[2.] Hope was made for things to come, especially for our full and final happiness. God fits us mth grace as well as with happiness ; he doth not only make a grant of a glorious estate, but hath given us grace to expect it. Hope would be of no use, if it did not look out for another condition : Kom. viii. 24, ' Hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for it ? ' No ; there is something to come ; and therefore because we have it not in possession, we lift up the head, and look for it with a longing and desirous expec- tation. It is said. Col. i. 5, ' That our hope is laid up for us in heaven.' A believer's portion is not given him in hand ; he hath it only in hope. He hath it not, but it is safely kept for his use, and that in a most sure place in heaven, where ' thieves cannot break through and steal.'
[3.] Love. The saints have heard much of Christ, read much of Christ, tasted and felt much of Christ ; they would fain see him, and be with him : 1 Peter i. 8, ' Whom having not seen ye love.' Many love Jesus Christ, whom they have not seen in the flesh, or conversed with him bodily ; but though they have not seen him, they desire to see him ; for love is an affection of union, it desireth to be with the party loved. The ' Spirit and the bride saith. Come,' Eev. xxii. 17. The adulteress saith, Stay away ; but the loving spouse and the bride saith. Come. Carnal men will not give their vote this way, but the soul that loveth Christ would have him either come to them, or take them up to him ; their souls are not at ease till this be accomplished.
Use 1. Let us give in our names among them that profess them- selves to be strangers and sojourners here in the world. This confes- sion must be made, not in word only, but in deed and in truth. We must carry ourselves as strangers and pilgrims.
1. Let us be drawing home as fast as we can. A traveller would be passing over his journey as soon as may be ; so should we be hastening home in our desires and affections. It is but a sorry home
VeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS T. 7
to be at home in tlie body, when all that while we are absent from the Lord. There is a tendency in the new natm'e to God, a perfect enjoyment of God, and a perfect subjection to God; therefore onr desires should still draw homewards : Heb. xi. 16, ' They desire a country, that is, an heavenly.' All that have gotten a new heart and. natm-e from the Lord, their hearts run upon the expectation of what God hath promised ; they cannot be satisfied with anything they enjoy here.
2. By making serious provision for the other world : Mat. vi. 33, ■' But first seek the kingdom of heaven, and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added unto you.' Men that bestow all their labour and travail about earthly things, and neglect their precious and immortal souls, they are contented to be at home in the body, and look no further ; but when you are furnishing the soul with grace, and grow more heavenly, strict and mortified, you are more meet: Col. i. 12, ' Who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.' They that wallow in the delights and content- ments of the flesh , dislike strictness and holiness. What should they do with heaven ? they are not fit for it. Every degree of grace is a step nearer home : Ps. Ixxxiv. 7, ' They shall go on from strength to strength.' Get clearer evidences of your right to everlasting life : 1 Tim. vi. 19, ' Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.' The comfort of what you have done for God will abide with you ; therefore let it be your care and great business not so much to live well here, as to live well hereafter ; our wealth, and honours, and dignities do not follow us into the other world, but om- works do. Consider the place you are bound for, and what commodities grow current there, what will stead you when other things fail.
3. Mortify carnal desires : 1 Peter ii. 11, 'As strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.' The flesh-pots of Egypt made Israel despise Canaan. Fleshly lusts do only gratify the body, as corrupted with sin ; and therefore they must be subdued and kept under by those who have higher and better things to care for. If we were to live here for ever, it were no such absurd thing to gratify the flesh, and please the body ; though even so it were not a practice so suitable to the rational life, yet not altogether so absurd, as when we must be gone, and shortly dislodge, and when we have great and precious promises of happiness in another world : 2 Cor. vii. 1, ' Having therefore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit.' That bindeth it more upon us. These lusts blind the mind, besot the heart, burden us in our journey homeward, divert our thoughts and care ; yea, being indulged and allowed, they make us forfeit heaven, and will prove at length the ruin of our souls. Sowing to the flesh cuts off the hopes of happiness, Gal. vi. 8. Well then, bethink yourselves, if you look for heaven, will you cherish the flesh, which is the enemy of your salvation ? Do you expect a room among the angels, and will you live as those who are slaves of the de^-il ? The world is not your country, and will you wholly be occupied and taken up about worldly things, what you shall eat and drink, and what you shall put on ?