* Mat. vi. and xxiii. Also it is Chrysostom's observation, that she that paints tears and blubberings, is worse than a wanton woman that paints to seem fair. Horn. vi. in Mat.
3 Koli peecare ; Deus videt, angeli attant, take heed what thou doest, God beholds thee, angels observe thee, saith one.
Rom. VIII, 32-34.] heaven on earth. 423
him, to applaud him. Let God but secretly whisper him in the ear, and say, ' Well done, good and faithful servant !' and it is enough to his soul, enough to satisfy him, enough to cheer him, and enough to encour- age him in the ways and the work of his God.
[2.] The second distinction. He labours to get up to the very top of holiness ; he labours to live up to his oivn principles. He cannot be satisfied with so much grace as will bring him to glory, but he labours to be high in grace, that he may be high in glory: Philip, iii. 11, * I de- sire if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead, that is, to that perfection that the dead shall attain to in the morning of the resurrection.^ Verily, that man is ripe for heaven who counts it his greatest happiness to be high in holiness ; that man shall never be low in heaven, a door-keeper in heaven, that cannot be satisfied till he be got up to the very top of Jacob's ladder, till he hath attained to the highest perfection in grace and holiness. Ps. xlv. 13, * The king's daughter is all glorious within ; her clothing is of wrought gold.' Her inward principles are all glorious, and her outward practice echoes to her inward principles : ' her clothing is of wrought gold.'
It was the honour and glory of Joshua and Caleb, that they followed the Lord fully. Num. xiv. 24, that is, they lived up to their own princi- ples. So those virgins in Rev. xiv. 4, 5, that were without spot before the throne of God, they followed the Lamb wheresoever he went, that is, they lived up to their profession ; there was a sweet harmony be- twixt their principles and practices. And thus the apostles lived : 2 Cor. i. 12, 'For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-wards.' 1 Thes. ii. 10, ' Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably, we behaved ourselves among you that believe.' Thus we see these worthies living up to their own principles.^ Blessed Bradford and Bucer lived so up to their principles, that their friends could not sufficiently praise them, nor their ibes find anything justly to fasten on them.
(1.) That their living up to their own principles, doth best evidence Christ living in them, and their union with him, Gal, ii. 20.
(2.) They know that it is not their profession, but living up to their principles, that will effectually stop the mouths, and convince the consciences of vain men : 1 Peter ii. 15, ' For so is the will of God, that by well-doing,' that is, by living up to your own principles, ' you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.' There is no such way in the world to still and silence wicked men, to make them dumb and speech- less, to muzzle and tie up their mouths, as the Greek word notes, <pt(ioZv, as by living up to your own principles. The lives of men convince more strongly than their words ; the tongue persuades, but the life com- mands.
(3.) They know by living up to their principles, they cast a general
< < * He cannot be satisfied with so much grace as will keep him from dropping into hell ; Dut he must have so much grace as will make him shine gloriously in heaven.
* Vivimua prceceptis, non factis, we live by precepts, not by deeds ; legibut Dei, rum exemplis hominum, by the laws of God, not by the examples of men.
424 HEAVEN ON EARTH. [ROM. VIII. 32-34.
glory upon Christ and his ways. This makes Christ and his ways to be well thought on and well spoke on, Mat v. IG ; 1 Peter ii. 11, 12 ; 2 Peter i. 5-13.
(4.) They know that the ready way, the only way to get and keep assurance, joy, peace, &c., is to live up to their principles.
(5.) They know that by living below their own principles, or contrary to their own principles, they do but gratify Satan, and provoke wicked men to blaspheme that worthy name by which they are called, they know that by their not living up to their own principles they do but multiply their own fears and doubts, and put a sword into the hand of conscience, and make sad work for future repentance.
Now these and such like considerations do exceedingly stir and pro- voke believers to labour with all their might to live up to their own principles, to get to the very top of holiness, to be more and more a-pressing towards the mark, and to think that nothing is done till they have attained the highest perfections that are attainable in this life. It is true, many hypocrites may go up some rounds of Jacob's ladder, such as make for their profit, pleasure, applause, and yet tumble down at last to the bottom of hell, as Judas and others have done. Hypocrites do not look, nor like, nor love to come up to the top of Jacob's ladder. Gen. xxviii. 12, to the top of holiness, as you may see in the Scribes and Pharisees, and all other hypocrites that the Scripture speaks of/
[3.] The third distinction. It is their greatest desire and endeavour that sin may he cured, ratfier than covered. Sin most afflicts a gracious soul. David cries out, not Peril, but Peccavi, not I am undone, but I have done foolishly, Ps. li. 3. Daniel complains not, we are reproached and oppressed, but w« have rebelled, Dan. ix. 5. Paul cries not out of his persecutors, but of the law in his members rebelling against the law of his mind, Rom. vii. 23. A gracious soul grieves more that God by his sin is grieved and dishonoured, than that for it he is afflicted and chastened.
The hart feeling within her the operation of the serpent's poison, runs from the thorns and thickets, and runs over the green and pleasant pastures, that she may drink of the fountain and be cured.* So gracious souls, being sensible of the poison and venom of sin, runs from the creatures, that are but as thorns and thickets, and runs over their own duties and righteousness, which are but as pleasant pastures, to come to Christ the fountain of life, that they may drink of those waters of consolation, of those wells of salvation that be in him, and cast up and cast out their spiritual poison, and be cured for ever. Believers know that their sins do most pierce and grieve the Lord, they lie hardest and heaviest upon his heart, and are most obvious to his eye, Amos ii. 18. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond, Jer. xvii. 1 ; their sins are against beams of strongest light,