certainly Apostatize if their hearts take deep root in the earth If you find your spirits so glewed to the things of the world that you know not how to part with them that you know not how to live in a place and not to have your neighbors love and respect and to honor you and to have the countenance of the times in which you live Do you find your hearts thus cleaving to the things of the world like the Serpent that dust you eat and upon your belly you go Know that thou hast a worldly heart thou art like to be an Apostate from the Truth of God ere long In the 2. of Titus 12. the Apostle saith That the grace of God that hath appeared to all men teaches them to deny all worldly lusts Oh my brethren let 's labor to walk worthy of our Calling into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ 1 Thess 2. 12. There the Apostle with a great deal of earnestness speaks to the Thessalonians exhorting them that they would Walk worthy of God who hath called them into his Kingdom and Glory Are you converted to Christ you are called into this Kingdom walk worthy of Him And mark his earnestness in the verse before As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father doth his children We comforted you in shewing you the excellency of the Kingdom of God and the Priviledges of this Kingdom we exhorted you and we charged every one of you as a father doth his children And what did he exhort and charge them to it was this That they would walk worthy of God who had called them into his Kingdom and his glory Oh! 't is a great mercy that God hath revealed any thing of the Kingdom of his Son unto you walk worthy of it as it becomes those that are called to be the Subjects of such a glorious Kingdom as this is and above all things have a care and let me warn you of this worldliness in the hearts of the Saints Namely of a crafty cunning subtilness in the things of this life there is nothing more unbeseeming a Christian than a crafty cunning subtilness for the world many men bless themselves in this and they take abundance of content to think that by their craft and cunning sophistry they can fetch about things circumvent others so provide for themselves in this world I say there is nothing more unbeseeming a Christian than to be crafty and cunning in circumventing others and providing for themselves in the matters of this world In 1. Cor. 2. 12. saith the Apostle We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God it is that we have received There is many men you may plainly see that they have the spirit of the world that 's thus I have many times wondered at it some men come and speak to them about any matters of the Kingdom of Christ they speak so foolishly and childishly either they must hold their peace and say nothing or else if they do speak they discover so much ignorance and childishness that a man would wonder where the understandings of such men are that have liv'd so long a time in the world as they have done and heard so much of Religion and when one hears them speak so one would wonder how these men should have understanding to live in the world but now these in the businesses of the world they are as worldly politick no man can out go them there they can foresee all kind of dangers in any miscarriage and can judge of twenty things together in their thoughts and compare one thing with another see further into the world than other men so that a man would wonder sometimes I say when one hears them speaking of Religion whether these men have any wit or understanding but when one follows them in the things of the world you shall see them as witty as understanding as judicious and as cunning as any men almost can be they have received the spirit of the world and they are led by the spirit of the world the god of this world hath taken possession of them and it 's that that makes them so but they have not received the Spirit of Jesus Christ they may say quite contrary to the Apostle saith the Apostle we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit of Jesus Christ they may say we have not received the Spirit of Christ but of the world it 's true Christ would have us so long as we live in the world to be as wise as serpents yet innocent as doves the wisdom that is for the promotion of the Kingdom of Christ it is a wisdom that hath an upright plainess in it and is according to the simplicity of the Gospel indeed when they have to deal with wicked men they may exercise a natural wisdom to avoid the dangers of persecution or to avoid the circumventing of wicked men but when they have to deal with spiritual things there the wisdom is that that holds forth a simplicity of the Gospel that is carried on with plainess and simpleness of heart The Hebrews have the same word that signifies a naked man and a cunning subtil man You shall find where it 's said of Adam and Eve they were naked nakedness of spirit and subtilty may stand together they signifie the same thing to shew what kind of subtilty should be in those that are the People of God it should be that that may stand with a naked spirit so as if God would discover the secrets of all their hearts to all the children of men that they should not be ashamed to have all their secrets to be opened to them But now the cunningness that is the cunningness of the serpent is such a cunningness as men if they were but laid open would quickly be ashamed of And so much of the fourth use that it is unbeseeming those that are of the kingdom of Christ to have the spirit of the world because Christs kingdom is not of this world 5. Vse Hence we see the reason of the meanness of the outward condition of the people of God in this world why is it that Christ hath so ordered things that the people of God should be so outwardly poor in this world My Kingdom is not of this world saith Christ Therefore why should any that come under my kingdom look for great things in this world they must look to have their comfort and glory in things that concern my Kingdom and not in the things of this world in Psal 73. 12. Behold those that are ungodly prosper in this world saith the Scripture As for men that are godly and come under the Kingdom of Christ they must look for a prosperity that is beyond this world God gives the earth to the children of men and to the men of the world Let them prosper saith God here 's their portion here 's
honored by your Conversations Oh! you that have ever heard from God the glorious glad tydings of Salvation in the Gospel Is it not in your hearts to do what you can to honor him now let your Conversation be such have a care of your Conversations that God may be honored the Name of God will be blasphemed except you have a care of your Conversations in Matth. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven As if Christ should say What hath God brought the light of the Gospel to you hath it shined into your hearts and hath He revealed unto you those glorious Mysteries of Salvation in Him O then let this light break forth and shine in your Conversations before men that others seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Some men and women are ready to say what do they care what others observe in them so that God knows their hearts I but that 's not enough if it could be so that you could have good hearts unto God without good Conversations but we shall see that there cannot be any such thing and it is required of you your works should shine forth before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 'T is one thing to do a good work that may be seen and another thing to do a good work that it may be seen to do a good work that may be seen that is lawful though we should not do them principally aiming that they may be seen but our works should be such that of their own nature they may be seen but not to make that to be our main end that they may be seen so as aiming not so much that they may may be seen but that being seen men may glorifie our Father which is in Heaven that God may be honoured Now God is honoured by the Conversations of His Saints many waies and therefore they should be very careful of their Conversations As in the first place The people of God Saints Beleevers they are the great Witnesses that God hath in the world to witness for Him against the corruptions of the world If so be that you are not careful of your Conversations God will lose witnesses to His Truth Now a witnesse is not a thing that is kept within a man cannot be a witness by keeping things within his own thoughts and heart he must manifest something to witness The Lord makes use of the lives of His Saints to be His Witnesses in the world to stand and witness for His Truth whereas others they will think when the Gospel is preached that it is but a meer notion or imagination and that there is no reallity in what is preached No saith God look here upon the Conversations of these that have beleeved the Gospel do you not see they witnesse that there it a reallity in those things of the Gospel look what a change my Gospel hath made upon them in their lives and conversations those that were before proud how humble they are that were before froward how meek they are and the like these are my witnesses Many Scriptures might be given especially that in Revel 11. 