The Beginning And The End Of Our Religion

[A Sermon By Mr. Boorne, Preached At Galeed Chapel, Brighton, On Sunday Morning, July 17^th, 1881.]

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.”—Hebrews 3:14.

There are two very important points in a man’s religion which he will do well continually to consider, for a profitable pondering of them in life is likely to yield comfort to his soul in death.

Much of our experience may be such a labyrinth of trial and temptations, resulting in no particular spiritual gain, that it may seem to lack point, at least at the time, though afterwards one might have said, “The Lord was there, but I knew it not.” He was there, lending an unseen hand, and secretly sustaining us, but, in reflecting upon it, we may not have felt it bore that definite stamp which we could desire, as giving an indubitable proof that it was the work of God.

Now, what are these two points which, as we have said, are of so much importance? They are the beginning and the end of a man’s religion.

Some talk of having had a wonderful beginning, but there their religion seems to end. Nothing is seen to corroborate their assertions of so great a work. However, this is certain, that a right beginning will lead to a right end; also, that the nature of the beginning will be best tested by the end. “He that endures to the end the same shall be saved.”

In endeavouring to speak to you, we shall glance at three features in our text—

I. “The beginning of our confidence.”

II. The holding of this beginning “steadfast unto the end.”

III. That it is in this steadfast holding that we are manifestly “made partakers of Christ.”

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I. “The beginning of our confidence.”

There is a beginning to everything. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth; and God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” So, in the commencement of the work of grace in the heart, God commands the light to shine in this dark place; and, by reason of the darkness of a man’s mind, he no more comprehends the light than did our dark earth at first comprehend the light of heaven. Yet it is so disseminated within until it leads the soul up to the fountain of light and life, for “he that doeth truth cometh to the light;” he is drawn by it, and cannot walk in perpetual darkness.

Now, there must be a beginning to our confidence. You may have heard some talk in this way: “I was converted twenty years ago. I accepted Christ as my Saviour, and have had no doubt about my safety since then.” Now, wherein do these manifest themselves as good soldiers of Jesus Christ? Where is the daily conflict? How very different to the experience expressed by our favourite poet—

“When his pardon is signed and his peace is procured, 

From that moment the conflict begins.”

Others may seem to gather a confidence from the opinion of a good man concerning them. If they find they are thought well of by such as are counted discerning people, upon that they will build, and upon that they will rest. But what saith the Scripture? “Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom” (Micah 7:5). Again, “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” (Isaiah 2:22.) Others will make the prayers of the godly their confidence. ”Such and such a good man has prayed for me.” True; so Jeremiah prayed for many in Israel, but at length the Lord said to him, “Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them” (Jer. 11:14). Doubtless Samuel prayed for, as well as mourned over, Saul; but the Lord said, “How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” (1 Sam. 16:1.) Many, too, acquire a confidence from their acquaintance with the letter of truth; a mere speculative knowledge of the plan of salvation has puffed up many; but, when the day of trial comes, all this confidence melts away, and stands for nothing in the sight of God.

All confidence in one’s own heart must be abandoned. “He that trusts in his own heart is a fool.” Yet we are continually finding ourselves guilty of it; so that it becomes a life-long lesson to learn what fools we are. But, as the Spirit of God goes on to discover to us our thoughts, motives, and intentions, and the greatness of inbred sin is beheld by us, we learn more than ever to distrust our desperately wicked and deceitful hearts, so that we dare not promise ourselves any satisfaction by diligence in reading, meditation, or prayer, but are constrained to rely on something out of ourselves, which is made known to us by a divine revelation. And where, then, shall a guilty sinner look? Whither shall he fly? Worldly things will yield him no relief. At length, drawn by the Father, he comes to Him who is “the confidence of all the ends of the earth ” (Psalm 65:5), and falls down with this request: “Lord, help me!” Thus he is brought to venture his naked soul upon the hope set before him in the Gospel; and thus, lost or saved, sink or swim, he falls upon Jesus Christ—

“Other refuge have I none,

Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.”

And, although he may not feel much confidence of being saved, yet this is the beginning of his confidence, for here only can he find an anchorage for his tempest-tossed soul.

But now let us glance at a few of the concomitants of this beginning. Look back, child of God, at the time when the Lord brought you to seek His face. How you were constrained to cast your anchor within the veil, whither Jesus, as your Forerunner, had entered. How it separated you from the world, made you leave off old and ill practices, and give up bad or unprofitable companions. You might, while striving under a spirit of bondage, have made many resolutions to change your ways, which you found yourself too weak to perform. But, when the Lord blessed you with the spirit of love, life, and liberty, you could give up every companion for Christ. Nothing would you withhold from Him then; whereas, since, you may have found it hard work to squeeze out a sovereign, or even less, for His people or His cause. Then what great love you felt for the Lord’s family. You esteemed them the excellent of the earth, and coveted them for your companions; besides which, your desires and affections were continually going up to the Lord in secret communion with Him. These were some of the fruits flowing from the beginning of your confidence.

