[3.] Observe the force of example, especially of parents. Abraham lived in tents, and so did Isaac and Jacob. You must not only educate your children, but give them an example , this works more than pre- cepts. Nature is very catching at ill examples, therefore beware of them.
Ver. 10, For he looked for a city wlikli hatlt foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Here is the reason rendered of this effect of his faith, his thoughts did not run upon Canaan so much as heaven.
1. Observe, that serious thoughts and hopes of heaven make us to carry ourselves with a loose heart towards worldly comforts. This was the reason why Abraham was contented to be a stranger in Canaan.
270 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SeR. XLIII.
1. I shall show you what is this looking.
2. The inflaence of it on our christian practice.
1. What is this looking for heaven. It is not a blind hope, such as is not advised, and is found in men that are ignorant and presumptu- ous, that regard not what they do; — the piresumption of ignorant persons is a child of darkness. Not some glances upon heaven, such as are found in worldly and sensual persons ; such are not operative, they come but now and then, and leave no warmth upon the soul ; as fruit is not ripened that hath but a glance of the sun. But it is a serious hope, well built, such as ariseth from grace longing after its own perfection ; therefore we are said, ' to be begotten again to a lively hope,' 1 Peter i. 3. Seed desireth growth, everything aimeth at per- fection ; as soon as grace is infused, there is a motion this way. And it is an earnest hope, such as is accompanied with longings and fre- quent thoughts : Eom. viii. 23, ' We ourselves groan within ourselves Avaiting for the adojjtion, to wit, the redemption of our body.' It is a lively hope, such as stirreth up rejoicing, as if the thing hoped for were already enjo3-ed : Eom. v. 2, 'We rejoice in hope of the glory of God;' as 'Abraham rejoiced to see Clirist's day, and he saw it, and was glad,' John viii. 56. And yet it is a patient, contented hope : Eom. viii. 25, ' If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.'
2. The influence of it. It maketh us strangers in the world ; partly, by purging the heart from vile and worldly affections: 1 John iii. 3, ' He that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure ; ' partly, by carrying us within the veil, by which the glory of the world is obscured : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' We look not to the things that are seen, but to the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal ; ' partly, by counterbalancing our afflictions with the future glory ; it sets the joy before us in our sufferings, Heb. xii. 2, and so works a sweet and com- fortable carriage in all states and conditions.
Use 1. It showeth us that they do not truly despise the world who despise it merely out of a slightness of disposition, and not out of the sense of glorious hopes ; they do not despise the whole world ; they are taken not with worldly pleasures, but they mind worldly profits ; their corruptions run out another way : this is not to leave the world, but to make choice of it.
Use 2. It informeth us of the reason why the world hath such a power upon us ; we do not awaken our hopes, and look for the city to come. We have a blind hope, that is ill built ; we have a loose slight hope, that doth not stir up serious thoughts, earnest sighs, hearty groans, and lively tastes of heaven.
2. Observe, heaven is a city. It is so called in opposition to those solitary tents which Abraham and his family pitched in Canaan, and in allusion to those cities which the Canaanites then lived in. There are diverse resemblances betwixt heaven and a city. A city is a civil society that is under government ; so is heaven a society of saints, there all believers meet: Heb. xii. 22, 23, * Ye are come unto Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born which are written in heaven.' Sometimes it is com-
Vers. 9, 10] sekmons upon hebeews xr. 271
pared to a house where there are many mansions : John xiv. 2, ' In my Father's house are many mansions ; ' but lest that comparison shoukl straiten our thoughts, it is compared to a city where there is a great deal of company, and Christ is the governor. In cities they live in concord and amity ; there is a sweet communion of saints in heaven, other manner of saints than we have here, without weakness and imper- fection. -A city is a storehouse of good things, as of food and treasure ; there is enough in heaven for our complete comfort. A city hath liberties; there we are freed from Satan's tyranny, from the law's curse and condemning power, from all weakness, from all ill company, nothing that defiles shall enter there, from all temptations to sin — ' Glorious things are spoken of thee, 0 city of God,' Ps. Ixxxvii. 3. All that are there spealc one language, praising and glorifying God, though in the church here our language is divided. The church is the suburbs of heaven, and we must first live in the suburbs before we come to live in the city : Eph. ii. 19, ' 2^ow therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.' The church is the seminary of heaven, where we first live and trade into heaven. 0 you that are citizens ! labotu" to be citizens of heaven : Heb. xiii. 14, ' For we have here no continu- ing city, but we seek one to come.' And you that are countrymen ! seek to get a right to the freedoms of this city ; there is an excellent governor, Jesus Christ ; excellent company, all the saints that ever have been from the beginning of the world to the end ; there is a constant communion with God : Ps. xxvii. 4, ' One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord,' &c. This is the chiefest thing that above aU other things we are to care for.