Christian Classics
‹ Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume Two
Contents
Introduction To The Works Of Jonathan EdwardsAdvertisement respecting the First SermonSermon I. God glorified in Man's DependenceSermon II. Sinners in the Hands of an angry God.Sermon I. A Divine and Supernatural LightSermon II. The Church's Marriage · Part 1Sermon II. The Church's Marriage · Part 2Sermon II. The Church's Marriage · Part 3Sermon III. True Saints · TRUE SAINTS, WHEN ABSENT FROM THE BODY, ARE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.Sermon III. True Saints · APPLICATIONSermon IV. God's Awful JudgmentSermon V. True Grace · Part 1Sermon V. True Grace · Part 2Sermon V. True Grace · Part 3PrefaceSermon I. Manner of Salvation of SoulsSermon II. THE UNREASONABLENESS OF INDETERMINATION IN RELIGIONSermon III. UNBELIEVERS CONTEMN THE GLORY AND EXCELLENCY OF CHRISTSermon IV. THE FOLLY OF LOOKING BACK IN FLEEING OUT OF SODOMSermon V. THE FOLLY OF LOOKING BACK IN FLEEING OUT OF SODOM.Sermon VI. THE WARNINGS OF SCRIPTURE ARE IN THE BEST MANNER ADAPTED TO THE AWAKENING AND CONVERSION OF SINNERSSermon VII. HYPOCRITES DEFICIENT IN THE DUTY OF PRAYERSermon VIII. HYPOCRITES DEFICIENT IN THE DUTY OF PRAYER.Sermon IX. THE FUTURE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED UNAVOIDABLE AND INTOLERABLE.Sermon X. THE FUTURE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED UNAVOIDABLE AND INTOLERABLE.Sermon XI. THE ETERNITY OF HELL TORMENTS.Sermon XII. THE PEACE WHICH CHRIST GIVES HIS TRUE FOLLOWERS.Sermon XIII. THE PERPETUITY AND CHANGE OF THE SABBATH.Sermon XIV. THE PERPETUITY AND CHANGE OF THE SABBATH.Sermon XV. THE PERPETUITY AND CHANGE OF THE SABBATH.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · Part 1Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · GOD THE BEST PORTION OF THE CHRISTIAN.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · APPLICATION.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · THE SOLE CONSIDERATION, THAT GOD IS GOD, SUFFICIENT TO STILL ALL OBJECTIONS.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · APPLICATION.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · GREAT GUILT NO OBSTACLE TO THE PARDON OF THE RETURNING SINNER.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · APPLICATION.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · THE MOST HIGH A PRAYER-HEARING GOD.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · APPLICATION.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · THE NATURE AND END OF EXCOMMUNICATION.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · APPLICATION.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · WHEN THE WICKED SHALL HAVE FILLED UP THE MEASURE OF THEIR SIN, WRATH WILL COME UPON THEM TO THE UTTERMOST.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · APPLICATION.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · WICKED MEN USEFUL IN THEIR DESTRUCTION ONLY.Seven Sermons. On Important Subjects · APPLICATION.MEN NATURALLY GOD'S ENEMIESSECTION I. In what respects, enemiesSECTION II. The degree of natural enmitySECTION III. Why enemies to GodSECTION IV. That natural men are unconscious of enmity, answeredSECTION V. That they show respect to God, answeredSECTION VI. Restraining grace a privilegeSECTION VII. Why unwilling to come to ChristSECTION VIII. Mercy, justly withheldSECTION IX. Practical improvementIntroductionSECTION I. Wonderful things doneSECTION II. God greatly glorifiedSECTION III. The good attained wonderfully variousSECTION IV. Angels benefit by salvationSECTION V. Wonderful glory redounds to GodSECTION VI. The manner of obtaining salvationSECTION VII. The overthrow of SatanSECTION VIII. Superiority of this wisdom to that of angelsSECTION IX. The subject improvedSECTION X. The misery of unbelieversSECTION XI. Exhortation to come to ChristIntroductionSECTION I. What is intended by divinity, as the object of this knowledgeSECTION II. What kind of knowledge in divinity is intended in the doctrineSECTION III. The usefulness and necessity of the knowledge of divine truthSECTION IV. Why all Christians should make a business of endeavouring to grow in the knowledge of divinitySECTION V. An exhortation that all may diligently endeavour to gain Christian knowledgeSECTION VI. Directions for the acquisition of Christian knowledgeCHRISTIAN CHARITYSECTION I. The words explainedSECTION II. Of the obligations of Christians to perform the duty of charity to the poorSECTION III. An exhortation to the duty of charity to the poorSECTION IV. Objections which are sometimes made to the exercises of charity answeredIntroductionSECTION I. The necessity of self-examinationSECTION II. Why many living in sin, know it notSECTION III. Directions for self-examinationSECTION IV. Examination about the Lord's day, &cSECTION V. Examination about secret sins, &c.SECTION VI. Our temper of mind, &c. towards our neighbourSECTION VII. Our charity, &c. towards our neighbourSECTION VIII. Self-examination respecting our familiesSECTION IX. Awakening considerationsA WARNING TO PROFESSORSIntroductionSECTION I. The ordinances of God