2. They which have their fruit unto holiness have the best temper and constitution of soul of any men in the world ; they have a new and divine nature, which inclineth them to the noblest objects and ends : 2 Peter i. 4 ; nothing below God can satisfy them. Their ends are the glorifying of God, and the eternal enjoyment of him : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen : for the things which are seen are temporal ; but the things which are not seen are eternal' Alas ! what a poor drossy soul is an imsanctified soul, they that drive no higher a trade than providing for the flesh, or accommodating a life which shortly must expire. When these are seeking after the world, and scrambling for the honours and delights thereof, they are seeking after heaven, and adorning the soul Avhile they are pampering the flesh. Surely they which contemn the world are more honourable than they which enjoy it ; and it is much better to please God that we may live with him in heaven, than to flatter men that we may rise in the world.
3. Their way and course of life, as well as their temper and disposi- tion of heart, is more noble ; for when others live according to the vain course of this corrupt world, they live according to the will of God, which is the highest pattern of all perfection. The one live to the lusts of men, the other according to the will of God : 1 Peter iv. 2, ' That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.' The one walk /car alcova tov Koafiov TovTov : Eph. ii, 2, ' According to the course of this world,' the other Kara Kavova : Gal. vi. 16, ' As many as walk according to this rule,' &c. Now, which course is better ? Let us refer this question to the sentiments of nature. Even though men be so much depraved by their slavery to their brutish lusts that they might justly be refused as incompetent judges ; yet natural conscience in the worst doth homage to the image of God shining in the saints: as, ' Herod feared John, because he was a strict and just man,' Mark vi. 20 ; and Exod. xi. 3, 'Moses was great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of all the people ; ' his person and presence w^as awful to them. Nature hath a secret sentiment of the excellency of holiness ; those that regard not to practise it wonder at it : 1 Peter iv. 4, ' They think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot.' Especially when they come to die, then do they approve a sober godly life, though they had no heart to embrace it before : Num. xxiii. 10, 'Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last
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VeK. 22.] SERMONS UPON EOMANS VI. 361
end be like his.' Tliougli they chose to live with the carnal, yet they would die with the righteous, such an approbation is conscience forced to give first or last to a holy course of life.
4. That is lionourable and glorious which is most esteemed by God ; for he can best judge, and the great sovereign of the world is the fountain of all honour. Now, holiness is most esteemed by him, Avhich he hath declared both by word and deed.
[1.] By word : Isa. xliii. 4, ' Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable.' God, that was refreshed in the review of the works of creation, is also delighted in the works that belong to redemption ; yea more, as these gifts are more worthy, and brought about with greater expense and difficulty, therefore he delights most in the holy and righteous ; any part of holiness is an ornament of great price in the sight of God : 1 Peter iii. 4, ' Let your adorning be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and of a quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.'
[2.] In deed, as they are taken into a nearness to himself, and here enjoy his favour and fellowship, and hereafter shall live with him for ever. Now they have his favour, and enjoy communion with him : Ps. xi. 7, ' For the righteous God loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright ; ' hereafter they shall see his blessed face : Mat. V. 8, ' Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God ; ' Heb. xii. 14, ' Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God,' They are capacitated for true happiness. This is so certain a truth, that all who are made partakers of a divine nature have the same disposition in them : Ps. xv. 4, ' In whose eyes a vile per- son is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord.' They look not to the outward pomp and prosperity of the world, and therefore have a heart to honour and respect godly men, as being beloved, prized, and set apart by God, and as they are made partakers of these sure, great, and glorious things, which are infinitely more worthy of our love than anything below. So again : Ps. xvi. 3, ' To the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.' When we think too highly and pleasingly of the condition of the rich, and too meanly and contemptibly of the state of the holy and godly, as if it were a better thing to be great in the world than to excel in grace, we discover more of the spirit of the world than of the Spirit of God.