1. To weanedness. To this end —
[1.] Consider the short continuance of worldly greatness. It is a part acted upon the stage of this world for a while. Others have been in the places you enjoy, and they are dead and gone, and there is no remembrance of them. You are going to the grave only the higher walk: Job iii. 19, 'The small and the great are there, and the servant is free from his master.' Within a little while, and the world will think as meanly of you as you do of them that are gone before you. There will ever be a distinction between holy and unholy, between clean and unclean, between the believer and the unbeliever,
VeR. 24.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 447
between the carnal and the regenerate ; bnt tliere will be no distinction between the rich and the poor, between the honourable and the base. Within a little while there will not be a pin to choose between them ; the most shining glory will be quickly burned to a snufF, though no churlish blast should extinguish it.
[2.] The true value of life is by our service to God. That is the best life wherein we are most serviceable to God, and most helped on to heaven.
[3.] Man)' times the greater you are in earth, the lesser you shall be in heaven : Lazarus was poor in this world, and Dives was rich ; but one went to heaven, and the other was sent to hell : Mat. xi. 5, ' The poor have the gospel preached to them.'
2. To a resolution —
[1.] To use what you have for the present for God. You must not throw them away. Consider wdiat advantage hath God for thy advancement. It is not enough to see that they do us no hurt, but you must ' honour the Lord with your substance, and with the first- fruits of all thine increase,' Prov. iii. 9. We should have nothing but God should be honoured by it. Nehemiah was the king's cup- bearer, and his interest was improved for the good of God's people, Neh. i. 11.
[2.] To carry these things in your hands, that when God calleth for them you may be ready to leave them. God giveth you these things that you may have something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ. David carried his life in his hand, as a thing ready to be gone from him : Ps. cxix. 109, ' My soul is continually in my hand.' So should you sit loose to worldly things, expecting God's call to part with them.
[3.] Wisely to discern the interest of Christ, that your honour may not be incompatible with it : Ps. ii. 10, ' Be wise now therefore, 0 ye kings ; be instructed, ye judges of the earth.' Of all men they should be most inquisitive, that they do not stand in Christ's way, and get all the instruction they can of their duty.
Use 3. Examination ; examine your faith and self-denial. The one discovereth the other.
1. Examine your faith by your self-denial. Have you gone back any degrees for Christ ? What have you refused for him ? But because every one is not put upon such actual eminent trial, in- quire, doth faith take off your hearts from the things of the world ? Your weanedness from the world will be an evidence of your faith ; when you have low thoughts of the world, of the honours, and pleasures, and treasures of it. It may be we may speak contemptibly of the world, but this is not enough ; look to the settled disposition of your souls. Two things you may know it by ; what is your first care, and choice delight ?
[1.] What is your first care ? Mat. vi. 33, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and the rigliteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added to you.' It a sign of a worldly sjjirit when the only thought is to get increase, the only business is to hunt after honour, this is the prey and game in chase. Every man hath a first tiling, which is his to epyov, his work and business. When men are never at
448 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LIX.
rest till they have gotten this honour, and then that preferment, and are still gaping after more, it is a sign the heart is not purged from workily lusts and vile atFections.
[2.] What is your choice delight? Is it in the Lord Jesus Christ, to be a fellow-heir with him, who is your elder brother ? Is it to enjoy communion with God ? What is it that j^ou muse upon ? See the musings of a worldly great man, Dan. iv. 30, ' Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my mnjesty ? ' But the musings (_)f a godly man we have, Ps. Ixxxiv. 10, ' For a day in thy court is better than a thousand ; I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.' It is a delight- ful thing to them to think of a covenant interest in God, and of liberty of access to him by Christ : Ps. iv. 6, 7, ' There be many that say, Who will show us any good ? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.' What is it that puts gladness into your hearts ? Is it to have worldly things increased ? or that God is reconciled to you, and that you have hopes of enjoying him in glory ?