unmovable, abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as your labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord.
To ſet home this Exhortation of holding faſt what you have received, there are two Motives in the Text which I will diſpatch with a quick hand.
Firſt, Behold, I come quickly; What coming does our Saviour here ſpeak of? I Anſwer, This coming of our Saviour may be underſtood three ways: He comes either in a way of Tryal, or in a way of Mercy, or in a way of Judicature. He comes in a way of Tryal, ſo he foretels the heavy temptations and perſecutions that came upon his Church in the time of Trajanus the Emperor, as Mr. Brightman well obſerves: This laſted fourteen years, yet our Saviour calls it but an hour of temptation, in ver. 10. Likewiſe Strabo the Geographer, writes, That the Church of Philadelphia was often ſhaken with Earth-quakes, both ſhe and other Cities were ſhaken with Political Earth-quakes, as well as Natural: with Adverſaries that ſought their ruine. Hence you may take this Obſervation, That God hath ſore and ſhaking Tryals to exerciſe his Church withal.
Through many Afflictions we muſt enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; And they that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, muſt ſuffer perſecution, In one kind or other, in one meaſure or other. God ſees ſhaking is needful to awaken us; to ſhake us out of our ſecurity, and to purifie, and reform, and refine us: therefore let us not ſettle upon our Lees, and promiſe our ſelves ſecurity from Tryals. The hand of God hath been heavy upon the Proteſtant Churches in Piedmont, in Poland; Oh, the dreadful things that they have ſuffered! Why ſhould we expect exemption? are we better than they? Be forewarned, that you may be fore-armed: lay in proviſion againſt the day of Tryal: lay in a ſtock of Faith, and Patience, and Self-denial, &c. Gird on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to ſtand.
2. It may be underſtood in a way of mercy; I come quickly in a way of mercy: I come to moderate the tryals, and to deliver thee from temptations. God will not ſuffer the Rod of the wicked to lie on the back of his righteous ſervants, Pſal. 125.3. So then the Doctrine is this:
Doct. The troubles and tryals of Gods Church and Choſen, though they may be ſharp, yet they ſhall be but ſhort.
I come quickly, I come to deliver my Church quickly; Nero's Tribulation was but for ten days, Rev. 2.10, For a ſmall moment have I forſaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee; in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but … everlaſting kindneſs will I have mercy on thee, … Lord thy redeemer, Iſa. 54.7, 8.
Application.
Therefore it ſerves exceedingly for the encouragement of the godly, our afflictions are but for a moment: do but ſet againſt your preſent Affliction, the glory that it brings after, and againſt light afflictions, a weight of glory; and againſt momentary affliction eternal glory; and what compariſon is there between them? none at all: but,
3. I come quickly, It may be taken in a way of Judicature; I come to call men to account, to return to every man according to their works: therefore ſee that you hold faſt what you have received, and continue conſtant to the end, and you ſhall be ſure to receive a rich and Royal Reward. Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every one according as his works ſhall be, Rev. 22.12. Heb. 10.37, Yet a little while, and he that ſhall come will come, and will not tarry: Be patient therefore, brethren, ſtabliſh your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draws nigh, Jam. 5.8.
But here it may be objected, Our Saviour ſpake this above ſixteen hundred years ago, The coming of the Lord draws nigh, And yet he is not come to Judgment. To this I Anſwer, A thouſand years in Gods account, is but as one day: we count moments long, becauſe we are but poor ſhort ſpirited creatures; But God that is of an eternal duration, he counts a thouſand years but a very ſmall moment; all that ſpace of time ſhould be ſmall to them that know the greatneſs of Eternity; Do but think of Eternity, and alas, a thouſand of years are but as a moment. But obſerve here, when our Saviour ſpeaks of coming to Judgment, he fixeth a Behold before it: Behold I come quickly; it teacheth us this Doctrine, Doct. Chriſts coming to judgment is a matter of infinite concernment, and requires our moſt ſerious conſideration.
Behold, Conſider what I ſay, I am coming to judgment; There will therefore be a day of Judgment, that is certain: this is called the great day in ver. 6, of the Epiſtle of Saint Jude, and in 2 Tim. 4.8, That day, foreign, by way of eminency; and it is called a day of Judgment, becauſe then every one ſhall receive a final ſentence, either of abſolution or condemnation: But why is this a matter of ſo great concernment? I anſwer, becauſe Eternity depends upon it: it will be a final determination to every ſoul, to an everlaſting and unchangeable condition of endleſs bliſs or wo; O this Eternity! it ſwallows up all our thoughts: if it were ſeriouſly conſidered, it were enough to make the moſt prophane and profligate ſinner to turn the ſtricteſt Saint that ever trod upon earth: Therefore to make ſome Uſe of this.
