all happiness. Tell such a soul of the world, gold, and glory: oh what are these? The soul will quickly tell you, the world is dung, and glory is dung, "all is but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord," Phil. 3:8. Give me God and Christ, saith the soul, or I die; oh my desires are to him who hath done all this for me. Is not this the period still of thy expression at the end of every discourse, Would Christ were mine? Thou hearest it may be, some worldlings talk, such an one hath got so much in these times: he that was yesterday as poor as Lazarus, he is this day like the nameless rich man, "clothed in purple, and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day," Luke 16:19. Ay, but dost not thou reply either in word or heart, "Would Christ were mine, and then I had got more than he?" Poor soul, dost thou not gasp only after Christ, when thou fetchest (as I may say) the very deepest breath? Canst thou read over the generation of Jesus the Son of God, the time when he was begotten, the manner of his begetting, the mutual kindness and love of him that begets, and of him that is begotten; and dost thou not pant, and▾ breathe, and gasp after Jesus at every period? Canst thou read over Jesus his acts and decree in reference to thyself, canst thou turn over those many leaves, in every of which is discovered those everlasting loves of God in his projects, counsels, foreknowledge, purpose, decrce, and covenant for thy soul's happiness, and art thou not ready at every discovery to sing David's psalm, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God, O when shall I come and appear before God?" Psalm 42:1,2. O my soul, hadst thou but these pantings, thirstings, breathings after God and Christ, thou mightest comfortably conclude, these are the fruits of God's Spirit, it is the Spirit of the Lord Jesus "which makes these sighs and groans in thee, which cannot be expressed," Rom. 8:26. He and thee sigh together, one in another, and one after another, O therefore look, look unto Jesus, and sigh, and desire after him.

3. We may and must desire after the full and utmost execution whereby God effectually works in time according to all his workings or decrees before time. God that purposed and decreed from all eternity, he will not have done the full execution of that purpose or decree till that aftereternity, in that world without end. Indeed some part is a fulfilling now, but the main, the great part is yet to come: why then, as we see the plot, let us desine after the full accomplishment, let us desire after that glory without end, to which we were predestinated before the beginning. It was Paul's "desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ," Phil. 1:23. As men burdened, so shall we desire and groan after the enjoyment of God in the world to come. O my soul, that thou were but cast into the apostle's mould, that thy affections were but on the wing, that they might take the flight, and steer their course towards heaven, and thereupon that thou mightest say, Yonder is the glorious house, the goodly building, made without hands, which God from all eternity decreed to be my home, my rest, my dwelling place to all eternity; and in yonder stately fabric, is many an heavenly inhabitant before I come: there are angels, and there are the souls of saints that from Adam to this day have had their pass out of this sinful world: yea, there is Jesus the Son of God, and there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost; and if I am predestinated to this fellowship, Lord, when shall I have run through the means that I may come to this end? O my end! Where is my end? Where is my Lord, my God, my Comforter? Where is my rest? Where is my end? I cannot be at rest without my end, and therefore come, Lord Jesus, come

quickly, "Be like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of spices," Sol. Song, 8:14. Christians, why are not your spirits always breathing thus after the glory, to which you are predestinated? Why do not you long after full enjoyment of the utmost execution of God's decree? Why are not your hearts, your souls, your spirits already in heaven? Surely there be your relations, your Father is there, your elder brother is there, and there are many, I dare say, most of your younger brethren: again, there is your interest, your estate is there, if you believe: and therefore where should your hearts be, but where your treasure is; Come then, come: set in tune those desires of your souls, "Set your affections on things above," especially on that one thing Jesus Christ: Looking unto Jesus.

SECT. IV. Of hoping in Jesus in that respect.

4. 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 my 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 truc, 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 disquisition of these grounds, "Say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven? Or who shall descend into the deep!" Rom. 10:6. 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 fraits and effects of thy election. As,

1. If thou beest within God's decrees for salvation, then soonor, 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. 1:4,5. 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. 8:30. 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. 9:9. 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. 2:13,14. All those that belong to God's election, are sometime 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 this 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 26:18. As the apostle, "Ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. Be ye not therefore partakers with them," Eph. 5:7,8.

