444 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LIX.
conscience of liis internal call, he may lie at the pool modestly till some put him in, and offer himself to such work as God hath called him luito, and upon a fair call he must not draw back. But 3'et we should wait and tarry God's leisure, without thrusting and obtruding ourselves. If thy Avorth be not known, bear it patiently ; Jesus Christ lay hid for a long time, and was not known. It was John's testimony concerning Christ, John i. 26, ' There standeth one among you, whom ye know not.' So Josei)h, that notable man for business, lay obscurely in prison, and was kept as a slave a long time ; and Daniel a long time was nourished among the captive children before his worth and eminency was taken notice of ; and David did follow the ewes great with young before the Lord called him out to feed his people, and there was an opportunity to discover his spirit and valour ; Moses is a shepherd with liis father-in-law, ere he was captain of the ])eoi)le. In the meantime we must not use ill means, nor much trouble ourselves in the use of lawful means. We must not use ill means. Ambition is like a whirl- wind to tear all things in our way ; it treads down all that stands in their way ; truth, gospel, good conscience, all must go down, so they may rise. Moses would not keep honour upon basetei-ms, and will you get it ? When a man is in possession, the temptation is the gi'eater ; but yon never had it, and therefore yours is the greater sin, if for favour and preferment you should deny or dissemble the truth, or stretch con- science to the size of the times to humour men. If we had it, and enjoyed it in the highest manner we are capable of, yet it must be left ; but to break through all restraints of honour and conscience to get it, this is sinful. Nor must we much trouble ourselves in the use of lawful means : Prov. xxv. 27, ' For men to seek their own glory is not glory.' Ambition is a mark of indignity ; if you were worthy of honour, your worth would attract it, as a violet is found out by its smell. Where the matter is combustible, we need not blow tlie fiie so hard. By eager sucking honour, you disjjarage yourselves. There is no temper so base as the ambitious ; how do they bend, cringe, stoop, fawn, flatter, and all to raise themselves ! — ' Having men's persons in admiration because of advantage,' Jude 16. Absalom kissetli the people; such carking, caring, and fawning argueth little worth. It disparageth God, as if he did not care for you, and did not know where to employ and set you. And then you tax his providence when with such carking and solicitude you are hunting after great places. And in the end God will make you know that all is at his dis])ose : Prov. xxix. 26, ' Many seek the ruler's favour, but every man's judgment cometh of the Lord ;' what God hath determined concerning his course of life. Men's hearts are in God's liands ; worldly potentates are not masters of their own respects, but meet often with a shameful disappointment.
[3] God may be as well vserved and glorified in a lower calling as in a higher, if you perform the duties of your present station. The apostle speaks of poor servants, ' that they may adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things,' Titus ii. 10. They have their work and sphere of activity, though it be a lower one ; and if they are con- scinnable in it, and do the duty of their place out of fear and reverence to God, it is a mighty honour to God. The gnat proclaims God as really as the sun, though the sun more notablv. Some shine in a more
VeK. 24.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. 445
j:;lorioiis orb and sphere, but all have their opportunities of service. We must give an account of our talents ; he tliat had but one talent was to employ it : John xvii. 4, ' I have finished the work that thou hast given me to do.' Do what God calls for in the place he hath set you, and trouble not yourself in aspiring thoughts and endeavours to be great ; the discharge of your duty will be your comfort and peace. [4.] Many times in a private life there are many advantages of enjoy- ing God, which we cannot have in more power. Though we are not to refuse power, but improve it if called thereto, yet this should satisfy you ; a private condition hath greater advantages of enjoying more com- munion with God — being often in the meditations of God, in prayers to and praises of him. In a private life you have many pleasant op- portunities of retirement for communion with God. Those that live upon mountains have very tempestuous habitations ; so men that live in a clatter of worldly business have not such advantages of enjoying the Lord, they are continually exposed to the storms of the envy and jealousy of others, where it is hard to please men, or to please God, or to please ourselves. It is hard to please men, because of the uncertainty of their humours ; and there we have the greatest hind- rances of pleasing God, our hearts being taken up with these things. Ay, and few find that pleasure they expect from it themselves ; therefore who would covet and aspire for that condition wherein there are so few advantages either to please God, himself, or men.