(3.) Till we be more sanctified. This I take for granted, that accord- ing to our measures of grace, so will be our measures of glory. They that have done more work, and are more holy, their reward will be greater : 1 Cor. iii. 8, ' Every man receiveth his own reward, Kara toi' Xhtov KOTTov, according to his own labour ; ' not only according to the kind, but according to the degree, for that the apostle speaketh of there. The more we improve our talents here, the more glory we shall have in heaven. I know not else what to make of that, ' Be ruler over ten cities and five cities,' Luke xix. 16-18; so Mat. xx. 23, 'The mother of Zebedee's children requested that her two sons might sit, the one on his right hand, and the other on his left' Christ doth not deny that there are degrees of glory in heaven,- something that may be called sitting at his right hand and sitting at his left ; for he saith, ' It shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.' As there are degrees of torment, a hotter and a cooler hell, so degrees in glory; that vessels of a larger bore and size will hold more than vessels of a narrower. These, and many other considerations, give me to think that as the stars differ from one another in glory, so shall the saints of God. ■ But now, who shall have the larger degrees of glory, but those that excel in grace ? Corn doth not grow in the barn, but in the field ; there is no growing in grace in the other world, but here our capacities are widened by degrees. Therefore those that make a greater progress in sanctification are more meet to be partakers of this blessed estate, more wrought for this very thing ; they that carry more experiences with them to heaven will there most admire grace, and enjoy most of it.
(4.) The more heavenly-minded. For the apostle here speaketh of those who were advanced to a greater pitch and height of grace ; they that were dead to the interests of the animal life, 2 Cor. iv. 16, they that made heavenly things their scope, they that were assuredly per- suaded of this blessed estate, they that were always groaning and long- ing after it. It is the wisdom of God to put all things in their proper places ; every creature suiteth with that element which is answerable • to its composition and frame, — fishes in the water, fowls in the air.
VeR. 5.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 481
And who are meet to be set in heavenly places, but those that have a heavenly heart and mind? God giveth these spiritual blessings to none but those who desire them. Not as we lay on gold and fair colours on wood or stone, that have no appetite and desire to them, nor sense nor use of them ; but as we give bread to the hungry, money to those that are in want. These things were not matter of happiness if they were not earnestly desired ; the affection must first be exercised, that we may desire, thankfully accept, and entertain these things when they come. For God will deal with us as rational creatures, who have understanding, will, and affections. It is otherwise in matter of torment than it is in matter of blessedness ; men may go to hell against their wills, but none go to heaven against their wills ; the one is inflicted upon us, the other must be chosen, embraced, pursued, and earnestly sought after. Therefore the heavenly-minded are meet, it is their proper place and country ; they may say, God hath wrought us to this very thing.
Use. Are we framed, are we made fit, are we made new creatures, have we the general fitness which is of absolute necessity ? It is a cer- tain truth that God doth not only give us heaven, but maketli us fit for heaven. He saveth none but those whom he maketh fit to be saved. The elect do not by and by from a corrupt estate go to a glorified, but a holy and fit preparation cometli between. Till we be regenerate and sanctified we are in a total unfitness, for none but the 'pure in heart shall see God,' Mat. v. 8. And ' without holiness no man shall see the Lord,' Heb. xii. 14. All they, and none but they: Titus iii. 5, 'But according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.' You may as well expect that God should turn day into night to please a drunkard, as make the way to hell to be the way to heaven to please an impenitent sinner. Those to whom Christ will say, ' Come, ye blessed of my Father,' he first saitli, ' Come unto me, ye that are weary and heavy laden.' Unless we have passed from death, to life iu a way of grace, we cannot expect to pass from death to life in a way of glory.
2. That gradual and perfective meetness must be looked after too, though it be not so absolutely and indispensably necessary as the former.