are holySECTION II. Ordinances, by whom profanedSECTION III. A call to self-examinationSECTION IV. Address to profaners of ordinancesIntroductionSECTION I. God is the supreme judgeSECTION II. Publicity of final judgmentSECTION III. Jesus will be the judgeSECTION IV. Christ's coming, the resurrection, &c.SECTION V. All will be done in righteousnessSECTION VI. Immediate consequences of judgmentSECTION VII. The uses of this doctrineSECTION I. Who are sinners in ZionSECTION II. How fearfulness will surprise themSECTION V. An earnest exhortation to sinnersIntroductionSECTION I. Saints not grieved, &c.SECTION II. Why the sufferings of the wicked, &c.SECTION III. An objection answeredSECTION IV. The ungodly warnedCHRIST EXALTEDSECTION I. How evil of all kinds has prevailed and highly exalted itself in the worldSECTION II. How Jesus Christ, in the work of redemption, appears gloriously above all these evilsSECTION III. The subject improved and appliedSELF-FLATTERIESSECTION I. Sinners flatter themselves with the hope of impunitySECTION II. Some of the various ways wherein sinners flatter themselves in their own eyesSECTION III. The subject applied: OR THE SIN OF THEFT AND INJUSTICESECTION I. The dishonesty of withholding what is our neighbour'sSECTION II. The dishonesty of unjustly taking a neighbour's propertySECTION III. Dishonest excusesSECTION IV. The subject applied—The dishonest warnedSECTION V. An exhortation to honestyTEMPTATION AND DELIVERANCESECTION I. Why we should avoid what tends to sinSECTION II. What things lead and expose to sinSECTION III. A serious warning to all, and especially young peopleTHE PRECIOUSNESS OF TIMESECTION I. Why time is preciousSECTION II. Reflections on time pastSECTION III. Who are chiefly deserving of reproof from the subject of the preciousness of timeSECTION IV. An exhortation to improve timeSECTION V. Advice respecting the improvement of timePROCRASTINATIONSECTION I. Needful precautionsSECTION II. The precept explainedSECTION III. When men act as though they depend on another daySECTION IV. Why we ought not to boast of to-morrowSECTION V. Serious inquiriesSECTION VI. How to spend every dayTHE CHRISTIAN PILGRIMSECTION I. That this life ought to be so spent by usSECTION II. Why the Christian's life is a journey, or pilgrimageSECTION III. Instruction afforded by the consideration, that life is a journey, or pilgrimageSECTION IV. An exhortation, so to spend the present life, that it may only be a journey towards heavenMAN'S NATURAL BLINDNESS IN RELIGIONSECTION I. Introductory observationsSECTION II. From men's open professionSECTION III. From men's experience and practiceSECTION IV. Practical inferences and applicationsSECTION V. Address to sinnersMr. Cooper's PrefaceIntroductionSECTION I Negative signs of a spiritual workSECTION II. Positive signsSECTION III. Practical inferences and applicationAdvertisementPreface by a former English editorPreface by the American editorsPART I. The Text opened, and in Account of the Affair proposedPART II. Motives to Compliance with what is proposed · Part 1PART II. Motives to Compliance with what is proposed · SECT. I.PART II. Motives to Compliance with what is proposed · SECT. II.PART II. Motives to Compliance with what is proposed · SECT. III.PART II. Motives to Compliance with what is proposed · SECT. IV.PART II. Motives to Compliance with what is proposed · SECT. V.PART II. Motives to Compliance with what is proposed · SECT. VI.PART II. Motives to Compliance with what is proposed · SECT. VII.PART III. Objections answered · Part 1PART III. Objections answered · SECT. I.PART III. Objections answered · SECT. II.PART III. Objections answered · sect. iiiPART III. Objections answered · SECT. IV.PART III. Objections answered · SECT. V.PrefacePART I. From his birth to the time when he began to study for the ministryPART II. From his beginning to study, till his being examined and licensed to preachPART III. From his being licensed to preach, till he was appointed Missionary to the IndiansPART IV. From his appointment, to his entrance on the mission at KaunaumeekPART V. From his beginning to instruct the Indians, to his ordination · Part 1PART V. From his beginning to instruct the Indians, to his ordination · Part 2PART V. From his beginning to instruct the Indians, to his ordination · Part 3PART V. From his beginning to instruct the Indians, to his ordination · Part 4PART VI. From his ordination, till he began to preach to the Indians at Crossweeksung, where he had his most remarkable success · Part 1PART VI. From his ordination, till he began to preach to the Indians at Crossweeksung, where he had his most remarkable success · Part 2PART VI. From his ordination, till he began to preach to the Indians at Crossweeksung, where he had his most remarkable success · Part 3PART VI. From his ordination, till he began to preach to the Indians at Crossweeksung, where he had his most remarkable success · Part 4PART VII. Return from his last journey to Susquehannah in a consumption, whereof he died · Part 1PART VII. Return from his last journey to Susquehannah in a consumption, whereof