The Resurrection of the Body.
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Rom. 8:19

Exposition.
1. General Context.
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Romans 8:19
Here in the epistle of Romans, the Holy Spirit by the pen of the apostle Paul lays down the main principles of the doctrine of faith, in order to establish our minds in the truth, give us a sure ground for confidence in the Lord, and enliven us to good works. In the first three chapters, the apostle declares all men to be guilty before God, accursed and at enmity with Him by reason of sin. The law pronounces us dead in trespasses and sins that we, receiving this as true through the power of His grace might be quickened to life by the secret work of the Spirit. Christ saith concerning the ministry of the Spirit that He will come to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. The first part of faith is the conviction of sin, that we might be led thereby to the righteousness of another, even Jesus Christ, who was made a propitiation for sin, and a Savior for sinners. This is hammered down in the first three chapters in this epistle to the Romans. Then being thus humbled for sin, the apostle leads us by the hand to the nature of faith in chapters four and five, saying such things as, “to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” And, “if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect…because the law worketh wrath.” And again, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Declaring plainly and firmly that apart from faith in Christ, there is no salvation, because Christ Himself is salvation, and faith lays hold on Him, and believes in His righteousness for deliverance from sin. So faith is the means, or conduit through which we receive the perfect righteousness of Christ imputed to us. And so, being led from the knowledge of sin to the knowledge of Christ, we are then led to the principles of sanctification and the real mortification of sin in chapters six and seven. “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid.” And again, dealing with something very closely related to our text at hand, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” And so then, seeing our duty in the law, and our wretchedness by it, we come to see that God delights in obedience to Him, and so being renewed by Him our aim is to please Him according to it, although in many things we stumble and fall. But let this not discourage us, but rather humble us, encourage us to true faith and obedience, and enliven our hope in the coming of the Lord. And so we come to the chapter in which this precious gem of truth is found, (that is the text at hand) wherein is declared the ground of comfort that all believers have which is that “there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” and their attitude towards His holy law also, saying, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit… for the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law, neither indeed can be.” And so, we being reconciled to God, are no longer at enmity with Him, but are the rather brought to Him as sons and dear children through the sacrifice of Christ. And so we, being sons of God are given great and exceedingly precious promises, that we might conduct our pilgrimage here in faith, and hope and fear, not neglecting our duty to God, or becoming discouraged because we wait long for it, but rather placing our affections on Christ who is coming again, we persevere amidst many trials and temptations.
2. Particular Context.
Therefore in the particular, the Holy Spirit means to provide immeasurable comfort to the saints, who are born of God, that they might see the greatness of their inheritance, both in the privileges and duties, and so teaching us to take our thoughts beyond this world, He takes our thoughts to the gates of heaven, there to behold Christ in faith, and wait patiently for His coming to deliver us. For we are taught thus, that we are born in sin, and unable to please God belonging to this world which is fallen under the curse, and that Christ was sent into the world as a Savior, just and righteous delivering us from such a state of bondage, and that it is through faith in His name that we are justified in God’s sight, never again to come into condemnation. But being now in the body, and not yet glorified with His saints in heaven, we are in a constant war against the flesh, against the world and against the devil himself, the prince of the lusts of this world. Therefore being beset by so many great and innumerable enemies, trials and obstacles, we are in need of great comfort and assistance by the Spirit, and are taught to rest upon the surety of His word, which He speaketh here by way of comfort saying, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Therefore, though we are compassed about by so many difficulties and tribulations in the body, let us see how many great and precious promises we are assured of in our very soul, that we faint not along the way. For Christ is become salvation for us, taking to Himself the likeness of our flesh, and thus condemning sin by it has delivered us from it. This we behold by faith. He also has promised us an inheritance in heavenly glory, so that we might learn to cultivate grace, being blessed by His Spirit, and patiently wait for, yea eagerly anticipate His coming. This greatly honors