1. We cannot be sincere unless this.be our great aim and scope, that we may approve ourselves to God. One main difference between the sincere and the hypocrite is in'the end and scope. The one seeketh the approbation of men, and the other the approbation of God ; the one is fleshly wisdom, the other godly simplicity and sincerity, 2 Cor. i. 12 ; the one acts to be seen of men, the other maketh God his witness, approver and judge. So elsewhere the spiritual life is nega- tively a not living to ourselves, and positively a living to God, and both carried on by the power and influence of a holy and sincere love to God : 2 Cor. v. 14, 15, ' For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.
VeR. 9.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. ST
And that he died for all , that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.' Love acteth most purely for God whilst it designeth him as the end of all things ; our study to please, desire to enjoy him, keepeth us upright. The more fixed our end is, and the more we renew the intention of it, and daily prosecute it. the more sincere we are. If we keep the right mark in our eye it maketh us level right, but he that mistaketh his end, is out of the way in the first step he taketh, and all his acts are but acts of sin, error and folly, how splendid soever the matter or manner of the action may represent it to vulgar appearance ; suppose praying or preaching out of envy, or alms for vain-glory : Phil. i. 15, ' Some preach Christ out of envy and strife, and some of good- will,' They may preach to others, who are but hollow-hearted men themselves ; and a man's most excellent gifts, and the duties of God's own worship, may be prostituted to so base an end as to hide and feed our lusts. So Christ speaketh of the hypocrites giving alms ' to be seen of men/ Mat. vi. 1 ; and praying to be ' seen of men,' ver. 5. These things are incident to the corrupt heart of man, even sometimes when it is in part renewed ; by ends and motives interposing them- selves ; but good christians had need to resist the very first motions of these things, for where they are once rooted in the heart, and prevail, our duties are not a worship of God, but a service of sin, and we our- selves will be found at length but insincere and rotten-hearted hypocrites. A christian should content himself with God's approbation ; and needs no other theatre than his own conscience, nor other spectator than our Father who ' seeth in secret,' Mat. vi. 4, 6. Besides the sweet testi- mony of the conscience following upon such actions ; and in time this shall be laid open, and found to our praise and honour. It is God and glory the upright heart aimeth at, and bendeth his study, heart, and life to seek.
2. It maketh us serious and watchful, and to keep close to our duty. Finis est mensura mediornm — the aptitude and fitness of means is judged of by the end. Let a man fix upon a right end and scope, and he will soon understand his way, and will address himself to such means as are fitted to that end, and make straight towards it without any circuits and wanderings. What is the reason that men fill up their lives with things that are impertinent to their great end, and sometimes altogether inconsistent with it ? Because they have not fixed their scope, or do not regard their end. A man that hath resolv- edly determined that this is his end. to be accepted of God and to enjoy God, he valueth God's favour as his happiness, the being reconciled to him, and his great care the pleasing of him, — his utmost industrious employment of his life is nothing else but a seeking to please, honour, and enjoy God, And so by this means — (1.) Impertinencies, (2.) Inconsistencies, are prevented and cut ofi".
[1.] Do but consider how many impertinencies are cut off" if I be true to my end and great scope ; for instance, when I remember that my busi- ness is to be accepted of God at the last, and am resolved to seek after that and mind that, can I spend my time in ease and idleness, or carnal vanities and recreations ? Eccl. ii.-2. ' What doth it ? ' ^Yhat good and profit cometh of this ? What respect hath it to my great end ? When
38 SERMONS UPON 2 COPJNTHIANS V. [SeE. XII.
I am gaming and sporting away my precious time, or it may be, but trifling it away in impertinent chatting and vain censures, is this the way to heaven ? Shall I get thither sooner by toying or praying ; by sow- ing to the flesh, or the spirit ; by studying the word of God, and medit- ating therein day and night, or by reading romances, filthy plays, and obscene and scurrilous writings ; by cards and dice, or by holy con- ference and praising God ? Alas ! if men would but sum up the employment of every day, they might' write at the bottom of the account, Here is nothing but vanity, a great deal of time spent, and a pudder made, and little or nothing done to our great end. Christians, what do you? Or what have you done? Jer. viii, 6. That question is to be answered, not only by reflecting upon your rule, but by reflecting upon your end.