In the best estate there will be suffering one way or other. If even the true coin is so severely tested, what will become of the "reprobate silver"?2. THE RUINOUS CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR DISOBEDIENCE.1. (9) The instability of some Christians (James 1:8), and the apostasy of others (1 Timothy 1:19, 20).III. Coleman. Natural unbelief, therefore, needs to be much watched and prayed against, and an increase of faith to be much encouraged and prayed for. let it be our chief care to see to that which Satan strikes at most! And this the Lord doth out of mercy to His poor creatures, that they might not sink before Him, but gather strength of grace, and be the better fitted to bear further crosses afterwards. It is not because God is implacable and hard to be appeased. Their appetites lost their proper balance. We may also see why Christians are exhorted to separate themselves from the world. As man has chosen that he shall not be educated by standing firm, he must be educated by and through his very fall. Every one knows how terribly this law tends to perpetuate and strengthen itself. One incentive is a sense of sin. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? One class of these difficulties is the result of an abused constitution. Learn from hence what is the proper act of faith; it rolls the soul over on God, ventures it in His hand, and rests satisfied concerning it, being there. The soul that has long been driving before the winds of pleasure cannot so easily turn round and cut the wind's eye. How much pain to attain anything, any particular grace of humility, or meekness, or self-denial! If, then, the sinner cannot be saved and go to heaven, WHERE SHALL HE APPEAR? Let us do with our might whatsoever our hands find to do, because we are but servants, and the responsibility is God's. And what is most grievous, is, that, by their unwary walking and the prevailing of some corruption, believers grieve the Spirit of God, and provoke Him to hide His face and withdraw His comforts. The Christian is also commanded to watch — not to close his eyes for a little more sleep and a little more slumber. Let Martin Luther do and dare as the great reformer, because God is Governor of the world. No wonder that the devil flatters himself that he has got the race of depraved men into his snares and can lead them captive at his will. It remains now to ponder the inference which the apostle chiefly designs to impress on our minds, "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Ofttimes the affections become unhappily attached, yet the attachment is exceedingly strong, and it shall seem like the sundering of the very heart strings to break it off. Therefore, whatsoever estate thou art in, let thy first care be for thy soul, that it may go well with that. )The sin and danger of not obeying the gospelPulpit Studies.I. The ground of this confidence is in these two things, the ability and fidelity in Him in whom we trust. GOD THE CREATOR IS FAITHFUL IS HIS RELATIONS TO US HIS CREATURES. Not in heaven. GOD THE CREATOR IS FAITHFUL IS HIS RELATIONS TO US HIS CREATURES. The man who is not a Christian has yet to enter upon the way.2. Coals of confusion.Some will say, Christianity is a strange condition, that enforceth such things upon men, that are so contrary to nature. (2) Having thus showed what difficulties there are which arise from the different circumstances of times and persons, I am now to consider those which arise from the terms of salvation, which are common to all persons and times.Here we must suppose salvation to be the thing aimed at as the chief end or happiness of such men, and here are two kinds of difficulties to be inquired into. God's people, like those in the shipwreck with Pard, escape all safe to land, yet it is with a scarcely, they get over the turbulent sea of this world. (2) Nor in the death and merit of Christ, which are infinite (Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2). In the best estate there will be suffering one way or other. )The difficulties of salvationAbp. If He crosses your wishes and thwarts your projects, this may be simply because He is unwilling to let you ruin yourself. The soul is the more excellent part, witness He that purchased the same with His dearest blood. His sense of propriety forbids that He should give you a place among His pure and trustful children.III. )The soul's refugeT. Let this teach us two duties. NOW THIS WELL-DOING MUST BE DISTINGUISHED INTO TWO TIMES.1. JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD. Provided, above all, that we be sincere in our religion, and endeavour to be universally good, and "holy in all manner of conversation," and "to abound in all the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God." It must be in the way of righteousness. This likewise is a grandly uplifting thought for us, that the Creator from the beginning, and through all the method of His working, has never lost sight of the goal; that He is faithful to the divine ideals; the divine ideal of a free life of the creature capable of sinning and suffering, because made also to achieve a righteousness and love which only along the way of spiritual freedom can ever be reached; the divine ideal also of embodied spirit, capable of being raised through death to celestial perfection. If they render bodily service, they render no spiritual service to God. Again, it is hard in regard of the sin that continually cleaves to them in this world, which doth, as it were, shackle them, and compass them about in all their performances.3. (4) Because after death is the judgment. All the winds which blow upon the earth from all points, stir it not; only that within the bowels of it makes the earthquake. No wonder that the devil flatters himself that he has got the race of depraved men into his snares and can lead them captive at his will. What without prayer, the Word, the promise of God, etc.?3. But even this is not all; some duties which the righteous have to perform are especially difficult, through their direct opposition to their natural tendencies. H. When Christ wanted the sweet solace of His Father upon the Cross, how did it trouble Him?(R. This, likewise, makes the way difficult; we are too apt to offend God daily, giving Him just cause to withdraw His Spirit of comfort from us, which makes us go mourning all the day long; wanting those sweet refreshments of spiritual joy and peace we had before. Hence learn —1. (Newman Smyth. )Tranquillity in sufferingAbp. You have served Me, says God to Israel, but after your own lusts. What sort of happiness, congenial to his heart, could the sinner hope to find there? The dispensation of that suffering, they suffer not at all adventures, but according to the will of God.3. )The end of the ungodlyPryce Thomas.This is a verse of implication. To secure us from that violent degree of temptation and suffering, which would be too strong for human strength and patience.2. In temporal calamity the Lord may suffer things to run to the very last extremity before He appears for His people's salvation. But observe further, that we never suffer but when God will. In regard of the cause of God, that we betray it not through fear or cowardice, through base aims and intentions, etc., but endeavour to carry it with a good conscience in all things. If the soul be not well, the body will not continue long in a good estate. The injurious influence which your unbelief may have produced on the minds and destiny of others.II. And surely, if He is thus faithful in adhering to His own purpose concerning you, He is faithful also in the sense of being worthy of your trust. This, likewise, makes the way difficult; we are too apt to offend God daily, giving Him just cause to withdraw His Spirit of comfort from us, which makes us go mourning all the day long; wanting those sweet refreshments of spiritual joy and peace we had before. BUT WHY MUST WE COMMIT OUR SOULS TO GOD? "Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation. An action, to commit.2. How is it possible, then, that the ungodly and sinners can find favour before the judgment seat?(C. A faithful life resembles the sure, unceasing roadway, which runs on and on over the hills, and through the woods, and by the homes of men, into which we may always come back at evening time, no matter how far we may have wandered afield or how long we may have followed the winding brook, at our own sweet will during the day. Satan makes assault. To serve God is doing good, but after their own lusts, is not doing well. There the former trials will contribute to the eternal bliss.(C. As we learn what the laws of life are — the laws of development, survival, and fruitfulness — we discover still further truth concerning the methods of the faithful One from eternity; and we; must trust these laws of life, and adjust our free action to them, or we shall perish. WHEN MEN DO SUFFER REALLY AND TRULY FOR THE CAUSE OF RELIGION AND GOD'S TRUTH, they may with confidence commit themselves (their lives and all that is dear to them) to the more especial care of His providence. Such being the case, the great difficulty is to persuade sinners to choose right. Ofttimes the affections become unhappily attached, yet the attachment is exceedingly strong, and it shall seem like the sundering of the very heart strings to break it off. I observe, the holiness of the righteous is maintained with difficulty in resisting and overcoming the evil dispositions which are inherent in their fallen nature. Now their being scarcely saved is not for want of power in God, for "He is able to save to the uttermost," nor is it for want of will, for He win give grace and glory (Psalm 84:11), nor is it for want of an appointment, for He hath not "appointed them to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9); but the difficulty lies in the things they meet with in the way to salvation. (1) With respect to accidental difficulties arising from the particular circumstances of times and persons. (7) The opposition they meet with from Satan (chap. One incentive is a sense of sin. When then they are persecuted only for making an open profession of the Christian religion, by joining in the assemblies of Christians for the worship of God.3. Not surely in a saved state. Now to notice the particular causes of such difficulty. If the righteous be "scarcely saved," where will the ungodly and sinner appear? Again, the sinner cannot be saved, because salvation from sin is an indispensable condition of salvation from hell. The external causes of the difficulty are around believers — the world, which is in league with their infected nature, and offers corresponding objects to all its evil propensities. The most general argument brought against eternal punishment is that it is opposed to the perfect justice of God. i.e., Christ hath foretold desolation and ruin to come upon the Jewish nation. What can they do who have no God? Adams. There would be indeed no use and no hope for anything we may do or say to make things human better were it not for this prior and this final responsibility of God, the faithful One from eternity to eternity. No! The text admits that the righteous shall be saved; their salvation is certain upon their being found faithful unto death. This is an act of faith resting on His promise of salvation through a Mediator.2. To death (Psalm 9:17).3. Were a man to meet disgraces and sufferings for Christ, how easily would he go through them, yea, and rejoice in them, were he rid of the fretting impatience, the pride, and self-love, of his own carnal heart! Certain limitations are fixed in the divine wisdom to the amount of moral influence which God shall employ in the case of a sinner. When he would mount up, he finds himself as a bird with a stone tied to its foot; he hath wings that flutter to be