Christ, that His people who are not yet glorified being weak and despised in the world should set their hope upon Him, and desire Him above all earthly comforts, for that there are many temptations in the world, and many lusts which consume the wicked, but we being given a better hope do wait for the revelation of His kingdom, and are willing to suffer for it for His name’s sake. As it says in Philippians, “It is granted to you not only to believe on Him, but suffer for His sake.” Let us view therefore sufferings as so great an honor, and let us rejoice to be made partakers of the same sufferings as the patriarchs, prophets and apostles of old, yea of Christ Himself, who were as strangers in the world, setting their minds on heavenly things, and being fixed and resolved to obtain it with holy violence. And so, to encourage our faith, and enliven our hope, He saith, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” For we are not yet what we shall be. And when we shall see Christ’s face in glory, then we shall be transformed into His perfect image, never to be touched with the feeling of sin again. This is that hope which we wait for, even being made completely blessed in holiness forever being finally delivered from all corruption.  “Earnest expectation” This is that hope that lies in the belly of all the saints, which is as a fire which burneth hotter and hotter with each passing day, and which fire melts the ice of sin and stubbornness. It is a serious looking forward to something that is not yet come to pass. “of the creature” This is the subject at hand, even we pitiful and feeble creatures, who being delivered from sin and death await our final acquittal at the judgment seat of God. Being weak, we set our eyes upon Christ to deliver us from all temptations. “waiteth” This word means that we are hard pressed to persevere in patience, not drawing back unto perdition, being deceived by the world, but ever pressing toward the mark, continue in the performance of duty and the perfection of holiness with great patience and longsuffering, waiting for the revelation of Jesus Christ.
“manifestation” God doth work in the soul of the saints secretly, and without the knowledge and approval of the world. Therefore do they revile and mistreat us because we do not walk as they walk, and so in part our new life in Christ is manifested to them, but not the full fruition, which is as the apple tree to the seed. We manifest the life of God in us by our faith, speech and conduct, and although they believe us not for the seed of faith in us, yet will the full tree be revealed to them on the last day, and Christ shall be revealed to us, unto our glory with Him forever, and they shall be destroyed. “sons of God” That is those born of the Spirit, being quickened and regenerated by grace, chosen in the bosom of the Father’s counsels from eternity, purchased by the perfect sacrifice of the Son, and made alive by the omnipotent operation of the Spirit upon our souls, turning us from darkness to light to behold Christ through the gospel. And so as sons of God we eagerly wait for the revelation of Christ, forasmuch as when He returns, we shall be made like Him and shall be justified in His sight forever, whereas the wicked who condemned us in this world shall be condemned by Him, and shall be cast into hell, there to be tormented forever, and never to be seen again. Therefore let us see what teachings flow forth from this marvelous text of scripture.

Doctrine.
1. It is a Promised Expectation.
The first doctrine we ought to lay down as a foundation, drawn from this text is that this expectation of being delivered fully from sin is promised to us. It was promised to the Old Testament saints. “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Gen. 15:1 Which verse shows us that Abraham was justified by faith, “I am thy shield” 1. A shield from wrath, which goes out against all men who have transgressed in Adam. 2. A shield from death, which is the misery of that estate from which we are delivered. 3. A shield from the devil who goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. It is also promised to him that God Himself will be His exceeding great reward. He doth not say that He shall be his reward, or his great reward, or his exceeding reward, but that God Himself will be his exceeding great reward, and such precious promise of sweet consolation in God Himself cannot but provide unspeakable comfort to us. And so, we know as saints how that Abraham beheld Christ in this, and believed in God who accounted it to him for righteousness. Away then with such foolish and destructive opinions about the saints in the Old Testament, saying that they looked only for an earthly blessing in Canaan, or that they did not know Christ by faith, or were justified by works. Such doctrine is in opposition to the clear teaching of scripture. Abraham believed in God, and saw Christ’s day; yea he beheld Christ by faith, and was glad, and so God in giving Abraham the eyes to behold Him by faith was made His exceeding great reward. 