599: ? G \TheJirm Belief of a future Reward a powerful Motive to Obedience and a good Life. SERMON PREACHED A T CHRIST CHURCH In BOSTON, AUGUST 20. 1765. At the FUNERAL of the Rev. TIMOTHY CUTLER, D.D. LATE RECTOR OF SAID CHURCH. By HENRY CANER, A. M. MINISTER OF KING'S CHAPEL. Fublifh'd at the Requeft of the Wardens and Veftry of Chrift Church. BOSTON: PRINTED BY THOMAS AND JOHN FLEET IN CORNHJLL, MDCCLKV . - [ 3 1 THE FUTURE REWARD SUITABLE MOTIVE OF RELIGION. HEBREWS XL 26. For he had refpeft unto the recompense of the reward. TO difengage yourfelves fometimes from the little interefts and amufements of life, to call off the mind from fenfual purfuits to ferioufnefs and recolle&ion, is both highly ufe~ ful in itfelf, and is alfo matter of pofitive duty, recommended in various precepts of holy writ. By a long and clofe attention to the plea- fures, the bufinefs, but efpecially the vanities of life, men grow infenfible to things of more fokrou confequence; the mind gradually ac quires M180580 lilfc \ [ 4 1 quires a kind of habitual flupidity as to fpiritual pleafures, and in confequence of this a fatal dif- relifh of them too ; for the faculties of the mind as well as of the body, are improved and brightned by proper exercife, and acquire their various taftes of pleafure and averfion from the objefts upon which they are chiefly employed, As this is a flate which oftentimes infenfibly fteals upon a Chriftian, from that neceflary in- tercourfe with fcnfual objefts which the condi tion of his nature requires ; it becomes a matter of great importance, frequently to examine the temper and difpofition of the foul; its love and averfion, its fatisfa&ion and diftafte, that we may be enabled to judge, whether its chief pleafure be rational, and becoming the dignity of its high original ; but efpecially to look for ward to that folemn period, which muft fhortly clofe the fcene of all prefent enjoyments, and lay open an unclouded prolpetft of eternity. To render this profped defirable now, and a- greeable when it arrives, the example recorded in the text may be highly ufeful, fince neither the troubles nor temptations of this life, can have much influence upon him, who by a lively faith and fteadfaft hope has refycft to fhe re- commence of the reward* The [ 5 ] . The author of this epiftle, at the 6th verfe of this chapter had laid down this general pro- pofition, that God is a re-warder of them that diligently feck him ; and that the belief of this proportion is neceffary to invite our addrefles and application to him ; to encourage us in the way of godlinefs, to confirm our diligence and perfeverance, and more efpecially to animate and fupport us under the affli&ions and perfe- cutions which at any time befall us. In proof of what he had aflerted, he proceeds to exem plify the truth of it, by adducing fundry in- ftances of holy men, who, in virtue of this faith, (i. e. the firm belief that God would finally reward them for their fufferings) had chear- fully undergone the fevereft inftances of per- fecution, and had even laid down their lives in the joyful expectation of a glorious reward, which God had referved for them in heaven. The particular infiance in the text, by a pe culiar difpofition of divine providence, did not indeed proceed to this laft extremity, God having preferved this man to become the in- ftrument of a moft wonderful and gracious ceconomy, which, agreeable to the purpofes of his wifdom, was then ripe for being difclofed to the world. But in the firmnefs of his vir tue, C tue, the ftrength and refolution of his faith, and his confidence of an invifible reward, he expofed himfelfto very great trials, and even to the apparent danger of laying down his life a facrifice to his faith* He had a great intereft in the Egyptian court, and flood fair for being advanced to the higheft honours and interefts of it ; and yet he voluntarily reje&ed and defpifed thefe advan tages, in profpeft of a future recompence ; chufing, as the apoftle fays, rather to fujfer affiiSion -with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleafures of fen for a feafon. We fee then what force there is in this mo tive of a future reward, when firmly believed. We fee what influence it had in fa6t upon thofe many worthies whom the apoftle hath re corded. Why is that influence abated in latter ages ? Is the reward lefs certain to us than it was to them ? Or is the profpeft of it obfcur d under the prefent clifpenfation of the gofpel ? Nay verily, it is glorioufly opened and enlarged* We have not only their teftimony, but a cloud of witnefles befides, inviting us to run the race that is jtt before us with faith and patience, looking [ 7 1 . looking efpecially to Jefits the author andfini/her of that faith, who for the joy that was fet before him, endured the crofs, dejpijlng the Jbame, and is now poffefled of the reward, being fet down at