3. where the Saints in general are called witnesses And that 's the first thing You are to look to your Conversations that you may be Gods witnesses Secondly That you may hold forth the Image of God in the world that Image that God made man in at first by the sin of man was lost but now through the Gospel it comes to be renewed and God delights to have His Image held forth in the world that men may behold somewhat of the glory of His Image But how can the world see the Image of God They cannot see it in your hearts but now God would have it conspicuous therefore have you a care of your Conversations that in your Conversations you may hold forth the Image of God in the world It 's much to the glory of God to have His Image held forth in the world As men that would honor their parents and other dear friends if they have a curious Picture of them when their image is drawn they will not see it abused and sullyed but they will keep it fair a man that hath the image of his father or dear friend will not hang it in a smokey hole behind a chimney or door but in some conspicuous place so we should hold forth the Image of God conspicuously it should appear in our lives and Conversations Thirdly By your Conversations God may be honored for you will further the great designs that God hath in the world the holy and gracious lives of the Saints serve to further the great designs that God hath in the world to do And lastly They may serve to make up the great dishonor that God hath from others the Lord hath abundance of dishonor from most in the world but now there are some that God cals out of the world and He gives his Grace unto them to the end that He might have some of the great dishonor that He hath in the world from others made up now such as are carefull of their Conversations as walk exactly and closely with God I say they are made use of by God for the making up in some part of the great dishonor that God hath in the world What honor should God have in the world were it not for the holy and gracious Conversations of some of His Saints and therefore you who profess the Gospel look to your Conversations that God may be honored by you Secondly Have a care of your Conversations look to them in respect of wicked men among whom you live As first That you may convince evil and ungodly men among whom you live in the world 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having your Conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation This likewise doth confirm what was said before for the glory of God and the conviction of wicked men That they beholding may glorifie God in the day of visitation There are many interpretations upon this place In the day of visitation the day wherein God shall visit them Though now they rail against you yet when God shall visit them either in His stroke upon them by sickness then they will acknowledg you to be righteous and holy men and wish that their conditions were like yours or in the day of visitation if God shall visit their spirits to turn them or in the day of visitatiō as some think in the day of Jesus Christ But I find others looking narrowly into the words In the day of Over seeing the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence the word Bishop comes it is an Over-seer now this word visitation signifies nothing else but
He that will follow me let him deny himself you never read of such a precept in all the old Testament though no question the people of God did deny themselves then but in expresse terms so fully you have not such a thing there and there 's no such rules among the Heathens for a man to deny himself Let him deny himself those that know the Original know that the word is not only to Deny but there is that joyned to it that doth encrease the signification let them deny themselves throughly there is a Preposition put to the word to shew that those that will come to Christ must deny themselves and that throughly it is a proper lesson of the Gospel and the first lesson Oh when our Lord and Master hath thus denied himself and emptied himself for good to us what is beseeming this Gospel but that all that are professors of it should deny themselves It is very unbeseeming the glorious Gospel for a Christian to be selvish to have his self-ends and self-waies and interests in every thing as generally almost al men in the world they are acted by self some self-ends or self-excellency carries them on in their actions or else they have no heart to do any thing this is unbecoming the Gospel But now I say one that would live as becomes the Gospel must be wholly emptied of himself whatsoever parts estate credit or honor he hath in the world must be melted into the glory of God Jesus Christ for the glory of His Father was content infinitly to deny Himself more than we can For what have we to deny our selves of Do you or I live as becomes the Gospel when I say all that we apprehend to have any excellency in we have it all swallowed up in the glory of God when we can dedicate and consecrate our lives honors liberties estates comforts and all to the glory of God and be as nothing to our selves and let God be all in all to us Ministers may bring many reasons why we should deny our selves but all these reasons comes to nothing till the soul comes to behold the cleer light of the Gospel and there beholds the Son of God by faith how he did empty Himself nay then saith a beleeving soul if the Son of God did deny Himself was emptied thus for me Oh then let me be wholly taken off from my self and venture wholly upon God I must not live in my self nor live for my self nor live to my self but wholly live in God and for God and to God and upon God Oh this is that which becomes the Gospel of Jesus Christ SERMON VI. PHIL. 1. 27. Only let your Conversation be as becomes the Gospel of Christ THE Ninth thing that the Gospel holds forth is this That our Conversation should be sutable to spiritual worship the spiritual worshiping of God The worship that there was in the time of the Law it was carnal in comparison of what there is in the time of the Gospel And therefore a great part of the worship of God is called a carnal commandement and rudiments of the world and beggerly things If you reade the 2 d of Colossians there you have strange expressions about that which was even the worship of God and so in the Hebrews divers times But now you know what Christ saith in John 4. to the woman of Samaria The hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father But the hour cometh when the true worshipers shal worship the Father in spirit and in truth for such the Father seeks to worship him We must not think to worship God in such carnal waies as before I beseech you consider this one thing Certainly God wil have as much worship in the time of the Gospel as ever He had But where we have one external thing to worship God in now in the time of the Law there was an hundred an hundred to one of external things yet now this worship of God must be made up some way we are not cal'd to those outward worshipings offerings sacrifices and costly things as they were in the time of the Law now how should this be made up but in spiritual sacrifices in presenting our bodies and souls to God as a living sacrifice therefore such men and women as altogether are for the out-side of things in the worship of God and because God hath appointed but a few things in his worship we have use of no other creature in the worshipping of God but meerly the Bread and Wine and Water only these elements and the Man to speak to us to be either Gods mouth to us or our mouth to God there 's all we have appointed in the Gospel for the worship of God therefore it is expected if we would have our Conversation be as becoms the Gospel to be very spiritual in our worship and therefore to take heed of thinking to make up Gods worship with external things of our own that 's exceedingly unbeseeming the Gospel Many thought in former times they did honor God much by adding to His Worship ceremonies external things and peoples hearts are set most upon them because they are from man they are humane I 'le give you but one-Scripture to shew how we should for ever take heed of traditions of men and of mixtures in the Worship of God because that the Gospel points at spiritual worship That place in 1 Pet. 1. 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from what from your vain Conversations received by traditions from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot See what an argument the Apostle uses here unto those he writ to saith he There was a time that you worshiped God in an external way and in a superstitious manner according to the traditions and fancies of your fathers this was before you knew Jesus Christ but saith he now you come to know Jesus Christ know it was the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed to redeem you from this vain Conversation that you received by tradition from your forefathers I do not know any one Scripture hath more power in it to take off mens hearts from all false and superstitious worship from all old customs that they had from their forefathers as people are mightily set upon old customs to worship God according to them what a stir and do had we to get off men from their late Service-Book the great Diana of England which was made up of the ends and shreds of the Romish Mass-Book only printed in an English letter and reading and babling over Burials and such kind of trumperies Oh how were those old Samaritan customs setled in the hearts of men as coming up to the Communion Table and there to kneel down at Rails like so many Beads-men to the Pope Votaries to Rome Mens hearts are
but when they are brought into his Kingdom then they are under the Ministry of the Word in another way Christ then is their great Pastor and Shepherd and so His Ministers are in a more peculiar manner Pastors Shepherds unto them And besides there are other Ordinances that they have nothing to do withal till they be brought into the Kingdom of Christ namely the seals of the Covenant with some others that might be named That 's the great privledge of those that are under the Kingdom of Christ to have right to all Ordinances Certainly all Saints and Beleevers have right unto all but they are to come in an orderly way to them 5 ly By being under the Kingdom of Christ there is this Priviledge Protection As Kings should be the protectors of their subjects Jesus Christ hath taken upon Him the protectors of their subjects Jesus Christs hath taken upon Him the protection of all such as come under Him all power in Heaven and Earth is given unto Christ and it is al exercised for their protection to deliver them from dangers bodily and spiritual to protect their souls they are under Christs Kingly power for protection when any temptation to sin comes they should fly unto Christ as King to shield them from their enemies when their spiritual enemies come in like a floud then the Spirit of Christ sets up a standard against them 6 ly They shall certainly have victory over all their enemies This Kingdom shall never be shaken let all the world conspire what they will against it the gates of Hel shall not prevail against it no cunning