Live in a continual expectation of Chriſts coming. But ſome will ſay, This day of Judgment cannot be ſo ſudden, for the Jews are not yet called, and Antichriſt is not yet come down. I anſwer, and O that this Anſwer might ſink into your hearts: Though the world ſhould continue a thouſand years, yet there is a particular Judgment as well as a general: every mans deaths-day, is every mans dooms-day: It is appointed for all men once to die, and after that the judgment. As ſoon as the Soul departs out of the body, then it is judged: the Soul is judged then, either to Heaven or Hell; therefore thy day of death will be the Judgment-day to thee, when ever it falls, though it falls this week before the next. Oh that you and I could be affected as Jerom was, Whether I eat or drink, or whatever I do, methinks I hear the Trumpet ſound in my ears, Ariſe ye dead and come to Judgment. Therefore let your whole lives be a continual Preparation for that great day; get thoſe graces that may preſent you without ſpot or blot before Gods Tribunal. Get,
1. The precious grace of Faith, for that puts on the Royal Robe of Chriſts righteouſneſs; and in that Robe you will ſtand undaunted.
2. Get Repentance from dead works, be purifying your ſelves more and more, as he is pure; Repent and be converted, that your ſins may be blotted out, when the day of refreſhing ſhall come, Act. 3.19.
3. Get a Chriſtian and conſtant care and diligence in your general and particular callings: Bleſſed is the man whom his Lord ſhall find ſo doing. This is the firſt Motive drawn from the ſuddenneſs of our Saviours coming: I come quickly. Another Motive (and of that a few words, and I have done) That no man take thy Crown. The danger of loſing the Crown: But here it may be demanded, What is meant by Crown? I anſwer, Either the Crown of Goſpel-Miniſtry, or elſe the Crown of eternal Life. Firſt, God honoured this Church with a very glorious Miniſtry, ſo that the very Adverſaries, the ſeeming Jews did worſhip, that is, did ſubmit themſelves to this Church, and acknowledg Her to be beloved of God; God honoured this Church with a very glorious Miniſtry. Then it may be meant of the Crown of life: as Mr Perkins well obſerves upon the Text, Rev. 2.10, I will give thee a Crown of life.
But here it may be demanded, Can the Crown of Life be loſt? To this I Anſwer:
In the viſible Church there are Hypocrites as well as ſincere Chriſtians: Now Hypocrites may loſe the Crown, becauſe they never had a title to it, they never had a title to the Crown of Glory; a man muſt have an intereſt in grace, before he can have a title to the Crown of glory: For others that have grace begun in their hearts, you muſt know ſuch cautions as theſe are, are to quicken them: 2 John 8, Look well to your ſelves, that we loſe not thoſe things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward, Heb. 12.15, Beware, leſt any of you fall ſhort of the grace of God: Or it may be ſuch cautions are put in to let you ſee, that if you are left to your ſelves, you would let go grace, and loſe glory and all.
To ſhut up all, If a Goſpel-Miniſtry be a Crown, Oh that you and I would learn to prize a Goſpel-Miniſtry more than we have done: it may be God will teach you to know the worth of it by the want of it; hold it faſt; remember, God can give the Goſpel to another Nation, that may be will bring forth better fruit than we have done; and when the Goſpel is gone, our glory is gone: then we may ſay, The Glory, the Glory is departed from England; But then,
2. If there be a Crown of glory laid up for them that do hold out, then receive that Exhortation, a Text I opened in many Sermons, on 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; Therefore take hold of God by Faith: Be much in prayer, be much in wreſtling with God; be much in treaſuring up grace againſt the day of glory, as wicked men treaſure up wrath againſt the day of wrath. Study to be better acquainted, not only with the principles of Religion, but with the power of godlineſs. Get more Communion with Chriſt, and influence of grace from him, get more conformity to him; O mind this buſineſs of Eternity, of getting this Crown that is laid up for thoſe that hold out and perſevere. I conclude this Text with that in Rom. 2.7, To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, ſeek for glory, and honour, and immortality, Eternal life.