VeK. 21.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 405
of the Lord, yet they will be repaired again. Oh, how glorious was Christ's body ! It may be discerned in part in his transfiguration, there were such beamings forth of liglit from the body of Christ that the disciples could not bear it. Such kind of bodies for clarity, bright- ness, and strength shall the saints have ; this massy clog of flesh and blood which is such a hindrance to us, it shall then be made like to Christ's glorious body. There will be nothing lost by Christ ; he that could heal Malchus's ear, can restore what is lost, wasted, spent and worn out in constant duty. He will make up all again. Then faith looks downward ; there are hell's torments whicli are provided, not only for the soul, but for the body. Then faith judgeth, it is better to take pains than to endure pains ; it is better to be bound with cords of duty than with chains of darkness ; these pains are nothing to what the wicked shall endure in hell. Though I do not believe there is corporal fire in hell, yet clearly there are pains tliat shall immediately be inflicted upon the body ; not only pains in the body resulting from the sympathy it hath with the soul, but upon the body itself: Mat. x. 28, ' Fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.' And there is a place of torment, but what it is we cannot tell. Now faith represents this, the terrors that are to come, and shall we stand for a little pains for God.
Use. It shames us for our laziness and love of ease. Love of ease and pleasure is the bane of Christianity; away with those nice christians that are so sparing and tender of their bodies 1 Oh, let not the body betray the soul ! If you would gratify one part above another gratify the soul, for that is the better part ; and in gratifying the soul, you gratify the body in the issue. If out of love to duty you should neglect the body a little, the body will lose nothing by it at last. Christians, whenever ease and laziness creep upon you, remember it is good to interest the body in some self-denial, that it may the better look for its share. Jacob was willing to rouse up himself, to put him- self into a posture of suppliant, to give a good example to his children. Consider, duty is never sweeter than when there is some difiiculty, and when it is recovered out of the hands of indisposition. Shall we serve God with that which cost us nothing ? Though it put us to pain, and be some intrenchment to our ease, it will be sweeter at length. Con- tempt of ease and pleasure is the greatest pleasure in the end. That is worth nothing that cost nothing, and excuses are a sign of an un- willing heart. Where the spirit is willing, though the flesh is weak, a christian will be doing what he can, he will not sit out. And consider, the body is Christ's as well as the soul : 1 Cor. vi. 20, ' Ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God with your bodies and with your spirits, which are God's.' When duty proves grievous and burdensome, consider, your bodies are not your own, they are bought by Chri;!t, and let it not be grievous and burdensome to you to give Christ his own. He expects the body should be put to some pains. To conclude, when we are lazy, and ease is apt to creep upon us, then set faith a-work, looking backward, forward, upward, downward. Let it argue and plead for God from what is past, and what is to come. Let faith be expecting, waiting, looking up, there will a time come when the body
406 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LVI.
will not be a clog, but will be a spiritual body, that is, more fit for spiritual em])loyments and spiritual eujoymeuts, that it shall never be weary of. There is no weariness in heaven, both soul and body shall ever remain fresh, to rejoice in and praise the Lord'; there is no indis- position, no weakness there. Then let it argue, If God hath provided such things for us, what ! shall I be backward ? And if it be difficult, here is an occasion to show my love.
SEKMON LVI.
By faith Joseph, ichen he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave cominandment concerning his bones.— Heb. xi. 22.
Here we have (1.) The person ; (2.) The times ; (3.) The effects of his faith.
First. The person mentioned for his faith — Joseph.
1. Let us consider him as Jacob's son, for still the line of believers is continued. The three former are called heirs of the same promise. Now the next in rank is Joseph, who was eminent for faith ; the rest had their privileges, but the scripture taketh notice of this most notably. It is an advantage to be born of godly parents ; Timothy is said to be ' the son of a Jewess woman that believed,' Acts xvi. 1. Though the piety of the parents doth not hinder but that children are born in sin, and so are under the curse ; yet they have a treble benefit.