Doctrine 3

That it is the interest and engagement of all three persons to see to it, that a righteous separate soul be brought to glory at dissolution.

And this carries it yet higher, even to the highest, and gives the most superabundant security and assurance of this thing that can be given and superadds above all the former.

But you will ask me, How I fetch this out of my text? Thus:

1. You see here are two persons expressly named, God [the Father] namely, and the Spirit. This is a rule, that where the name God, and then some besides other of the two persons, Christ or the Spirit, are mentioned therewith, as distinct; there God is put personally (not essentially only) to express The Father: Now here the Spirit or holy Ghost is mentioned distinct from God; For it is said that This God has given the Spirit; which also Christ so often speaks of the Father, as I need not to insist on it.

2. It is another rule, that in any Scripture where two persons are mentioned, as concurring in any thing, or matter; there the other third person also must be understood to have his special share therein also; as when he wishes grace and peace from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ; It is certain the holy Ghost is as specially understood; as indeed we find him in that Apostolic blessing as distinctly spoken of as the Father or Christ. Thus it must be here. Christ must be taken in, who also in John is so often said to give the Spirit, when the Father gives him, as it is said here he has, for this same thing.

But 3. You have even Christ also not far off interested in this self-same thing in the next verse, and verse 8. Absence from the Lord, while in the body, verse 6. and presence with the Lord, when separate from the body, verse 8. This Lord is Christ; the phrase of the New Testament concerning Christ runs in this style, To be with Christ, This day with me — To be where I am, and see my Glory: So Christ. To be with Christ is best of all, and we shall be ever with the Lord. So Paul.

Use 1.

Does God work us for this thing before he brings us to it? What has God wrought hitherto upon you or you, in order to this end? It is a blunt question, but the text puts it in my mouth: How many souls are there living in the profession of Christianity, that know not what this means, to have a work wrought on them (a-new upon them) over and above what moral honesty (which was nature's portion) and the common profession of Christianity adds to that, by custom and mere education. An honest Turk professing also and observing the principles of his religion, upon the ground of his education only (and a religion every man must have) will as soon go to Heaven as you; for all your religion is founded but upon the like foundation that his is. I tell you, that Christian religion is not a thing so cheap; nor salvation by Christ at so low a rate. You must have a work upon your soul suited to all the truths, thus professed in the power and efficacy of them. They must enter your soul by a spiritual faith and frame, and mold it anew to a likeness to them. Carry home therefore the caveat our Apostle has put in verse 3. If so be that being clothed, we be not found naked of grace and holiness wrought, and Christ's righteousness by spiritual efficacious faith applied, (faith in earnest) bowing the soul to be obedient to Christ, as heartily and as honestly, as it expects salvation by Christ, as without which you will never be saved. This is our religion; and when at death your soul (your poor lonesome soul) being stripped of all things in this world; even the body and all, shall come before the great God and Jesus Christ, what will the inquiry be? as Matthew 22:11. When the King came in to see the guests, he saw a man had not the wedding-garment; he spied him out: And the man was speechless, verse 12. Take him and bind him, (says he) and cast him into utter darkness, verse 13. The other that were clothed, were admitted to the marriage; and, (as the Psalmist, the words of which are here alluded to) She was brought to the King (the very title which in both these places is given to Christ: see verse 11.) in garments of needlework, and this clothing is of God's working; and so my text falls in with both: There is no admission to Christ without it — This the first use.

Use 2.

Has God begun to work this good work in you? He will perfect it: of which the text gives this assurance, that he has wrought it for this thing, that is, for this end, and God will not lose his end: Besides, he says he has given earnest.

Use 3.

You saint, be content TO LIVE, for while you live, you are under God's working, in order to glory. Value life; it is a season of being wrought upon: And to be sure, you shall live no longer, than while God is some way or other working this. What an advantage is it, that all your sins, occasioned by living long, shall surely be forgiven, and nothing of your score be uncut off for you, but all the righteousness that is wrought upon you, and wrought by you, (and therefore wrought by you, because upon you; for, being wrought upon, we work, and all is rather, God has wrought us, than that we have wrought) All your righteousness (I say) shall remain for ever. All the time you remain in this life, your soul is ripening, or maturing for glory.

How great a comfort is that? In explicating the doctrinal part, I gave instance of a child in the womb curiously wrought all that time, in order to its living and subsisting afterwards in this world. It is a dark place, the womb which the child is wrought in; and it lives there in a stifled condition, it cannot breathe, it takes nourishment but at the navel, (a way invented and prepared of God merely for that season) it lies boiling, tossing and tumbling, and sleeping away the most of its time, and gives now and then a faint stirring, to show it is still alive; and it is a life scarce worth the name of life. Well, but all this is a being wrought and fitted to live another, freer, and braver life in this world. And this is your present case, your life is hid, it is to come; all that you find in this world, is but [that God has wrought you for the self-like thing]. And if this child we spoke of should be forced out of the womb before the due time, it would have the more imperfect life in this world. So here, if you could suppose a saint should die before the full birth of his soul's being wrought on — therefore be content to wait God's leisure, until your change shall come.

Use 4.

No matter what befalls you, so it works towards this end; let whatever be, so you find God to go on with this design, that he works upon your soul; be it upward, in communion with himself, or downward, in disowning yourself, your vileness and corruptions, so it works. You have afflictions that break your heart, (as reproach broke Christ's heart, says the Psalmist in his name) no matter, so they work upon your soul. Know then, that they are set to work by the hand that sent them, to work a far exceeding weight of glory for you. If by any means (says Paul) no matter what, so the work go on. A carver comes with his chisels, and cuts off this piece, and cuts in to that part of the stone: no matter; a stately statue bearing the image of some person of honor, is to be set up for perpetuity, and is accordingly a framing. So though God carves his image out of your flesh, no matter. Comfort yourself, and think not much at any condition, while (as Paul says) it turns to your salvation. Election sent you not into this world to have a great name (perhaps God will load it) nor to be rich, or to have power, but to work you for this self-same thing; and if you see that plow a going (though it makes deep furrows on your back, indeed your heart) yet so, that this seed be sown therein, rejoice, for you shall bring your sheaves with you. For my self, so that I find Election pursuing its design, of making me holy, and blessing me with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, (as Ephesians 1:4) I care not (I would not care) what befalls me in this world.