But one of you may be saying, “My beginning tries me much.” Well, I am glad of it, for you may then enter into the spirit of Peter’s injunction, “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). Yet you will in some measure know what first gave you hope, and what was the beginning of your confidence, and you will tell the Lord of that, and He will allow us to talk to Him of His own work. If it be work of our own getting up, we shall have no desire for communion with the Lord, nor any gracious longing for Him to attest it. “Ah!” one may say, “the work in my soul is by no means clear, yet I dare not say it is of my own production, and it causes me much anxiety.” Well, poor sinner, where there is a genuine work there will be anxiety. As one says, “Oft it causes anxious thought; ” and this will produce watchfulness. What, then, is God’s word to such? “Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors. For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord” (Prov. 8:34, 35). God’s favour, then, is the soul’s desire. And what are we all met for this morning? Is it for God’s favour or for man’s patronage? You know, at least in some measure, whether you are waiting for the Lord; and, if you are really waiting upon God, you have an expectation from Him. Yea, God’s thoughts towards you are “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer. 29:11); and for your further encouragement He declares, “They shall not be ashamed that wait for Me” (Isa. 49:23).

II. The holding of this beginning “steadfast unto the end.”

The steadfast holding of this confidence: “If we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” In the Book of Proverbs, Christ is described in the character of Wisdom, and thus it is said of Wisdom, “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her” (Prov. 3:18). And who will lay hold on this? None but the ready to perish sinners to whom, when sinking, God throws out a rich promise, which is like a rope to a drowning man. That very promise is as the beginning of his confidence. He treasures it up, makes much of it, marks it in his Bible, and tries to put it in suit before God: “Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope” (Psa. 119:49); and thus he reasons with his soul: “If anything ever came to me from God, that promise did. I may have to part with many things, but this I cannot give up;” and, although he may seem to lay it aside for months, or even for years, yet in the day of distress it becomes like a sheet anchor to his soul.

Now, the soul who has his face Zion-ward will be attacked by the enemy, who, although he cannot rob him of eternal life, may try to strip him of his profession of God’s name. Thus he may be tempted to go back into the world again; but he dare not, he cannot do that. “We are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:39). But what a conflict he finds! He is anxious to be found right at last, and to get to heaven, yet he fears he shall give all up; but he does not, for he finds, as the poet sings—

“The Gospel bears my spirits up; 

A faithful and unchanging God

Lays the foundation for my hope

In oaths, and promises, and blood.”

And, as we journey on, having been blest with a hope in the mercy of God, and with the pardon of our sins, Satan may ply us thus: “You have no need to be so anxious now. You are sure that you are one of God’s elect people; and, if you do go astray, you are sure to come back again.” Now, to correct this, God allows some bright professors of religion to rise to places of minence: whence they fall, never more to rise again; and it was to warn the Hebrews of the danger of final apostacy that the Apostle penned this Epistle. And such as walk humbly with their God listen to the word of exhortation we have in the context: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” Now, if God has bestowed upon you the rich gift of faith, it has discovered to you “an evil heart of unbelief,” and this the Spirit of God reproves us for. “He shall reprove the world of sin—of sin, because they believe not on Me” (John 16:8, 9). Oh, that we may not grieve the Spirit of God by trying to reduce this sin to a mere infirmity! May the Lord rather help us to confess the guilt of it, for this “evil heart of unbelief” is the cause of all our secret departures from God. You may come to hear the Word preached, but your heart may be wandering like the fool’s eye to the end of the earth. You may retire to your closet for private communion with God, and there the enemy may stir up the lusts and corruptions of your heart, so that your lips become like a moving machine—no breathing forth of supplication with your words. And then, too, while reading, you think this and that are nice portions, but all at once your heart has turned aside from the search. And it is not a question whether we can help this or not. God says by the Apostle, “Take heed, brethren;” and “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word” (Psa. 119:9). And this the exercised soul ardently desires. But the admonition does not rest with ourselves; it extends to others: “Exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you he hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” But, alas! in the present day, how few will suffer the word of exhortation from their brethren! It is termed legality and bondage; and faithfulness is misconstrued as unfriendliness. Where is there one to be found who has the courage daily to exhort his brethren? And this should not be put off till tomorrow; it is “while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Sin left to accumulate upon the conscience will harden the heart and blind the eyes. Feeling, then, that we have such ”an evil heart of unbelief,” what need we have to cry daily to God to uphold us; and I believe all God’s people have, more or less, a fear at times that they shall not hold out to the end; and yet the very fear of falling may prove a means to preserve them from it. Doubts and fears are bad masters, but they may be good servants in sending us to the Lord thus: “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not” (Psa. 17:5).

How often the poor child of God is tried lest all that liveliness and affection he had in the days of his youth should wither away; and, in feeling a sensible decay of zeal and vigour, mind and memory, such fear will show themselves, and make one tremble. I think I somewhat understand what David meant by this petition, “Forsake me not when my strength faileth.” You that are older and further advanced in the ways of God more fully realize it. The religion of some people seems to expire before they do. Bitter trials may be a means of maintaining our lot. One has said, “It is better to be preserved in brine than to rot in honey.” We as much need the power of God to preserve us in the way as we did to set us in the way at first. Hart says—

“He guides and moves our steps, 

For, though we seem to move,

His Spirit all the motion gives 

By springs of fear and love.”

