Mount Pisgah, or, A prospect of heaven being an exposition on the fourth chapter…Movnt Pisgah, or, A prospect of heaven being an exposition on the fourth chapter…

A third Attribute which mightily contributes assurance to the faith of heavens eternity, ¹is Gods Immutability. The unchangeableness of his counsel and purpose will set the ever of the Saints vision and fruition of God, beyond all dispute and hesitation. It was the very design and purpose of God upon the Saints in their regeneration and renewing by the Holy Ghost, which he shed upon them abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by his grace, they should be made heirs of eternal life. Did God manifest his eternal purpose to the world, of eternal life, and make such solemn provision for the carrying on that purpose upon the heirs of promise, by interesting the third Person in the glorious Trinity, the Holy Ghost, in it, and after all this can Heaven become but a peradventure and the Saints everlasting communion with God, prove a Scepticism or ungrounded opinion only? Nay, ²(saith the Apostle) in the very next verse, This is a faithful saying, i. e. a man may venture his soul upon it, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, i. e. ³assert as a matter of greatest assurance, of which there is no doubt, scil. this grand principle, The eternity of the Saints blessedness, that we should be made heirs of eternal life, and that to this end, that believers may be careful to maintain good works: leave Christians at an uncertainty of an everlasting reward, and farewell good works; men will act arbitrarily where they work doubtfully. Nay, but tell them, The foundation of the Lord stands sure, his counsels and purposes are unchangeable, with him is no variableness, ⁴neither shadow of turning; fix their faith upon this bottom, that Gods purpose of eternal life is as immutable as God himself, this will set them on work to purpose in the use of all such means as tend to so glorious an end. Did God from eternity purpose salvation to the elect, to eternity? A soul set beyond all suspicion of the accomplishment of this blessed promise, will be careful to maintain good works: so the Apostle follows it home, 1 Cor. 15. ult. Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, ⟨p. 92⟩