use of them to stock our heads with fine speculations, or to gratify curiosity, or to puzzle ourselves or others with some difficulties and obscurities that may be found in them, and then to dispute artfully about them. A good hope of eternal life, by means of the Scriptures, answers their great design incomparably better, and is ten thousand times more profitable for us than all this.

Let the sinner, therefore, that has no hope in himself, and has no reason to hope on any principle whatsoever, that he shall go to heaven, in case he lives and dies in his present state before God; let him search the Scriptures, as containing the doctrine of eternal life through Jesus Christ, that he may learn the way in which there may be hope for him; and let him pursue the search until, by the grace of God, he may be partaker of that hope which shall never make him ashamed. Let the disconsolate soul, that has cast off hope, look into the great encouragements of the gospel to receive it. Such as the fulness of Christ, the richness of grace, and the suitableness of the promises that are plentifuly displayed therein. Let such as have some good hope, converse frequently with the Scriptures, and particularly with those parts of them that are most adapted to increase and establish their hope. And let such as have greater degrees of it continue to use the Scripture for its nourishment and improvement unto a full assurance; that their faith and hope may still grow exceedingly in the light of God's word and Spirit here, till in his most illustrious light above they shall see light for ever.

SECTION II.

THE SCRIPTURES CONDUCIVE TO PATIENCE AND COMFORT.

HAVING considered Hope as a principal end for which the Scriptures are of standing use in the Christian church, we are now to consider Patience and Comfort, mentioned by the apostle, as two subservient ends, to assist our hope.

In Rom. xv. 4, the word "Scriptures" seems to refer both to patience and comfort. They are of use to promote both. And accordingly Paul, as I apprehend, speaks of the patience of the Scriptures, as well as of the comfort of them. For it is brought in to show, that what the Scripture says of Christ's bearing reproaches is of use to teach us patience and self-de

nial; that we, encouraged by his example, might learn to "bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves ;" for "whatever things were written aforetime," and consequently this that was written concerning Christ's bearing reproaches, was written for our learning, that both by the patience and comfort, which the Scriptures afford, we might have hope through him, "who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

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The hope of eternal life is a spring of patience and comfort under all present difficulties: And patience and comfort invigorate our hope; they have a mutual influence to assist and mote each other. But the apostle speaks only of the influence that our patience and comfort have upon our hope, and represents the Scriptures as written to promote those, with a subservience unto this.

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Patience and comfort suppose that we live in an imperfect state, made up of mixtures of good and evil; that we have something to bear, and something to enjoy. And hope supposes that there is a better state of unmixed blessedness to come, where we shall have nothing disagreeable to bear, but all that is agreeable to enjoy. In this present imperfect state, patience assists our comfort, as it is a composure of the mind, and a regular tem of spirit under all the afflictions that befal us; a ten that gives a self-conscious pleasure, and puts us into a fi posture to receive all the comforts that offer to us. Comfort a sists our patience, as it cheers and fortifies the soul, and over-basances every weight that would oppress it. "The joy of the Lord is our strength; and a merry heart doth good as a medicine." And patience and comfort assist our hope, as they are an experience of the favour of God to us, of the truth and power of his grace in us, and of the method of his grace in working us up to a better state. For we are therein "followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hence the apostle speaks of "glorying in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience hope."

It must be a shocking thing to our hopes of heaven, to find our spirits unsubdued, our passions fierce, raging and ungovernable, unyielding to the hand of God, and full of bitter, impatient resentments against men. For " woe unto him that striveth with his Maker." The language of such a temper is like Pharaoh's, "Who is the Lord that I should obey him?" Or like that of another wicked king, "Behold this evil is of

the Lord, what should I wait for the Lord any longer ?" And the apostle James says, "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." And "if any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." Such a temper is unfit for a serene heaven, is unlike that to which reigns in heaven, and can have no satisfaction there. And while this uncreaturely and unsocial disposition governs and commands us, we can have no steady prevailing hopes of a state of unreserved subjection to God, and of an unvaried love, harmony, and peace with him, and with all our companions for ever. And if we have none of the comforts of God in our souls, but walk in darkness, under the power of unbelief, and of a dejected spirit, refusing to be comforted by all that the word of God proposes for our relief, this will naturally sink our hopes of eternal life. But when by means of his word patience has its perfect work, and divine consolations enrich our souls, we may look beyond all our present trials, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. For "whatsoever was written aforetime, was written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Here it may be proper to show, 1. What the patience and comfort of the Scriptures are, that subserve our hope of eternal life. And then, 2. How the Scriptures are of use to promote these.