the right hand of the throne of God. Blefled be God ! we are not called to fo fevere ah exercife of our faith, we have neither refitted, nor have we been required to refift unto blood, in our warfare with fin. So much eafier is our task, than that which fell to the lot of God s faints under the old diipenfation, or than that which became the portion of thofe champions who were firft charged with propa gating the new. They are the pleafures, not the per&cutions, the honours, not the terrors of the world, with which we are required to contend ; die riches and interefts, the ambition and vani ty, the lufis and corruptions that folicit our regards ; thefe caft a veil over the profpeft of future glories, and dim the brightnefs of the unfading crown of immortality. But if our religion has provided us with motives that are diffident to fupport men under perfecutions and fufferings, furely the fame motives fhould be allowed fufficient to conquer the paflions and pleafures, the lufts and vanities of the world, with all other finful temptations that befet us. Some [ 8 ] Some indeed have refined upon the apoftle's doftrine, by declaring, that however the profpeft of a reward might be admitted as an encourage ment to men under the former fervile difpen- fation, yet it is unworthy to enter into the re gards of a chriftian, who ought to be influenced by more generous motives, nor admit any thing as an encouragement to duty, but what folely terminates upon the love of God and Chrift; every thing but this, they efteem felfifh and mercenary, unworthy the fpirit of the gofpel. This I apprehend to be refining upon the chriftian religion, fince not only the old tefta- ment worthies looked forward to the glories which fhould after be revealed, but the chriftian faints and martyrs were encouraged to contend for the prize of their high calling, to prefs forward towards it, and to have rejpeft to the recompence of reward, to the crown of life, which God hath referved for fuch as love him. Nay, and to put the matter beyond all difpute, our blefled Saviour hirnfelf is faid to have endured the crofs,for the joy that was fct before him. We may therefore very well efteem this motive as a lawful fpur and incentive to duty, which is confefledly allowed to have animated the faints under the old teftament, and martyrs under the new, and even to have attracted the regards of the captain of our falvation himfelf. [ 9 1 Befides,.it ought to be confidered, that the very reward itfelf, which is held forth to en courage us, can in its own nature have no weight or influence, till the love of God has taken place in the heart. They diftinguifh therefore without a difference, who make the love of God, and the defire of a future reward inconfiftent with each other. For wherein does the future reward coniift, but in the enjoyment of God, and thofe pleafures which perpetually flow from the blefied vifion of him, and the capacity of tianfcribing continually his perfections ? But as great a happinefs as this is, it cannot, when truly under flood, be fought after, or even defired, by tliofe who are d-eftitute of the love of God. A man muft have a real affe6tion for God, muft be renewed after the divine image, in righteoufnefs and true holinefs, before he is really capable of having a due rejp&& to the recommence of -reward, before he can feel the want, or perceive the excellency of it, or be at all influenced by it. They quite miftake the thing, and fhew themfelves to be entirely ignorant of the nature of the future ftate, who imagine it to confift in any thing, but a larger participation of God's moral per fections, and a conftant eternally uninterrupted B improvement [ 10 ] improvement in them. This is the heavenly lite, to be conftantly beholding, admiring, praifing, imitating God, and improving in new and further degrees of moral and fpiritual perte&ion : And in this alfo confifts the future reward. To look for any other, or to enter- tertain any other lower notion or conception of it than this, is rather to expeft a mahome- tan paradife than a chriflian heaven. And I wifh this were more thoroughly con- lidered and weighed than I fear it commonly is. I am perfuaded it would have a good effect upon mens lives, and would perhaps teach foine people to fear and tremble at their con dition, who think themfelves in a fair way to heaven : For too many look upon the future ftace rather as a place than a condition. It is like fome fine and healthful climate (they think) where, as there will be no place for pain or evil, or mifery, for ficknefs or forrow, for trou ble or difappointment ; fo it will abound with the moft agreeable pleafures, the moft ravifhing delights and entertainments, that their hearts can wifh for. But then unfortunately they too often form their notions of the pleafures and entertainments they (hall receive, from thofe enjoyments [ M 1 enjoyments with which they have. been chiefly delighted here, only they imagine that they will be fome how or other greatly improved and re- find beyond what they have ever yet experienced. Now where fuch fenfual notions as thefe pre vail, 'tis no wonder that men fhould be carelefs and negligent of their lives, lince if they have but time to ask mercy and forgivenefs of God and to allure him that they have no hatred or aveiiion to him, but .