Use 2. We learn hence that in reading of the scriptures we are to mark not only what is spoken, but what may be thence inferred. It is notable that Jesus Christ taxeth the Sadduceos as ignorant of the scriptui'es, because they were ignorant of the consequences of scrip- ture : Mat. xxii. 29, ' Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.' Though they knew the letter of the scripture, yet they did not know the consequence and import of it. A christian is bound, and must aim at it more and more, to know all the doctrines revealed in the scripture, and all the consequences of them. You have reason given you to meditate, to argue and debate matters, otherwise how can we resolve cases and try spirits ? 1 John iv, 1, ' Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God.' We are to draw inferences of faith and practice from what we read in the scriptures, by comparing scriptures with scriptures.
TliirdJy, Let us come to the a})ostle's argument, 'they seek a country; ' it must be that whence they came, or else an heavenly country. But it was not the country from whence they came, therefore it must be an heavenly country. Mark, the apostle knew but two places of resid- ence for the saints in the old testament, either in this life on earth, or in the life to come in heaven. From this distribution, it must be in earth or heaven. Learn this point —
I)oct. That there are but two places of residence for the saints, either the place of exercise, that is here upon earth, or the place of their reward or recompense, and that is in heaven.
From the beginning of the world to this day so it has been, there is no third place. The papists, ])esides heaven, hell, and purgatory, have two vaults ; they have their limbus jjcitrum, some obscure cabins for the faithful that died before Christ came in the flesh, where they are kept as in a dark prison, out of heaven, yet without torments, as they are without blessedness : and they have their limbus infantum for those liiat died without bantism. Others imagine there are heaice seeks, et
Vers. 14-16.] sermons upon Hebrews xi. 333
■secreta animarum receptacula, blessed seats, and secret receptacles and places for souls, besides the heaven of heavens, where the just remain till the day of judgment. But all this is without scripture. Here the patriarchs expected an heavenly country; that their souls should immediately go to God, and their bodies should be raised in due time. But let us come to the proof and making out of this argument; he proves the first, that Mesopotamia, or Ur of the Chaldees, the place from wlience they came, was not their country, 'for, saitli he, verse 15, ' Truly if they had been mindful of that country whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.' From whence we may observe two things —
Doct. 1. "That God's children do not contemn the world out of necessity, but out of choice.
They might have returned if they had a mind ; tliey were not necessitated to stay here, but it was their wise choice to follow and obey God. Many do despise riches and greatness in the world because they cannot attain to it ; as the fox in the fable did the grapes that he could not reach, or as ignorant persons despise learning, because tliey cannot attain to it. Some may speak contemptibly of these things out o? envy. Many do not affect great things because they do not lie within their grasp and reach ; it is not every man that can rationally aspire to be a. ruler. So many think they could prefer a naked Christ before all the world, because they have not an offer and a temptation ; therefore the trial of your hearts is when the temptation cometh : Ps. Ixii. 10, ' If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.' Can you then contemn them, and think meanly of them ? Are they as low and base thiags in your esteem as when you were in your deep poverty ? How are you to the temptations that are incident to your rank and station ? Every one is apt to seek great things for himself as far as his grasp reacheth. A thousand pounds to some kind of persons may not be so< great a matter as an hundred pounds to others. Men think that because they do not aim at such vast and great worldly profits as others have, therefore they are not worldly ; but the reason is because these great things are not within their grasp and reach. The devik doth not come to all, as he did to Christ, to offer him all the kingdoms of the earth ; some will accept of less with thanks. The devil suiteth his temptations to men's conditions, and the opportunities that are put into their hands, and all the trial is, how you behave yourselves as to these temptations that you meet withal. In all this I do not deny,, but that outward providence is an help, and there is much of the care o^ God seen in removing the temptation, as well as in abating the affection. ; as Paul took notice of God's providence : Gal. vi. 14, ' The world i» crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' He observed not only the deadness of his own heart to the world, but the world's frowning upon him, and its uselessness to him. We are to take notice of the love of providence, as well as of the power of grace. It is a mercy i& be acknowledged that we have not tiie temptations or the opportunities to depart from God that others have. But then the i>eople of God ai-e apt to reflect upon their own carnal disposition, and to say, Surely I have a heart as bad as others, and should have been as bad as others ; if God did not shut me up, and keep me low, my heart would be high, carnal and proud as well as others. To apply this —