that company is not for him, that will neither give nor take this. What should a merchant do where there is no buying nor selling ? Every one labours, as his calling is, to seat himself where ti'ade is quickest, and he is like to have most takings. The Christian, where he may choose, takes such in relations near to himself, — husband, wife, servants, — as may suit with his heavenly trade, and not such as will be a pull-back to him : he falls in with the holiest persons as his dearest acquaintance ; if there be a saint in the town wliere he lives, he will find hhn out ; and this shall be the man he will associate with ; and in his con- versation with these and all else, his chief work is for heaven ; his heavenly principle within inclines him to it. Now this alarms hell : what, not contented to go to heaven himself, but by his holy example, gracious speeches, sweet counsels, seasonable reproofs, will be trading with others, and labour to carry them along with him also ? This brings the lion fell and mad out of his den ; such, to be sure, shall find the devil in their way to oppose them. ' I would have come,' saith Paul, 'but Satan hindeied me.' He that will vouch God, and let it appear by the tenor of his conversation that he trades for him, shall have enemies enough, the devil can help him to such.
Thirdly, The Christian's hopes are all heavenly ; he harps not upon anything the world hath to give him. Indeed, he would think himself the most miser- able man of all others, if here were all he could make of his religion. No, it is heaven and eternal life that he expects ; and though he be so poor as not to be able to make a will of a groat, yet he counts himself a richer heir than if he were child to the greatest prince on earth. This inheritance he sees by faith, and can rejoice in the hope of the glory whicli it will bring him. The uncer- tain and cheating glory of the great ones of this world, moves liim not to envy their fancied pomp ; but when on the dunghill himself, he can forget his own present sorrows to pity them in all their bravery, knowing that within a few days the cross will be off his back, and the crowns off their heads together ; their portion will be spent, when he shall be to receive all his. These things entertain him with such joy, that they will not sufl'er him to acknowledge him- self miserable, when others think him, and the devil tells him he is such. This, this torments the very soul of the devil, to see the Christian under sail for heaven, filled with the sweet liope of his joyful entertainment when he comes there ; and, therefore, he raiseth what storms and tempests he can, either to hinder his arrival in that blessed port, which he most desires, and doth not wholly despair of, or at least to make it a troublesome winter voyage, such as Paul's was, in which they suffered so much loss. And this, indeed, very often he obtains in such a degree, that by his violent, impetuous temptations beating long upon the Christian, he makes him throw over much precious lading of his joys and comforts ; yea, sometimes he brings the soul through stress of tempta- tion to think of quitting the ship, while for the present all hope of being saved seems to be taken away. Thus you see what we wrestle with devils for. We come to application.
Section IV. — Use 1. This is a word of reproof to four sorts of persons.
First, To those that are so far from wrestling against Satan for this heavenly prize, that they resist the offer of it. Instead of taking heaven by force, they keep it off by force. How long hath the Lord been crying in our streets, ' Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand !' How long have gospel-oilers rung in our ears, and yet to this day many devil-deluded soiils furiously drive on towards hell, and will not be persuaded back ; who refuse to be called the children of God, and choose rather the devil's bondage than the glorious liberty with which Christ would make them free ; esteeming the pleasures of sin for a season, greater treasures than the riches of heaven. It is told of Cato (who was Caesar's bitter enemy) that when he saw Caesar prevail, rather than fall into his hand and stand to his mercy, he laid violent hands on himself; which Ctesar hearing of, passionately broke out into tliese words : 0 Cafo^ cur Invidisti mi/ii salutem tuam ? O Cato, why didst thou envy me the honour of saving thj' life ? And do not many walk as if they grudged Christ the honour of saving their souls ? What other account can you give, sinners, of rejecting his grace ? Are not heaven and happiness things desirable, and to be preferred before sin and misery 1 Why then do you not embrace them ? or are they the worse, because they come swimming to you in the blood of Christ ? Oh, how ill must
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