[are fincerely deiirous of going to heaven, they conclude they have done enough to engage the divine companion, and that God will therefore undoubtedly hearken 10 their requefts. But now fhould thefe men have their eyes open d, and be taught to fee that heaven and a future reward are quite dif ferent things from what they have all along apprehended them to be, that they confift in a divine temper and difpofition of foul, which is form'd after the image of God, and participates of his nature and perfections, and that in pro portion to the degrees of this fpiritual improve ment, are the degrees of their happinefs and enjoyment ; that thefe joys and that happinefs are impoflible to be entertained or embraced, but by thofe who have previoufly acquired fuch a conformity to the image of God. I fay if B 2 all [ la } all this were firmly entertained, and men em braced thefe, which are the true notions of future happinefs ; they would be in much lefs danger of misjudging their own condition, and would be more felicitous of acquiring that holinefs here, without which they will never be admitted to fee God hereafter. It is a folly for any man to flatter or deceive himfelf in a matter of fuch infinite concernment as that of eternal happinefs, but 'tis terrible to think of an everlafting exiftence in mifery= The affair in regard to each muft be fettled fn this life, after which it becomes irreverfible. The future judgment makes no real alteration, it is only declaratory of what we ourfelves eftabiifh, by our own good or ill conduft in life. The capacity will indeed be enlarged after that event, to feel a full flow of happi nefs, or the full weight of God's wrath refpec- tively, according to the fentence of each. But they are in a conditional ftate of election or reprobation previous to that period, and would they but impartially weigh their own temper and difpofition, and conduft towards God, they might nearly form a judgment of their ftate, and by thus judging themfelves by a proper care and circumfpe6lion might be led to pre vent the judgment of God. T , Thus have I endeavoured to illuftrate ancf confirm the apoftolic dodbrine in the text, by proving that it is lawful to have refpeft to the recompence of reward, And if this doftrine be true, what a noble motive is it, to fupport the chriftian under the greateft troubles and difficulties that can befall him in this life ? The force of this motive would appear in deed to greater advantage by confidering the nature of that reward which we are thus en couraged to afpire after. But in truth, of this I am able to fay but little for the things that God hath referved for us in heaven, are too big for utterance, or even for conception. The mind is overborn and finks under the weight of its own images, when it labours to comprehend the glories of tfie future ftate. Glorious things are indeed fpoken of the city of God in the holy fcriptures ; but a perfect and diftinft image of them is beyond mortal apprehenfion. And therefore it is that the joys and glories of that ftate are reprefented by crowns and fceptres, and fuch other enfigns- of royalty and fplendor, as imply the greateft dignity and enjoyment thac we are acquainted with. Imperfect however as our conceptions are. [ '4 1 are, they are fufficient to animate our fortitude under triak and temptations, and to inlpire us with diligence and induftry in the work of the Lord, fmce we have the higheft afTurance that our labour fliall not be in vain in the Lord. Even that folemn employment of ours (my reverend brethren) filled with fb many cares and inquietudes, and requiring fo much firm- nefs and diligence, fo much wifdom and pru dence to render it fuccefsful, if it be difcharged with integrity and a good confcience, will meet with a reward infinitely beyond all the labours and difficulties of it ; for they who are thus wife we are told fliaU fltine as the bnghtnefs of the firmament, and they that turn many to righ- teoufnefs as the flars for ever and ever. Were it indeed poflible for me to reprcfent the joys of that blefled kingdom, and the never fading pleafures that flow at God's right hand 5 could I defcribe the exalted fatisfadion that arifes from the blefled vifion of God, from the company and converfation of faints and angels, of cherubim and feraphim, the noble army of martyrs, the fpirits of juft men made perf eft, the general aflembly and church of the firft- born. guided by his counfels, and comforted by his