3. These earthly things, which are thus variously dispensed, are only useful to us during the present life in the mortal body. In lieaven we have no need of these things, and we must leave them all on this side the grave: 1 Cor. vi. 13, 'Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats ; but God shall destroy both it and them.' Meats are appointed by God and nature for the use of men, and the body of man in this life hath absolute necessity of them ; but in the next life, which is a spiritual life, this eating and desiring of meat shall be taken away. It is a mercy to have meat when we are hungry, and garments to cover our nakedness when cold, but it is a greater mercy to be above these necessities. Well, now, this life is but short and uncertain ; it is but a coming into the world and a going out again : Job i. 21 ; 1 Tim. vi. 7, ' We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out.' Now, we that are ready to step into another world, and are certain within a short time to be stripped for ever of all these things, what great matter is it if God kec}) us low and bare ? All will shortly be as i)oor as you, and a little time should make but a little difference. That is not our true wealth and riches which we fannot carry away with us ; what is left behind is not ours, but other men's ; and therefore, whilst you are alive, you should not be much troubled about that which you cannot enjoy when you are dciid. If we have what will serve for our ])assage, what should we do with more ? We cannot carry away our riches along with us, but the sting and
1 Tim. VI. 8.] the thirteenth sermon. 309
guilt of mis-enjoying them and mis-employing them will be sure to stick by us both in death and jud<i^ment. It is not the possession, but the use that will comfort us. Though we cannot carry our estates into the other world, yet the comfort of a good conscience we may carry with us : ' Their works follow them,' Kev. xiv. 13. Then they go to enjoy the eternal reward of bliss and peace for their hard and painful service here in the world.
4. The comfort, safety, and happiness of this life lies not iu abun- dance : Luke xii. 15, ' Take heed and beware of covetousness ; for a man's life lies not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.' This consideration is added because some might think, tliough we can carry nothing out of the world, yet whilst we live we sliould seek larger supplies. Our Lord answereth this surmise : Though outward things are very useful to sustain life, yet no man is able to prolong his life, or to make it more happy and comfoi-table to him, by possessing more than he needs or uses. What good will the superfluity of wealth do him ? These things are extrinsical to our being and happiness. When you have the world at will, you can get no more from it than bodily food and bodily clothing. The poorest may attain to that. It is no great matter whether our dung or excrements be of finer matter or coarser ; whether a gay show we make in our apparel, so we have for warmth and decency ; whether few or more dishes at our table. Too much oil puts out the lamp, and superfluity afflicts and oppresseth that part which it seems to gratify. When men have troubled them- selves and the world to make themselves great, what a sorry happiness have they ! Their net and their drag, by which they catch men as a fisherman doth fishes in the sea, it all tendeth to this, that their por- tion may be fat and plenteous, A poor felicity, that they have a little good cheer and a merry life here. They that want such abundance live as well as they, and have as much health and contentment : Ps. xvii. 14, ' They have their portion in this life, and their bellies are filled with hid treasures, and they leave the rest to their babes.' They ransack the storehouses of nature to satisfy their gluttony and excess, but yet all this while they are not the nearer to contentment, nor farther off from the grave. So that it is best to be content with necessaries.
5. Nothing besides food and raiment is absolutely necessary. By food is meant something to nourish us, and by raiment something to cover us. If you indulge wanton appetites, if you make provision for the flesh, or ask meat for your lusts, God will not hear nor regard your desires. Jacob desires but food and raiment of God : Gen. xxviii. 20, ' If God be with me, and keep me in the way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, then God shall be my God.' But how could he put his owning and acknowledging of God upon these terms ? The meaning is, this shall be a new engagement, esteem- ing it as a great favour. All our desires should be suited, not to our luxury, but the necessity of nature ; raiment, not ornament ; necessary supports, not delicacies : therefore we should not make lust a wanton, but be content if God will any way enable us to serve and glorify him. We should be content with his allowance ; it is enough for the service and honour which he expecteth from us, and to carry us through that little time which we have to spend in the world. It is not abundance