[1.] Are we more dead to the world ? Every day somewhat of the spirit of the world is found in God's children, but all that while they are unready to get home. When it is a more indifferent thing to have or want pleasure, or honour, or profit here, then you begin to be weaned, when these things are lessened in your eyes : 1 Cor. iv. 2, ' But with me it is a small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment;' and 1 Cor. vi. 2, 'Are ye unworthy to judge the small- est matters?' It is not so great a matter to be rich or renowned. Other things are greatened: to, fieyiara koI rlfiia eTrayyeX/iaTa, 2 Peter i. 4, ' Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.' When you see a greater worth in heavenly things, and more affect them than ever you did before, and can be glad that you are fitted for this glory, though by the smart discipline of the cross, then you ripen apace for heaveu.
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482 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. VII. '
[2.] If more sanctified. Every degree of growth in grace is a step nearer to heaven ; the more holy any man groweth, the faster he is getting home ; then they are ' pressing towards the mark,' Pliil. iii. 14. Then you make speed to heaven when you thrive inwardly. The more sins mortified, the graces exercised, the more you ride away in your journey to heaven ; in this sense, salvation is nearer every day, Kom. xiii. 11. Although some are scarce entered in by the strait gate, got but a step or two in their race, they do press onward.
[3.] The more heavenly minded. When the concernments of the other world do more take up your hearts and minds, you are as standing at heaven's gate, to see when God will open the door and call you in, when death shall draw aside the veil, and God will show you his blessed face. It is against nature barely to desire a dissolution ; but yet this doth not damp your affections, nor quench the joy of your faith. When a man beginneth to live as ' a stranger and pilgrim here ; ' 1 Peter ii. 11, and as a citizen of heaven : Phil. iii. 20, ' But our con- versation is in heaven,' — then the work goeth on apace. God hath ■wrought you for this very thing, and will in the fittest season translate you.
2. Let us give God all the glory of whatever grace or heavenly affection is wrought in us. The first entrance, and all the whole pre- paration of the elect unto glory is of God. Blessed be', God, ' who hath made us meet, and he that hath wrought us unto this very thing is God.'
[1.] The first entrance ; for we are Troirjfia avrov : Eph. ii. 10, ' His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.' We are his workmanship, not only by natural creation, but supernatural renovation ; not only as made, but as made over again ; his creating power is seen in framing the new creature, as well as in framing our natural substance and natural powers, by divesting us of the evil qualities in us, and planting con- trary graces and virtues in their stead, that ' the old man is put oif, and the new man put on, which is created after God.' Eph. iv. 24. It is just such another work as creation was, for it is done by God's own immediate hand. And as in the beginning God created something out of nothing, and some things out of pre-existing matter, but such as was wholly unfit and indisposed for anything to be made out of it ; as Adam out of the dust of the ground. Gen. ii. 7 ; Eve out of Adam's rib, ver. 22 ; so our faculties were wholly indisposed to good, and averse from it, resisting and opposing what was holy and godly, Job xxi. 14. Therefore to him alone be all the glory and praise.
[2.] After conversion he keepeth us in this estate, and increaseth our fitness. We read in scripture that heaven is kept for us, and we are kept for heaven, and both by God : 1 Peter i. 4, 5, ' Which is preserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation.' As our inheritance is above hazard, and kept from being lost, so also we are kept, that we may not be lost in the way to the possession of it. An earthly inheritance may be kept sure enough by the faithful guardian for an heir, but who can keep or secure the heir from death and other accidents ? But the regenerate, their inheritance is leserved in heaven for them, and they are kept by the power of God for it. There are so many temptations and trials,
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and we are so weak, that it is God alone that can keep us, and main- tain his interest in our souls.
[3.] To the very last there is his gracious and fatherly acceptance. For this meetness standeth in two things — God's powerful operation, and gracious acceptation. His powerful operatioa I have spoken of already. Now the other is as necessary ; ' they are worthy.' But who are those whom God counteth meet and worthy ? So it is explained : Luke XX. 35, ' They which shall he accounted worthy to obtain that world ; ' Luke xxi. 36, ' That ye may be accounted worthy to stand before the Son of man.' Therefore besides his powerful influence, divine acceptation, which covereth our infirmities, acsepteth our weak endeavours for perfect obedience. Even the renewed were not fit to enter glory without it, for their renovation is not perfect ; so that all their acceptance depends on God's free grace in Christ, Ps. cxliii. 2, and Eph. i. 6.