he died · Part 2PART VII. Return from his last journey to Susquehannah in a consumption, whereof he died · Part 3PART VII. Return from his last journey to Susquehannah in a consumption, whereof he died · Part 4PART VII. Return from his last journey to Susquehannah in a consumption, whereof he died · Part 5PART VIII. From his return to Susquehannah, till his death · Part 1PART VIII. From his return to Susquehannah, till his death · Part 2PART VIII. From his return to Susquehannah, till his death · Part 3PART VIII. From his return to Susquehannah, till his death · Part 4AdvertisementPrefacePART I. The Rise and Progress of a remarkable Work of grace, &c. From A.D. 1745, June 19 to Nov. 4, at Crossweeksung and Forks of Delaware · Part 1PART I. The Rise and Progress of a remarkable Work of grace, &c. From A.D. 1745, June 19 to Nov. 4, at Crossweeksung and Forks of Delaware · Part 2PART I. The Rise and Progress of a remarkable Work of grace, &c. From A.D. 1745, June 19 to Nov. 4, at Crossweeksung and Forks of Delaware · Part 3PART I. The Rise and Progress of a remarkable Work of grace, &c. From A.D. 1745, June 19 to Nov. 4, at Crossweeksung and Forks of Delaware · Part 4PART II. From A. D. 1745, Nov. 24, to June 19, 1746, do. · Part 1PART II. From A. D. 1745, Nov. 24, to June 19, 1746, do. · Part 2PART II. From A. D. 1745, Nov. 24, to June 19, 1746, do. · Part 3PART II. From A. D. 1745, Nov. 24, to June 19, 1746, do. · Part 4PART II. From A. D. 1745, Nov. 24, to June 19, 1746, do. · Part 5SECTION I. The doctrine preached to the IndiansSECTION II. Morality, sobriety, and external duties promoted by preaching Christ crucifiedSECTION III. Continuance, renewal, and quickness of the workSECTION IV. But little appearance of false religionSECOND APPENDIXSECTION I. His method of learning the Indian languageSECTION II. His method of instructing the IndiansSECTION III. Difficulties attending the Christianizing of the IndiansSECTION IV. Second difficulty, To convey divine truths to their understanding, and to gain their assentSECTION V. Third difficulty.SECTION VI. Fourth difficulty, The designs of evil-minded persons to hinder the workSECTION VII. Attestations of divine grace displayed among the IndiansTHIRD APPENDIX--Containing his brief account of the endeavours used by the Missionaries of the Society in Scotland, for propagating Christian Knowledge, to introduce the Gospel among the Indians, on the borders of New York. &c. in a Letter to the Rev. Mr. Ebenezer PembertonMR. BRAINERD'S REMAINSAdvertisementI. Letter to his brother John, then a studentII. Letter to his brother John, then a studentIII. Letter to his brother IsraelIV. Letter to a special friendV. Letter to a minister of the GospelVI. Letter to his brother JohnVII. Letter to IsraelVIII. Letter to IsraelIX. Letter to a young gentleman, a candidate for the ministryX. Letter to his brother John, at BethelI. Scheme of a Dialogue in the Godly SoulII. Thoughts of a Soul under ConvictionIII. Some signs of GodlinessA Sermon preached in Newark at the Ordination of Mr. David Brainerd, by E. Pemberton, A. M.Reflections and Observations · REV. DAVID BRAINERD.Reflections and Observations · SECT. I.Reflections and Observations · SECT. II.Reflections and Observations · SECT. III.Reflections and Observations · SECT. IV.Reflections and Observations · SECT. V.Reflections and Observations · REFLECT. II.Reflections and Observations · REFLECT. III.Reflections and Observations · REFLECT. IV.Reflections and Observations · REFLECT. V.Reflections and Observations · REFLECT. VI.Reflections and Observations · REFLECT. VII.Reflections and Observations · REFLECT. VIII.PrefaceAdvertisementPART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. I.PART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. II.PART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. III.PART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. IV.PART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. V.PART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. VI.PART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. VII.PART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. VIII.PART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. IX.PART I. Observations on the Facts & Evidences of Christianity, & the Objections of Infidels · CHAP. X.PART II. Observations concerning the Mysteries of Scripture · Part 1PART II. Observations concerning the Mysteries of Scripture · Part 2PART II. Observations concerning the Mysteries of Scripture · Part 3PART II. Observations concerning the Mysteries of Scripture · Part 4PART II. Observations concerning the Mysteries of Scripture · Part 5CHAPTER I. Of God's Moral GovernmentCHAPTER II. Of Endless Punishment · Part 1CHAPTER II. Of Endless Punishment · Part 2CHAPTER II. Of Endless Punishment · Part 3CHAPTER III. Concerning the Divine Decrees · Part 1CHAPTER III. Concerning the Divine Decrees · Part 2CHAPTER III. Concerning the Divine Decrees · Part 3CHAPTER III. Concerning the Divine Decrees · Part 4CHAPTER III. Concerning the Divine Decrees · Part 5CHAPTER IV. Concerning