union with Christ. Believers are incorporated into Christ, they are
To this I might add, the evil examples all around us, which are so attractive, that we may say that the devils have come among us in the likeness of men! What a wonder is it that any soul perseveres until he comes to the kingdom of heaven! But great as the wonder is, there is such a thing as perseverance. A saint's perseverance is built upon three immutable pillars:
1. A saint's perseverance is built upon God's eternal love. We are inconstant in our love to God; but he is not so in his love to us. "I have loved you with an everlasting love!" Jer 31:3. God's love to the elect is not like a king's love to his favorite, which when it is at the highest spring-tide, soonest ebbs; but God's love is eternal. He may desert us for a time, but he will never disinherit us. He may change his love into a frown, but never into hatred. He may alter his providence, but never his decree. When once the sunshine of God's electing love is risen upon the soul—it never sets finally!
2. A saint's perseverance is built upon the covenant of grace. It is a firm, impregnable covenant; as you read in the words of the sweet singer of Israel. "God has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure." 2 Samuel 23:5. It is a sweet covenant, that God will be our God. This is the marrow and quintessence of all blessing. The covenant of grace is a sure covenant, that he will put his fear in our heart, and we shall never depart from him. Jer 32:40. This covenant is inviolable, it cannot be broken. Indeed, sin may break the peace of the covenant—but it cannot break the bond of the covenant.
3. The third pillar upon which perseverance is built, is the mystic union with Christ. Believers are incorporated into Christ, they are knit to him as members to the head—by the nerve and ligament of faith, so that they cannot be broken off. Eph 5:23. What was once
said of Christ's natural body is as true of his mystic body. "No bone of his shall be broken." John 19:36. As it is impossible to sever the leaven and the dough when they are once mingled—so it is impossible when Christ and believers are once united, ever by the power of death or hell, to be separated. How can Christ lose any member of his body and be perfect? You see upon what strong pillars the saints' perseverance is built.
How does a Christians hold on until he comes to the kingdom? How does he persevere?
(1) By the help of the Spirit. God carries on a Christian to perseverance by the energy and vigorous working of his Spirit. The Spirit maintains the essence and seed of grace; it blows up the sparks of grace into a holy flame. "The Spirit is the Vicar of Christ." Tertullian. He is Christ's deputy and proxy; he is every day at work in a believer's heart, exerting grace into exercise, and ripening it into perseverance. The Spirit carves and polishes the vessels of mercy, and makes them fit for glory.
(2) Christ causes perseverance, and carries on a saint until he comes to the heavenly kingdom—by his intercession. He is an advocate as well as a surety; he prays that the saints may arrive safely at the kingdom. "Therefore he is able to save them to the uttermost (that is perfectly), seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them." Heb 7:25. That prayer he made for Peter on earth, he prays now in heaven for the saints, that their faith fail not, and that they may be with him where he is. Luke 22:32. John 17:24. And surely if he prays that they may be with him in his kingdom, they cannot perish along the way. Christ's prayer is efficacious. If the saints' prayers have so much force and prevalence in them, as Jacob, who had power with God, and as a prince prevailed, and Elijah by
prayer unlocked heaven; if the prayers of the saints have so much power with God—what has Christ's prayer? How can the children of such prayers miscarry? How can they fall short of the kingdom, who have him praying for them, who is not only a Priest—but a Son? Besides, what he prays for—he has power to give as he is God.
But methinks I hear some Christian say, if only perseverance obtains the kingdom, they fear they shall not come there; they fear they shall faint along the way, and the weak legs of their grace will never carry them to the kingdom of heaven.
Were you indeed to stand in your own strength, you might fall away. The branch withers and dies—which has no root to grow upon. You grow upon the root Christ, who will be daily sending forth vital influence to strengthen you; though you are imbecile and weak in grace—yet fear not falling short of heaven: For,
(1) God has made a promise to weak believers. What is a bruised reed—but an emblem of a weak faith? Yet it has a promise made to it, "A bruised reed shall he not break." Matthew 12:20. God has promised to supply the weak Christian with as much grace as he shall need, until he comes to heaven. Beside the two pence which the good Samaritan left to pay for the cure of the poor wounded man, he pledged his word for all that he should need beside. Luke 10:35. So, Christ does not only give a little grace in hand—but his bond for more, that he will give as much grace as a saint should need until he comes to heaven. "The Lord will give grace and glory," that is, a fresh supply of grace, until we are perfected in glory. Psalm 84:11.
(2) God has most care of his weak saints, who fear they shall never hold out until they come to the kingdom. Does not the mother tend the weak child most? "He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom." Isaiah 40:11. If you think
that you are so weak that you shall never hold out until you come to heaven, you shall be carried in the arms of the Almighty. He gathers the lambs in his arms. Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, marches before his people, and his power upholds them—so that none of them faint or die in their march to heaven.
What are the ENCOURAGEMENTS to make Christians hold on until they come to the kingdom of heaven?
(1) It is a great credit to a Christian, to hold fast the truth until he comes to heaven. When grace flourishes into perseverance, and with the church of Thyatira, our last works are more than our first, it is insigne honouris, a star of honor. Rev 2:1. It is matter of renown to see grey hairs shine with golden virtues. The excellency of a thing lies in the finishing of it. Where is the excellence of a building? Not when the first stone is laid—but when it is finished. So the beauty and excellence of a Christian is, when he has finished his faith, having done his work, and is landed safe in heaven.