devises no subtil waies shall ever overcome this Kingdom no nor any one subject of this Kingdom This is a priviledge beyond what is in the world A Kingdom may preserve its self so as to continue a kingdom but many subjects may be destroyed in the preservation of it but this is such a kingdom as there shall never one subject be destroied in it that is Al the enemies shal never take off one subject from this kingdom indeed they may take away their bodily lives but that is but a transferring of them to the more glorious part of the kingdom that they shall attain to Then may a subject of this kingdom be said to be destroyed when he shall be cut off from Christ and lose the grace that he hath received but none shall be thus destroyed but shall be preserved by Christ and shall certainly overcome all enemies both inward and outward And that 's a sixt priviledge 7 ly By being in this Kingdom Beleevers are made every one of them Kings though they be subjects in some sense unto Christ yet Christ hath made them Kings and Priests unto God so they are called in Scripture There 's no kingdom where all the subjects are Kings it is so here Christ makes all that come under His kingdom to be Kings and they have too according to their Princely state the Angels to be their guard as Kings have their guard where ever they go so the poorest and meanest Beleever that is under this kingdom of Christ hath his guard of Angels wheresoever he goes though it be a poor smokey hole or Cottage that he lives in yet it is guarded by Angels every night they keep the Door and watch about the Bed Thus the Scripture tells us that the Angels are Ministring Spirits for Gods Elect 8 ly The benefit of this kingdom of Christ It is Spiritual peace and joy in the holy Ghost So in Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdom of God consists not in meat and drink but in righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost There 's another manner of peace than the world gives So Christ in John 14. 17. Peace I leave with you My peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you It 's the note of a learned Interpreter speaking of this place I give not peace as the world gives the world gives peace saith he by taking away afflictions from a troubled person but Christ gives peace by taking away a troubled person from affliction His meaning is this the worlds way to give peace is to take away trouble from us but the way that Christ hath is to take the trouble of our hearts from our affliction the world cannot give so long as the affliction continues but Christ gives peace though the affliction doth continue that 's thus Christ He takes off the troublesomness of mens hearts from the affliction the world takes off the affliction from the trouble of mens hearts now this is a great deal better peace when the trouble of our hearts is taken away though the affliction continues rather than when the affliction is taken away and trouble of heart continues I give peace not as the world gives peace 't is inward peace the worlds is outward the world takes away some trouble but I take away the very root of all trouble the branches are taken away by the peace of the world that is whereas you had not trading before nor the freedom of your estates before you shall have that now but the root of all your trouble the world cannot take away that is sin but I take away sin that is the root of all trouble We may through the blessing of God upon Armles Parliament we may come to have outward peace that is freedom from outward troubles Oh but there may be vexation and trouble in our spirits in the mean time But Christs peace is especially in the conscience and heart within doors we may have peace here mixed with abundance of sin and wickedness it may be procured in a sinful way or it may be the cause of much sin but my peace is a holy peace it doth further holiness wheresoever I give it my peace is a lasting and a stable peace peace here may be but for a few months but my peace shall be eternally I give peace not as the world that is the fruit of the kingdom of Christ So the truth is though there be many outward afflictions attend the Kingdom of Christ yet the Kingdom of Christ is alwaies in peace and in joy of the holy Ghost That is a priviledge which we can never be crowned with but in the kingdom of Christ as we can never enjoy peace but here all the peace that mens consciences have till they come under the kingdom of Christ it will turn to greater trouble that peace they have and live loosly not being subdued to the kingdom of Christ will turn to horror and misery and so the joy that there is in the world it will turn to sorrow and vexation 't is proper to the kingdom of Christ to have joy in the holy Ghost thou mayest have joy in thy cups joy in thy dishes joy in thy mirth and wicked company but 't is proper to the kingdom of Christ to bring joy unspeakable and glorious unto the soul the soul never knows experimentally what
His dear Son as the Scripture speaks and therefore very glorious And all the glory of the kingdom of Solomon it was but to typifie out the glory of the Kingdom of Christ now that is not of this world therefore there is some glory beyond that of this world and it is a good sign of a spiritual eye and a spiritual heart to be able to see an excellency and glory that is beyond this world to be able to look higher and further than this world can We think that all the good things that God hath to communicate to the children of men should be here on earth but I beseech you consider of it Can we think in our consciences that all the good things that God hath to cōmunicate to such as He loves should be here in this world Certainly no. Consider therefore that all the good things that God intends for his people are not of this world First It 's called An evil world Truly it 's no great matter and we should not account much that the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world if we consider these things First That this world it is an evil world Gal. 4. We are delivered from this evil world Secondly It 's a world that the Devil in Scripture is called the god of and the prince of this world 2 Cor. 4. 4. Whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded Surely all the good things that God hath to communicate to His Saints are not of this world that is an evil world that is a world that the very Devil is god of it in scripture phrase Thirdly A world all whose bravery and pomp and glory it is not of the Father 1 John 2. 16. you have an epitomy there of what the excellency of the world is for saith he All that is in the world the lusts of the flesh lusts of the eyes and the pride of life Under these three heads are all things that the men of the world look upon as desirable either they are the lusts of the flesh the lusts of the eyes or the pride of life But saith he All that is in the world is not of the Father but is of the world Surely the chief things that God hath to communicate to His Saints are not of the things of this world for all that is in the world is not of the Father And wouldest not thou have the riches of the Father 'T is true God is the Creator of all things and hath the dispose of all things but that that the men of the world look upon as the excellent things that are here they are not of the Father they are none of the good things that God the Father hath to bestow upon His children and therefore surely there is a happiness beyond the things of this world Oh my Brethren that I could but so take off the hearts of people by this point from the things of this world as to make them look after the Kingdom of Christ that is not of this world for you see that all that is here in the world the Scripture saith it is not of the Father Fourthly As all the excellent things are not of the Father so the truth is all the glory that is in the world it is but darkness it is a dungeon of darkness to a spiritual eye As the Bats can see in the night so the men of the world they think they see some glittering here in the world but in the language of Scripture and to spiritual hearts it is but darkness Hence the Apostle Eph. 6. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world Rulers of the darkness of this world are the unclean spirits spiritual wickednesses the Devils are the Rulers of the darkness of this world this world it hath a darkness in it and therefore surely the chief good things that God hath to bestow upon the Saints they are things that are beyond this world Fifthly The world knows not God John 17 25. The world is that that Christ saith doth not know the Father Oh righteous Father the world hath not known thee Take men that are the wisest of the world and have all the wisdom that this world can afford it will not help them to the knowledge of the Father the world knows not those excellent and glorious things that are of the Father Sixthly The world it lies in wickedness 1 John 5. 19. as sometimes I have opened that Scripture to you Just as you see in a common shore a carion a dead dog that lies over head and ears in the mire or mud in a common shore and in its own filthiness so the whole world lies in wickedness the wickedness of the world is like the common shore in w ch there is nothing but filth and dirt and the world as a dead carion lies in its own pollutions surely then there are other things that God hath to communicate to his Saints than the things of this world and we should not be offended though the Kingdom of Christ be not of this world Seventhly The world it passeth away with the lusts of it 1 John 2. 17. it is a notable Scripture for that And the world passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever speaking before of what was the glory of the world and it passeth away with the lusts thereof Mark Not only the things of the world passeaway but the very lusts to those things passeth away As now men and women who have their healths and live bravely for a while Oh! how greedy are they for the contents of this world how do they long and desire that they might have such a merry meeting with such friends and such cheer and such commings in They make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof But now mark within a little while not only these comforts shall be taken from them but the very lusts of them shall passe away that is they shal have no mind in the world to them Take a poor man that was wont to long for these things when he lieth upon his sick bed at the point of death now he looks upon these things as those things that are dry leaves he hath no mind to them not so much as a phansie after these things all the varnish of the things of the world are gone in his eyes he tasts them no more than the white of an eg yea the desire of his heart is dead to them as now a man that lusted after drink when his desire is satisfied the very desire after it is gon and one that liv'd in gluttony when his body is a little distempered the very lusts therof passeth away surely there are other things that God hath for his people than the things of this world Eightly There must be somwhat else besides the things of this world for Christ Himself is not