upwards, but is pressed down with the weight fastened to him. The soul must at last be committed to some; now He only is the receiver of it in death, that was keeper of it in life. They are indolent, or they are reckless, or they are self-willed and obstinate. ANOTHER INFERENCE. He that suffers for Christ's testimony is confident of God's mercy.IV. When he would mount up, he finds himself as a bird with a stone tied to its foot; he hath wings that flutter to be upwards, but is pressed down with the weight fastened to him. Because it is impossible for God by any means He can wisely employ to persuade them to desist from sinning. On account of its Author.2. Sibbes.Wherein consider —1. The presumptuous will find his daring pride a poor help.4. "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle." But the ungodly and sinners almost always, under any trials, allow themselves in discontent, bad temper, and resistance, whether the trials come the more evidently from God or from man. Nevertheless, their salvation is here represented as being with difficulty obtained. Yea, the whole world, in a sort, is His house, because He manifests His power and wisdom in it; but heaven and His Church, in a more peculiar manner; and that in these respects —1. Here is the difficulty. (The Christian Magazine. There the difficulties will be ended forever. Braden.Suppose, in the place of God as Creator, we substitute chance, or fate, or law, what a blank we have at once in the highest regions of thought and feeling! "Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"1. Further, the righteous are saved with difficulty, because they are exposed to failure, in measure, in holiness, through difficulty in certain parts of obedience. (4) Because after death is the judgment. A lazy man cannot Bet to heaven. The recipients of the letter came from different backgrounds and were facing the difficulty of persecution. The difficulty in the salvation of either the righteous or the wicked turns not on any want of mercy in the heart of God. The fallacy of judging from appearances.3. Those who believe on Him, He never deceives or disappoints. It is readily admitted that they are surrounded also with the helps of the Church. THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSONS HERE SPOKEN OF.1. He would lead you to Christ or into closer sympathy with Christ.(J. )If so -- what thenC. So the fact that God has method, and must have it in order to be faithful, is reason enough why He does not vary the course of His providence to meet some of our desires, however much the good God might wish to gratify us. And His will is not that we should always suffer, though generally our estate be so in one kind or other. OBSERVE BOTH THE MYSTERY AND THE MERCY OF THE BELIEVER'S SUFFERINGS IN THIS WORLD.1. (1) Why God's children must suffer here. And surely, if He is thus faithful in adhering to His own purpose concerning you, He is faithful also in the sense of being worthy of your trust. Pharaoh after the Israelites.4. (5)To perform needful duties in a humble and holy spirit. God's will concerning our suffering is permissive in respect of those that do us harm; but in regard of our patient enduring injuries, it is His approving and commanding will. THE AWFUL CONSEQUENCES OF NOT OBEYING THE GOSPEL.1. Which chiefly happens when a religion appears new, or goes about to reform the old; for then it is sure to meet with all the opposition which the passions and interests and prejudices of partial men can raise against it. You have known some man who had this character of faithfulness. (The Evangelist. When they suffer for the maintenance and defence of any necessary and fundamental article of it, though they be not required to renounce the whole Christian religion.5. Nevertheless, their salvation is here represented as being with difficulty obtained. Which chiefly happens when a religion appears new, or goes about to reform the old; for then it is sure to meet with all the opposition which the passions and interests and prejudices of partial men can raise against it. Human nature is ruined, but not left to decay, not simply kept from getting worse. Height of office will do no more than increase responsibility.IV. If He crosses your wishes and thwarts your projects, this may be simply because He is unwilling to let you ruin yourself. The second inference is that the righteous have great cause for earnest striving that the evidences of their conversion may be clear to themselves and to others.3. He who trusted to mere orthodoxy of creed will come to a fall5. It was a spectacle that filled the heart with regret, but beneath one part were some workmen busily engaged in introducing new layers of stone. If God will have our liberty, if He will have our life and all, we must hate all for Christ's sake; but we must not be at such a point with our souls, we must keep them close to God, and desire Him to keep them in well-doing. Commit the keeping of their souls. Yea, God became man to enrich us with all grace and goodness, to free us from the hands of Satan, and bring us to an eternal state of communion with Himself in heaven.(R. So likewise in suffering we must commit our souls to God in well-doing in a double regard.1. In a word, let them "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling," and "give all diligence to make their calling and election sure."