(2.) Bitter and grievous persecutions, which sometimes make them
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weary of their lives ; hard task-masters, that trouble them : 2 Thes. i. 6, 7, ' To you that are troubled, rest with us ;' but before the rest Cometh, they groan and long.
(3.) Sharp afflictions from God himself. God is jealous of our hearts. Because we are not watchful over them, we are apt to take up with an earthly happiness, and to root here, and look no farther. Whilst we have all our comforts about us, our hearts say, It is best being here; but God awakeneth us out of our drowsy fits — 'Arise, depart hence, this is not your rest,' Micah ii. 10. We are so pleased with our entertainment by the way, that we forget home. God is fain to em- bitter our worldly portion, that we may think of a remove to some better place and state, where all tears shall be wiped from our eyes. We would sleep here, and rest here, if we did not sometimes meet with thorns in our bed.
2. The next reason of our groaning is our having had a taste of better things : Eom. viii. 23 ' We, that have within ourselves the first- fruits of the Spirit, groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our bodies.' A christian here is unsatisfied, he waiteth for a better and surer state of bliss and immortality. The first-fruits show us what the harvest will be, and the taste what the feast will prove.
[1.] This union and communion with Christ is not perfect. We are one spirit by being joined to the Lord; but yet many things hinder this union from being full. We have but a glimpse of Christ as he showeth himself through the lattice ; but there we shall see him with open face. Here sometimes he affords, sometimes he withdraws, his presence ; but there ever with the Lord, and the Lord with us. Here we get a little from him in an ordinance, and that little is as much as we can hold ; but there he is all in all, and we are filled up with the fulness of God. Christ in us now is the hope of glory, but Christ in us then is the fruition of glory. Col. i. 27. Here we enjoy him in part, and by faith ; there we shall enjoy him to the full. This mighty sea is pent up, and floweth now by so narrow a channel that it cannot diffuse itself ; but his interest is not crowded up, there is full room for Christ in the soul.
[2.] Our holiness is not perfect, and therefore we groan and long for more. There is much corruption left. The new nature is called the seed of God, 1 John i. 9, and the immortal seed, 1 Peter i. 2. Look, as a little seed will work through the dry dods, that it may grow up unto its perfect estate, so doth this seed of God work towards its final perfection. A christian is not satisfied with such imperfect degrees of conformity to God, and slender tastes of his love, he must have more. Grace tendeth to the place whence it cometh, as a spark of fire tendeth to the element of fire, and they groan and long for the time of perfection.
[3.] His comforts are not perfect. The joys of the Spirit are un- speakable things; but at his right hand there is fulness, pleasures for evermore, Ps. xvi. 11. These the soul longeth for ; therefore though they are thankful for a refreshing by the way, yet they groan, as long- ing to be at home ; the Spirit now is a well springing up, but it wasteth itself in an ocean of glory, John iv. 14. Look what difference
454 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. IV.
there is between the spring's head and the out-fall of a river into the sea, so between our comforts now and hereafter.
3. The excellency of this estate requireth it, that we should groaij after and earnestly desire it. If it be not worth your desires, it is little worth. When happiness is provided for you, will not you send a groan after it ? It is great ingratitude and folly that, when Christ hath procured a state of blessedness for us at a very dear rate, we should value it no moie. 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 this for our happiness, we shall be longing and looking for it. No man would fly from his own happi- ness. Where a man's portion is, there not only his mind will be, but his heart will be, Mat. vi. 21 ; if you prize it, you will sigh and groan after it. Our chief good is that we can least want : you will be waiting as at heaven's gates, expecting when God will let you in. Surely something else satisfieth ; you are contented to be here always, if you do not send your desires thither, before you can get thither. The apostle saith, ' I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, which is much better,' Phil. i. 23 — ttoWw fxaXXov. If you count it better to be there than elsewhere, your souls will be groaning to be there, and long- ing to be there ; for we are always longing for that which is better, chiefly best of all. There is the best estate, the best work, the best company, all is better. But if you do not think it so, though it be best in itself, yet if not best to you, you will not long for it ; but if you count it best, is it so difficult to bring you earnestly to desire it ?