A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

First, Of his crown of righteousness, 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 'Tis a Metaphor (say several) from the ¹custom in war, who used to crown the Conquerors with honour, &c. It is a similitude taken from fighters or Combatants, who for a prize received a Crown, when they had contended lawfully. The reward of Eternal life here, is called a Crown of righteousness. 1. Because 'tis purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ, by his perfect and complete righteousness & obedience, dear Jesus hath merited this for us, and so in Christ it is due to us by way of merit; though in respect of us 'tis of mere grace, of rich grace, of sovereign grace, of infinite grace, of glorious grace. 2. Because he is righteous that hath promised ²this Crown: Though every promise that God makes, is of free and rich grace, yet when once they are made, the truth and justice of God obligeth him to keep touch with his People; for as he cannot deny himself, so he cannot do any thing unworthy of himself: Men say and unsay, they promise one thing and mean another; men many times eat their words as soon as they have spoke them, but thus God can never, thus God will never do; God can never repent of his promises, he can never waver, he can never go back from his word: God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the Son of man that he should repent: Hath he said, ³and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? All the promises that refer to this life ⟨p. 96⟩and a better; are sure, firm, Faithful, unchangeable, immutable. All the promises are the word of a God, and given upon the honour of a God, that they shall be made good. O my Friends, the all-sufficiency of God, the ⁴omniscience of God, the omnipotency of God, the loving kindness and faithfulness of God, yea, and the Oath of God may fully, yea abundantly satisfy us, and secure us, that God will certainly make good all his precious promises to us. We commonly say, when an honest man passeth his word for a little money: O it is as sure as if it were in our purse; but Gods word of promise is abundantly more sure, for as his Nature is Eternal, so his word of promise is unchangeable: