04 The Application of Redemption Part 3 contd

Use one: For INSTRUCTION.

(1.) See the excellence of grace. It perseveres. Other things are but for a season; health and riches are sweet—but they are but for a season. But grace is the blossom of eternity. The seed of God remains. 1 John 3:9. Grace may suffer an eclipse, not a dissolution. It is called substance, for its solidity, Proverbs 8:21; and durable riches, for its permanence. Proverbs 8:18. It lasts as long as the soul. It lasts as long as heaven lasts. Grace is not like a lease which soon expires—but it runs parallel with eternity.

(2.) See here that which may excite everlasting love and gratitude to God in the saints. What can make us love God more than the fixedness of his love to us? He is not only the author of grace—but finisher; his love is perpetual and carried on to our salvation. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish." John 10:27-28. "My sheep"—there is election; "hear my voice"—there is effectual calling; "I know them"—there is justification; "and they follow me"—there is sanctification; "I give them eternal life"—there is glorification; "they shall never perish"—there is preservation. How may this make us love God, and set up the monuments and trophies of his praise! How much have we done to cause God to withdraw his Spirit, and allow us to fall finally! Yet that he should keep us—let his name be blessed, and his memorial eternalized, who keeps the feet of his saints. 1 Samuel 2:9.

(3.) See whence it is, that saints persevere in holiness. It is to be ascribed solely to the power of God; we are kept by his power, kept as in a garrison. It is a wonder that any Christian perseveres, if you consider:

(1:) Corruption within. The tares are mingled with the wheat; there is more sin than grace—yet grace is habitually predominant. Grace is like a spark in the sea—it is a wonder that it is not quenched! It is a wonder that sin does not destroy grace.

(2:) Temptations without. Satan envies us happiness, and he raises his militia, and stirs up persecution. He shoots his fiery darts of temptations, which are called darts for their swiftness, fiery for their terribleness. We are every day beset with devils. As it was a wonder that Daniel was kept alive in the midst of the roaring lions, so there are many roaring devils around us, and yet we are not torn in pieces. Now, whence is it that we stand against these powerful temptations? We are kept by the power of God!

(3:) The world’s old snares—riches and pleasure. "How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" Luke 18:24-25. How many have been shipwrecked upon these golden rocks! "Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world." 2 Timothy 4:10. What a wonder any soul perseveres in holiness—that the earth does not choke the fire of all holy affections! Whence is this—but from the power of God? We are kept by his power.

Use two: For CONSOLATION. This doctrine of perseverance is as a magic stone; it is a sovereign cordial to keep up the spirits of the godly from fainting.

(1.) There is nothing that more troubles a child of God, than that he fears he shall never hold out. "These weak legs of mine," he says, "will never carry me to heaven." But perseverance is an inseparable fruit of sanctification. Once in Christ—forever in Christ. A believer may fall from some degrees of grace—but not from the state of grace. An Israelite could never wholly sell or alienate his inheritance. Leviticus 25:23. So our heavenly inheritance cannot be wholly alienated from us. How despairing is the Arminian doctrine of falling from grace! Today a saint—tomorrow a reprobate; today a Peter—tomorrow a Judas. This must needs cut the sinews of a Christian’s endeavor, and be like boring a hole in a vessel—to make all the wine of his joy run out. Were the Arminian doctrine true, how could the apostle say that the seed of God remains in him, and the anointing of God abides? 1 John 3:9; 1 John 2:27. What comfort would it be—to have one’s name written in the book of life—if it might be blotted out again? But be assured, for your comfort—that grace, if it is true, though ever so weak, shall persevere. Though a Christian has but little grace to trade with—yet he need not fear breaking, because God not only gives him a stock of grace—but will keep his stock for him. Augustine, "Grace may be shaken with fears and doubts—but it cannot be plucked up by the roots." Do not fear of finally falling away. If anything should hinder the saints’ perseverance, it must be either sin or temptation; but neither of these can.

(1:) Not the sin of believers. Their sins humble them. That which humbles them shall not damn them. They gather grapes off thorns; from the thorn of sin they gather the grape of humility.

(2:) Not temptation. The devil lays his temptation to blow up the fort of a saint’s grace; but he cannot do it. Temptation is a medicine for security; the more Satan tempts—the more the saints pray! When Paul had the messenger of Satan to buffet him, he said, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." 2 Corinthians 12:8. Thus nothing can break off a believer from Christ, or hinder his perseverance. Let this wine be given to such as are of a heavy heart.

(2.) This perseverance is comfort:

(1:) In the loss of worldly comforts. While our goods may be taken away—our grace cannot. "Mary has chosen the better part, which cannot be taken from her."

(2:) In the hour of death. When all things fail, and friends take their farewell of us—yet still grace remains. Death may separate all things from us—except for grace. A Christian may say on his death-bed, "Sight is gone, speech and hearing are departing—but the loving-kindness of God will never depart."

Use three: For EXHORTATION. What MOTIVES and incentives are there to make Christians persevere?

(1.) It is the crown and glory of a Christian to persevere. It is not the beginning of the Christian life which gets glory, but the end of it. "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life." Proverbs 16:31. When grey hairs shine with golden virtues, it is a crown of glory! The church of Thyatira was best at last. "I know your works—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your last works are greater than the first." Revelation 2:19. The excellence of a building is not in having the first stone laid—but when it is finished. Just so, the glory and excellence of a Christian is when he has finished the work of faith.

(2.) You are within a few days’ march of heaven. Salvation is near to you. "Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11. Christians, it is but a little while, and you will have done weeping and praying—and be triumphing! You shall put off your mourning garments, and put on white robes! You shall put off your battle armor, and put on a victorious crown! You who have made a good progress in piety, you are almost ready to commence and take your degree of glory! "Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." When a man is almost at the end of a race, will he tire, or faint away? O labor to persevere, your salvation is now nearer; you have but a little way to go—and you will set your foot in heaven! Though the way is up-hill and full of thorns—yet you have gone the greatest part of your way, and shortly shall rest from your labors! "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom!" Luke 12:32.

(3.) How sad is it not to persevere in holiness! You expose yourself to the reproaches of men, and the rebukes of God.

First, to the reproaches of men. They will deride both you and your profession. "This man began to build, and was not able to finish." Such is he who begins in religion, and does not persevere: he is the ridicule and derision of all.

Secondly, to the rebukes of God. God is most severe against such as fall away, because they bring an evil report upon true religion. Apostasy breeds a bitter worm in the conscience; and it brings swift damnation; it is a drawing back to perdition. "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:36. God will make his sword drunk with the blood of apostates.

(4.) The promises of mercy are annexed only to perseverance. "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels." Revelation 3:5. The promise is not to him who fights—but who overcomes. "You are those who have continued with me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom." Luke 22:28-29. "The promise of a kingdom," says Chrysostom, "is not made to those who merely heard Christ—but to those who continued with him. Perseverance carries away the garland! No man has the crown set upon his head—but he who holds out to the end of the race. O therefore, be persuaded by all this, to persevere. God does not receive those who do not persevere. Who values corn which withers before harvest; or fruit which falls from the tree before it is ripe?

What expedients or MEANS may be used for a Christian’s perseverance?

(1.) Take heed of those things which will make you stumble and fall away.

First. Take heed of PRESUMPTION. Do not presume upon your own strength; exercise a holy fear and jealousy over your own hearts. "Be not high-minded—but fear." "Let him that thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall." It was Peter’s sin that he leaned more upon his grace, than upon Christ—and then he fell. A Christian has cause to fear lest the lust and deceit of his heart betray him. Take heed of presuming. Fear begets prayer, prayer begets strength, and strength begets steadfastness.

Secondly. Take heed of HYPOCRISY. Judas was first a sly hypocrite—and then a traitor. "Their heart was not right with God, neither were they steadfast in his covenant." If there is any venom or malignity in the blood—it will break forth into a plague-sore. The venom of hypocrisy is in danger of breaking out into the plague-sore of scandal.

Thirdly. Beware of a vile heart of UNBELIEF. "Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." Whence is apostasy—but from unbelief? Men do not believe the truth, and therefore they fall from the truth. Unbelieving and unstable, go together. "They believed not in God." "They turned back."

(2.) If you would be pillars in the temple of God, and persevere in sanctity:

(1) See that you enter into religion upon a right ground; be well grounded in the foundational truths of Scripture. You must know the love of the Father, the merit of the Son, and the efficacy of the Holy Spirit. Such as know not God aright will by degrees fall away. The Samaritans sided with the dews when they were in favor—but disclaimed all kindred with them when Antiochus persecuted the Jews. No wonder they were no more fixed in true religion, if you consider what Christ says of them: "You worship, you know not what." They were ignorant of the true God. Let your knowledge of God be clear, and serve him purely out of choice, and then you will persevere. "I have chosen the way of truth. I have stuck unto your testimonies."

(2) Get a real work of grace in your heart. "It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace." Nothing will hold out, but true grace; it is only this anointing which abides; paint will fall off. Get a heart-changing work. "But you are washed—but you are sanctified." Do not be content with baptism of water, without baptism of the Spirit. The reason men persevere not in true religion, is for lack of a vital principle; that branch must wither, which has no root to grow upon.

(3) If you would persevere, be very SINCERE. Perseverance grows only upon the root of sincerity. "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me.". The breastplate of sincerity can never be shot through. How many storms was Job in! The devil set against him; his wife tempted him to curse God; his friends accused him of being a hypocrite. Here was enough, one would think, to have made him desist from piety! But for all this, he perseveres. What preserved him? It was his sincerity. "I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live." Job 27:5-6.

(4) If you would persevere, be HUMBLE. Chrysostom calls humility the mother of all the graces. God lets a poor, humble Christian stand, when others of higher abilities, and who have higher thoughts of themselves, fall off by apostasy. They are most likely to persevere, to whom God gives most grace. "He gives grace to the humble." They are most likely to persevere, who have God dwelling in them. "God dwells in the humble soul." "The Holy Spirit will only come to rest over a humble soul," Bernard. The lower the tree roots in the earth—the firmer it is. Just so, the more the soul is rooted in humility—the more established it is, and is in less danger of falling away.

(5) Would you persevere? Nourish the grace of FAITH. Faith is our support. "By faith you stand." Faith knits us to Christ, as the members are knit to the head by nerves and sinews. Faith fills us with love to God. "Faith works by love." He who loves God will rather die than desert him; as the soldier who loves his general will die in his service. Faith gives us a glimpse of heaven; it shows us the invisible glory! He who has Christ in his heart, and a crown in his eye—will not faint away. O nourish faith! Keep your faith—and your faith will keep you. While the pilot keeps his ship—his ship keeps him.

(6) Would we persevere? Let us seek God’s power to help us. We are kept by the power of God. The child is safest when it is held in the father’s arms. Just so, we are safest, when we are held in the arms of free grace! It is not our holding God—but his holding us, which preserves us. When a boat is tied to a rock, it is secure. Just so—when we are fast tied to the Rock of Ages, we are impregnable. O engage God’s power to help you to persevere. We engage his power by prayer. Let us pray to him to keep us. "Hold up my goings in your path, that my footsteps slip not." "Hold me up—and I shall be safe!" Psalms 119:117. It was a good prayer of Beza, "Lord, perfect what you have begun in me, that I may not suffer shipwreck when I am almost at the haven."

(7) If you would persevere, set before your eyes the noble examples of those who have persevered in piety. How many martyrs, how many faithful souls are even now rejoicing in Heaven! What a glorious army of saints and martyrs have gone before us! How constant to the death, was Paul! "Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! For I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but also to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus." Acts 21:13. How persevering in the faith were Ignatius, Polycarp, and Athanasius! They were stars in their orbs, pillars in the temple of God. Let us look on their zeal and courage, and be animated. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1. The crown is set at the end of the race! If we finish the race—we shall wear the crown!