Use 1. Information,1 it shows us that salvation is not so facile a thing as most do imagine; many do fancy a fine easy way to heaven; a sigh, or tear, or Lord have mercy, will save them; these are in a golden dream. The text tells us of working out salvation.* Basil compares the way to heaven to a man going over a narrow bridge, if he treads never so little aside, he falls in and drowns. He that thinks the way is easy, was never yet in the way. There are so many precepts to obey, so many promises to believe, so many tentations to resist, that we shall not ⟨p. 27⟩find the way easy: There must not only be diligence, but violence. Beloved, heaven-gate is not like that iron-gate, Acts 12. 10. which opened to Peter of its own, accord; no, there must be knocking and striving. Jacob obtained the blessing in the garments of Esau. Esau in the Hebrew signifies working*; if you would wear this embroidered garment of salvation, you must have it by working, Work out your salvation. Hannibal forced a way for his Army over the Alps; 4we must force our way to glory through difficulties. I like the impress one gave, viz. a hand with a pick-axe digging a way through a rock, with this Motto, inveniam aut faciam, either I will find a way, or make it; we must to heaven through sweat & blood. There's nothing got without hard labour;5 You cannot have the world without labour, and would you have Christ and salvation? Do men dig ⟨p. 28⟩for lead, and not much more for gold? 'Tis observable that Adam in Paradise was not idle, but did dress the vine-yard. The Angels themselves, though they are glorious Spirits, yet they are Ministering Spirits. *God hath put this diligence into creatures void of reason. The Bee is a most industrious creature; all of them have their several work to do in the Hive. Some of the Bees do trim the honey, some work the wax, some frame the comb, and others lye sentinel at the door of the Hive to keep out the drone. Is the Bee so industrious by the instinct of nature in the working of honey? Oh how industrious ought we to be in the working out salvation.
Use 1. Information,1 it shews us that salvation is not so facile a thing as most do imagine; many do phancy a fine easie way to heaven; a sigh, or tear, or Lord have mercy, will save them; these are in a golden dream. The text tells us of working out salvation.* Basil compares the way to heaven to a man going over a narrow bridge, if he treads never so little aside, he falls in and drowns. He that thinks the way is easie, was never yet in the way. There are so many precepts to obey, so many promises to beleeve, so many tentations to resist, that we shall not ⟨p. 27⟩finde the way easie: There must not only be diligence, but violence. Beloved, heaven-gate is not like that iron-gate, Acts 12. 10. which opened to Peter of its own, accord; no, there must be knocking and striving. Jacob obtained the blessing in the garments of Esau. Esau in the Hebrew signifies working*; if you would weare this embroidered garment of salvation, you must have it by working, Work out your salvation. Hannibal forced a way for his Army over the Alpes; 4we must force our way to glory through difficulties. I like the impress one gave, viz. a hand with a pick-axe digging a way through a rock, with this Motto, inveniam aut faciam, either I will find a way, or make it; we must to heaven through sweat & blood. There's nothing got without hard labour;5 You cannot have the world without labour, and would you have Christ and salvation? Do men dig ⟨p. 28⟩for lead, and not much more for gold? 'Tis observable that Adam in Paradise was not idle, but did dresse the vine-yard. The Angels themselves, though they are glorious Spirits, yet they are Ministring Spirits. *God hath put this diligence into creatures void of reason. The Bee is a most industrious creature; all of them have their several work to do in the Hive. Some of the Bees do trim the honey, some work the wax, some frame the comb, and others lye sentinel at the doore of the Hive to keep out the drone. Is the Bee so industrious by the instinct of nature in the working of honey? Oh how industrious ought we to be in the working out salvation.
- 1Use 1. Inform.
- *Non est ad astra mollis è terris via
- *[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- 4Livy.
- 5Omnia pro laboribus Jupiter vendidit.
- *Heb. 1. 14
