ry.

From whence do they derive their knowledge of it, and their confidence of obtaining it? The answer to this question will unfold the ground of which we speak. 1. The revealed word of God makes known to believers this glory.

Many are the passages of the Old and New Testament on this subject. Thus we have Job's declaration : "For I know that

66

my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall "stand at the latter day upon the earth: "and though after my skin worms destroy "this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: "whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though

66

my reins be consumed within me." To the same purpose, David says, "Therefore 66 my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth;

66

my flesh also shall rest in hope: for thou "wilt not leave my soul in hell: neither "wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to

66

see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the "path of life: in thy presence is fulness of "joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures "for evermore." "Christ himself, in a passage already quoted, establishes the testimo

f Job xix. 25--27.

g P. xvi. 9-}},

ny

of both these

persons.

God, he says, is

"the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, "and the God of Jacob;" but adds, "God is not the God of the dead, but "of the living." In perfect agreement with his Master, the apostle of the Gentiles informs us, that Jesus Christ" hath abolished death, and hath brought life "and immortality to light through the "Gospel":" and, in giving an account of the resurrection of the dead, writes, "Be"hold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not "all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a

66

moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the "last trump; (for the trumpet shall sound ;) " and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, "and we shall be changed. For this cor

66

ruptible must put on incorruption, and "this mortal must put on immortality. So "when this corruptible shall have put on "incorruption, and this mortal shall have

66

put on immortality, then shall be brought "to pass the saying that is written, Death " is swallowed up in victory."

But why should I add any more to these proofs? The language of the text clearly

h 2 Tim. i. 10.

i 1 Cor. xv. 51--54.

establishes the truth, that the word of God makes known to believers, the exceeding and eternal weight of glory reserved for them. The apostle and his associates, holy men of God, spake as they were moved of the Holy Ghost. They published the will of Jehovah, and revealed the gracious rewards of faith in his Son after death.

2. Believers are persuaded of the truth of God's revealed will, and comply with the design of the revelation.

This is the faith of which we have already spoken, and therefore requires no additional explanation. Its importance cannot but strike every person of reflection. By faith believers walk, and not by sight. Faith and sight are two different principles of human conduct. The latter regulates all who are without God and without hope; the former, all who know God and keep his commandments. By this faith believers receive the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Future glory, revealed to them in the promise of God, is thus spiritually perceived by them

k See Ser. ix. “ The Example of the Bereans commend"ed," for the nature of faith..

as an undoubted reality, and they in this perception have the fullest proof that they shall enjoy it after death. They thus by faith know that all the revelation of God in his word on this subject is true, and are confident that they shall be made partakers of the heavenly inheritance.

3. They are made believers for this selfsame purpose by God, who also gives unto them the earnest of his Spirit.

An earnest is a part of what is to be given or paid, or some less thing that is given to secure somewhat that is more or greater, in the same or another kind. In a way of sovereign grace and bounty, God gives his Holy Spirit unto believers, with the distant information that he will give them much more in time to come. He is here represented as the earnest of future glory. Many things are implied, on which I can only touch, as time forbids an enlargement.

First, Believers receive the Holy Spirit immediately as the Spirit of Christ, to make them conformable unto him, and to give them a participation of his gifts, graces, and privileges.

Second, Man by sin had forfeited all right to the ends of his creation, both on earth and in heaven. The inheritance provided, however, was not to be annihilated.

Third, Christ purchased this inheritance for those who should believe on his name.

Fourth, The way in which any of our fallen race become interested in the redemption of Christ, is by the participation of his Spirit, who alone can change the heart, and unite us to Christ. Hence it follows, that by the Spirit sent down into the hearts of believers, they become co-heirs with Christ.

He is thus the earnest unto the redemption of the purchased possession. His dwelling in believers secures unto them, in soul, and body, and estate, the whole inheritance. Before this inheritance can be enjoyed, they must sustain many spiritual trials and conflicts, and their bodies must die; nay, their bodies must be rescued from the dust, and united again to their souls. Thus, then, as the Lord Christ himself was made heir of all things by that communication of the Spirit which anointed him to his office, so the participation of the same Spirit from him