(2) You who have made a progress in religion, have not many miles to go before you come at the kingdom of heaven. "Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Romans 13:11. You who have hoary hairs, your green tree is turned into an almond tree; you are near to heaven, it is but going a little further and you will set your feet within heaven's gates. Oh! therefore now be encouraged to hold out, your salvation is nearer than when you first began to believe. Our diligence should be greater, when our salvation is nearer. When a man is almost at the end of the race, will he now tire and faint? Will he not put forth all his strength, and strain every limb, that he may lay hold upon the prize? Our salvation is now nearer; the kingdom is as it were within sight; how should we now put forth all our strength, that we may lay hold upon the garland
of glory! Doctor Taylor, when going to his martyrdom, said, "I have but two stiles to go over, and I shall be at my Father's house." Though the way to heaven is up-hill, you must climb the steep rock of mortification; and though there are thorns in the way—you have gone the greatest part of it, and are within a few days march of the kingdom—and will not you persevere? Christian, pluck up your courage, fight the good fight of faith, pursue holiness. Before long you will take off your armor, and end all your weary marches, and receive a victorious crown; your salvation is nearer, you are within a little distance of the kingdom, therefore now persevere, you are ready to commence and take your prize of glory.
(3) The blessed promise annexed to perseverance is an encouragement. The promise is a crown of life. Rev 2:10. Death is a worm which feeds in the crowns of princes—but behold here a living crown, and a never-fading crown. 1 Peter 5:4. "He who overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, I will give him the morning-star." Rev 2:28. The morning-star is brighter than the rest. This morning-star is meant of Christ; as if Christ had said, I will give to him who perseveres some of my beauty; I will put some of my illustrious rays upon him; he shall have the next degree of glory to me, as the morning-star is next the sun. Will not this animate and make us hold out? We shall have a kingdom, and that which is better than a kingdom, a bright morning-star!
What are the MEANS which conduce to perseverance, or, what shall we do that we may hold out to the kingdom?
(1) Take up religion upon good grounds—not in a fit or humor, or out of worldly design; but be deliberate, weigh things well in the balance. "For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?"
Luke 14:28. Think with yourselves what religion must cost you; it must cost you the parting with your sins; and may cost you the parting with your lives. Consider if a kingdom will not counterbalance your sufferings. Weigh things well, and then make your choice. "I have chosen the way of truth." Psalm 119:30. Why do many apostatize, and fall away—but because they never sit down and count the cost?
(2) If we would hold out to the kingdom—let us cherish the grace of FAITH. "By faith you stand." 2 Cor 1:24. Faith, like Hercules' club—beats down all opposition before it. Faith is a conquering grace.
How does faith come to be so strong?
Faith fetches Christ's strength into the soul. Phil 4:13. A captain may give his soldier armor—but not strength. Faith partakes of Christ's strength, and gets strength from the promise; as the child by sucking the breast gets strength—so faith gets strength by sucking the breast of the promise; hence faith is such a wonder-working grace, and enables a Christian to persevere.
(3) If you would hold out to the kingdom, set before your eyes the EXAMPLES of those noble heroic saints who have persevered to the kingdom. Vivitur exemplis [Life is lived by examples.] Examples have more influence upon us than precepts. "My foot has held his steps." Job 23:11. Though the way of religion has flints and thorns in it—yet my foot has held its steps; I have not fainted in the way, nor turned out of the way. Daniel held on his religion, and would not leave off prayer, though he knew the writing was signed against him, and a prayer might cost him his life. Dan 6:10. The blessed martyrs persevered to the kingdom through sufferings. A martyr, kissing the stake, said, "I shall not lose my life—
but exchange it for a better; instead of coals I shall have pearls." What a spirit of gallantry was in these saints! Let us learn constancy from their courage. A soldier, seeing his general fight valiantly, is animated by his example, and has new spirits put into him.
(4) Let us add fervent PRAYER to God, that he would enable us to hold out to the heavenly kingdom. "Hold me up —and I shall be safe!" Psalm 119:117. Let us not presume on our own strength. When Peter cried to Christ on the water, "Lord save me!" then Christ took him by the hand. Matthew 14:30. When he grew confident of his own strength, Christ let him fall. Oh pray to God for persevering grace. The child is safe when held in the father's arms. Just so, are we safe in Christ's arms. Let us pray that God will put his fear in our hearts, that we do not depart from him; and that prayer of Cyprian, "Lord, perfect that which you have begun in me, that I may not suffer shipwreck when I am almost at the haven."
Use 5. Here let me lay down some powerful persuasive, or divine arguments to make you put to all your strength for obtaining this blessed kingdom.
(1) The great purpose for which God sent us into the world, is to prepare for this heavenly kingdom. "Seek first the kingdom of God." Matthew 6:33. First in time—before all things; and first in affection—above all things. Great care is taken for securing worldly things. Matthew 6:25. To see people laboring for the earth, as ants on an anthill, would make one think that this was the only purpose they were here for. But, alas! what is all this, compared to the kingdom of heaven? I have read of a devout pilgrim traveling to Jerusalem, who passing through several cities, where he saw many stately edifices, wares and monuments, would say, "I must not stay here, this is not Jerusalem." Just so, when we enjoy worldly things,