the world and as Christ saith Wo to the world because of offences so wo to the world because of this great offence Christs Kingdom being so spiritual hence it is that the world receives Him not in 1. John 10. And so in John 14. 17. Even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive Mark the world cannot receive the spirit of Truth the world receives not Christ and it cannot receive the spirit of Truth If you speak of the world to men then they savor of those things come to a man and tell him of a good bargain on the Exchange he will listen to you and remember what you say but come and speak to him of the great things of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ of the glorious priviledges of that kingdom only there 's a sound in the air and it passeth away and takes no impression at all on the heart of one that is carnal 1 John 4. 5. there you have this exprest fully the very guize and way of a carnal heart They saith the text are of the world therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them those that are of the world they speak of the world and discourse of the world and savor the things of the world and the world heareth them but now let a man come and tell them of things that are heavenly of a goodly Pearl of Jesus Christ they savor not those things and they hear them not Oh! 't is from hence that men come not into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ because it is not of this world What 's the reason that there are more comes into the Kingdom of Antichrist than into the Kingdom of Christ Revel 13. 3. The whol world wandered after the beast saith the text because they are of the world and Antichrist doth set up a worldly kingdom instead of Christs kingdom and men that are of the world they flock after Antichrist and hence it was that your great rich men in places where the Gospel hath not been they were Papists or Popishly affected so that therefore the Papists make outward prosperity to be one badge or sign of the true Church hence it is that Popery is so sutable to worldly hearts and the holy Ghost prophesied before hand that the whol world should follow Antichrist only here and there a few poor ones Jesus Christ chuses out of this world to follow him for His Kingdom is not of this world One Particular more in a word seeing the Kingdom of Christ is not of the world then a worldly heart is the most unbeseeming thing in one that professeth himself to be a Christian of any thing that can be in the world If Christs Kingdom be not there certainly thy heart should not be there Thou that professest thy self to be of the Kingdom of Christ which is spiritual and heavenly and yet thou a worldly earthly heart I say it is the most unbeseeming thing that possibly can be what for a Professor of Religion to have an earthly covetous worldly heart By that that I have already spoken in shewing the vanity and the evil of the world and the great evil of loving the world were enough to strengthen this use but now that that I intended should have been to speakesp ecially to those that are Christians that have hopes that God hath made them partakers of Jesus Christ and would be loth to lose their hopes in the good things of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ for 10000. worlds yet there doth remain much worldliness in their hearts to this day surely this not beseeming one of the profession that thou makest it is no honor unto thy King the Lord Jesus Christ worldly Professors they are great dishonors to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ when there shall appear no difference between those that we account to be men of the world and such as we hope are chosen out of the world Oh! how is Christ dishonored by this Look but upon the lives of Christians that profess Religion and one would think that the Kingdom of Christ were a Kingdom of this world rather than any thing else for I say to outward appearance though it may be Christ may see some integrity within the heart yet to outward appearance there is even almost no difference between them and the men of the world It doth become Christians to live so in their whol course as to make it appear that they are men and women above the world whose Conversations are in Heaven that they do beleeve the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that is not of this world SERMON III. JOHN 18. 36. Jesus answered and said My Kingdom is not of this world WHAT this Kingdom of Christ was and how different from the kingdoms of this world we have already opened unto you The fourth Use which we are to proceed in is If the kingdom of Christ be not of this world then of all dispositions a worldly spirit is most unsutable to those who profess themselves to be of the Kingdom of Christ Certainly then such as are Beleevers that are come under the Kingdom of Christ they must not be of earthly hearts We find the Apostle in the Epistle of the Ephesians doth rank Covetousness and Uncleanness together and saith of them both in the 5. Chapter 3. Verse Let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints So that a covetous heart after the things of the world it is such a disposition as it should scarce be named among Saints no more than whoredom they should abstain from it as from whordom as it becometh Saints It is the most uncomly thing for a Saint of God one of the Kingdom of Christ to have a covetous heart for the things of the world that possibly can be As it becomes them it doth not become you And Luther that was a great man for the promoting of the Kingdom of Christ he is bold to profess it That of all sins he was scarce ever tempted to that sin he found nothing tending almost that way though it 's true there 's no sin but we have the seeds of it in our hearts but yet he found his spirit most above that worldly sin because he was so much taken up with Jesus Christ And indeed the more any soul is taken up with the excellency of Christ and with the glorious things of His Kingdom the more vile will the things of the world be to them We look not at the things that are seen saith the Apostle they are not things to be looked at But at the things that are not seen And in the 6. of the Gal. 14. ver The Apostle Paul that was the great man for the promoting of Christ in the world and the setting up of His Throne he professes That he was crucified to the world and the world was crucified to him That is he look't upon the world but as a crucified thing What esteem would you have of a man that is hanging upon a
's the meaning of the Original Like as a man that scorns and derides another snivles in the nose that 's the propriety of the word that is here translated derided Oh! a worldly heart is hardest brought unto the Kingdom of Christ therefore bless God so much the more that hath brought thy soul to understand the mysteries of Christs Scepter that hath translated thee into another Kingdom 11. Vse If the Kingdom of Christ be not of this world then they are rebuked that do seek to make the Kingdom of Christ a worldly Kingdom I might name very many sorts of men that do this I will speak but of Three or Four The first is the Papists those that are Popishly affected all their way is under the name of honoring of Christ to raise up a worldly Kingdom and therefore they make the Pope to be as an Emperor of all the world as the King of Kings and their Cardinals and many of their Bishops to be Princes and all in a worldly pomp and they carry it on and maintain it by a worldly policy and by worldly means and worldly weapons and therfore stir up the Kings of the earth to root out all those that are against them these understand not the Kingdom of Christ Secondly Such as would conform the Government of the Church meerly to worldly Government that because worldly men may by their prudence order things as they please in Common-wealths so as shall be most sutable to them therefore they falsly think that the Kingdom of Christ must be so too that it must be suted to every Country whereas the truth is there is but one way of the Government of Christ in all the world The great Argument of the Prelates was Indeed say they in some places there may be another Government where there is an Aristocracy in the Civil Government but where there is Monarchy there must be a Bishop Now certainly that's not the way of Christ to sute himself in his Government to the Government of the world But the Government that was in the primitive times must be still Thirdly Such kind of men as think that the success of the Gospel and the Ordinances do depend upon worldly things as now upon outward pomp except there be some outward pomp go along with the Gospel As now Great preferments of those that are the Preachers of the Gospel they think the Gospel will be contemn'd else and except the Ordinances be carried on in an outward pomp They conceive that all will be despised except there be Magnificent Temples built and beautified and except brave Gold and Silver Chalises the Sacrament would be despised and except they have their Altars and Rails about them with all their heathenish vanities Christ is not worshiped But this is to look upon the Kingdom of Christ as the Kingdoms of the world but Oh no! the kingdom of Christ prevails where there is but little of the world with it I remember I have read of one Boniface a Martyr that