Chapter 39: There is glorious reward for the people of God

BUt what was the ground that made Moses thus esteem reproaches? He had respect unto the recompence of reward: From whence the point of Doctrine is this, That

There is a glorious reward for the people of God, the respect unto which is a great encouragement to Godsservants, to go on in a way of suffering and hardship for him.

It was this that helped David in the midst of his sore temptation, that did arise from his affliction in the way of God, Psalm 37:24 You shall guide me mith your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory: as if he should say, Howsoever it be with the men of the world, who enjoy their prosperity according to their desires; and howsoever it be with me, that I am afflicted, and must endure hard things here, yet this is that which upholds me through all, You shall afterward receive me to glory. This is that which upheld the Spirit of Saint Paul, 2 Cor. 4:17 where he brings in a most notable and high expression of the glory that is to come, for the upholding his spirit in his suffering; For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. This is that which Saint Paul propounded unto Timothy, to uphold his heart in all his sufferings, 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. This is that which strengthned the Spirits of the Christians, that suffered in the times of the Maccabees, Heb. 10:34 As those clusters of Grapes that were brought from the land of Canaan, that showed to the people, what the fruitfulness of that land was, was an encouragement to them, to pass through all difficulties that they were like to meet withalin the possession of the land, to fight against the children of Anak; so that which God has revealed of Heaven, is like those clusters of grapes, those little things that we have made known to us (in comparison of the glory that is to come) are to that end revealed to encourage us in our way here. In the handling of this point, there are these five things we shall endeavor to do: First, to show that there is a reward for the righteous. Secondly, how far a Christian may have an eye unto this reward. Thirdly, show somewhat what this reward is. Fourthly, in which lies the power of the believing of this, to help us to endure any hardship. Lastly, make Application of all.

That there is a reward. Certainly, there is a more blessed condition for Gods people hereafter, they have not received that which is prepared for them, there are other manner of things to be revealed, then those that you see. Psalm 58:11 Verily there is a reward for the righteous; surely it is so: notwithstanding a carnal sensual heart does not see it, yet verily there is a reward; though the ways of Gods providence do seem outwardly to work otherwise, yet surely there is a reward: notwithstanding our unbelieving hearts are ready to question it, yet surely there is a reward, verily there is a reward for the righteous. There is a great deal of power in this one thing to raise up our hearts from the creature, from grovelling here below, to make us at least to look upward to know our happiness is not here, to know that there are glorious things to be expected, and that appears:

First, God has infinite riches of glory, infinite treasures of happiness, there are infinite great things in God, and God takes infinite delight to communicate himself, and let out himself unto the creature: now if there be such infinite riches with God, such glorious treasures of happiness, and he delights to communicate himself, certainly there are great things to be communicated then; for therefore is it that God has such infinite riches in him, but that in due time he will make them known, and reveal them, and communicate them? it is but little that is revealed and communicated for the present; therefore there are other things to be revealed and communicated from God.

Secondly, God has made mankinde to be of such a nature, as to have a kinde of infinite capacity, whereby it is made capable of happiness, beyond that which any creature, besides Angels, is capable of: Properly no creature but the rational creature is capable of happiness at all, but besides it has a kinde of infinite capacity, whereby it is made capable of the highest happiness that belongs to the capacity of a Creature: and certainly God has not made this in vain, God does intend to fill this capacity.

You will say, An infinite capacity of happiness, how is that? Thus; for there are two things in the rational part of man, his understanding, and his will: now the capacity of this part, must be judged according to the objects that are suitable unto these two faculties in mans soul: For the understanding, it is not any particular thing that is the object of it, but truth in general: take truth in the utmost latitude of it, in the universality of it, that is the object of mans understanding; and therefore the understanding is infinite, because it is not satisfied in this or that particular, but truth in the utmost extent. And for the object of the will, it is good in the general, it is not this or that particular good, but good in the universality of its nature; and therefore till it come to enjoy God, that does eminently contain all good in him, it can never come to have full satisfaction. And here observe the difference between the capacity of mans nature, and the capacity of other Creatures: as for other Creatures, their faculties can extend no further then some particular good, and they are limited within the narrow bounds of their own nature; and therefore if so be the eye have color, it goes no further; and if the ear have sound, it goes no further; and so taste, it goes no further then some particular good; but the intelligent soul, the rational soul goes beyond all particulars. Now God having made mans nature of such a capacity for good and happiness, certainly God intends great things for the children of men, other manner of things, then there are in this world; and if for any, surely for the righteous.