Efficacious Grace · Part 1CHAPTER IV. Concerning Efficacious Grace · Part 2CHAPTER IV. Concerning Efficacious Grace · Part 3CHAPTER IV. Concerning Efficacious Grace · Part 4CHAPTER IV. Concerning Efficacious Grace · Part 5CHAPTER IV. Concerning Efficacious Grace · Part 6CHAPTER IV. Concerning Efficacious Grace · Part 7CHAPTER V. Of Satisfaction for Sin · Part 1CHAPTER V. Of Satisfaction for Sin · Part 2CHAPTER V. Of Satisfaction for Sin · Part 3CHAPTER V. Of Satisfaction for Sin · Part 4CHAPTER VI. Concerning Faith · Part 1CHAPTER VI. Concerning Faith · Part 2CHAPTER VI. Concerning Faith · Part 3CHAPTER VI. Concerning Faith · Part 4CHAPTER VI. Concerning Faith · Part 5CHAPTER VI. Concerning Faith · Part 6CHAPTER VII. Of the Perseverance of SaintsI. AngelsII. Fall of the AngelsIII. The DevilIV. Confirmation of the AngelsV. Heaven · Part 1V. Heaven · Part 2V. Heaven · Part 3V. Heaven · Part 4V. Heaven · Part 5V. Heaven · Part 6V. Heaven · Part 7V. Heaven · Part 8XII. TYPES OF THE MESSIAH · Part 1XII. TYPES OF THE MESSIAH · Part 2XII. TYPES OF THE MESSIAH · Part 3XII. TYPES OF THE MESSIAH · Part 4XII. TYPES OF THE MESSIAH · Part 5XII. TYPES OF THE MESSIAH · Part 6XII. TYPES OF THE MESSIAH · Part 7XII. TYPES OF THE MESSIAH · Part 8XII. TYPES OF THE MESSIAH · Part 9Pentateuch · Part 1Pentateuch · Part 2Pentateuch · Part 3Pentateuch · Part 4Genesis · Part 1Genesis · Part 2Genesis · Part 3Genesis · Part 4Genesis · Part 5Genesis · Part 6Genesis · Part 7Genesis · Part 8Exodus · Part 1Exodus · Part 2Exodus · Part 3Exodus · Part 4Leviticus to DeuteronomyJoshuaJudges to 2 Chronicles · Part 1Judges to 2 Chronicles · Part 2Judges to 2 Chronicles · Part 3Judges to 2 Chronicles · Part 4Nehemiah-EstherJobPsalmsProverbs to CanticlesIsaiahjeremiahEzekielDanielMinor ProphetsMatthew · Part 1Matthew · Part 2Matthew · Part 3Matthew · Part 4MarkLukeJohnActsRomans1-2 CorinthiansGalatians to 2 TimothyHebrews to Revelation · Part 1Hebrews to Revelation · Part 2Hebrews to Revelation · Part 3SERMON I. Natural Men in a dreadful Condition · Part 1SERMON I. Natural Men in a dreadful Condition · Part 2SERMON I. Natural Men in a dreadful Condition · Part 3SERMON I. Natural Men in a dreadful Condition · Part 4SERMON II. God makes Men sensible of their Misery before he reveals his Mercy and Love · Part 1SERMON II. God makes Men sensible of their Misery before he reveals his Mercy and Love · Part 2SERMON II. God makes Men sensible of their Misery before he reveals his Mercy and Love · Part 3SERMON III. Hope and Comfort usually follow genuine Humiliation and Repentance · Part 1SERMON III. Hope and Comfort usually follow genuine Humiliation and Repentance · Part 2SERMON III. Hope and Comfort usually follow genuine Humiliation and Repentance · Part 3SERMON III. Hope and Comfort usually follow genuine Humiliation and Repentance · Part 4SERMON IV. God's Sovereignty in the Salvation of MenSERMON V. The Character of Paul an Example t · Part 1SERMON V. The Character of Paul an Example t · Part 2SERMON V. The Character of Paul an Example t · Part 3SERMON V. The Character of Paul an Example t · Part 4SERMON VI. Christ's Agony · Part 1SERMON VI. Christ's Agony · APPLICATION.SERMON VI. Christ's Agony · APPLICATION.SERMON VII. The Portion of the Wicked · Part 1SERMON VII. The Portion of the Wicked · Part 2SERMON VII. The Portion of the Wicked · Part 3SERMON VII. The Portion of the Wicked · Part 4SERMON VIII. The Portion of the Righteous · Part 1SERMON VIII. The Portion of the Righteous · Part 2SERMON VIII. The Portion of the Righteous · Part 3SERMON VIII. The Portion of the Righteous · Part 4SERMON VIII. The Portion of the Righteous · Part 5SERMON VIII. The Portion of the Righteous · Part 6SERMON IX. The Pure in Heart blessed · Part 1SERMON IX. The Pure in Heart blessed · Part 2SERMON IX. The Pure in Heart blessed · Part 3SERMON X. Praise, one of the chief Employments of HeavenSERMON XI. Wicked Men inconsistent with themselves · Part 1SERMON XI. Wicked Men inconsistent with themselves · Part 2SERMON XI. Wicked Men inconsistent with themselves · Part 3SERMON XI. Wicked Men inconsistent with themselves · Part 4SERMON XII. Safety, Fullness, and sweet Refreshment, to be found in Christ · Part 1SERMON XII. Safety, Fullness, and sweet Refreshment, to be found in Christ · Part 2SERMON XII. Safety, Fullness, and sweet Refreshment, to be found in Christ · Part 3SERMON XIII. Christians a chosen Generation, a royal Priesthood, a holy Nation, a peculiar People · Part 1SERMON XIII. Christians a chosen Generation, a royal Priesthood, a holy Nation, a peculiar People · Part 2SERMON XIII. Christians a chosen Generation, a royal Priesthood, a holy Nation, a peculiar People · Part 3SERMON XIII. Christians a chosen Generation, a royal Priesthood, a holy Nation, a peculiar People · Part 4SERMON XIV. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and for everSERMON XV. The true Excellency of a gospel ministerSERMON XVI. Christ the Example of ministersSERMON XVII. The Sorrows of the Bereaved spread before Jesus
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Jonathan Edwards · 385 of 409