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 13:48. 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. 8:30. and 5:1. 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 accord. ing to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit," 1 Pet. 1:2. 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. 1:4. 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. 8:29,30. 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. 1:15,16. and 1:3,4. And what glorious triumph 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. 8:33.39. and 7:25. 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 wast first set in: final apostacy, and total backsliding from the ways of God, can never befal those that are thus chosen: "They went from us because they are not of us," said the apostle, 1 John 2:19. And, "if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect," said Christ, Matth. 24:24. But it is certainly impossible, and why? "I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall never depart from me," Jer. 32:40. 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 raze 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 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.

SECT. V. Of believing in Jesus in that respect.

5. WE must believe 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, and hope; but we must believe. Now, this is the nature and property of faith, to apply all these ancient and future doings and dealings of God to ourselves, as if they were now present. Some difference there is betwixt hope and faith; as hope hath respect to that which the word promiseth, rem verbi: but faith respects the word itself, verbum rci; hope eyes chiefly the mercy and goodness of the promise, but faith eyes

mainly the authority and truth of the promiser; hope looks upon its object as future, but faith only looks upon the object as present; both make a particular application to themselves, but hope in a waiting for it, and faith in a way of now enjoying it. Hence faith is called," the substance of things hoped for," Heb. 11:1. It is the substance, or confidence of things hoped for, as if we had them already in band: faith gives the soul a present interest in God, in Christ, in all those glorious things in the gospel of Christ, even in the things of eternal life. Faith is an appropriating, an applying, an uniting grace. It is a blessed thing to have the sight of God, there is much power in it; but to see God in his glory as my God: to see all the majesty, greatness, and goodness of God, as those things that my soul have an interest in; to see how the eternal councils of God wrought for me, to make me happy; why this is of the nature of faith: and herein lies the sweetness of faith: in that we believe not Christ only to be a Saviour, and righteousness, but my Saviour, and my righteousness; and therefore Luther affirmed, that the sweetness of Christianity lay in pronouns; when a man can say, "My Lord, and my God, and my Jesus. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me," Gal. 2:20.

O my soul! believe for thyself; believe, and be confident of it, that those eternal projects, councils, love, purpose, decree, and covenant betwixt God and Christ, were all for thee; hast thou not a promise? Nay, was there not a promise before the world began? and that very promise of eternal life? Mark the words, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began," Tit. 1:2. Here is a promise, and a promise of eternal life made by God, by God that cannot lie, and that before there was a world, or any man in the world. If thou in. quirest, to whom then was this promise made? Sweet soul, it was made to Christ for thee: many promises thou hast in scripture made more immediately to thyself: but this was the grand promise, and all the other promises they are but a draught of that grand promise, that God the Father made to his Son before the world began.

O, cries the soul, I cannot believe. What, is it possible that God in his eternity should have any thought of me? What, of me, "being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil?" Rom. 9:11. What, of me, born in these last times of the world, the least of saints, the greatest of sinners, less than the least of all God's mercies? That of such an one the great God, the majesty of heaven and earth, should have a thought, a project, a counsel, a knowledge of approbation, a purpose, a decree: nay, enter into a covenant with his Son for my salvation? I cannot believe it. Alas! what am I to God? or what need hath God of me? If "all the nations of the earth are to him, but as a drop of a bucket, and as the small dust of the balance," Isa. 40:15. Oh what a minim am I of that drop? or what a little little atom am I of that small dust? And is it probable that the greatness of God, the goodness of God, the power of God, the wisdom of God, the eternal councils of God, should work for me, to make me glorious, blessed, happy? to make me one with himself, and one with his Son, and one with his Spirit? What care take I of every dust of the earth or every sand of the sea-shore? and yet these are my fellow-creatures: there is a thousand times more disproportion betwixt God and me, and would God take care of me before I was, or before the world was? What, would he busy himself and his Son about such a worthless, wretched worm? Would he decree Christ to come from the Father for me, to be my Redeemer, my Jesus, my Saviour? I cannot, I dare not, I will not believe.