secret Curse in them 2. Their Possessions have a Curse resting on them Prov. 3.33 The Curse of the Lord is in the House of the Wicked These seen things are left to be as Fuel to their Lusts as Food to their Pride and Covetousness and Luxury as Snares to their Souls Now Sirs is it not a foolish thing for Men to set their Eye on nothing but a Babylonish Garment an Achan's Golden Wedg an accursed thing 5thly Seen things are Fuel prepared for Burning combustible Stuff that Dooms-day will make an end of all these things that are now seen are things that must all be burnt up before our Eyes 2 Pet. 3.7 The Heavens and the Earth which are now are reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment Ver. 10. The Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up Thus all these seen things are kept for Fire a Fire is kindling in their Bowels that will turn them into cold Ashes think on this pray a Fire is coming a Fire is coming upon all the Gain of the World a Fire is coming upon all the Glory of the World a Fire is coming upon all the Possessions of the World a Fire is coming upon all the Habitations of the World nothing shall be left nothing saved not a penny of thy Money not a Stick or Stone of thy House not a Foot of thy Land Well this is a fourth thing this Course is a foolish Course for all these seen things are but the Footstool of God the Devils Walk the World's Portion the Subject of God's Curse Fuel for the Fire at Dooms-day and is it not a very poor sorry Business for Men and Women then to look no further than these no further than the Footstool O that Men should so far lose themselves is both sad and strange 5. This is a ruining and an undoing Course many have been undone by it and it 's marked out as a way to Perdition Phil. 3.18 19. For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ whose End is Destruction whose God is their Belly and whose Glory is in their Shame who mind earthly things Here the Apostle shews that there were many who were walking towards Destruction and whose Way would end therein And he doth further particularly name several sorts of them and among the rest you see this sort of Persons are one who mind earthly things who are wise about earthly things Thus minders I pray you take notice of it of earthly things are marked for Destruction that is such as only look after are busy about taken up with and aim at these Presents and Visibles O Sirs this looking at seen things is the losing of the Soul and unseen things for ever It was a Saying that Sir Thomas Moore used There is a Devil called Negotium Business that carrieth more Souls to Hell than all the Devils in Hell besides O this Business this minding of earthly things this looking at seen things undoes thousands Sirs if you could speak with many now in Hell and ask them what was their undoing they would surely tell you it was this O this this was our ruin 1. We were thinking what we should eat and drink and wherewithal we should be clothed when we should have been making provision for our Souls 2. We were plodding for Posterity when we should have been preparing for Eternity 3. We were surveying our Estates when we should have been looking into our Hearts 4. We were casting how to drive on our Bargains to contrive our Business and compass our Ends when we should have been working out our Salvation And these these things were our undoing while we were thus busy early and late about Earth we lost Heaven When we were in the World we minded seen things we loved seen things we were set on seen things and when we came to leave the World God told us we had that which we chose this would be the Language of many a Soul And now Sirs will you take the way that many have met with ruin in that is marked as a way to Destruction This is the first Word by way of Reproof to those who look only at seen things at things which are in sight You see it is a Brutish a Paganish a Faithless a Foolish an Undoing Course Will you continue in such a Course will you follow Pagans and Brutes will you live as Men without Faith and without Knowledg O learn this Lesson this Duty to look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen Secondly Those are to be reproved by this Doctrine who live as if there were no unseen things no Judgment to come no Heaven no Hell nothing but what is seen and what is present My Beloved there are multitudes of these in our Day you shall not meet with many who will say there are no unseen things But as one saith Impurissima profanissima illa vita quam maxima pars hominum sectatur perspicuè indicat quod non sentiant esse vitam post hanc They live just as if they had no more to do than to rant and drink and roar and revel and die and so an End of all for ever or as if they had nothing to do but rake as much as they can of the World together whether by Right or Wrong and then die behind which there is nothing My Friends are any of you of this Make of Persons such as are