being asked whether it were lawful to give the Wine in the Sacrament in a wooden Challis saith he There was a time indeed when the Church had wooden Challises and golden Priests but now the Church hath golden Challises and wooden Priests No question in the primitive times they had very mean things in the Lords Supper and all things were carried in a very low way to a worldly eye but saith he though their Challises were wooden the Priests were golden and so the Gospel did prevail Oh! it 's the spiritualness of things that makes the kingdom of Christ to prevail many think that the Gospel cannot prevail except it hath abundance of gingles of mens wit and tongues and such kind of school-boy-vanities as these are but the Gospel never prevails by such things but that which the world calls foolishness that is made the power of God and the wisdom of God to Salvation They have carnal hearts that think that the outward pomp and glory of the world should be such a furtherance to the Gospel as if it should not thrive without it Lastly Those that think that the Gospel and the promoting of Christs kingdom depends wholly upon humane policy and strength these do make the kingdom of Christ to be but as a worldly kingdom The last Vse is this If Christs Kingdom be not of this world then it teaches us all for to labor to further a kingdom of Christ as distinct from the world it is a great Point that I am speaking of about furthering the Kingdom of Christ as distinct from the kingdoms of the world Christ himself professes that he came into the world to witness to this truth and therefore certainly we should do so likewise It is in the very next words to my text when Christ had said his Kingdom was not of this world Pilate said to Him Art thou a King then Jesus answered Thou saiest I am a King To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness to the Truth Truth Pilate asked Him what the Truth was but he said not for an answer but certainly the Truth that Christ means here is the Truth of His Kingdom Oh my brethren it is a matter of so great consequence that it is a special end why Christ came into the world why He was born that he should witness to this Truth Then certainly we should account it a great end of our lives to set to our seal to this Truth of the Kingdom of Christ as distinct from the world let this be a great engagement on our spirits to further the preaching of the kingdom further it as many waies as you can improve your Estates improve your Credits your Esteem your Places for the kingdom of Christ and then Oh how comfortable will your death be though you should not live here to enjoy all the priviledges that the Saints in other ages shall have in the kingdom of Christ yet when you die your death shall be but a passage of you into the glorious Kingdom of Jesus Christ for there 's a Kingdom of Christ beyond this world though Christ will rule Spiritually while this world lasts but when men are taken off from this world yet they do but go into the Kingdom of Christ In 2 Peter 1. 5 6. c. with which I will conclude and besides this giving all diligence Ad to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledg ad to knowledg temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity for if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ And so he goes on further in his exhortation and in the 10. verse Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things you shall never fall for so an
glory and a Kingdom and a Crown of eternal life now they expect not to have it done presently they are content to stay Oh these are the best Traders the best Merchants that will trade with God for great things and be content to stay you will chuse that you have here for the present and therefore you have your portion Fourthly These things that are here they are the only sutable things to your hearts and what will you do with any more hereafter these things do exceedingly please you and give you content as agreeable to you and the things that are to come are disagreeable what would men do that are carnal and wicked now what would they do in Heaven Certainly if you hate Gods Saints now that have but a little Grace for their Grace sake you would hate them infinitly more afterwards when they are perfect in Grace when they shall be perfect and then when all your common gifts shall be taken away for so it shall be Now the things of God are unsutable to you though you have now many common 〈◊〉 and you now abhor the Grace of God though it be imperfect what then when all common gifts shall be taken from you and Grace made perfect how unsutable will it be then to you Therefore expect nothing hereafter Fifthly You abuse your portion you have now what will you do with more Who will trust you with the true riches You abuse that you have Indeed men of the world that are wicked and very rich are presently in places of honor and power Oh! what a deal mischief they do in the world what dreadful evils are they unto the earth Such men how do they abuse their portions Why now as it is with the Tooth in a mans head a Tooth indeed is prefer'd to have an eminent place in the Head but when the Tooth comes to be rotten and put us to pain what do we but pull it out and throw it away So when God prefers men to eminent places when through their wickedness they grow rotten and so do a great deal of hurt the Lord plucks them out in His anger and throws them away they abuse their portion and do a great deal of hurt and therefore must expect no more But above all the argument is Sixthly Because they have no interest in Jesus Christ The rich Treasures of the infinite grace of God they are let out in Jesus Christ God hath divers Conduit-pipes as I may so say of His Grace to let out unto His Creatures there are some lesser Conduit-pipes and those Conduit-pipes may be open'd through the general bounty of God but now the Lord hath the great Current of His eternal mercies for some that He doth intend eternal good unto and this great Current of His it is stop't by justice the infinite justice of God doth stop this great Current so as it cannot be open'd to have any drop of the mercy let out until Divine Justice comes to be satisfied In the mean time the other smaller pipes they run the general bounty of God Now then this is the very work of Jesus Christ Christ the Second Person in Trinity and it is the very mystery of the Gospel The Second Person in the Trinity sees that the children of men are capable of eternal happiness eternal glory and that there are glorious treasures with God to be communicated to the children of men but through mans sin this great Current is stop't in the mean time Gods general bounty lets out a great many outward comforts Christ therefore out of pity to man-kind that man-king may not be put off with these general outward comforts He comes and satisfies Gods infinite justice that He might open the Current the sluice of His infinite and eternal Grace to others Now happy are those Creatures who have interest in the Lord Christ for this is His work to satisfie the Justice of the Father that so the great pipe may be opened and then flows in all Grace infinit eternal Grace when that comes once to be opened No mervail though we hear of such glorious things that the Saints of God have in the life to come no mervail for Christ doth come and open the great sluice of Gods infinite Grace and Mercie to them as for the men of the world they have but a little of the drizling of Gods general bounty through some crannies but the Floudgates of Gods grace are opened in Christ therefore til Divine Justice be satisfied there can be no further good for a Creature here but the fruits of Gods general bounty patience There are some Creatures whom the Lord hath left to the Course of justice they shall have what they earn and no more this is the difference between Gods dealings with some Creatures and others I say some there are that shall have what they earn and no more others there are whom God hath set His Heart upon and whether they earn or no God intends eternal mercies unto them and will bring them unto eternal mercies Here 's the difference of the Covenant of works and the Covenant of Grace and therefore the one is left to Himself and the other Christ the Head of the Covenant comes to undertake for him that that he cannot do and here is the very Cut between the condition of some men other men that some have their portion in this world and others have another higher portion in the world to come Those have no interest in Christ these have Seventhly They are no Sons no Children and therefore they must not expect childrens portions As many of you rich men when you die you will leave your servants some Legacie perhaps you 'l give every servant in the house five pounds or so but when you come to your children to write in your Will what such a Son such a Daughter shall have that is another manner of business than 4. or 5 l. great things you leave to them Now the truth is the world may be divided between Children and Servants for though the truth is all men are at defiance with God yet God makes them servants one way or other and there is some little Legacy that servants shall have but they must not expect the Childrens portion therefore they have it here but must not have it hereafter In Ezek. 46. 16. Thus saith the Lord If the Prince give a gift unto any of his sons the inheritance shall be his sons but if to his servants then it shall be but till Jubile This was Gods Law that if a Prince gave a gift to his son the son should inherit it for ever but if he give it but to a servant it should continue with him but for a while So here is the difference of Gods administration of all His gifts He gives some to servants and these shall continue but for a while within a little while all will be called for again all the good and all the comfort thou hast God
