456 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. IV.
8. The state of the present world doth set the saints a-groaning and longing for this house from heaven. For this world is vexatious, the pleasures of it are mere dreams and shadows, and the miseries of it are real, and many and grievous : Gal. i. 4, ' To deliver us from this present evil world.' The present world is certainly an evil world ; take the best part of the world, the state of the church, here it is quite different from what it will be hereafter. Now God's children are pilgrims, and can hardly get leave to pass through, as Israel could not get leave to go through Edom ; at other times enemies come forth to stop them in the very wilderness. Sometimes the church is like a ship in the hands of foolish guides that know not the right art of steerage, at other times spotted with the calumnies of adversaries, or the stains and scandals of its own children ; sometimes rent and toru by sad divisions, every party impaling and enclosing the common sal- vation within their own bounds, unchristianing and unchurching all the rest, and the name of christians challenged to themselves and denied to others, and like a ball of contention carried away by that party that can rustle down others who stand in their way. Though with all this disadvantage it is better to dwell in the courts of the Lord than in the tents of wickedness ; yet surely a tender spirit that minded Sion's welfare will groan under these disorders, and long to come at that great council of souls who with perfect harmony are lauding and praising of God for evermore, ' that innumerable company of spirits made perfect,' Heb. xii. 23. That general assembly, gathered together out of several countries into one body and one place, who live together sweetly, and serve God without weakness, weariness, jmd imperfection.
Obj. 1. But how can christians groan and long for their heavenly state, since there is no passage to it but by death, and it is unnatural to desire our own death ?
Ans. 1. They do not simply desire death for itself, but as a means to enjoy these better things ; so Phil. i. 23, ' I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.' It is not our duty to love death as death. No ; so it is an evil that we must patiently bear, because of the good which is beyond it. But it is our duty to love God, and to long after communion with him, and to be perfected in holiness. Had it not been an evil naturally to be dreaded and avoided, Christ would never have prayed against it.
Ans. 2. Upon these terms death is sweetened to them. They readily submit to it as the nature of it is changed ; and by Christ's death it is made their friend, a passage to an endless life, 1 Cor. iii. 22 ; Eom. viii. 38. Death shall not separate from, but make way for their full enjoyment of the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Obj. 2. But must all sincere christians thus groan and long? Many are so far from groaning and longing to depose this tabernacle, that they groan at the least thought of the dissolution of it. Some tliere are that can venture to die, but very few that can desire to die.
Ans. 1. Somewhat of this there must be in all that believe, they all groan in this tabernacle, and desire to be dissolved. Paul speaketh in his own name, and the name of all who are like-minded with him- self ; for no man is unwilling to be happy and attain his end. How
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VeR. 2.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 457
is it an happiness, if it be not to be desired and groaned after ? How will you vanquish temptations, if you cannot lay down life and all at Christ's feet, so you may have the heavenly inheritance ? How can you labour for that which you do not earnestly desire and groan after ? How can you make good your entire surrender of yourself in the covenant of being and doing what God will have you to do and be ? Of living to God and dying to God, Rom. xiv. 7, 8 ; at least submit to die, and to be ready when God shall call you.
Ans. 2. Much of what is here expressed may belong to an heroical degi'ee of grace, not vouchsafed to all christians. All cannot attain to this measure and height. But yet still we must be growing up to this frame of heart. Here are marks to aim at, marks to try by. The marks to aim at are propounded for our imitation, the other are proofs of our sincerity ; we are every day to grow up more and more into such a heavenly spirit, and to humble ourselves that after so long a profession of the name of Christ we come short. We should take occasions theuce to provoke ourselves to get the same dispositions and affections which God's eminent servants have.
ObJ. 3. But this wishing and longing for death seemeth to have somewhat of sin in it. Men in a passion, and when disappointed in the world, seem to be weary of their lives. We have instances in scripture : the murmuring of the Israelites in the wilderness, ' Would to God we had died in Egypt,' &c