I. We are to inquire, What the patience and comfort of the Scriptures are, that subserve our hope of eternal life? Let us consider each of these by themselves.

1. What is the patience of the Scriptures that subserves our hope? It is not a stupid indolence, or careless insensibility of what befals us, as if all the passions of human nature were useless, or as if we were stocks and stones, incapable of being impressed by any thing. This is to despise the chastening of the Lord, which is cautioned against, as an unworthy, heedless carriage toward him. Nor is it a rash and daring hardiness of spirit, that bids defiance to all evil, and is stubbornly resolute against being concerned at any calamity that may come upon us; as if we would force human nature to act contrary to the laws of its own being. This is to "harden ourselves against God." And, who ever did so and prospered? Nor is it a mere natural fortitude of temper to bear up under oppressing circumstances; this is sometimes an advantage, and at others a disadvantage to us, according as it is managed. This is not properly a virtue in itself, but a

mechanical effect of the natural constitution of our bodies, and of the peculiar make of our animal spirits. Nor is this patience an heroic bravery, from principles of philosophy, manhood, and honour, prompted forward by a selfish pride, and fondness of applause. This rises no higher than the shining achievements of the heathens, while they "were without Christ, being strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." Neither is it an enthusiastic and opinionative resoluteness, as if there were a merit in sufferings. This is no more than persons of the wildest sects may be wrought up to, by the fire of their own imaginations. None of these is that patience which the Scripture gives, or which, in a Scriptural way, promotes our hope of eternal life.

But the patience of the Scripture which serves this purpose, regulates our passions, softens and improves them, instead of forcing or destroying them, or rendering them useless. It restrains and subdues them, instead of giving them up to their own natural course, or to an inflexible sturdiness. And it subjects them to the guidance and command of the nobler powers of the soul, instead of subjecting those powers to their blind and unbridled impetuosity.

This patience is a Christian firmness of spirit, to bear with decency the various afflictions and trials we meet with, from an exercise of faith and trust in God through Christ, of love to him, of resignation to his will, and of affectionate regards to eternal glory beyond all temporal interests or pleasures whatsoever. This is the patience that the Scripture speaks of and promotes, to the furtherance of our hopes of eternal life.

The troubles we meet with in this life are of various kinds; some common to Christians with other men, and others peculiar to themselves on account of their profession of Christ's name. Some arise from the immediate hand of providence, others from our friends, others from our enemies, and others from ourselves.

But of what sort soever they are, and especially if they are such as befal us for the sake of Christ and religion, the patience of the Scriptures is a firmness of spirit to bear them decently as becomes Christians. Not to be dismayed at them, or dispirited by them; nor to behave with an air of haughtiness, or gaiety of mind under them; but to be ready to endure them with a sober, calm, and undaunted courage, like the apostle Paul, who said, with respect to the bonds and afflictions that attended him, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord

Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" And at another time, "What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart; for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus." Hence says Christ, "In your patience possess ye your souls"-Maintain a sedate government of your spirits and conduct, that no troubles may ever disorder your minds, enslave them to your tumultuous passions, or break your inward peace.

This holy bravery and firmness of spirit arises from an exercise of faith and trust in God through Christ, that he will be with us to support us under, and carry us through our trials and afflictions, to glorify himself and do us good by them, and at last to deliver us out of them all, and crown them with a gracious ample reward. When the faith of the Thessalonians grew exceedingly, their patience, with their faith in all their persecutions and tribulations, which they endured, was so remarkable as to give the apostle occasion to glory in them in all the churches. "By faith Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect to the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King; for he endured, as seeing him that is invisible." And by faith, others of the worthies of old "were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." In the former part of the same verse it is said, "women (such as the widow of Zarephath, and the Shunamite, 1 Kings xvii. 22, 23, and 2 Kings iv. 36), received their dead raised to life, i. e. to this mortal life, again." It seems to be in a beautiful opposition to this, that a resurrection to an immortal life is here mentioned under the character of a "better resurrection." And these believing Hebrews, whose faith was "the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen," refused to accept deliverance or redemption, upon any inglorious terms, from the most cruel death unto this temporal life, that they might obtain through faith and patience a better resurrection to eternal life.

This patience likewise proceeds from an exercise of love to God, to his glory, and people, and ways; that we may honour him, encourage them, and recommend his ways, by our example. Hence, says the apostle Peter, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory, and of God, resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." And says the apostle Paul," I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."