(C. The second inference is that the righteous have great cause for earnest striving that the evidences of their conversion may be clear to themselves and to others.3. The most general argument brought against eternal punishment is that it is opposed to the perfect justice of God. And are the righteous scarcely saved? The man who is not a Christian has yet to enter upon the way.2. There is another strength than theirs, which bears them up and brings them through. This act must be accompanied with well-doing. (1) Negatively, I shall show where they shall not appear. What construction ought to be put on the little difference made between the righteous and the wicked in the dispensations of Providence. But observe further, that we never suffer but when God will. What construction ought to be put on the little difference made between the righteous and the wicked in the dispensations of Providence. "In well doing."1. The righteous are saved with difficulty, secondly, because, in consequence of the general causes mentioned, their holiness is exposed to some degree of failure. (2) They must suffer also in regard of themselves; for the best of us all have many lusts to be subdued, and a great deal of corruption to be purged out, before we can come to heaven, that holy place into which no unclean thing can enter. But the dispensation of our suffering is according to the will of God. Satan makes assault. If they did, its discouraging effect might be disastrous. But the ungodly and sinners have no living faith in Christ at all. No! It is God's purpose to make you holy and blessed. As a child of God you have a supreme motive to be Godlike; as a creature of force you are deprived of all such motives.I. They do but according to God's will; and if it be so, who dares speak against them? As we learn what the laws of life are — the laws of development, survival, and fruitfulness — we discover still further truth concerning the methods of the faithful One from eternity; and we; must trust these laws of life, and adjust our free action to them, or we shall perish. Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1–7, Ephesians 5:21–33. )The difficulty of salvationC. The presumptuous will find his daring pride a poor help.4. If thou give thy soul to Him to keep upon the terms of liberty to sin, He will turn it out of His doors, and remit it back to thee to look to as thou wilt thyself. Besides, it would not be for your own comfort to be there. From the connection we conclude that the righteous are saved with difficulty because of the strictness of Divine rule.2. Bad spirits are ever on the wing, coming to us on steps of sunshine, and floating on the dark wave of midnight, seated on the wings of the morning, and dropping with the evening dew. In case of a temporary fall and miscarriage, to raise us up by repentance, and a greater resolution and constancy under sufferings.III. A faithful Creator! (2) That there must be a careful and attentive mind to pursue this design. God is responsible. Sometimes, to notice the two extremes, when it is violently assailed by doubts within and infidel expressions and actions without, its injury will be sudden and apparent, like that of a plant which in spring is smitten with the blast of the east wind, so that one hour its roots are firm and its leaves green, the next its roots are loose, and its leaves dried up and withered. Yea, God became man to enrich us with all grace and goodness, to free us from the hands of Satan, and bring us to an eternal state of communion with Himself in heaven.(R. So likewise in suffering we must commit our souls to God in well-doing in a double regard.1. God is not always chiding (Psalm 103:9), but hath times of intermission, which He vouchsafes His children for their good. And there is no way but this to be quiet within, to be impregnable and immovable in all assaults, and fixed in all changes, believing in His free love. "WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US." And as He is powerful, He is no less faithful, a faithful Creator, truth itself. From the testimony of those who are safely landed (Revelation 7:14).II. BUT "WHERE SHALL THE UNGODLY AND SINNER APPEAR?" The Christian is also commanded to watch — not to close his eyes for a little more sleep and a little more slumber. Experience discloses to some extent these spiritual methods of the faithful One; and there is life, hope, and peace in submitting our souls to them. "Who then can be saved?"3. (1)Immoral conduct. "Not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father." The righteous frequently experience great difficulty in performing some of the harder duties of the Christian life. Other Scriptures ascribe to Him characters more transcendent, and the very glory of them renders God to our thought unspeakable and high as the heavens above us. (1) Why God's children must suffer here. "Not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father." I observe, the holiness of the righteous is maintained with difficulty in resisting and overcoming the evil dispositions which are inherent in their fallen nature. Now to notice the particular causes of such difficulty. Such being the case, the great difficulty is to persuade sinners to choose right. Besides, sensible things ever surround them, try to press into their souls by every avenue of their senses, and exclusively, fill their affections and engage their thoughts; hence their disinclination to exercise faith would be proportionately increased. This Divine and merciful Creator has provided for the keeping of our souls. And from hence we see WHAT ENCOURAGEMENT THERE IS STILL FOR US TO HOPE TO BE SAVED, IF WE BE RIGHTEOUS. He that suffers for Christ's testimony is confident of God's mercy.IV. He must do more labour than if he had set out earlier.6. Sincerity and constancy are the necessary conditions of salvation, which may be tried much more in some than it is in others. Sibbes. God is not always chiding (Psalm 103:9), but hath times of intermission, which He vouchsafes His children for their good. )The salvation of the sinner impossibleC. (5) O ye swearers! Oh, what a work is this which Christ undertakes that He may save His people from their sins! There are a great many difficulties in the way of converting sinners, and saving them when once converted. )The soul's refugeT. Some time since I stood looking with melancholy interest on the magnificent desolations of Kenilworth Castle. 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