Thirdly, surely there is a reward, because it is the great design that God had in the making of the world, in all his works to lift up, and advance the glory of the riches of his mercy and grace: now if this be Gods great design, to advance the glory of his infinite mercy, then certainly there must needs be a glorious condition for some of the children of men, for that is not yet done; though there be something of Gods mercy manifested, that we have cause to admire at; yet certainly, God does not reveal that in the world, whereby he should attain to the great design, of lifting up of the glory of his great Name.

Fourthly, the chief of the deep infinite counsels of God, and the works of his wisdom, that have been from all eternity, have been, and are yet exercised about this especially; namely, to bring mankinde to his eternal estate, and to communicate unto the children of men, that glory that he has appointed for them, that it might be in the most glorious way that can be: now if God have set his infinite wisdom on work from all eternity about this; namely, what might be the most glorious way of communication of himself in the riches of his goodness unto mankinde, certainly, when this comes to pass, that God should communicate himself as much as he does intend, it must be infinitely glorious: certainly, there are great things, and glorious things to be communicated hereafter.

Fifthly, the power of God has been already exercised, in subserviency to other attributes of his, to make known his wisdom, and his bounty, and his general goodness; the power of God have been wonderfully manifested in the works of creation and providence: now certainly, the power of God is as well to be put forth in a way of subserviency unto his grace and mercy; now if there be such a time, as Gods infinite power is to be let out, and work unto that end, that it might be subservient unto the infiniteness of his mercy, then certainly there are glorious and great things to be revealed and made known.

Sixthly, certainly there are glorious and great things for mankinde, in that God has raised the nature of man unto such a heighth, as he has done in Christ; namely, to unite mans nature unto himself, unto the second person of the Trinity, and that with the nearest union that possibly can be; namely, an hypostatical union: certainly then God intends great things for the children of men, for that nature, that is one person with the Divine nature. This is such a great work of God, as all other of the works of God are darkned in the honor of this great work.

Seventhly, the great purchase that Jesus Christ has made, in that he has been content to leave so much glory, certainly this was to purchase great glory; and in that he was content to be made a curse for mans-sin, and to shed his blood, and to give his life for man, surely this was not only to purchase outward comforts in the world, it was to purchase higher things; and therefore great must needs be the fruit of the purchase of the blood of Christ; and therefore great are the things that are to be revealed hereafter.

Eighthly, there are in Scripture many glorious promises which yet are not fulfilled, abundant rich andglorious promises, that have infinite treasures of good in them, there must be a time of fulfilling of them all, to the utmost extent of them: and therefore certainly there are great things to be revealed hereafter. Your word O Lord is setled for ever in Heaven, Psalm 119:89

Ninthly, the great things that God has done for his enemies, is a demonstration that there is a glorious condition for Gods people afterward, in that God has filled their bellies with his hid treasure: what treasures has God to fill the souls of his own people with, when as he does fill the bellies of the wicked, whom he does intend to cast out as accursed?

Tenthly, it appears there are great things for the people of God hereafter, because of the great hopes that are wrought in the hearts of Gods servants, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Now surely such hopes as are wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost, they must attain unto glorious things: Rom. 15:13 Now the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost: the hope of Gods people is that which is not only wrought by the Holy Ghost, but by the power of the Holy Ghost; and such an hope, as God is pleased to stile himself the God of this hope; and therefore certainly glorious things are to be revealed.

Another demonstration is this, the very natures and excellency of grace, is to take off our hearts from these present things in the world, and from all the good that is here in the creature, God does give grace for this end; now then I reason thus: if the chief excellency of grace be to take the hearts of the Saints from the things of the world, and to settle them upon higher and better things, then certainly there are glorious things to come.

The last demonstration is this, because there are such glorious first fruits of that which is to come, that Gods people do finde for the present; those blessed rays of heavenly consolations, and those beginnings of Heaven that they finde here: if there were a thousand worlds filled with that glory that this is filled with, they would not take it for one ray, one beam, that is made known unto them, as the first fruits of that glory they shall have hereafter: now put all these together, and we may conclude, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a glorious condition for Gods servants; happy are they that shall be made partakers of these things, certainly there are great things to come.

Before we go any further, me thinks the thoughts of these should raise our hearts: what do we here minding such poor empty things? are these the things that God has made us for? are not the thoughrs of God concerning the children of men, higher and more glorious then these outward things? surely there is something else, that God has made mans immortal soul for, above any thing that it has seen in the world: men do live for the present, as if there were no other condition for them, no greater good, but only to cat and drink, and have money, and brave cloathes, and the like: O know there are better things for us to look after! but thus we pass from the first thing, that there are blessed things for the children of men hereafter.