2. That where men make conscience of their ways, they are not apt to be reduced by penalties, for they are guided b}^ a higher principle than the interests of the flesh. Conscience looks to the obligation of duty, what w^e must do or not do ; not to the course of our interests — not what is safe, but wdiat is duty. Oh ! but their sufferings may make them serious and wise, and so reflect upon their eri-or, and change their mind. Ans. It rather puzzleth the case when a man is divided between his conscience and his interests. The unsound are blinded by their interests; but a gracious heart in a clear case is more resolute, in a doubtful is more afraid and full of hesitancy, lest he gratify the flesh, and so the case is more perplexed. Men sooner come to themselves and relinquish errors if interest be not in the case.
Use 2. To exhort us to keep a good conscience, and to be faithful with God, though our temporal interests should be endangered thereby. The conscience of our duty should more comfort us than the loss of temporal things should trouble our minds. But because this is not a by-point that I am now upon, nor a small thing that I press you to, but necessary for every candidate of eternity or true disciple of Jesus Christ, I must direct to get this constancy of mind.
1. I will show you what is necessary to it by way of disposition or qualification.
2. What is necessaiy to it by way of consideration. 1. By way of disposition.
[1.] There is required a lively faith concerning the world to come,
158 SERMOlS^S UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeE. LXIX.
with some assurance of onr interest therein. That faith is necessary to draw off the heart from the conveniences and comforts of this life appeareth by that, Heb, x. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing of yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and a more enduring substance.' There is both faith implied, and also some assurance of our interest ; they knew there was substance to be had in the other world. They that live by sense count present things only substance, but the world to come only fancy and shadows ; but the gracious heart, on the contrary, looketh upon this world as 'a vain show,' Ps. xxxix. 6, the world to come to be only the enduring sub- stance, or that true solid good which will make us everlastingly happy. And there is some assurance of our interest ; they had this substance ; that is, by virtue of God's promise they had a title and right to it, and some security for the full possession of it in due time, by the first fruits and earnest of the Spirit. This they knew in themselves ; they discerned their own qualifications, and fulfilling the conditions of the promises ; and the Spirit did in some measure testify to them that they were the sons of God ; and from all this flowed their suffering of the loss of worldly goods, and their suffering of it joyfully.
[2.] A sincere love to Christ is necessary, for then they will not quit his interest for what is most near and dear to them in the world : Eom. viii. 35, ' What shall separate us from the love of Christ ? *■ Love there is not only taken passively, for the love wherewith Christ loveth us, but activel}^ for the love wherewith we love Christ. For the things mentioned there, 'tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword,' belong not to the latter ; for tribulation is not wont to withdraw God from loving us, but us from loving God. It is we that are assaulted by tribulation, and not God nor Christ : it is our love which the temptation striketh at. A man that loveth Christ sincerely will be at some loss for him. Christ is rather held by the heart than by the head only. They that make a religion of their opinions will find no such effect, if they have a faith that never went deeper than their brains and their fancies, that reacheth not their heart, and doth not stir up their love to Christ, that will not enable them to hold out against temptations. Though men may sacrifice some of their weaker lusts and petty interests, yet they will not forsake all for his sake : he that loveth Christ will not leave him. Why doth a sinner deny himself for his lusts ? he loveth them, and sacrifices his time, strength, estate, conscience. So a Christian that knoweth Christ hath loved him, and therefore loveth Christ again ; he will not easily quit him and his truth. A bare belief is only in the head, which is but the entrance into the inwards of the soul ; it is the heart which is Christ's castle and citadel. A superficial assent may let him go, but a faith which worketh by love produceth this close adherence. Well, if we would endure spoiling of our goods, it is our wisdom to consider what we love most, and can least part withal. Christ is infinitely to be valued, as more precious than all the wealth in the world.