SERMON VIII. The Portion of the Righteous · Part 1

romans ii. 10.

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good.

the apostle, having in the preceding verses declared what is the portion of wicked men; viz. indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish; in this verse declares what is the portion assigned to good men. In the words of the text we should observe,

1. The description of a good man; viz. the man that worketh good. Such men are here described by the fruit which they bring forth. Christ has taught us that the tree is known by its fruit. Paul here describes them by that which most distinguishes them; not by the external privileges which they enjoy, or the light under which they live; but by the fruits which they bring forth. For as the apostle says, in verse 13. “Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of it shall be .” That which distinguishes good men from bad, is not that they hear good, or that they profess good, or that they intend good; but that they do good. They are workers of good.

2. The reward of such a man; viz. ”glory, honour, and peace; ” in which are mentioned three sorts of good that are assigned to them as their portion. 1. Their moral good, expressed by the word glory. Glory shall be given them; i. e. they shall be made excellent and glorious. They shall be endued with those excellent and glorious qualifications, which will render them beautiful and lovely. They shall have the image of God, and be partakers of his . Thus the word glory is used by St. Paul, 2 Cor. iii. 18. We are changed into the same image from glory to glory. 2. Their relative good; Honour. They shall be in most honourable circumstances. They shall be advanced to great dignity, receive a relation to God, and Christ, and the heavenly inhabitants, and God shall put honour upon them. 3. Their natural good; Peace: which, as it is used in the Scriptures, signifies happiness; and includes all comfort, joy, and pleasure.

I shall endeavour to show from the text, that glory, honour, and peace are the portion which God has given to all good men. In describing their happiness, I shall consider the successive parts of it; both here and hereafter.

First. I propose to treat of their happiness in this world. Those who are truly good men have been the subjects of a real thorough work of , and have had their hearts turned from sin to God. Of such persons it may be said, that they are truly blessed. They are often pronounced blessed by God. He is infinitely wise, and sees and knows all things. He perfectly knows who are blessed, and who are miserable. He hath said, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly ” “Blessed is he whose sins are forgiven. ” “Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust. ” “Blessed are the poor in spirit” “the ” “the merciful” “the pure in heart. ”

In considering the happiness of the righteous in this world, I shall pursue the method which the text obviously points out, and shall consider, 1. The excellency; 2. The honour; and, 3. The peace and pleasure, which God bestows upon them in the present life.

I. The excellency or glory. The sum of this consists in their having the image of God upon them. When a person is , he has the image of God instamped on him. Coloss. iii. 10. “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him who created him.” And Ephes. iv. 23, 24. “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in .” They have their eyes opened, and are led into such a sight of God and thorough acquaintance with him, as changes the soul into the image of God’s glory.

What can render a creature more excellent than to have the very image of the Creator? and how blessed a change is that which is wrought in , which brings a man thus to be in the image of God! For though the image of God in Christians in this world is very imperfect, yet it is real. The real image of God is most excellent, though it be imperfect.

Hence, “the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour, ” and “the are the excellent of the earth. ” The image of God is their glory, and it may well be called glory, for imperfect as it is, it renders them glorious in the eyes of the angels of heaven. The image of God is a greater beauty in their eyes, than the brightness and glory of the sun in the firmament.

Indeed the have no excellency, as they are in and of themselves. In them, that is, in their flesh, dwells no good thing. They are in themselves poor, guilty, vile creatures, and see themselves to be so; but they have an excellency and glory in them, because they have Christ dwelling in them. The excellency that is in them, though it be but as a spark, yet it is something ten thousand times more excellent than any ruby, or the most precious pearl that ever was found on the earth; and that because it is something divine, something of God.

This holy heavenly spark is put into the soul in , and God maintains it there. All the powers of hell cannot put it out, for God will keep it alive, and it shall prevail more and more. Though it be but small, yet it is powerful; it has influence over the heart to govern it, and brings forth holy fruits in the life, and will not cease to prevail till it has consumed all the corruption that is left in the heart, and till it has turned the whole soul into a pure, holy, and heavenly flame, till the soul of man becomes like the angels, a flame of fire, and shines as the brightness of the firmament.

II. I would consider the honour to which Christians are advanced in this world; and the sum of this is, that they are the children of God. This is an excellent and glorious degree of honour and dignity to which they are admitted; and that because the Being to whom they are related is an infinitely glorious being, a being of incomprehensible majesty and excellency; and also because the relation is so near and honourable a relation. It is a great honour to be the servant of God. John the Baptist said of Christ, that he was not worthy to stoop down to loose the latchet of Christ’s shoes. But Christians are not only admitted to be the servants of God, but his children; and how much more honourable in a family is the relation of children than that of servants! Gal. iv. 7. “ thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Rom. viii. 16, 17. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” 1 John iii. 1. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!” The honour appears the greater if it be considered how Christians are brought into their relation to God; and that is by Christ. They become the children of God by virtue of their union with the only-begotten and eternal Son of God; they are united to him as his spouse, and members of his body, as his flesh and his bones, and as one spirit; and, therefore, as Christ is the Son of God, so they are sons; therefore are they joint heirs with Christ, because they are joint sons with him. To this end God sent forth his Son, that so they might through him also be sons. Gal. iv. 4, 5. “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to them that were under the law, that we might receive the of sons.” And therefore they partaking of the relation of the Son, so are they also of the spirit of the Son; as it follows in the next verse, “and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ”

