3. If it be not worth our desire, it is little worth ; the estate being so excellent, such a complete redemption from all our troubles, so per- fect, and so full a happiness in body and soul, will not you send a groan, or a hearty act of volition after it ? It is great ingratitude, that when Christ hath procured a great state of blessedness for us at a very dear rate, we should value it no more. He procured it by a life of labour and sorrow, and the pangs of a bitter cursed death ; and when all is done, we little regard it. Surely if we choose it for our happiness, there will be longing and looking for it. No man will fly from his own happiness : a man's heart will be where his treasure is, Mat. vi. 21. If you prize it, you will sigh and groan after it. The apostle saith, Phil. i. 23, 'I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is far better,' ttoWw fiaXkbv. If you count it better to be there than elsewhere, you will be desiring to be there, and longing to be there ; for we are always longing for that which is better, chiefly for that which is best of all. There is the best estate, the best work, the best company, all is better ; if you count it so, it will be no diffi- cult thing to bring you earnestly to desire it.
4. All the ordinances serve to stir up this longing after heaven, and to awaken these desires in us. The word is our charter for heaven, or God's testament wherein this rich legacy is bequeathed to us, that every time we read it, or hear it, or meditate upon it, we may get a step higher, and our hearts more drawn out after heavenly things. In prayer, whether in company or alone, it is but to raise and act these heavenly desires ; there we groan, and long for God's salva- tion. In the Lord's supper, we come solemnly to put ourselves in mind of the new wine we shall drink in our Father's kingdom, Mat. xxvi. 29, to put a new heavenly relish upon our hearts.
5. The imperfection of our present estate. We are now imperfect, and straitened like a fish in a pail or small vessel of water, which cannot keep it alive ; it would fain be in the ocean, or swimming in
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the broad and large rivers. So we are pent up, cannot do what we would ; there is a larger estate, when filled up with all the fulness of God. That holiness we have now niaketh us look for it and long for it ; and surely holiness was never designed for our torment.
6. We are hastening into the other world apace, and therefore we more desire it. Natural motion is in principio tardioi; in fine velo- cior — the nearer to fruition, the more impatient of the want of it. When a man is drawing home after a long journey, every mile is as tedious as two. We are drawing nigh to the other world, let us leave this willingly, not by force ; let not trouble chase us out of it, but love and desire draw us out of it. God doth loosen our roots by little and little, that we may now be fit for a remove ; the pins of our taber- nacle are taken down insensibly, and by leisurely degrees. Now as fast as we are going out of this world, we should be going into another ; the inner man renewed day by day, that is, as it grovveth more holy and heavenly. From our first renovation we should be dying to this world, and setting our affections on a better ; much more when God beginneth to call us home, then draw home as fast as you can.
For means to this desire and longing, there is necessary —
1. A sound belief of this blessed estate, or a certain confidence of the truth of it : 2 Cor. v. 1, 2, ' For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens : for in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.' Not a bare conjecture, but a certain knowledge. Surely heaven is amiable, and the object of our desires, if we be persuaded of the truth of it, we will long after it.
2. A serious preparation for it : 2 Cor. v. 3, ' If so be that, being clothed, we shall not be found naked.' They have made up their account between God and their souls, sued out their pardon, stand with their loins girt and lamps burning ; then they long and wait when God will draw aside the veil of flesh, and show them his glory. A seafaring man desireth his port, especially if laden with rich com- modities. Where there hath been diligent preparing, there will be serious waiting and desirous expectation. While we make provision for our fleshly appetites and wills, we dream of dwelling here ; we take it for granted they have no thought of removing to another place who make no provision before their coming thither. When a tenant hath warning to be turned out of his old house, he will be providing of another, and be preparing and making it ready before he enter upon it.