Use. This note is useful in public reformations and private conver- sation.
1. In public reformations. Israel was ready to return to Egypt when they were sensible of the difficulties and inconveniences of the wilderness. So because reformation is clogged with many inconveni- ences, sottish people wish for their old times of mass and matins, and hanker after the flesh-pots of Egypt. But these patriarchs were of another temper, they were unmindful to return, though they had incon- veniences where they were, and an opportunity to go back. So those carnal Jews : Jer. xliv. 17, 18, ' We will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-ofterings unto her, for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left ofi" to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-ofterings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.' Times of reformation are usually thus encum- bered. Oh ! but let us not return thither from whence we came.
2. In private conversation ; when we renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh, we should not retract our vows. One said, he would launch out no farther into the deeps of religion than he might get to shore again. Oh. take heed of such a spirit ! when you are embarked with Christ, take heed of looking back ; forget your father's house, and the flesh-pots of Egypt. To this end count the charges when you give up your names to Christ. When a man is to build, he makes a good allowance ; and as long as he keeps within his allowance, he never grudges it ; but when that is exceeded, it grieves him to disburse more. Oh, make the Lord a good allowance, that you may not go back, but follow him fully ! This is the first part of the apostle's argument, the negative part of it, ' They were unmindful of that country from whence they came, though they had opportunity to return.'
But now as to the positive part of the proof — ' But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly.'
Doct. It is not enough to despise this world, but we must have our hearts carried forth after better things ; we must believe and desire a better country.
336 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI, [SeR. XLIX.
Many out of a sHglit temper may renounce the world, their corrup- tions do not lie that way, they have not a f^enius fit for scraping and heaping up wealth. Others are of a prodigal humour, and may abhor baseness and forbid sparing, but the}'' are not heavenly ; they despise but a piece of the world, not the whole world ; they are taken with worldly pleasures, though they regard not worldly profits ; their hearts are not carried forth to better things.
You may clearly discern whether the temper of your hearts be right with God by these two marks — Do you renounce the world ? and do you loolv after better things ?
1. Do you renounce the world for God's sake ? But you will say, Do you persuade us to voluntary poverty ? possibly some may be full of fears and doubts concerning their estate, because they prosper in the world, wben they consider the condition of the patriarchs who left all at the call of God. How are we therefore to renounce the world ? I answer, We must not renounce the good things of this life but uport God's call, for otherwise we should cast away the blessings of the cov- enant. Temporal blessings are adopted and taken into the covenant as well as spiritual mercies : 1 Tim. iv. 8, ' Godliness is profitable unto all things, having ])romise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' To run into voluntary poverty were to despise God's bounty. But what then is that renouncing of the world that is required of every christian ? It lies in four things.
[1.] We must he contented with that portion of worldly things which comes to us in a fair way of providence, without carking, and caring, and turmoiling ourselves about the things of the present life ; we must be satisfied with our Father's allowance and blessing : Heb. xiii. 5, ' Be content with such things as you have.' But when men are greedy after worldly things, this is to seek the world. Whatever comes to us in a way of obedience and dependence upon God, we must be contented with as our portion.
[2.] We must avoid the corruption that is in the world. Take heed you be not corrupted by the world ; use it as if you used it not ; let not your hearts be entangled with the world : 1 Cor. vii. 31, 'And they that use the world as not abusing it.' Though you must not throw away God's common blessings out of your houses, yet let them not engross the heart. If we do not get out of the woi-ld, we must get the world out of us, that it may not encroach upon God's rights: Ps. Ixii. 10, ' If riches increase, set not your heart on them.'