Herein Christians are the children of God in a more honourable way than the angels themselves; for the angels are the sons of God by virtue of that relation which they have to God, as they are in themselves singly and separately. But Christians are the children of God, as partaking with Christ, the only-begotten Son, in his sonship, whose sonship is immensely more honourable than that of the angels. And Christians, being the children of God, are honoured of God as such. They are sometimes owned as such by the inward testimony of the Spirit of God. For, as it is found in the verse already cited from Romans, “the Spirit beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. ” They are treated as such in the great value God puts upon them, for they are his jewels, those which he has set apart for himself; and he is tender of them as of the apple of his eve. He disregards wicked men in comparison of them. He will give kings for them and princes for their life. He is jealous for them. He is very angry with those that hurt them. If any offend them, it were better for them that a mill-stone were cast about their neck, and they were drowned in the depths of the sea. He loves them with a very great and wonderful love. He pities them as a father pities his children. He will protect them, and defend them, and provide for them, as a father provides for his children. This honour have all they that fear and love God, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

III. Peace and pleasure are also the portion of Christians in this world. Their peace and joy in God begin in the present life, and are no less excellent than the glory with which he invests them, and the honour to which he advances them. We ought here to consider, 1. What foundation they have for peace and joy. 2. What peace and joy they actually have.

1st. Their foundation for peace and joy is in their safety and their riches.

1. They have ground for peace because of their safety. They are safe in Jesus Christ from the wrath of God and from the power of Satan. They that are in Christ shall never perish, for none shall pluck them out of his hand. They are delivered from all their dreadful misery, that indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, which shall come on ungodly men. They were naturally exposed to it, but they are delivered from it; their sins are all forgiven them. The hand-writing is eternally blotted out. Their sins are all done away; God has cast them behind his back, and buried their sorrows in the depths of the sea, and they shall no more come into remembrance. They are most safe from misery, for they are built on Christ their everlasting rock. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God. They have the faithful promise of God for their security, that is established as a sure witness in heaven. They have an interest in that , that is well ordered in all things and sure. “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. ”

2. They have a foundation of unspeakable comfort and joy, because of their riches. They have true and infinite riches. They are the possessors and heirs of something real and substantial, and that is worthy to be called by the name of riches. The things they possess are excellent, more precious than gold and than rubies; all the desirable things of this world cannot equal them, and they have enough of it. The riches that they have given them of God are inexhaustible. It is sufficient for them; there is no end of it. They have a fountain of infinite good for their comfort, and contentment, and joy; for God has given himself to them to be their portion, and he is a God of infinite glory. There is glory in him to engage their contemplation for ever and ever, without ever being satiated. And he is also an infinite fountain of love; for God is love, yea, an ocean of love without shore or bottom! The glorious Son of God is theirs; that lovely one, who was from all eternity God’s delight, rejoicing always before him. All his beauty is their portion, and his dying love is theirs, his very heart is theirs, and his glory and happiness in heaven are theirs, so far as their capacity will allow them to partake of it; for he has promised it to them, and has taken possession of it in their name. And the are also rich in the principle that is in them. They have inward riches which they carry about with them in their own hearts. They are rich in faith. James ii. 5. “Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” They have the of God in their hearts, which is a most excellent treasure, and a good foundation of joy; for it is the seed of joy. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. And the seed that is sown in their hearts, is the of God there. That is a seed that, however it lies hid, will certainly in due time spring up, and put forth itself, and will bud, and blossom, and will bring forth rich fruit. These riches are the true riches. This is that good which God reserves for his friends. God distributes silver and gold and such like things among his enemies, because he slights them and regards them not. They are contemptible things in his eyes, as we throw husks to swine. But he has reserved better things for his children, of which no ungodly man, though a prince or monarch, shall partake. This is the ground which Christians have of peace and pleasure in this world. However, the cannot always take comfort, and do not always taste the sweetness that there is in store for them, by reason of the darkness and clouds that sometimes interpose. But though they may walk in great darkness for a long time, yet they are happy notwithstanding.

2d. They sometimes in this world have the actual enjoyment of peace and pleasure, that are most excellent. Sometimes the clouds that are in the way are removed, and Christians are enabled to behold the ground they have for rejoicing. Though God’s glory and love be often hid from them, as it were with a veil, or at least, so as to hinder a clear view of it, yet God sometimes is pleased to remove the veil, to draw the curtain, and to give the sweet visions. Sometimes there is, as it were, a window opened in heaven, and Christ shows himself through the lattice; they have sometimes a beam of sweet light breaking forth from above into the soul; and God and the Redeemer sometimes come to them, and make friendly visits to them, and manifest themselves to them. Sometimes Christians have seasons of light and gladness for some considerable period, and at other times their views are more transient. Sometimes their light and joy arise in reading of the Holy Scriptures, sometimes in hearing the word preached, sometimes at the Lord’s table, sometimes in the duty of prayer, sometimes in Christian conference, sometimes in meditation when they are about their occupations, as in the time of more set and solemn meditations; and sometimes in the watches of the night.