lying in Wickedness as giving your selves up to Profaneness Pray tell me what have you thought what are you thinking of Have you ever thought or do you ever think in earnest of unseen things or that there are any unseen things that there is any such thing as a Judgment to come or a Hell that the Wicked are to be turned into I say what do you think Are there any unseen things or are there not If you say that there are and be perswaded that there are things out of sight as you are told of and as have been hinted to you from this Subject then how can you dare you live on such a fashion Do you believe that the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power as you have it 2 Thess 1.7 8 9. Do you believe that the Kings of the Earth and the great Men and the rich Men and the chief Captains and the mighty Men and every Bond-man and every Free-man shall hide themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains and say to the Mountains and Rocks Fall on us and hide us from the Face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb
unseen things that is they are not begun with us we are not entred on them you and I are not yet entred on the things of Death or the things of Judgment on the things of Heaven or on the things of Hell O Sirs the Saints Heaven Harvest and Happiness is not yet begun but to begin the Saints Kingdom is not yet come but to come Tertullian in his Book de Spectaculis disswading the Servants of God from them hath this Motive Nostrae coenae nostrae nuptiae nondum sunt So I say the Saints Happiness is not yet it 's yet out of sight and to come And so Sirs the Sinners and Ungodly's Hell and Horror and Torment is not yet begun but to begin Do you see them Ranting and Revelling Swaggering and Gallanting it out from Day to Day O think it not strange for I say their Hell is not yet begun they are yet in their Heaven and their Hell is to begin their Time nay their Eternity of Darkness and Chains and Fire and Weeping and Gnashing are yet to enter on O consider it you that live ungodly I may say to you as the Apostle James 5.5 Ye have lived in Pleasure on the Earth and been wanton and nourished your Hearts as in a Day of Slaughter Ay but where is it Sirs that you have lived is it not on Earth that you have lived thus in Pleasure is it not on Earth that you are living it's on Earth it 's on Earth only and beyond Earth there 's an unseen Hell How will you live there will you live in Hell as you have lived on Earth in Pleasures in Jollity in Delicacy will you take up a sensual Life a delicate way of living when you are in Chains in everlasting Burnings suffering the Vengeance of an eternal Fire and drinking whole Cups nay Rivers of the Wine of the Wrath of God Almighty O those will be no Delicacies then your Heaven will be past as Luke 16.25 Thou in thy Life-time receivedst thy good Things and Lazarus evil Things but now he is Comforted and thou art Tormented 5. I may add this Unseen things are things which are not considered observed or regarded they are not seen that is they are not minded and regarded or taken notice of by many This Phrase of seeing is used thus for taking notice of and care about a Matter Psal 66.5 Come and see the Works of God observe and mark them So Mat. 22.11 And when the King came in to see the Guests he saw there a Man which had not on a Wedding-Garment when he came in to take notice of his Guests Mat. 27.4 See thou to that i. e. take thou care about that look thou to that So also verse 24. See ye to it And so here we look saith the Apostle at things not seen that is we look at things that are little look'd at in the World that are out of sight and out of mind with many that many ne'r regard or once trouble themselves about This is another and in this respect also these things of Death Judgment Heaven and Hell are as to many unseen things they mind them not they take no more notice of them than if they were not among the multitude of Thoughts that are within them and pass through them every Day there are none of this sort no serious pondering Thoughts of the things of Death the things of Judgment of Heaven or Hell O Sirs how many be there who have gone over twenty thirty forty Years and yet it may be feared the Time is yet to come that ever they spent one single Hour Day or Night Night or Day one time or another in serious Thoughts about unseen things pray look home Sirs to your own selves and see what you have done in this Case These are I say with many unseen things things they are mindless of and careless about SERMON III. 2 Cor. 4.18 While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal FOurthly We shall inquire what Looking at these unseen things imports and implies You see 1. That there are unseen things 2. What these unseen things are 3. How they are unseen Now the next inquiry may be what it is to look at unseen things or what this looking at unseen things which is the great Concern of Christians includes and implies Now this Phrase includes and carries many things in it I shall only at this Time point at these five that are bound up in it To look at thâ—ngs which are not seen is a Phrase that implies 1. A real Valuation or Estimation of unseen things as things meet to be minded and deserving to be regarded by us This Phrase is thus used to denote that which deserves to be regarded and valued 2 Kings 3.14 And Elisha said As the Lord of Hosts liveth before whom I stand surely were it not that I regard the Presence of Jehoshaphat the King of Judah I would not look towards thee nor see thee that is I would not have matter'd nor set by thee it 's Jehoshaphat that I look at and regard in the Matter So here to look at unseen things is to reckon of them as valuable things as things to be mattered and made account of by us And this now Sirs is our Concern and Duty it concerns thee and me and lies on us not to slight these unseen things as many do as if they were poor worthless inconsiderable Matters not worthy to be taken notice of or regarded take heed of this reckon not of Death of Judgment of Heaven of Hell as sorry as inconsiderable things as things too little and mean to be minded but look at them that is make them Matters of Moment Matters of Concernment of greatest Moment and Concernment of any Matters in all the World for so they are and such they will be found with every one of us another Day If there be nothing in Death Judgment Heaven Hell to be minded or matter'd by us who are on the way towards Death Judgment Heaven or Hell then there 's surely nothing nothing in the World nor any thing out of the World to be made any Matter of What is it that you make a Matter of that you look on as valuable if these be nothing with you surely Sirs these are things to be look'd at And this is one we must look at unseen things that is get and keep a home a lively and affecting Impression upon our Hearts of the Weight and Concernment of unseen things Art thou a gracious Person look at that is get and keep a-foot an affecting an abiding Sense of the Height of unseen Glory thou art going to of the Depth of unseen Wrath thou art delivered from and it will teach thee whatever comes to reckon as the Apostle our light Afflictions c. If Shame if Loss if Tribulation if Persecution O what
's on a Journey looks at the End of his Journey or as a Runner that 's in a Race looks at the Scope or Mark he is to come to the one runs with speed and the other rides with haste and both make towards the Mark. Thus I say and on this fashion we should look at things not seen as those that are travelling or running towards them by earnest Endeavour in a diligent Use of all Means and Ways leading unto them O Sirs we have many that are running and riding that are up early and late that are toiling and moiling all the Day long and of whose Labour there is no end But what is all this about what is it for why alas seen seen things these are the Matters they are seeking and as for unseen things they either look not at them or only so coldly and remiâ—ly as if they cared not which end goes forward but Sirs it concerns you and me to be up and doing about unseen things to be looking i. e. taking great Care and seeking by all Means early and late to get a sure-Title to and to assure our Interest in the unseen things of Heaven and Glory O these are the great Matters that Men and Women should be 1. tirring about 2. Striving about 3. Labouring for And 4. pressing after in this World This is another unseen things are the things we should look at that is seek for and pursue 5. It implies earnest Expectation that we look at them as the great Object that we expect and desire to obtain and come to Looking is thus put for Expecting Isa 5.2 He looked that it should bring forth Grapes Verse 7. He looked for Judgment but behold Oppression Jer. 8.15 We looked for Peace but no good came and for a time of Health and behold Trouble 2 Pet. 3.13 We look for a new Heaven and a new Earth In all which places Looking is put for Expecting So here to look at unseen things is to look for unseen things we look not at the things which are seen that is we expect not seen and Temporal things as the things that our Portion and Happiness lies in but unseen and Eternal things are the things we are looking at i. e. that we are waiting for that we are in expectation of that we are tarrying for and this is also our Duty to look at that is make things not seen our Expectations Many look at seen things and no further having nothing either beside them or beyond them that they do indeed look for seen things something or other that 's seen is the utmost thing that they have in their Eye but Sirs our looking should be over beyond past all that is seen to that that is not seen 1 Cor. 1.7 Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3.20 We look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.12 Looking for the coming of the day of God Why thus we should look over look past all that we are seeing to that which is unseen as the great Matter we are in Expectation of This now is the fifth thing you see what looking at unseen things imports it carries these things in it 1. A valuing of 2. Thinking on 3. Aiming at 4. Seeking for 5. Expecting of things not seen It 's our Duty to look at things not seen and to look at them is to value them to think on them to aim at them to seek after them and to live in expectation of them then we look at these things when we make Account of them as Matters of the greatest Moment when we mind them as Matters of such Moment when we propose them to our selves as our great Business in the World when we pursue them as our great Matter and when we expect them as our Portion all these are bound up in this looking and meet in this great Duty from which we may see by the way that this Duty is a Duty that very few are living in at this Day Fifthly Why is it the Part and Duty of Christians to look at unseen things You have seen 1. That there are unseen things 2. What these are 3. How unseen 4. What Looking imports Our next Inquiry may be this Why is it a Duty and doth so much concern us to look at i. e. to eye aim at seek after and to expect things which are not seen Now this is our Duty because these unseen things are 1. Certain and indubitable they are not imaginary things that consist in Notion and Speculation only but certain Verities it 's true they are to us invisible but it 's as true that they are as indubitable and unquestionable we see them not now but it is as sure that they remain to be seen as that there was a World to be seen when we were lying in the Womb of our Mothers and saw it not Our Parents then saw a World that we were coming into but we saw not a Heaven an Earth a Sun these were out of our sight and many of them are now also seeing a World that we are going into but see not Sirs there is a great certainty in these unseen things as in any thing that you see 1. Are you sure there is a Sun in the Firmament because you see it with your Eyes 2. Are you sure there is an Earth under your Feet because you see it and feel it 3. Are you sure there are Men and Women besides your selves on this Earth because you see them and converse with them every Day Why I tell you it 's not more sure that there is a Sun an Earth a Man or Woman besides your selves than this is that there is an unseen Death Judgment Heaven and Hell before you I have before hinted at many things of Heaven and many things of Hell that are unseen that there is a Paradise House City Crown Kingdom reserved for Saints in Heaven and that there is a Darkness Chains Worm Wrath Fire prepared for the wicked in Hell and Sirs these are no Dreams or Fancies but most certain things it 's not more sure that I am speaking of them that you are hearing of them at this Time than it is that there are such things tho we have never seen them as we are now speaking and hearing of Therefore this may be one Reason why we should look at them they are certain therefore certainly it concerns us to look at them If it were a Matter only probable that there are unseen things if as much might be said against them as for them then mindlessness of them and carelessness about them might be somewhat excusable tho in that case it would be a wise Man's part to take the surest side and say well I see it 's a Question it 's a Matter that is doubtful and dark but I 'll carry it so as I may not be at a loss and not know what to do if things prove so I say if these things were thus doubtful yet it would
or at best have but very dark and imperfect Apprehensions of them and do but give a faint and weak Assent to them are taken up with and acquiesce in seen things and shall there be no Difference Shall Christians who differ so far from Pagans in Profession agree with them in Practice Shall Christians now justify Heathens and Heathens hereafter condemn Christians How great will that Condemnation be O think of this you that never look further than you can see with Eyes of Flesh what a foul and gross thing is it that you who have the Gospel the lively Oracles of the living God plain open Noon-day Discoveries of unseen things of unseen things that are so great so unavoidable so near and Eternal should as the Gentiles only look at seen things 3. This Course is a faithless Course I know that you 'l profess to have Faith and say that you are Believers but pray Sirs what have you Faith for or what use make you of it Is not Faith the Evidence of things not seen Doth it not lead to look at things not seen Why verily this is the Work of Faith the Office of Faith and therefore while you only look thus at things seen and make them your Matters and Marks you do proclaim your selves to be Men and Women void of Faith O there 's hardly a greater Argument of Infidelity than this any thing that doth more speak Persons to be very Infidels than this I would you would think of it If you had but Faith as a Grain of Mustard-seed there would be some looking beyond things that are in sight And surely Sirs if you be a faithless Generation now you shall be a Christless and Heavenless Generation to Eternity 4. This Course is a foolish a very foolish Course this is another it 's brutish and it 's also foolish for pray what are these seen things that you are setting in your Eye they are but 1st The Footstool of God Isa 66.1 The Earth is my Footstool Sirs all the Crowns Thrones Scepters Robes and other great things of the World are but the Footstool of the God of Heaven Whatever thou lookst on and art set on here under the Sun why it 's but a piece of God's Footstool it 's but what he puts and keeps under his Feet and wilt thou set thine Heart on that he sets his Feet on What is Folly if this be not to neglect looking after a Place before the Throne of God only to gather up and fill thy Bosom with some Chips of his Footstool when and while thou hast as fair an Opportunity for that as for this None but Children and Fools would take up with painted Pebbles when they have pure Gold before them What are they that chuse to lie at the Footstool when there is open way of ascending before the Throne 2dly This World is the Walk of the Devils where God permits the Devil to have his Rounds from one Generation to another Job 1.7 And the Lord said unto Satan From whence comest thou and Satan answered the Lord and said From going to and fro in the Earth and from walking up and down in it This is Satan's Walk and here he walks not as an idle Spectator but as a busy Tempter and Destroyer making it his continual Business to seduce blind harden ensnare Men and make them both as bad and as miserable as himself I say the Earth is his Walk and seen things in it are his Baits his Snares his Tools whereby he destroys hundred thousands of Souls yea while we look at seen things rest in seen things content our selves with our seen things he walks among them and can in a Moment if God but loose his Chain turn us out of all our seen things as we may see in Job's Case Job 1. 6 7. And the Lord said unto Satan Behold he is in thine Hand but save his Life So went Satan forth from the Presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore Boils from the sole of his Foot unto his Crown c. 3dly Seen things are the World's Portion the Crust that God casts out to Dogs as Luther said of the Turkish Empire Job 9.24 The Earth is given into the Hand of the Wicked he suffers them to have a possession and use of the things thereof and reserves nothing of the things of the Earth from them as things they may not share in what canst thou name of the things here that Wicked Men of the World have not had The Apostle reduceth the things that are in the World that are seen to three Heads 1 John 2.16 The Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life i. e. Pleasures Possessions Honours Now all these are the World's Portion and Wicked Men have had a Fulness of them 1. Pleasures James 5.5 Ye have lived in Pleasure on the Earth says the Apostle speaking to wicked Men. 2. Possessions Job 21.13 They spend their Days in Wealth Psal 73.7 Their Eyes stand out with Fatness they have more than Heart could wish 3. Preferments Dan. 4.17 The Most High ruleth in the Kingdom of Men and giveth it to whomsoever he will and setteth up over it the basest of Men. Wicked Men have all along had and have all these O Soul the things thou now seest even the sinest and fairest and fullest of them are but things that many a Man has had who is now in Hell and things that many have who must never come to Heaven 1. Is it a fine House that thy Eye is on many a one has dwelt in a fine House who is now dwelling in Darkness 2. Is it fine Clothes thou lookst at how thou mayst go Gallant and be all in the Mode Why alas many that have been clothed in Purple and fine Linen and decked with all manner of Ornaments are now swimming naked in Rivers or Fire and Brimstone 3. Is it great Possessions thou art looking at Houses Lands Treasures why many a one hath laid House to House and Field to Field and Heap to Heap that now lack a drop of Water Now is it not a foolish Course to look only at and keep an Eye on that which is no better than the Portion of the World of the Men that must never come to Heaven What thinkst thou of it art thou doing wisely while thou art going after nothing but what 's seen when there 's nothing of that that 's seen but God allows it to those that are going for and must to Hell 4thly Seen things are the Subject of God's Curse this was laid upon these seen things as soon as Man was fallen Gen. 3.17 Cursed is the Ground for thy sake the Ground that is all this visible World for thy sake propter te i. e. propter peccatum tuum vel quod attinet ad te Piscator Under this Curse it lies to this Day to the Men of the Earth and with this it comes accompanied to their Door 1. Their Treasures carry a