why so many Magistrates are like to Galio in Acts 18. 17. Carring for none of those things they were to him but matters of words and yet they were about the great fundamental Points of Religioâ— Whether Christ were the true Messias and whether He were God or no but to Gallio these things were but matter of words And so the great things of God and Religion to carnal hearts they are things that are of no great consequence at all yea when as Sosthenes that was the Ruler of the Synagogue for countenancing of Paul had the rude multitude of the City rise up in a rude manner to apprehend him and to lay violent hands upon him Gallio cared for none of these things but so far he did not go Gallio went not to stir up a rude multitude to lay violent hands upon a Ruler of a Synagogue or a City but he cared for none of those things saith the text What did he care for rectifying any thing that was amiss in Religion Oh let us say they that have their portion here what ever becomes of things let us make peace say they that we may go on and be quiet in our houses enjoy that we have quietly and peacably and they look no further Their portion is here and as for Truth how do they reject it contemn it It is a speech as is credibly reported hath come even from a Citizen here in cursing of the Truth so as had he lived among the Jews he would certainly have been stoned to death Let us have Peace and a Pox of Truth I say such a speech as this among the Jews would have caused him to have been stoned to death being such horrible blasphemy But how many are ready to say with Pilat in the 18. of John 38. when as Christ was before Pilat and talked to Pilat of Truth Truth saith Pilat What is Truth You shall observe it at the 38. ver What is Truth Saith Pilat as if Pilat should have said What a strange man is this the man is in danger of his life and he talks of Truth when he is in danger of his life What is Truth saith Pilat turns it back upon him presently Just thus are the hearts of many What should we look at Truth or at any thing now but to preserve our lives and estates and outward comforts in the world What is Truth They are a company of mad-brain'd fellows that are factious and seditious they talk of Truth and know not what they say Come let us have peace though it be upon any terms Who is there in this place that desires not Peace The Lord knows it is the desires of those that are accused most for want of desires in this thing yea so as we dare challenge any of you with this Challenge Those who have been most at the Throne of Grace begging unto God for peace for England let them carry the day those that have put forth most prayrs for Peace before the Throne of Grace we are willing they shall have the day We reade that amongst al the Tribes that came up in a war-like way to help the people of God against oppression in the 5. of Judges 18. and so in that Chapter that of all Naphtali was the only Tribe that joyned w th Zebulun that jeoparded their lives in the Cause of God that would take up Arms to defend themselves and the people against oppression Surely these two Tribes by the others that would not venture themselves were at that time accounted very factious and very seditious What they only Zebulun and Naphtali Yet it is observable though there were none joyned with Zebulun but only Naphtali there is no Tribe of which it is so much spoken to be a Tribe full of Courtesie and Civility of a peacable and quiet disposition as Naphtali was you shall find it if you reade in the 49. of Genesis 21. and afterwards in another text there are these two things said of Naphtali only these two first That he was a Hinde let loose and give goodly words But they may be but words of Complement not reality Nay when Moses comes with the blessing you shall find these two places one in Genesis and the other in Deuteronomy when Moses comes with the blessing again upon Naphtali Naphtali filled with favour and with the blessing of the Lord. What is the meaning Naphtali was a Tribe that had most courtesie and civility of all compar'd to a goodly Hinde of a quiet disposition and one that gave courteous language to all not meer words but reality it was such a one that was fill'd with favour that had the favour of God and the favour of Men he had such a courteous carriage and he had the blessing of God upon him and yet this Naphtali was the Tribe that would jeobard their lives and take up Arms in defence of the people of God against oppression in those times above all And Phinebas ye know was so zealous and would make use of the sword so as he did yet in the 25. of Num. 12 13. God saith there He would make a Covenant of Peace with him Beloved Phinehas that is such a fiery hot man yet a Covenaut of peace must be made with him by God Himself for he did indeed by that way procure peace to Israel for so the Text saith there in that place of Num. That because Phinehas was so zealous it was that I might not consume them in my jealousie Now it 's observable the word in the Original is Because he was zealous therefore it was that I might not consume them in my Zeal It s translated in your books Because he was thus zealous that I might not consume them in my Jealousie the words are different in the English but in the Hebrew they are the same and so be turn'd thus Because he was so zealous it was that I might not consume them in my Zeal as if he should have said If there had not been some among them that had been zealous and as they account fiery I would have been zealous my Self and fiery my Self and consumed them and it was wel they had such amongst them and one day those that cry out of them may come to see cause to bless God for them that would not have the world put off and gul'd with the fair name of peace we know the Devil hath made much use of it in former times and would fain make use of it now As if those that desired Truth most were not greatest friends unto peace God forbid but it should be so Though it's true we think not we have our portion here and therefore we would not have peace upon any terms indeed we confess our portion lies higher and that wherein our portion doth consist we would have upon any terms and therefore Saint Paul saith in Philippoans 3. if by any means I may attain to the Resurrection of the dead If by any means upon any
If they have ventured themselves to be faithful for you know you can have no peace except they have it and it were an unworthy thing to think of your safety without theirs likewise Object But you will say We would not have our Estates and Peace thus as you speak upon any terms without any regard to Religion we have our portion in Religion as well as you and we have our Consciences to look after as well as you and God forbid it should be otherwise but that Religion should prosper too with our Peace but we would not have Sects and Sectaries to be maintained in the Kingdom let us have Truth and Religion but away with them Ans 1. Do you understand what they are you speak of Do you know wherein you and they differ You cry out of them as if they were of another Religion whereas when it comes to be scan'd the difference between you and them will not be so great But further I put this to you Ans 2. Do you spend as much breath in praying for these kind of men as you do in railing upon them then somewhat may be said Ans 3. It is a vain thing to think that true Religion can be maintain'd and have the liberty of it without some difference of Opinion amongst us Indeed the Turks have as much peace in their Religion as any Religion hath in all the world and there is as little difference of Opinions amongst the Turks as there is in any Religion whatsoever but well may that Coat have no seam that hath no shape If the Truth of Religion comes to appear certainly it is impossible but many differences in opinion must come and it is a most intollerable pride of heare and tyranny in any whatsoever to think by violent means to force all to be of the same opinion that they are of in matters that are not of the Foundation and that may stand with the Peace of a Common-wealth too You take upon you in that more than Christ doth more than the Apostles ever did Object But You will say If men be in an Error why should they not be forced Shall every man be lest to his Opinion to do what he will Answ No I plead not for that neither Therefore I except all Opinions 1. Against the Foundation of Religion 2. All those Opinions that are against the Foundation of Civil Government Take these Two aside and then for other Opinions that are of a lower inferior nature I say there you take too much upon you whosoever you are if you should think to force men to be of the same Opinion as you are and there is no such way to make disturbance in Churches or Commonwealths as to force men to be of the same Opinion in things that are of an inferior nature Object But you will say If it be an Error they must not be left to live in it Answ Nay stay there A man may be in an Error and yet you have nothing to do to offer violence unto him to bring him out of his Error you may seek to convince him as much as you can but to offer violence you undertake more than God hath given you Commission to do whatever you are and I give this Scripture for it that is cleer in Romans 14. 