Those spiritual joys and pleasures which believers possess in this world, are chiefly of three sorts.

1. The joy which they have in a sense of their own good estate; in the sense they have of the pardon of their sins, and their safety from hell; and a sense of the favour of God, and in the hope they have of eternal life.

2. The joy and delight which they have in the apprehension and view of God’s excellency and love. The joy of a Christian does not consist merely in the sense of his own good estate, as natural men often are ready to imagine; but there is an excellent, transcendent, soul-satisfying sweetness that sometimes fills the soul in the apprehension of the excellency of God. The soul dwells upon the thought, fixes on it, and takes complacence in God as the greatest good, the most delightful object of its contemplation. This pleasure is the sweetest pleasure that a Christian ever feels, and is the foretaste of the pleasures of heaven itself. Herein sometimes the do boast of the clusters of Canaan. This sort of joy is evidence of sincerity above any other joy, a more sure evidence than a rejoicing in our own good estate. From the joy which the Christian has in the view of the glory and excellency of God; the consideration of the love of God to him cannot be excluded. When he rejoices in God as a glorious God, he rejoices in him the more because he is his God, and in consideration of there being a union between him and this God; otherwise, if there were a separation, the view of God’s excellency, though it would raise joy one way, would proportionally excite grief another. God is sometimes pleased to manifest his love to the , and commonly at those times, when a Christian has the greatest views of God’s excellency, he has also of his love; the soul is spiritually sensible of God as being present with it, and as manifesting and communicating himself; and it has sweet communion with God, and tastes the sweetness of his love, and knows a little what is the length, and breadth, and depth, and height of that love which passeth knowledge.

3. The third kind of joy is found in doing that which is to the glory of God. The true love of God makes this sweet and delightful to the soul. The joy of a Christian not only arises in knowing and viewing but also in doing; not only in apprehending God, but also in doing for God. For he loves God not only with a love of complacence, but a love of benevolence also; and as a love of complacence delights in beholding, so does a love of benevolence delight in doing for, the object beloved. The peace and pleasure which the Christian has in these things, is far better and more desirable than the pleasures that this world can afford, and especially than the pleasures of wicked men; and that on the following accounts.

1. There is light in this pleasure. The peace and pleasures of wicked men have their foundation in darkness. When wicked men have any quietness or joy, it is because they are blind, and do not see what is their real condition. If it were not for blindness and delusion, they could have no peace nor comfort in any thing. There needs nothing but to open a wicked man’s eyes, and let him look about him and see where he is, and it would be enough to destroy all the quietness and comfort of the most prosperous wicked man in the world. But on the contrary, the peace of a godly man, is a peace that arises from light; when he sees things most as they are, then he has most peace; and the distress and trouble which he sometimes feels, arise from clouds and darkness. When a godly man is in the greatest fear and distress, if he did not know what a happy state he were in, he would at the same time rejoice with unspeakable joy; so that his pleasure is not founded, like that of wicked men, in stupidity, but in sensibleness; not in blindness, but in light and sight, and knowledge.

2. There is rest in this pleasure. He that has found this joy, finds a sweet repose and acquiescence of the soul in it. It sweetly calms the soul and allays its disappointments. Christ says, Matt. xi. 28. “Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” There is a sweet contentment in it; the soul that tastes it, desires no better pleasure. There is a satisfaction in it. The soul that has been wandering before, when it comes to taste of this fountain, finds in it that which satisfies its desires and cravings, and discovers that in it which it needs in order to its happiness. John iv. 14. “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” It is quite otherwise with the pleasures of ungodly men. There is no true rest in them, they are not enjoyed with inward quietness, there is no true peace enjoyed within, neither do they afford contentment. But those wicked men that have the most pleasures, are yet restlessly inquiring, “Who will show us any good?” “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. ” Wicked men in the midst of their enjoyment of pleasure have no true rest, neither do their reflections on it afford rest; but only remorse of conscience, and disquietude of soul, under the guilt that is contracted. But the pleasures of the godly afford rest in the enjoyment, and rest and sweetness in the reflection; it oftentimes calms and refreshes the soul to look on past comforts.

3. There is life in it. It is a pleasure that strengthens and nourishes and preserves the soul, and gives it life, and does not corrupt and destroy and bring it to death, as do sinful pleasures. The pleasures of the wicked are poison to the soul, they tend to enfeeble it, to consume it, and kill it. But the pleasures of the godly feed the soul, and do not consume it; they strengthen, and do not weaken it; they exalt, and do not debase it; they enrich, and do not impoverish it. Death and corruption are the natural fruit of the pleasures of sin, but life is the fruit of spiritual pleasures. Gal. vi. 8. “For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” The life in which this joy consists, and to which it tends, is the most excellent life, and the only life worthy of the name; it is spiritual, and the beginning of eternal life: this pleasure is a fountain springing up to everlasting life. John iv. 14.

