[2.] That is riches which puts an esteem upon us in the eyes of God and the holy angels, who are best able to judge, One barbarous Indian may esteem another the more he hath of his shells and trifles ; but you would count him never the richer that should bring home a whole ships lading of these things : Luke xii. 20, such a fool is he ' that heapeth up treasure to himself, and is not rich towards God ;' that hath not of that sort of riches which God esteemeth. We are bound for a country where riches are of no value ; grace only goeth current in the other world.
[3.] That is riches which steads us in our greatest extremities. When we come to die, the riches of this w^orld prove false comforts, for they forsake a man when he hath most need of comfort. In the hour of death, when the poor shiftless naked soul is stripped of all, and we can carry away nothing in our hands, grace lieth near the heart to comfort us. It is said by a voice from heaven of those that die in the Lord, ' Their works follow them ;' their wealth doth not. Our graces continue with us to all eternity.
[4.] That is the true riches which will supply all our necessities, and bear our expenses to heaven. Wealth doth not this, but grace : Mat. vi. 33, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added ;' 1 Tim. iv. 8, 'Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' Heaven and earth are laid at the feet of godliness.
[5.] That is true riches which will give us a title to the best inherit- ance. The word of God is able to enrich a man more than all the riches of the world, because it is able to bring a man to an everlasting kingdom. All this is spoken because there is an evil desire that pos- sesseth the whole world ; they are vehemently carried after riches, and as they are increased, so are they delighted. But, saith David, my delight is to increase in knowledge and grace ; if I get more life, more victory over lusts, more readiness for God's service, this comforts me to the heart. Now how do you measure your thriving ? by worldly or spiritual increase ?
Here is the true delight. Spiritual delight in spiritual objects far exceedeth all the joy that we can take in worldly things. The plea- sures of the mind are far more pure and defecate than those of the
VeK. 14.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 135
body ; so that if a man would have pleasures, let him look after the chiefest of the kind. He spoke like a beast rather than like a man that said, 'Eat, drink, and be merry; thou hast goods laid up for many years,' Luke xii. 19. That is the most that worldly things can afford us, a little bodily cheer: Ps. xvii. 1-i, 'Thou hast filled their bellies with hid treasures ;' there is the poor happiness of a rich world- ling. He may have a bellyful, and fare at a better rate than others do: Hab. i. 16, ' Their portion is made fat, and their meat plenteous.' When men have troubled themselves and the world to make them- selves great, it is but for a little belly-cheer, which may be wanted as well as enjoyed ; a modest temperance and mean fare yieldeth more pleasure. But what is this to the delights of the mind ? A sensualist is a fool, that runneth to such dreggy and carnal delights. Noble and sublime thoughts breed a greater pleasure. What pleasure do some take in finding out a philosophical verity ! — the man rejoiceth, the senses are only tickled in the other. Of all pleasures of the mind, those of the spiritual life are the highest, for then our natural faculties are quickened and heightened by the Spirit. The reasonable nature hath a greater joy than the sensitive, and the spiritual divine nature hath more than the mere rational. There is not only a higher object, the love of God, but a higher cause, the Spirit of God, who elevatetli the fiiculty to a higher manner of sense and perception. Therefore lx)th the good and evil of the spiritual life is greater than the good and evil of the rational. The evil of the spiritual is greatest : ' A wounded sj)irit who can bear ? ' And the good of the spiritual life is greatest, 'joy unspeakable and glorious.' The higher the life, the greater the feeling ; ' groans not uttered.' ' Peace passing all under- standing,' though it maketh no loud noise, yet it diffuseth a solid contentment throughout the soul. All this is spoken because the way of God's testimonies is looked upon as a dark and gloomy course by carnal men ; yet it is the life of the blessed God himself: Eph. iv. 18, ' Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.' And surely he wants no true joy and pleasure that lives such a life.