1. God Himself was Abraham’s hope in life. Abraham did not look for an earthly city, for it is witnessed of him in Hebrews, “he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” 2. God Himself was Abraham’s hope in death, for he commands his posterity to bury him in the land which he purchased as a burial for Sarah his wife, and thus is buried in a cave which typifies Christ to come, who was to rise from the dead, out of that same tomb. Abraham awaited the promised resurrection. And therefore by this one example we are taught that not Abraham only but also all of the Old Testament saints beheld this doctrine by faith, and drew unspeakable comfort from it, as the prophet Isaiah witnesses saying, “In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory” forasmuch as the scripture is written for our hope, so the saints who then lived in a time when the full revelation was not yet given to them, looked at those words and dwelt upon them, and in them, and they were to them life and the promise of all eternal blessing, as David also witnesses of the written word in Psalm 119, saying, “thy word hath quickened me.” Therefore we, having been given the full revelation of the glory of God in the Old and New Testaments are much more constrained by that promise and obligated to do what the scripture commands us, even wait for the Lord in patience and hope, and earnestly yearn for the resurrection of the body. This therefore that was promised to Abraham is promised to us also, for the scripture says, “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.” 1 Cor. 15:41-43 and before it is said, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” V22. Therefore as far as death was threatened to Adam, and in him all die, so is eternal life and the gift of everlasting glory promised to all those in Christ. For we see before our eyes that all those who are members in Adam die, being subject to corruption, some by sickness, some by age, some by murder, some before they see the light, and some even by their own hand. These are all singular judgments against Adam’s posterity. But by faith we see with eyes (not made with hands) that in Christ shall we all receive our promised rest in His righteousness, that being promised so great an inheritance we may have peace of mind, good hope, and confidence in God our Savior. So then, let us rest upon this promise, knowing assuredly that what God hath said, He will surely perform. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil. 1:6
2. It is a Real Expectation.
We see also from this text that it is a real expectation. That is that laying hold on Christ by faith, we can have no doubt but that this resurrection of our bodies will be accomplished by Him. “who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body.” We eagerly wait for this redemption of the body, and know that as much as Christ hath died and risen from the dead, even so shall we. Christ is made sin for us that we might be made righteousness in Him. Christ is made death for us that we might be made life in Him. The text in Jeremiah reads, “She shall be called Jehovah our righteousness.” And the same is said in 2 Corinthians, “We are made the righteousness of God in Him.” And the apostle says to the Colossians, “when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” That is that in the death and resurrection of Christ, He was made sin for us, that we might live through Him. We are accounted righteous as He is righteous, that we might stand justified before God with Him in glory. Inasmuch as Christ is life, so He makes us partakers of His own life, and is made life for us. It is not so much that He gives us everlasting life, but that He Himself is everlasting life and gives Himself to us freely. We see with bodily eyes the effects of Adam’s sin, and how that every man born of him suffers the same misery, being made partaker of his nature through natural generation. But Christ we behold only by faith, and seeing Him that is invisible to be full of all righteousness, life and salvation, we know and believe that as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive by the Spirit of regeneration. Christ is Himself life for us, and hath made us partakers of the heavenly life through His own life, death and resurrection. Christ who was the Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father was made like as we are, and partook of human nature that He might suffer under the law, and redeem us from its bondage and curse. For by Adam’s transgression, man was subjected to vanity, and all his works were made a curse and an abomination before God, for that the law condemneth all of man’s righteousness as filthy. Therefore by the law, man shall not live in God’s sight. But Christ being made a sacrifice, laying down His life, and offering Himself through the Spirit has given us sure and certain grounds for believing that we shall also be raised with Him. Therefore the resurrection of the body is not a fantasy and dream as the world thinks, either that what we say is no more than a foolish desire, or that their hopes are built on something stable, but rather we are assured that through Christ’s own death we shall live again through His resurrection. And this word, “earnest expectation” intimates the great zeal and forwardness we have in this blessed hope, that seeing it is promised to us by God Himself, and made sure by the blood of Christ, we might have strong consolation through His Spirit, and lay hold upon it confidently, having no doubt that He will do what He has promised, and He will complete the work He started. He hath purchased the church with His own precious blood, and will sanctify her in the process of time, and He will perfect her in glory forever.
3. It is a Future Expectation.
Having seen that Christ hath promised it to us, and purchased it for us, we must also with patience wait for it, and with earnest desire yearn for it. The apostle John says, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) The verse reads, “it doth not yet appear what we shall be.” Let us therefore, as many as have faith lay hold upon the promise, and have confidence in Christ who hath paid so great a price for our redemption. For if Christ who is the eternal, blessed and spotless Lamb of God be the procurer of these things, they must be glorious indeed, but in order to teach us patience and hope, and to stir up sincere love in our souls amidst grief and sorrow, that love might shine the brighter and overcome, we are exhorted in scripture to patiently wait for this redemption, for it hath not yet been revealed to us. The truth is revealed to us to grant us faith, and the certainty of the reward also to encourage our faith, but the reward itself is not yet fully given, because we are still in the body, and not yet glorified. Therefore doth the scripture say, “For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while and He that shall come will come and will not tarry.” For we know that this world is filled with great mixture. The sons of God are at war and enmity with the sons of the flesh, who are born of their father the devil, begotten in sin by natural generation, and do daily strive against them; their carnal philosophies and their vain practices. We see also much mixture in providence. Those whom we know to be wicked men are raised to power, and esteemed by men, and those whom we know to be pious are treated with contempt by others. Augustine writes of this also in his city of God saying, “In this present time we learn to bear with equanimity the ills to which even good men are subject, and to hold cheap the blessings which even the wicked enjoy. And consequently, even in those conditions of life in which the justice of God is not apparent, His teaching is salutary. For we do not know by what judgment of God this good man is poor and that bad man rich; why he who, in our opinion, ought to suffer acutely for his abandoned life enjoys himself, while sorrow pursues him whose praiseworthy life leads us to suppose he should be happy; why the innocent man is dismissed from the bar not only unavenged, but even condemned, being either wronged by the iniquity of the judge, or overwhelmed by false evidence, while his guilty adversary, on the other hand, is not only discharged with impunity, but even has his claims admitted; why the ungodly enjoys good health, while the godly pines in sickness; why ruffians are of the soundest constitution, while they who could not hurt any one even with a word are from infancy afflicted with complicated disorders; why he who is useful to society is cut off by premature death, while those who, as it might seem, ought never to have been so much as born have lives of unusual length; why he who is full of crimes is crowned with honors, while the blameless man is buried in the darkness of neglect. But who can collect or enumerate all the contrasts of this kind?” And after all this affirms that this is a chief way of teaching us to wait for the resurrection with patience, and holy labors rather than give ourselves to luxury, leisure or idleness. He goes on to say, “Although, therefore, we do not know by what judgment these things are done or permitted to be done by God, with whom is the highest virtue, the highest wisdom, the highest justice, no infirmity, no rashness, no unrighteousness, yet it is salutary for us to learn to hold cheap such things, be they good or evil, as attach indifferently to good men and bad, and to covet those good things which belong only to good men, and flee those evils which belong only to evil men. But when we shall have come to that judgment, the date of which is called peculiarly the day of judgment, and sometimes the day of the Lord, we shall then recognize the justice of all God’s judgments, not only of such as shall then be pronounced, but, of all which take effect from the beginning, or may take effect before that time. And in that day we shall also recognize with what justice so many, or almost all, the just judgments of God in the present life defy the scrutiny of human sense or insight, though in this matter it is not concealed from pious minds that what is concealed is just.” Therefore let us learn from this to hold fast to the promise of God, not looking with wanton covetousness at the enjoyments of the wicked, (for they are soon to be destroyed), nor with disdain at the righteous (for we are soon to be glorified), and let us pursue godliness, and the things that make for a clean conscience, and peace with our brethren. For as much as we know that God hath promised to us the resurrection of the body, and Christ hath procured it for us by His own death and resurrection, we know that through the help of the Spirit we must wait for it with perseverance.
4. It is a Glorious Expectation.
And so as a final point of doctrine, it is necessary to give good hope and encouragement to those saints who do so wait, so that we faint not along the way. For the apostle Paul encourages in this fashion, saying, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Rom. 8:18 and again to the Corinthians, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…” and again, “as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Therefore we are persuaded that inasmuch as God in infinitely glorious and in Himself is full of all goodness, and delight, so His rewards are reflections of His character. He hath elected us from before the foundation of the world, hath purchased for us all things in heaven by His blood, and hath made us partakers of His glorious redemption by His Spirit, and therefore we know that the glory which shall be revealed in us is of far greater weight than the sufferings of this life, yea greater than the whole world. For what is a minute to an hour? What is a second to a day? What is a moment to a year? Yea, what is a blink of an eye to a millennium? For inasmuch as God hath no beginning nor end, so being reconciled and united to God by faith in Christ, we are made partakers of His immortality, that the promise might be fulfilled which says, “he that believeth in me hath everlasting life.” We ought also to know and contemplate on the great riches and beauty which we shall enjoy in the resurrection. David says in the Psalm, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
What unspeakable beauty lies in heaven behind the veil? What untold riches wait for us in that kingdom made without hands? For what is the purpose of all the riches in the world but to point us to something higher and greater? As the Psalm says, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” And if the heavens declare God’s glory and not their own intrinsic worth, than we also ought to learn from all other created things, and know that as the fashion of this world passeth away, so the passing of them shall make way for the everlasting kingdom. As scripture testifies saying, “He hath promised saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore”, he says, “we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace.” Let us receive the words of God as truth, and let us neither waver nor doubt. Let us receive the grace of God as the most profitable thing to our souls. Let us heed His ministers and attend to His ordinances. Let us keep His commandments and hearken to His word, for He hath promised us a kingdom which cannot be moved, and He hath given it to us freely. Seeing we serve and worship such a great and merciful God, full of justice, and truth, let us be careful to please Him and be much grieved if in anything He is grieved by us. Let us continually go to the word and prayer for cleansing and renewal, and look unto the blood of Christ for the source of all our blessing. Let us continually bless His holy name, for He hath delivered us from so great a death and made us partakers of His resurrection. And so we believe, and so we trust, and so we wait.
Application.
Having given grounds for all holy conduct, and perseverance, I hope to show but a few points of application, so that our minds being enriched with such precious truth, our hearts would in like manner be enflamed to His service, and our wills made obedient to His commandments.
I. In the Negative.
1. This doctrine keeps us from Sin.
Having laid down the doctrinal principles, it is important also to see how this applies to the Christian life. For if we truly believe the words, “he that believeth in me shall never die.” Then we longing for that resurrection will seek to be pure as He is pure who commanded us, saying, “be ye perfect” as the apostle John also exhorts saying, “He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” And is this not the very substance of what we are saying? Even that we being justified by faith do behold Christ’s purity, and are transformed into that image, as looking into a mirror, and growing in that likeness? So, we looking into scripture and seeing many commands and exhortations against sin, do believe those words, and in our minds receiving them as true, become more skilled to avoid and resist its power. If we are truly regenerate, born of God, and made partakers of the resurrection, there is no doubt but that we will seek to be pure. There are degrees of sanctification, and some are weak while others are strong. This ought not to discourage us, but rather if we are weak, lean upon the strong and stable, and if we are strong, be ready to support and encourage those that are weak, so that there is no disunity in the body, but perfect harmony. There is a dangerous movement today in Reformed churches where men who stand to preach, in order to boast in themselves and their own false degree of holiness cast contempt on others and say, “Christians today are idolaters” or, “Christians sometimes have no interest in sanctification.” Beloved, these foolish utterances run clean contrary to the express word of God, “He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself.” And if it is true that all Christians do so press toward the resurrection, then make your calling sure by so pressing, avoiding sin, and the courses which lead you into it. What? Hath Christ paid so great a price for the redemption of your soul, and shall not you be ready and willing to suffer the fiery trials of temptation for Him? His strength is our strength. He prevailed against the wrath of God, that we might prevail against the malice of Satan. So, beholding Christ’s death, we draw strength and courage to resist sin, and so press toward the resurrection from the dead; for we are already dead to sin, and dead to this world. Persuade yourself, therefore, Christian, reason within yourself, and preach to yourself saying, “I await a more glorious body and shall I spend my substance on this frail, mortal body?” “I was bought with a price, therefore I am obligated to glorify God with my body which is His.” “I am raised with Christ, and therefore my thoughts are in heaven where He dwelleth, and not on earth.” And therefore, using the pure reasoning of scripture against the devil, we prevail against sin through Christ who is our victory.
2. This Doctrine keeps us from sorrow.
That same doctrine which keeps us from sin keeps us also from sorrow. There may be many trials which beset us, which tempt us to sorrow as those who have no hope. And yet the apostle says, “I would not have you sorrow” [1 Thess. 4:13] and again in the same epistle, (which in truth is a treatise on the hope of resurrection) “rejoice evermore.” But sorrow is not rejoicing, and if there is hope in our hearts, then surely we will be rejoicing and not sorrowing. There is a godly sorrow which looks inward at sin at thus grieving at that which grieveth God, sorrows for it and forsakes it. This is the sorrow that leads to repentance, and purity which was spoken of briefly in the previous point. But here we speak of sorrow pertaining to the outward circumstances of life, as loss, and loneliness, and death and such. For if we lose that which is temporal, than do we not have better in heaven? Does not the resurrection teach us this? If we are deprived of friends and good company, and must spend our days alone, do we not have God as a comforter and hath He not promised to be with us always? If a relative die, and they be outside the faith, do we have any real relation to them? And if saints, then we rejoice that their joy is now full, as the scripture witnesses saying, “in thy presence is fulness of joy.” And if their joy is fulfilled, it would be most selfish to moan and sorrow as if we will not see them again, or if their souls perished with their frail bodies. But yet believing in the sure hope of the resurrection, we put sorrow behind us, and are comforted by the pure reasoning of scripture which says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” The reading of which should cause such sweet consolation to arise in our hearts that rather than weep for sorrow, we should weep for joy saying, “Hath God promised me so great a paradise, even communion and fellowship with Himself who is all glorious, and shall I weep because my lot in this life is grievous to be borne?” “Shall God invite me to a greater banquet than any king hath prepared, and shall I be upset at the loss of a crumb?” “Is God ever exalted in heaven, my King and Advocate preparing me a place there and myself here cast down in spirit?” Nay, but when the apostle saith, “Set your mind on things above, where Christ sitteth” he certainly meant to dissuade us from worldly sorrow. Therefore, let us reason as David reasoned with our own souls which are so prone to bruising, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
3. This Doctrine keeps us from dependence on the creature.
Briefly we should add that if our hope is truly in Christ, and our eyes are set on the resurrection, we will not be interested in the praise of men, nor be turned from our goal by their traditions, nor led away by their establishments. This doctrine would also keep us from covetousness, thinking we ought to have more, when all is promised to us, or grieving when our neighbor possesses something we find of value. And do we not see our hearts prone to this estrangement from God? Do we not see our hearts moving away from him at the sight of every creature? Therefore reason within yourself, and say, “My future paradise is great, and in that place I shall lack nothing, therefore what could I lack here? God hath provided for me that even my death shall work for a good end, and so how shall I think that I ought to have more? Can there be more to all? Can anything be added to God, and hath He not given Himself to us in His Son? Wherefore comes this sinful lust for something that is naught? Nay, O my soul, you shall not betray me, but you shall fear the LORD and wait upon Him.” And so, let us be weaned from this world, forsaking the opinions of men, the fashions of the world, and the enjoyment of the creature, for although truly there is a moderate use of all these which is lawful, yet we must watch our hearts with diligence, knowing that they so soon stray from the commandments. Let us therefore watch, and keep ourselves from sin, from sorrow, and from worldliness, looking unto Christ for redemption, hoping in His word and awaiting the resurrection which is promised to us.
II. In the Positive.
1. This doctrine encourages us to Confidence.
The scripture says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” The promise of eternal rest in Christ, the death of the sins of the body, and the full enjoying of God to all eternity is given to us freely in Him, and therefore we have great reason to be confident before Him. The apostle says, “perfect love casts our fear” and again, “we are of Christ’s house if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Which is to say that all those who are made partakers of Christ’s body, and are made the sons of God by the Spirit of Regeneration are quickened to a “new and lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” And therefore as saints given the Spirit as a guarantee to the future inheritance which is after to be revealed, when the Lord comes with His angels to execute vengeance on the wicked, we are called and commanded to be confident in His name, resting on His promise and being fully persuaded that He will accomplish all that He hath said in His word. Confidence supposes belief, yea strong belief. It carries with it the idea of a zealous belief which trusts safely in its object. This confidence is opposed to fear, doubt, anxiety, worry, carelessness, presumption and hypocrisy. It is a quiet and composed assent to God’s word as true, a hearty acceptance and receiving of His promise, and a zeal to do that which He hath commanded us while we wait for Him from heaven. Therefore is confidence of faith, insomuch that faith apprehends the promise, hope waits for it, and confidence bolsters our graces with delight and constancy. If we are confident in His word, we will be zealous in the performance of all known duties, and the shunning of all known sins. We are commanded to be confident also in adversity, persecution and tribulation, which we suffer for His name. For when heretics, and deceivers arise who have not the Spirit, they seek to quench our zeal and confidence in God by mockery and contempt. But in this midnight of trial doth confidence shine brightly, forasmuch as our hope in Christ is not extinguished by them, and our response to them in faith, refuting their vain notions, and false doctrines shows the truth of God shining in our hearts, whereas when they boast against us having great worldly wisdom, numbers, churches, organizations and much more we show that we have God’s Spirit, when we hold fast to His word despite the present opposition. Therefore must we be confident, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the appearing of Christ, lest we drift away and perish with them. And so we must be fully persuaded that this confidence is confidence in God and not in the flesh, for the apostle saith, “We are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ and have no confidence in the flesh”. Therefore to boast in the flesh, imagining a common grace, a universal atonement a free will or any such fleshly nonsense is opposed to this confidence, yea we can have no confidence in God if we trust in the flesh. Therefore the scripture saith, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Therefore reason within yourself and say to your soul, “Much reason I have to be confident in the promise, for I have seen and read in the word how that God rained manna from heaven to provide for His people, He fed them with water from a rock, and conquered all their enemies for them without their assistance. Yea more were those who were destroyed by His hand than by the sword of Israel. Yea, moreover, in order to deliver me from sin, He hath sent His perfect and beloved Son so that through His death I might have life. He opened my heart by His Spirit which was before contrary to Him and resisted Him. And if He so died, and now lives I must therefore live through Him and in Him if I am united to Him by faith. Therefore it is no uncertain promise I wait for, but is sealed with the blood of Christ, as it is written, “God willing more abundantly to show the immutability of His counsel confirmed it by an oath.” And therefore have I no reason to fear, or to think of my own works as anything but rather with heavenly confidence apprehend and receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord.”
2. This Doctrine Encourages us to Duty.
Seeing we have this hope of resurrection in us, and that God hath promised us a heavenly country, free from all sin, let us apply ourselves to the means of grace and be diligent to put on those graces which the Lord hath promised to those that love Him.
Our enemy is strong, our duty is wide, our flesh is weak, but our God is omnipotent, and therefore must we daily petition Him in prayer, confessing our sins; the guilt of our race, the pollution of our nature, the weakness of our flesh, the breaches in the law we have made and the many lusts which we are prone to gratify, and would be utterly deceived by apart from grace. Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, and confidence, knowing that God is able and ready to help His saints that cry out to Him for mercy and assistance. Yea this prayer is most congruent and agreeable with the confidence before spoken of, for the scripture saith, “For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” And again, “seeing we have a great high priest who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Converse with yourself therefore, Christian. Get inside your own soul, and say to yourself, “You are a feather in the wind to be blown hither and thither by every temptation of Satan, if not for the grace of God restraining him, you are prone to diverse lusts and carnal affections which are not consistent with your calling as a Christian, yea your love for God is uneven, and your duty left imperfect; Therefore, O my soul why dost thou go prayerless, and not rather beseech God to have mercy upon thee, to forgive thee in Christ, and provide strength for thee against Satan’s temptations?” We are cast upon Him daily for mercy, and shall we not beseech Him for it? We are daily obligated to perform certain tasks for Him, both in soul in worship, and in body in work, and shall we not pray to Him and ask Him for success in this? Yea, and therefore considering we are promised a heavenly rest, yea an unending and eternal rest wherein is no more work or discomfort, “let us labor to enter into that rest” and perform with delight that which is commanded us. But our duty does not end in prayer. Yea, our day should begin and end with prayer, but our duty does not. We are obligated also to apply ourselves to the means of grace and heed those ministers whom the Lord hath put over us, to watch for our souls and teach us good and sound doctrine. We are called to “remember them” “obey them” “submit to them” ”esteem them very highly” and many such exhortations as behooves the saints. They are called by God and given extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, as teaching and prophesying, that we might be the more confirmed in the faith, and stable in our doctrine, and lives. And if we do not heed them, what are we but as a sheep wandering from the fold which being so docile and dumb (as sheep tend to be) will certainly fall into some pit, or be torn apart by wolves, or lose our way in the dark? Therefore doth God give ministers the title of Shepherd saying, “I will give you pastors and shepherds that will feed you with knowledge” And many other such exhortations in scripture. And why, but that the mind being tainted with sin is inconstant and wavering, the affections disordered and restless, and the will obnoxious and stubborn? Therefore have we great need of submitting ourselves (and our families if we be the leaders in a house) to the faithful teaching of the word, for God does not needlessly command us to do so, but knowing our frailties provides for us helpers as the “great shepherd of the sheep” and the “bishop of our souls.”  And then also, lest we think that we are to rest content in being fed from others, and not zealous to feed upon the Word of life ourselves, we are commanded to read the word diligently, and make progress therein. Those in Berea heard the words of Paul, and searched the scriptures daily to see whether or not Paul’s words aligned with the Word of God. And is there not a great temptation in our day to sit back and hear the words of others in the church as if they were the words of God, without examining their doctrine, and whether or not it agrees with the pure doctrine of the gospel, the rule of the unity of truth and the analogy of faith? Therefore must we be zealous and apply ourselves to reading and to constant meditation on the doctrine we have been acquainted with, knowing that to feed upon the riches of the word is a labor that shall reap everlasting rewards. And so must we pray, and hearken to the word of God, and read also, meditating upon the scriptures daily, for it was a true man of God who said, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” And so may it be said of all the saints.
3. This Doctrine Encourages us to Purity.
And so we will end this discourse with a final exhortation to true sincerity, knowing that The LORD God trieth the mind and the heart, and will not be served or appeased by will-worship. The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart, and only the humbled will receive the law at His mouth. God uses the law to bruise and break us that we might not trust in ourselves, or the flesh, but in the promise of His gospel, and being so driven to Christ to love and serve Him, we are therefore behooved to purify ourselves from all uncleanness of the heart and mind, removing the stain of sin, and being careful not to offend Him by inward motions and affections that are contrary to grace. We pursue a resurrection wherein all our joys and aspirations will be fully conformed to His will, and we shall only ever delight fully in God forever, and therefore doth this work of sanctification begin in this life that He might prepare us for that final end. In the book of Esther the maidens and virgins who were to approach the king were required many days and months of washing and purification, so that they might know who it was they were presented to. If such preparation is required for an earthly king, much more for the king of glory! Therefore do the scriptures say, “washed by the water of the word” and, “having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the sight of God.” Being delivered from sin, we are now made to serve God in fear, applying ourselves to His law and not to the world. The world seeks for nothing more than a show, that they might justify themselves in the sight of men, so they put on masks, and make great and swelling pretenses of vanity which allure the eyes, entangle the affections and stop all right reason. But they are not sincere in any of their dealings. A Christian however is made a spiritual man by reason of the quickening of his spirit from above. He is made to see that obedience to the law is pleasing to God, and therefore doth he apply himself  to it in love, not acting out a part so that he might seem to be righteous, but looking inward even when all eyes are closed (for a Christian’s self-examination often happens at night before the end of the day) he doth seriously evaluate his mind (whether or not he knows the true gospel), his affections (whether his heart truly loves God or mammon) and his will (whether he performs his duty to God) and therefore shows forth his sincerity. For being raised from dead, we are made dead to this world that we might live to God. Therefore doth the world hate us and call us mad, for that we do not follow their ways nor enjoy their sport, but looking for a blessed hope of resurrection, we press forward in lively and active faith, seeking to be purified from all secret sin, especially those ones which are hidden from the eyes of men. For consider what a great offense it is to God to conceal such wickedness in the hope to remain undiscovered. Will not God call it to an account on the last day? Do His eyes not pierce through the deception? Therefore O Christian, if ever thou hast been blessed with grace above, cleanse your hands, and purify your heart, for that God who hath promised us an everlasting rest is worthy of all praise, adoration, affection, love, and zeal, and it is with great conflict and through great tribulations and amidst fiery trials that we will arrive at our desired end, which is nothing else but the second resurrection, the full enjoying of God to all eternity.
Amen.