4. There is substance in it. This pleasure is not a mere shadow, an empty delight, as earthly pleasures are, but it is substantial joy. The pleasures of sin last but a little season, they are the crackling of thorns under a pot, or as the blazing meteors of the night, that appear for a moment, and then vanish. But this pleasure is like the durable light of the stars or the sun. pleasures are easily overthrown; a little thing will spoil all the pleasures of a king’s court. Haman, in the midst of all his prosperity and greatness, could say, “Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. ” But the joys of the are such as the changes of time cannot overthrow. If God lifts up the light of his countenance, this will compose and rejoice the heart under the saddest tidings. They joy in affliction. Their enemies cannot overthrow this joy; the devil and even death itself cannot overthrow it; but oftentimes it lives, and is in its greatest height, in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death. When in the most tormenting death, how often have the martyrs sung in the midst of the flames, and under the hands of their cruel tormentors! Job xxxv. 10. “But none saith, Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night.”

5. There is in it. It is the excellency of these joys that they are holy joys. They are not like the polluted stream of sinful pleasures, but they are pure and holy. Rev. xxii. 1. “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” These pleasures do not defile the soul, but purify it; they do not deform, but beautify it; they not only greatly delight the soul, but render it more excellent; they impart something more of God, more of a divine disposition and temper, dispose to holy actions, and cause the soul to shine as Moses’s face did when he had been conversing with God in the mount, and as Stephen’s face, which was as the face of an angel, when he saw heaven opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Thus these pleasures make the soul more excellent, and more divine, as well as more happy.

6. There is sometimes glory in it. God sometimes unveils his face, and lets in light more plentifully. This is a delight and joy, the excellency, and sweetness, and admirableness of which cannot be expressed. It is a kind of glory that fills the soul. So excellent is its nature, that the sweetest earthly delight vanishes into nothing, and appears as base and vile as dross and dirt, or as the mere mire of the street. It is bright above all that is earthly, as the sun is brighter than the glow-worm. Of this, the apostle takes notice. 1 Peter i. 8. “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

Secondly. I proceed to consider the happiness of the in death. It may seem a mystery to the world that men should be happy in death, which the world looks upon as the most terrible of all things; but thus it is to the . Their happiness is built upon a rock, and it will stand the shock of death: when the storm and floods of death come with their greatest violence, it stands firm, and neither death nor hell can overthrow it. Here,

1. Death is rendered no death to them. It is not worthy of the name of death. As the life of a wicked man is not worthy of the name of life, so the death of a godly man is not worthy of the name of death. It is not looked upon as any death at all in the eyes of God, who sees all things as they are, nor is it called death by him. Hence Christ promises, that those who believe in him shall not die. John vi. 50, 51. “This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” It is no death to the , because it is no destruction to them. The notion of death implies destruction, or perishing, in it; but the godly are not destroyed by death, death cannot destroy them; for as Christ says, they shall never perish. John iii. 15. “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” A godly man, when he dies, in no wise perishes. There is no end put to his life as a Christian, for that is a spiritual life that remains unquenched by death. A wicked man, when he dies, dies indeed, because then an end is put to all the life which he has; for he has no other life but temporal life; but the life of a Christian is hid with Christ, and safely laid up with him in heaven; and therefore death cannot reach his life, because it cannot reach heaven. Death can no more reach the believer’s life than Christ’s life. No death can reach Christ our life now, though he died once: but now he has for ever sat down at the right hand of God. He says, for the comfort of his , Rev. i. 18. “I am he that liveth and was dead: and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.” Death not only cannot destroy a Christian, but it cannot hurt him; Christ carries him on eagle wings aloft on high, out of the reach of death. Death, with respect to him, is disarmed of his power: and every Christian may say, “O death, where is thy sting? ” Death was once indeed a terrible enemy, but now he has become weak. He spent all his strength on Christ; in killing him, he killed himself; he was conquered then, and has now no power to hurt his followers. Death is now but the shadow of what he would have been if Christ had not conquered him; he was once a lion, but now he is but a lamb. A good man may indeed be harassed with fears of death, and may be much terrified when going through the valley of the shadow of death, but that is no just ground of any terror, and if the are terrified, it is only through their infirmity and darkness. As a child is frightened in the dark where there is no danger, because he is a child, so a good man may be affrighted at the terrible looks of death. But he will find this awful appearance to be only a shadow, that can look terribly, but can do nothing terrible. Death may, through the weakness of the , trouble them, and exercise them, but he cannot destroy the ground they have for comfort and support. When death comes to a wicked man, all those things on which he built his comfort fail, their foundation is overflown with a flood. Job xxii. 16. But the foundation of the peace and comfort of the godly man is not shaken at such a time. Oftentimes the are actually carried above all the fears and terrors of death; they see that it is but a shadow, and are not afraid: not only their foundation of comfort remains, but that peace and comfort itself is undisturbed, the light shines through the darkness, and the lamb-like nature of death appears through the shadow of the lion. The godly have a God to stand by them when they come to die, in whose love and favour they may shelter themselves, in whose favour is life, yea, life in death; and they have a blessed Saviour to be with them, to uphold them with the right hand of his . These are the friends they have with them, when they are going to take their leave of all earthly friends. God will be with them when their flesh and heart fails; God will be the strength of their heart, when they are weak and faint, and nature fails. God will put underneath his everlasting arms to support them, and will make all their bed for them in their sickness. Psal. xxxvii. 37. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.”