2. It is called a heritage to note the largeness of our portion and
\^ER. 7.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 219
spiritual estate. Let us consider the consequences of this righteous- ness ; it is our title and claim to all other blessings that can be had. The children of God have the largest patrimony that ever was — ' All things are yours,' saith the apostle, 1 Cor. iii. 21. Though G-od do not give us the actual possession, yet we have a general right. And all things are theirs by way of reduction in the final issue and event ; all for the good of the heirs of promise, though all be not yours in the way of actual possession and enjoyment ; that may be hurtful to us. But to come to particulars, there cannot be two more magnificent words spoken in the whole creation than heaven and earth, yet they are both yours by virtue of this righteousness.
[1.] For the earth ; for most difficulty seems to be there. Many a christian hath not a foot of land, yet it is true all things are his. It is said of Abraham, Eom. iv. 13, 'For the promise that he should be the heii' of the world/ &c. And we have the blessing of Abraham, who through the righteousness of faith was re-established in the right which Adam had before the fall. Wherever God should cast his portion, he might look upon it as his, as made over to him in Christ. Both the comfortable and the sanctified enjoyment of the creature is a part of our portion, we have it by virtue of this righteousness; God hath ci-eated all refreshments for believers that they might receive them with thanksgiving: 1 Tim iv. 3, ' Commanding to abstain from meats, which God had created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.' Believers only have a covenant right to make use of tbe good creatures and outward supports and refreshments of life. I cannot say that wicked men are usurpers of what they possess, it is their portion : Ps. 5^'ii. 14, ' The men of the world, which have their portion in this life ; ' yet they have not a covenant-title as believers have ; tliey have not tliese things from a loving father, from a God in covenant with them ; they do not work for good to their souls. I say they are not usurpers before God ; they have a general title and a creature right, but not a covenant right, till interested in Christ ; this they lost in Adam. The devils themselves have their being by a creature right, so the young ravens have their food, so wicked men have a creature right ; but all this is salted with a curse, and proves a snare to them. But now, whatever a christian hath, he hath it from his father from mercy, from a God in covenant with him, so he is an heir of the world ; whatever of the world falls to his share, he may look upon it as a blessing of the covenant, as that which will not hinder but further his salvation. In Christ we have a new right to the creature, and we have a sanctified use of it, Heb. i. 2. It is said of Christ, that ' he is heir of all things ; ' we can have no part of tlie inheritance but by and through him, for Adam was disinherited, and he lost his covenant right over the creature by his fall ; but in Christ the title is renewed. If all the world were yours, it would be no blessing to you if you could not look upon it as a legacy from Christ, as a thing that you hold by a covenant right, as that wherein you are interested by the righteousness of faith.
[2.] As the world is theirs, so heaven is theirs too. You are an heir-apparent to the kingdom of heaven : James ii. 5, ' Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in
220 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XXXIX.
faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him ? ' He is an heir to a crown, and the fairest crown that ever was. A poor believer walks up and down in the world in a despicable appearance, like princes in disguise in a foreign country and strange land ; they have a royal patrimony and a large estate, though their appearance be despicable ; the world that looks upon them thinks them miserable, that all their hopes lie ' m terra mcor/nita,' in an invisible land, that shall never be found out. But it is not so far but the children of God may see it through the prospective of faith, which is the evidence of things not seen. Indeed the children of God are wont to do so, they go up often to the top of Pisgah, and view the promised land and with Abraham they walk through it, and do, as it were, hear God say. All this is made over to thee in Christ ; and they live upon this reversion. The Lord would not weary us with expectation too much ; therefore we have somewhat in hand, but the best of our portion is to come. We are all God's children, ' heirs and co-heirs Avith Christ,' Kom. viii. 17. Christ and we do, as it were, divide heaven betwixt us. We have a share in all his father's goods ; we have one father, therefore hereafter we shall dwell in one house, and enjoy the same estate — ' I go to prepare a place for you,' John xiv. 3 ; ' I will that they also may behold my glory,' John xvii. 24. Christ speaks as if he were not contented with liis own heaven without our compan_y.