And, when the Lord refreshes and bedews us with His Spirit, it stirs us up to earnestness, and causes the hardness of our heart to yield and melt before Him.

But, as we journey on, worldly cares increase. Children grow, and entail more responsibility upon us; and we may fear lest their natural worldliness may increase worldly-mindedness in ourselves. It is a mercy to have sufficient grace in exercise to repel this worldliness both from without and from within.

Then, what a great thing it is to be kept steadfast! We don’t like changelings even in worldly things. It is specially remarked of young Ruth that she was “steadfastly minded to go with her mother-in-law” (Ruth 1:18). So when Christ was about to suffer, “He set His face steadfastly to go up to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51); and Paul exhorted his brethren at Corinth to be “steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). So there is in some of you a greater steadfastness in the truth than there once was, and, notwithstanding you may not have the bright assurance you could desire, you are grounded and settled in the truth of God.

Then you are more steadfast in the belief that salvation is all of free and sovereign grace. As Herbert says—

“There’s not a man that’s born of God 

But readily will say,

‘If ever my poor soul be saved, 

‘Tis Christ must be the way.'”

In earlier days you might have had, as you thought, a good experience, but now it seems all to be gone, and you have to stake your all upon the precious blood and spotless righteousness of Christ. This you did at first, but it becomes a growing necessity to do so. When the ark of the covenant was placed in the tabernacle, there were the two tables of stone, the golden pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. But, at a later date, we are told there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone. Oh, poor sinner, if you have Jesus Christ as your Law-fulfiller, you are safe, though all your comforts may have fled. But there may be in you a growth in grace, and yet you may not see the fruits. The cry of the most fruitful ones is often, “My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me!” And such will endure to the end, for they have already the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts. The end will come to us all, and sometimes short is the warning. What a mercy to have the assurance that, whether living or dying, we are the Lord’s!

Some are taken away in their sleep. Others labour under severe bodily sufferings and mental infirmities, and cannot speak in their last moments, who yet find that the many prayers they have put up to the Lord in life He has answered in death, for, when heart and flesh have failed, God has been to them the strength of their heart and their portion for ever; while others, again, have not been able to speak many words throughout their pilgrimage, who yet have left the world shouting, “Victory! victory! through the blood of the Lamb!” and thus, though having been looked upon as only weaklings, they have steadfastly held their little confidence, and found its value at the end of their days.

III. That it is in this steadfast holding that we are manifestly “made partakers of Christ.”

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” Is this “if” to be taken conditionally, and so our partaking of Christ to turn upon that? Oh, no; it would seem the Apostle intended thus much, that it is in the weathering the storm and entering at length the haven of rest that we are evidenced and declared as being partakers of Christ. We partake of Christ’s Spirit: “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6); and, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9). Hence we are enjoined to “try the spirits whether they be of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (l John 4:1). It was said of Joshua and Caleb that they had “another spirit” (differing from that in the rest of the elders of Israel); “they wholly followed the Lord” (Num. 32:12); and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, and that blessed Spirit leads the soul to God’s great treasure-house, where the saints were “blessed with all spiritual blessings before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:3); and by grace he chooses Christ for his portion, his meat and his drink—yea, his “All and in all’’—

“Loved of my God, for Him again 

With love intense I’d burn;

Chosen of Thee ere time began, 

I’d choose Thee in return.”

He beholds Christ as both “the Author and the Finisher of his faith,” and so beholding Him, he “runs with patience the race that is set before him” (Heb. 12:1). Indeed, he partakes of Christ, and lives on Him by faith; as the Apostle says, “The life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20). Christ is to him the substance of God’s covenant, “even the sure mercies of David ” (Isa. 55:3).

Then we partake of Christ’s sufferings too—that is, in our measure. Upon this Paul enjoined Timothy, “Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel, according to the power of God” (2 Tim. 1:8). Two of Christ’s disciples once sought a prominent place in His Church, whereupon He brought before them the subject of His baptism of suffering and His cup of suffering. It is in partaking of these that we have the true test of discipleship. If our religion costs us no suffering, it makes it doubtful whether it is a right one. When Paul desired to have fellowship with Christ in His sufferings (Phil. 3:10), it was not so much to gaze upon his suffering Lord in Gethsemane, as it was to fill up in his own body the afflictions of Christ’s mystic body; and, if we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings here (not penal wrath; that Christ alone could bear), we shall partake of His glory hereafter: “If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Rom. 8:17); and, by-and-bye, it will be said to all His faithful followers, “Well done, good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt. 25:21).

But what shall be said to those who are eagerly following after the fleeting things and fading vanities of time? Follow them you may, but they will deceive you in the end. Or to those who are resting in a “name to live,” and are at ease in Zion? You are receiving all your good things now; God’s people have their good things to come.

How much better, then, dear child of God, for you to be harassed by the devil, distressed by the world, and plagued with your own heart, and making up all your happiness in the Lord, than to have your affections locked up in an inheritance that you must soon quit for the interest of others!