2. One beleeveth he may eat all things another eateth herbs Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not and let him that eateth not not judge him that eateth And so he tels us Who art thou that judgest another Who art thou that judgest These two Opinions could not be true One man doth eat herbs the other man makes conscience of it and cannot do it Certainly one of these was a sin at that time one of them was a sin to eat herbs and that he might eat no flesh for God never commanded them that they should eat no flesh to make conscience to eat no flesh was a sin but yet though one were a sin yet they that were in the right must not by violence force those that were in the wrong to their opinion but they must leave them to God I say in matters of such consequence as these it is a point of Antichristian tyranny and pride and notorious pride in men that have taken so much upon them as to force all to be of the same opinion this is not the way certainly for true peace But thus much for the second Corrallarie The Third follows 3. Corr. If men have their portion in this world here is the Reason that there is such a stir in the world by men to maintain this their Portion what a deal of stir is there what rending and tearing is there that they might maintain their Estates Especially if some men have a higher Portion in the world than others Oh what a deal of stir is there to maintain it I remember Henry the fourth writes to Pope Gregory and tels him that by reason of an Emulation there was about the Popedom one being chosen in Rome and the other in another place that there were 230000. men lost their lives out of that Emulation meerly about two men two Popes it cost the bloods of two hundred thirty thousand men O what a stir is therein the world to satisfie the wils of a few men in the world Certainly one day the world will be wiser and will understand that they are Men and not Dogs that they were not made to be subject to the humours and the lusts of men and that no man hath now any further power over him but what they have by an agreement from them one way or other either implicit or explicit one way or other it is by their agreement that any man hath any power over them and can exercise any The world I say ere long I hope will be wise enough to understand this and therefore will not so sacrifice their lives for the satisfying of the wills of a few men in the world they shall not make such a stir in the world as heretofore they have done Indeed men make a great stir now to maintain their portions for the contention is not de finibus but de haereditate not about matters of bounds and limits as he said but it is about the inheritance it self it is about their portion it is their God And do you say What ails me when you have taken away my gods Here is the ground of all the stirs and Combustions in the world because carnal hearts look upon what they enjoy as their portion But how comes it thus to pass that men should be so greedy of this their portion Is it such an excellent portion that they are so greedy of it Is it worth so much that they contend so much about it This makes way for me to slip into the Fourth Particular Fourthly To enquire what kind of Portion this is that these men of the world have in this world that they make such a stir about And therefore
to make way for that First Consider what poor things they are that they make such a stir about Secondly Consider the Tenure upon which they hold whatsoever they do enjoy Thirdly Consider the mixture of Evil that there is in that they do enjoy Fourthly The blessed Portion that they lose that they might enjoy Lastly The dreadful end that there will be to such men that have their portion here 1. The poor things that men have here in this world What are they Their Comforts for the most part are but imaginary In Hosea 12. 1. Ephraim feeds upon the wind And when a bladder is ful of wind one prick lets it quite out and so when Death comes it lets out all their Comforts even as the wind goes all out at one prick in a bladder so all the comforts of the men of the world go out by the prick of death In Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou set thy heart upon that which is not it is not it hath no reality in it And in Acts 25. when Bernice and Agrippa came in great pomp and state to the Assembly that which you have in your books translated great Pomp it is in the Greek with great Fancie all the pomp and jollity in the world it is but a fancy this is their portion 2. That which they have it is of a very low nature this would be an argument we might phylosophize in if it were fit or if we had time but I 'le quickly pass over these things it 's of a very low nature it not much concerns the soul all the portion they have Therefore saith the Text here Thou fillest their belly it 's but a belly full what is that to the soul Indeed the rich man in the Gospel could say Soul take thy ease for thou hast goods laid up for many yeers eat drink c. Wilt thou say Soul take thy ease because thou hast goods laid up and because you may eat and drink What is all this to the soul Ambrose hath such a speech upon the place If the man had the soul of a swine what could be said otherwise for indeed these things were sutable to the soul of a swine you shall find that a man is not the better because of outward things not a whit the heart of the wicked is little worth his estate may be somewhat worth his house may be somewhat worth his lands may be somewhat worth But the heart of the wicked is little worth Prov. 10. And would not you think it to be a great evil if so be that when you go up and down abroad you should certainly know that there is no man doth give you any entertainment or any respect but it is for your servants sake that tends upon you would not that discourage you and trouble you Indeed you come to such a mans house and he seems to make you welcome and you have entertainment I but you come to know afterwards that it was not for your sake but for your servants sake that be loved would you think you had a good entertainment there the truth is so all the respect you have in this world it is for your servants sake for your goods house and lands it is not for any worth that is in you It was a speech that Socrates spake once to one Achilous when he had a fine house and a many brave things there saith he There are many come to see thy house and thy fine things there but no body comes to see thee they know there is a worth in thy fine house and in thy fine furniture but they see no worth in thee Indeed all these things are not souls meat it is not mans meat they feed upon it is but ashes it is nothing to the soul of man Further 3. Suppose it were for the soul What thou hast here is but a very poor pittance a scantie portion thou hast not all the world neither thou hast thy portion in this world If thou hadst the whol world at command yea if God should make a thousand worlds more for thee to command this were all but a poor pittance to put off an immortal soul withal but now that thou hast is but a little minnim in the world All Nations of the Earth are but as the dust of the ballance and drop of the bucket to God What is thy dust then what is thy house and land then As Socrates wittily rebuked the pride of Alcibiades when he was very proud that he had so much Land lay together He brought his Map of the world to him and saith he Pray shew me where your land lies here one prick of a pen would have described it all Should we take a rich man here that hath a great deal of land and bring a Map of the world to him all England Ireland and Scotland are but three little spots unto the world And what are your Farms and your Mannours you have you have but a little portion if you had all it were no great matter the truth is All you have in this world cannot be enough to make you live in fashion in the world like a man it 's not enough I say for to live like a man in the world to live like one that hath an immortal soul like one that hath the Image of God upon him and was sent hither into the world to do some great service as every one of you was sent hither to do therefore it is but a mean thing little cause you have for to rejoyce in it It 's true they that are godly account themselves unworthy of the least thing they have here in this world but I 'le tell you a Mystery of Religion now a practical Maxime of Religion that is a great Mystery to the world and that is this That a gracious heart though he thinks himself unworthy of the least crum of bread yet all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth will not serve him to be his portion will not satisfie him though he hath a heart that will be satisfied with any thing as counting himself unworthy of the meanest condition in this world as a present gift of God but if God should give him Heaven and Earth he hath such an unsatisfying heart as he would not be satisfied with Heaven and Earth except God gives him Himself therefore certainly thy portion is but a very little portion 4. Those things that thou hast are things that will vanish and quickly come to nothing It is said of the whol world in Job 26. 7. The whol earth hangs upon nothing and so all things of the Earth do and therefore it is said of Abraham in Hebrews 11. That he sought a City that had foundations All other things are as things that have no foundation at all There is a worm in every creature that will consume it in time and the Scripture calls all our riches Vncertain riches and Christian thou art made for an eternal condition these things
be merciful to them in the world to come now this is a certain truth that man to whom God denies Spiritual mercies in this world God will deny Eternal mercy to him in the world to come this therefore should be thy care Doth God encrease my estate in this world Oh that the Lord would give a proportionable measure of grace too else it is nothing Lord thou givest me here a great estate if thou givest not to me grace with it a proportionable measure of grace to use it to thy glory I had better have been without this Is this thy care I put it to thy conscience As thy estate encreases art thou solicitious at the Throne of grace that the Lord would give thee a proportionable measure of grace to mannage thy estate for His glory then peace be to thee thou art not the man And then further you may examin it 2. By the working of your hearts about your present Portions As first 1. Whether you enjoy what you have for it self and whether your hearts be terminated in what you do enjoy One that is godly and hath his Portion beyond these things he enjoyes the Creature I but it is God in it he enjoyes It is sweet to me that I can see and tast the love of God in it I but a carnal heart enjoys the creatures and runs away and is terminated there looks at the Creature but at little in God as divers of your Hospital Children here look more at the Men that were their friends to bring them into the Hospital when they were Fatherless and Motherless and Sisterless than they look at the Founders of the Hospital they little think of them to thank God for them but if they meet with him that was the next cause to bring them in they will thank him for his kindness So it is with men they look at that Creature that was the first means of bringing them in but a godly heart looks at the root of all I remember it is said of one that came into the Treasuries of Venice he saw tables of Gold and Silver there and he points down and looks at the bottom of the table and one asked him Why is your eye so at the bottom Oh saith he I am looking at the root of all this Oh! alas it is a small matter for a man that hath a great Trade to have a great Portion So many men look not so much at the Root whereas a godly man though he hath but a little yet he looks at the Root at the love of God and the Covenant of grace that is the Root of all and this is the thing that satisfies his heart When a man takes a portion of physick he puts it into the Posset-ale the Posset-ale is not the thing that makes the Physick work though it is that that is the greater part but it is the Physick in it So it is the goodness of God that satisfies a gracious heart and not the Creature that is operative so much upon a gracious heart and then you may examine how your hearts are set upon these things of the world 2. Whether your hearts go out with full strength to them If you make your bellies to be your god then your end will be destruction as the Apostle speaks That man that hath his heart swallowed up in the earth like Corah Dathan and Abiram that were swallowed up in the earth if the things of the earth be a gulf to swallow thy heart up there is another gulf to swallow thee up hereafter 3. How do the loss of the things of the world take thy heart Dost not thou count thy self an undone man when thou hast lost some comforts Dost not thou come home to thy wife and children and say I am an undone man Why what 's the matter I have lost some part of my estate O carnal heart one that is gracious may have some crosses but no losses at all because he enjoyes all in God he hath God to make up all his losses And the truth is if thou wert truly godly whatsoever afflictions thou meetest withal as we say a man may put all in his eye so you may if you be godly put all your crosses in your eyes you are so far from being undone And further examin 4. Whether these things of the world be not the only sutable things to your hearts whether you bless not your selves in these as in your happiness The Ivie will clasp about a rotten tree and cannot be taken off it without tearing And so the heart of a worldling will clasp about these rotten-comforts as the only agreeable thing You may hear them sometimes tell with joy That we were in such a place and we were so merry and had the bravest meeting And what was there Why there was singing and roaring and blaspheming of the Name of God and yet it was the bravest meeting that could be When did you ever come from an Ordinance of God and say Oh! it was a brave day to me the Lord hath spoken to my heart this day Did you never go from the Word with as merry a heart and can rejoyce for it amongst your friends as you did from a merry meeting You may fear you are the man that have your portion here And then this is more cleer for every one to examin his heart in and if I were to give but any one Evidence whether a man hath Grace or no I would give this assoon as any one A man that hath got some estate in the world I put this to him 5. What dost thou account to be the chiefest good of thy estate more than thou hadst before or more than another man hath A man that hath got an estate more than he had or more than his brother there are many good things in his estate that he will think good Now I may live in better fashion than I could before now I may have more freedom than I had before now I may have more credit in the world than I had before now I may have my own mind and satisfie my own lusts more than I had before or than another man can do Is not this the thing thou most rejoycest in yea is not this a truth that some of your hearts if they were ripped up this would be the language of them that you must rejoyce in your estates because by them you have fuel for your lusts A poor man hath not so much fuel for his uncleanness as you have nor so much fuel for his lust of pride and malice as you have and many rich men account the blessing the good and happiness of their estates to consist in this very thing that now they may have a larger scope for their lusts than ever they could before alas a poor man cannot go abroad and drink as you can do a poor man cannot lay out so much money on a Whore an Unclean wretch as you can do and you rejoyce in
merry meettings and jovialities I shall never have comfort more in you As it was the speech of Pope Adrian when he was to die O thou my soul my soul whither art thou going whither art thou going thou shalt never have more jests nor be merry nor be jocund any more where art thou going So may a man that hath his portion in this world here say at his death Where is this poor soul of mine going I have lived here thus many yeers and I have had many merry meetings and I have eaten of the fattest and drunk of the sweetest and gone in brave array but now my day is gone what shall become of me what peace have I now when all is gone I remember Latimer hath such a story in one of his Sermons that he preached before King Edward he tels a story of a rich man that when he lay upon his sick bed there came one to him and tels him that certainly by all reasons they can judg by That he was like to be a man for another world a dead man Assoon as ever he hearts but these words they are Latimers words I only repeat them as his words and they were before a King and so they will not be too broad words nor too rude to speak before you assoon as ever he did but hear this What must I die send for a Physitian wounds sides heart must I die wounds sides heart must I die and thus he goes on and there could be nothing got from him but wounds sides heart must I die must I die and go from all these here was all here is the end of this man that makes his portion to be in this world Another rich man that lived not far from the place that I my self lived in heretofore when he heard his sickness was deadly he sends for his bags of money and hugs them in his arms Oh! must I leave you Oh! must I leave you And another that when he lay upon his sick bed cals for his bags and laies a bag of gold to his heart and then bids them take it away it will not do it will not do Another when he lay upon his sick bed his friends came to him and said What lack you what would you have would you have any Beer want you any thing Oh no saith he I want only one thing Peace of Conscience that I would have it is not beer nor friends nor an easie pillow I want but ease of Conscience Oh consider now whether there be not like to be perplexity in your Spirits 2. You must be called to an Accompt for all though as I told you before not to accompt for the right to use but for not right-using and do but now think with your selves If you now have so much as you cannot reckon how then will you be able to reckon for it if you cannot now reckon it now you have so much as you cannot count how will you be able to give an accompt of what you have now especially when you have had no thoughts of this beforehand 3. There is at last a dreadful portion indeed at the day of Judgment Oh the shame and confusion that will be upon the faces of the men of the world especially when they shall see perhaps their poor neighbors have their portion with Christ in glory perhaps a poor boy a poor servant in the house advanced to glory and they stand on the left hand to be cast out perhaps some of these poor Hospital boyes shall be admitted to eternal glory when as some of you that are their great Masters shall be cast out eternally and what an infinit shame and confusion would this be to you Oh now I see what it is to trust in God and not to trust in him these are happy that would trust for the future but I miserable that dare not trust in him and then the conclusion what will it be in Psalm 11. 6. The Lord will rain snares and fire and brimstone and this shall be the portion of their cup here is the portion of the Ungodly at last and in Mat 24. 51. Appoint him his portion with Hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth that is the portion of Hypocrites in the conclusion Now here thou seest the End of all what do'st thou think then of thy portion now Think but of one text and I have done this in Job 27. 8. What hope hath an Hypocrite though he hath gained when God takes away his soul Mark there were many Hypocrites that aimed to get in the world and cannot get in the world God crosses them here well but suppose thou aimest at gain and canst get what thou would'st have thou hast got all thou would'st desire but what hope hath an Hypocrite though he hath gained though he hath grown never so rich and got all he desires when God takes away his soul This time is coming it will be ere long and it may be ere long the portion of some that are here present and perhaps this Text of mine may then ring in their ears when they lie upon their sick beds perhaps within a month or six weeks or a quarter of a yeer when Gods time shall be and then this Sermon Conscience may repeat in your ears I heard such a day there were a generation of men that have their portion in this world and now I am afraid I am one of them and there is an end of my portion only I must go to my other portion that will be very dreadful But I must not make an end till I shall speak somwhat of the next I shall leave the Point very bare else I but who have you spoke to all this while Fifthly Who is the man that hath his Portion in this world It is a poor portion you have set it out to us but every one will go away and say I hope it is not I I hope it is not I I hope God hath a better portion for me than this therefore give me leave to speak in the Name of God to you and I 'le only speak from God and out of His Word to you to point out the man and woman that is like to have his portion here living and dying in such a Condition I now am speaking of that man that is in such a condition I shall open to you in the present condition wherein he is is certainly the man and the Lord pronounces it this day that his portion is in this world Who is he 1. That man to whom God gives in this life nothing but what belongs to this life that is the man apparently If God give thee thy estate and if He give thee not somewhat besides thy estate a principle that is a seed of Eternal life in thee here in this world certainly He never intends good to thee in the world to come There are many men have a great deal in this world and they say they hope God will