BOOK 2. FROM ETERNITY.
CHAPTER 2.
2.2.4. Of Hoping in Jesus in that Respect.
Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect.
We must hope in Jesus, as carrying on that great work of salvation for us in that eternity. It is not enough to know, and consider, and desire; but we must hope, and maintain our hopes as to our own interest. Now, hope is a passion whereby we expect probably, or certainly some future good. All the question is, whether that salvation, concerning which the great transaction was betwixt God and Christ, belongs now to me? and" what are the grounds and foundations on which thy hope is built? I know some exceedingly abuse this doctrine, "If God had before all worlds appointed me to salvation, why then I may live as I list, I need not hear, or pray, or confer, or perform any holy duty; for I am sure I shall be saved." And thus at once they take away all grounds of hope. It is true, God's decrees are unchangeable, but they do not afford any such inferences or deductions as these: you might as well say. The Lord hath appointed me to live such a time, and before that time I shall not, cannot die; and therefore I need no meat nor drink, nor clothes, nor any other things: ah silly, foolish, devilish arguing! God's decree is for the means as well as for the end; whom God hath decreed to save, them also he hath decreed to call, to justify, to sanctify, before he save; O my soul, look to the grounds, whereupon thy hope is built: if those be weak, thy hope is weak: but if those be strong, thy hope is strong, thy hope will prove most strong, and certain, and prudent.
In the disquistion of these grounds, "Say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven? Or who shall descend into the deep?" Bom. x, 6. Seek not above, or below; it is not possible for thee to go bodily into heaven to see the records of eternity, and to read thy name in the book of life? but search into these fruits and effects of thy election. As,
1. If thou beest within God's decrees for salvation, then sooner, or later, God will cause the power of his word to come with authority and conviction upon thy conscience: "Knowing, brethren, beloved your election of God, for our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power," 1 Thess. i. 4, 5. The apostle speaks thus of others; he might know they were the elected of God, either by his judgment of charity, or by a spirit of discerning, which was vouchsafed to some in the apostles times; but how comes he immediately to know this truth? By this glorious effect, "Our gospel came not in word only, but also in power." Oh it is good to consider with what power the word preached falls into thy heart. Doth it convince thee? humble thee? mollify thee, soften thee? This argues thou belongest to God. The word preached will be more than the word of a man, more than a mere human oration, or verbal declamation. Where it comes in power, it will be like fire in thy bowels; like a two edged sword in the secret places in thy heart, thou will cry out, verily God is here: oh the power! the conviction! the meltings of my soul, that I feel within me!
2. If God hath ordained thee to salvation, then, sooner or later, God will effectually call thee. "Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called," Rom. viii. 30. This calling is a calling of the soul from sin, from amongst the rest of the world unto Jesus Christ; it is such a call as enables the soul to follow Christ; as Matthew, being called by Christ, "He arose and followed Christ," Matth. ix. 9. These two are linked together in Paul's golden chain, predestination and effectual vocation, "We are bound to give thanks always unto God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord: and why so? Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ," 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. All those that belong to God's election, are sometimes or other effectually called by the word and Spirit of Christ; and it must needs be so, because, as the Lord hath put a difference betwixt his elect and others, before the world was, and he will make a final difference betwixt them and others, after the end of the world, so he will have them differenced and distinguished whilst they are in this world, by tills inward, effectual, operative calling; they are men of other minds, wills,, affections, dispositions, conversations; they are "called from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God," Acts xxvi. 18. As the apostle, "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. Be ye not therefore partakers with them," Eph. v. 7, 8.
3. If thou art chosen for salvation, then sooner or later thou shalt have true soul-saving, justifying faith; "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed," Acts xiii. 48, When God hath a people to call home to himself he either brings them to the means, or the means to them, and those that belong to the election of grace believe. O my soul, hast thou this saving faith? not a fancied faith, dead faith, an easy faith, but saving faith; such a faith as was wrought in thee by the word and Spirit with power; such a faith as was not in thy power to give, nor in thy power to receive until God enabled thee by his Spirit; then here is thy ground that thou art ordained to eternal life: "for whom he calls he justifies, and we are justified by faith," Rom. viii. 30. and v. 1. Not that the essence of faith justifies; but faith justifies instrumentally, in that it lays hold upon that which justifies, even the righteousness of Christ Jesus.
4. If thou art decreed for salvation then sooner or later the Lord will beget and increase in thee grace, holiness, sanctification: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit," 1 Pet. i. 2. God predestinates his people unto holiness; "He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him," Eph. i. 4. If God appoint thee to eternal life, he doth here in this world appoint thee to an holy gracious life. No sanctification, no election; no grace, no glory: thou art to be a precious jewel here, ere God will make thee up at that great day. Observe the chain, Rom. viii. 29, 30. If I be sanctified with the divine nature, in which glory is begun, then I am justified; if justified, then I have been called, according to the purpose: if called, then I was predestinate? and if predestinate to means, then was I foreknown, as one whom God would choose to the end, even to unfading and eternal glory.
5. If thou art appointed and prepared for glory, then God will give thee a thankful heart for so great a mercy; thou canst no more keep in the heart from overflowing, when thou art sensible of this everlasting love, than thou canst put bounds to the sea: See Paul praising God for the election of himself and others, "After I heard of your faith, and love, I cease not to give thanks; and, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world," Eph. i. 15, 16 . and i. 3, 4. And what glorious triumphs doth Paul in the person of all the elected make over all kind of enemies that can be thought of? He challengeth every adversary to put forth his sting, and why? Even because God hath elected, and nothing can separate them from this unchangeable love; and this was it that begot his thanksgiving, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord," Rom. viii. 33, 39 and vii. 25. O my soul, how is thy heart affected with praise and thankfulness in this matter? He that bestoweth great things, looks for great returns of thanks, especially this being all thou canst do.
6. If the project, counsel, love, purpose, decree, and covenant of God with Christ, concerned thee, and thy soul's happiness, then God will crown thee with perseverance, and a steadfast continuance in that way of grace thou was first set in: final apostacy, and total backsliding from the ways of God, can never befall those that are thus chosen: "They went from us because they are not of us," said the apostle, 1 John ii. 19. And, "if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect," said Christ, Matth. xxiv. 24. But it is certainly impossible, and why? "I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall never depart from me," Jer. xxxii. 40. Oh what a blessed mercy is this, when there are so many hours of temptation in the world, so many blustering storms and tempests that are able to raise up the very roots, did not that immortal seed preserve them. Of this sign we are sure, if any of the former belongs to us; but to this we cannot actually seal till the end of our life.
Come now, are these, O my soul, the grounds of thy hopes? Hath God's word come with power on thy heart? Hath the Lord so effectually called thee, that thou hast left all to follow Christ? Dost thou believe on the Lord Jesus for life and for salvation? Art thou holy? Is thy life holy? Dost thou walk exactly, as the grace of God which bringeth to salvation teacheth? Canst thou with enlarged thankfulness amplify the love and grace of God in thy election? Surely these effects are the very fuel of hope, they are the blessed and clear evidences of thy soul's election; and therefore hope well, take strong consolation: it is clear as the sun, that God hath predestinated thee to life, and that thy name is written in the book of life, and that none in heaven, or on earth, or in hell, shall be able to blot it out again. Away, away with all sad, dumpish dejected thoughts: look unto Jesus: hope in Christ, That that very salvation, concerning which that great transaction was betwixt God and Christ, belongs even to thee, and that one day thou shalt see it, and enjoy the happiness of it to all eternity.