prefence, you cannot indeed but mourn the lofs of a tender husband and an affe&ionate father; yet let both remember from whofe wife and righteous pro vidence the vifitation is derived, and let that compofe compofe your minds. Blefs God that the en joyment was continued to you fo long, that he was not gathered to the grave but in peace and in a good old age. Be perfuaded to caft your hope and truft upon that rock of ages, who is a never failing refuge to fuch as confide in him. Make him then your friend, your husband^ your father, and your comforter. Submit your wills to his with a perfect refignation, and he will lead you fafely by his counfel thro' this wildernefs of forrow and affliction,, and after that beftow on you " the recompence of the reward," a never fading crown of life and glory. And now as to you the people of his charge^ to whom God had entrufted the care of your fouls ; you cannot eafily forget this your fpiricual father ; tho' God had for feme years paft fuf- pended him from his paftoral duty, and hath now called him to himfelf, yet you cannot but: remember with gratitude, his former work and labour of love. Call to mind his frequent ex hortations and earneft entreaties, that you would hearken to the voice of Jefus Chrift in the gofpel, that you would clofe with the terms of falvation 1 offer'd by him, and by repentance, faith and obedience get an intereft in the pro- miles* [ 22 ] mifes of the new covenant. He has led you with affectionate tendernefs, as a fliepherd does his flock. He has fed you with the fincere milk of the word, that you might grow thereby, and be nouriihed up unto life eternal. Being a ready fcribe, inftru&ed in the will of God, he brought forth out of his treafures things new and old, and made you ^abundant partakers of fpiri- tual things. He ceafed not for above thirty years to warn every man, and teach every man that he might prefent you faidtlefs before the throne of glory ivith exceeding joy both to him- felf and you.-^-He is now gone to give account of his ftewardflhip to the great Lord of all, who referveth the recompence of reward for fuch as have been faithful in his fervice. Recall to mind his admonitions and pious inftrudrtions, fo, altho' he be dead, he (hall yet fpeak to you in thofe falutary do&rines and godly exhorta tions, he formerly delivered. And while you thus bear in remembrance his faichfulnefs and diligence in your fervice, be not unmindful to {hew kindnefs to his houfe. The widow and the fatherlefs are always entitled to the tendereft regards, but more efpecially fo, where particular connections and obligations concurr to recommend them to your notice and affe&ions, rr* lo To conclude, having the recompence of the jreward in view, a glorious crown of life and immortality, let us all both minifters and peo ple after the worthy example of our departed brother, determine to be fteadfaft and unmove- able in the faith and obedience of the gofpel, in fpite of all the difficulties and difcourage- ments that may befet us, relying on the grace of Chrift, who in like manner in profpe-fl of the joy that was fet before him endured infi nitely greater trials than fall to the lot of any of us. And how inexpreffible will that joy be to every one who (hall thus in the faith and in the fear of God, perfevere unto the end. How refrefhing a confolation in particular will every confcientious paftor of the chriftian church find in himfelf, when at the clofe of his la bours, when the evening of life begins to lengthen his fhadbw and the grave threatens to caft a veil of darknefs- around him, he can look back on a life early dedicated, and faith fully fpentin the fervice of God, and his church? How chearful thoughts, and what comfortable expe&ations will he have on his death bed? When he (hall have good ground to hope, that as he has endeavoured to fit and prepare others for that fokmn fcene, and for a happy change^ fo C H fo by the merits and mediation of his ever blefled redeemer his own fins fhall be blotted out, and his labours accepted before the great tribunal. How happy to be 'able to fay with the great apoflle, e< I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finifh'd my courfe, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of life." How much happier ftill to hear that bleiled welcome of his Lord, " Well done good and faithful fervant, thou haft been faith ful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Let me fhut up this whole difcourfe with that exhortation of the apoftle dire&ed alike to all whether paftors or people. " My beloved brethren be ye fteadfaft un- moveable always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour {hall not be in vain in the Lord." To God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghoft be all Glory and Honor Dominion and Power now and forevermore. AMEN. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY