1. It informeth us, that we may look for the reward without sin. Those men would be wiser than God that deny1 us a liberty to make use of the Spirits motives, they begrudge Gods bounty, to what end should the Lord propound rewards but that we should close with them by faith, graces may be exercised about their proper objects without sin, it requireth some faith to aim at things not seen, the world is drowned in sense and present satisfactions; they are Mercenaries that must have pay in hand, their Souls droop and languish if they do not meet with credit, applause, and profit, they make man their pay master, they have the spirit of a servant that prefer present wages before the inheritance; but to do all upon the encouragements of the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life argueth grace: 'Twas a relief to the Soul of Christ to think of the reward, Heb. 12. 2. Christ, as man, was to have rational comforts and humane encouragements; that is, sinful indeed when we would have the reward but neglect the work, when we would be Mercenarii but not Operarii, we sever the reward from the duty, & like Ephraim are willing to ••ead the corn but not break the clods, Hos. 10. 11. Again, we look amiss upon the reward when we have a carnal notion of heaven, as some Jews looked for a carnal Messiah, so do some Christians for a carnal Heaven, for base pleasure and fleshly delights, for a Turkish Paradise, such kind of hopes debase the heart, or else when we look for it as merited by us, as if we could challenge it by our works, then we are Mercenaries indeed, 'tis here looking for the mercy of Jesus Christ, &c.
1. It informeth us, that we may look for the reward without sin. Those men would be wiser than God that deny1 us a liberty to make use of the Spirits motives, they begrudg Gods bounty, to what end should the Lord propound rewards but that we should close with them by faith, graces may be exercised about their proper objects without sin, it requireth some faith to aim at things not seen, the world is drowned in sense and present satisfactions; they are Mercenaries that must have pay in hand, their Souls droop and languish if they do not meet with credit, applause, and profit, they make man their pay master, they have the spirit of a servant that prefer present wages before the inheritance; but to do all upon the incouragements of the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life argueth grace: 'Twas a relief to the Soul of Christ to think of the reward, Heb. 12. 2. Christ, as man, was to have rational comforts and humane incouragements; that is, sinful indeed when we would have the reward but neglect the work, when we would be Mercenarii but not Operarii, we sever the reward from the duty, & like Ephraim are willing to ••ead the corn but not break the clods, Hos. 10. 11. Again, we look amiss upon the reward when we have a carnal notion of heaven, as some Jews looked for a carnal Messiah, so do some Christians for a carnal Heaven, for base pleasure and fleshly delights, for a Turkish Paradis•, such kind of hopes debase the heart, or else when we look for it as merited by us, as if we could challenge it by our works, then we are Mercinaries indeed, 'tis here looking for the mercy of Jesus Christ, &c.
- 1Use 1.Ʋse 1.
