[4.] It exhorteth us to a profession of our hopes and expectations of another Avorld, as the patriarchs did in the midst of the Canaauites ; by dwelling in tents ' they declared plainly that they sought a country,' Heb. xi. 14. The rite bindeth not, but we should have a tent-disposi- tion, and set the face of our conversations heavenward, renounce worldly conveniences, live as those that are not ashamed of their country, that we may draw others to be fellow-citizens with us : Phil. ii. 15, 16, 'That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as
Vers. 9, 10.] seemons upon Hebrews xi. 2G7
lights iu the Avorld, holding forth the word of life.' A man should discover his hopes in his language, let it be the language of Canaan ; in a mortified course of life, that all the world may sec you are of another country. The world is in the dark ; as the stars are the shining part of heaven, so the saints, if they live answerably to their condition, they are as stars, the glory of the world ; as the stars guided the wise men to Christ, so that is their office to guide to Christ by their conver- sations. There are greater lights and lesser lights : ministers are as the greater lights to hold forth the word of God in doctrine, christians as the lesser lights to hold forth the word of life in practice. It is a prodigy to see the lights of heaven eclipsed ; so to see blackness, darkness, and worldliness in your conversations would be as a prodigy. When your cares, griefs, desires, endeavours are carnal, you suffer an eclipse ; you do not shine so brightly to the world, and make such an open profession as those should do that do spiritually live in tents.
[5.] The next duty we learn is moderation in houses and farniture. Abraham and the patriarchs dwelt in tents ; we cannot be contented unless we have so many walks, galleries, turrets, pyramids ; such setting up and pulling down, transposing and transplacing to make gay houses, and so much yearly spent in costly furniture, that we are much departed from the primitive simplicity. I know God hath given us a liberal allowance to make our pilgrimage comfortable, and that this allowance is straitened and enlarged according to our quality and degree in the "world, and that in strength of buildings the safety and glory of a nation is much concerned, and that as nations are civilised, so their buildings are more fair and commodious ; but yet there must be a restraint in pomp and excess. The scriptures often take notice of the vanity of sumptuous buildings and household stuff: Amos iii. 15, ' I will smite the winter house and summer house ; the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end.' It is made one of the causes of Israel's judgments: so Amos vi. 8, 'I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces,' and in many other places. Now the limits are, when they exceed our estate, and if not our estate, yet our degree and rank ; when they divert our charity ; — house-builders are not house-keepers ; the walls are double clothed when the poor go naked, and that is spent upon polishing of stones which is due to the members of Christ ; — and when men feed their luxury with oppression : Hab. ii. 11, 12, ' For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. AVo to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity ! ' The stone shall cry, Lord, avenge us against the builder, we were laid in blood ; and the beam shall answer, And we were purchased with rapine and public spoil.
[6.] The next thing we learn is self-denial, and enduring hardness for God's sake. Abraham dwelt in tents when God called him there- unto. God hath work for the patriarchs to do up and down the world, and therefore would not have their dwellings settled. So should we learn upon a call to give up all conveniences to God, and to be content with a mean condition ; as for instance, when we can no longer keep them with a good conscience, when by particular impulse we are urged to such works as will forfeit our worldly conveniences, and the like.
268 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XLIIT.
[7.] It is a check to covetousness, when men seek to root here, and ' to join house to house, and field to field, till there be no place they maybe placed alone in the midst of the earth,' Isa. v. 8. This is quite contrary to Abraham, who left all and dwelt in tents ; they are still purchasing, till they have engrossed all to themselves, and there be no room for any to dwell by them.
Thirdly, The next circumstance is his fellows and followers in this ]iractice and profession, with Isaac and Jacob, 'the heirs with him of the same promise.' The words will undergo a double sense, they imply imitation or cohabitation.