[3.] That the intention of the mind should be much taken up about it. A glance does little affect ; the greatest truths work not if we do not
468 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LXI.
think of them. Moses, he had respect, dire/SXeire, he took off his eye from these things, and fixed it seriously on those things ; so a christian must measure all things by his scope : 2 Cor. iv. 18, 'While we look not to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen,' &c. Nothing draws our esteem, and fixes our choice so much as a serious respect to eternal things. Well then, these heavenly things must be respected, that they may cast the balance of our choice. If we certainly believe, and earnestly look for this recompense of reward, we shall better resolve for God against all present temptations ; for the heart in heaven is the christian's preservation ; if it be much there, all temptations lose their force.
ObJ. There lies one little scruple against this. But is not this mer- cenary, and want of love to God, to be swayed by the reward? I answer. No. Hypocrisy and unsoundness lies not in aiming at a reward in general, but in subordinating religion to a temporary reward, as they ' followed Christ for the loaves,' John vi. 26. But as to the eternal reward, God's gloiy and our eternal happiness are so linked together, that the belief and expectation of the reward doth no way abate of our love to God in Christ ; no, rather, it is an act of love, for because we love him, we desire to enjoy him at any rate, to see him and be like to him ; and this enjoyment is nothing but the exercise of a more perfect reception of his benefits, or the fruits of his love to us.
5, The comparison is rightly stated when the world's best and Christ's worst are brought into competition or consideration ; as here 'the reproach of Christ' and 'the treasures of Egypt;' even that which you abhor in a christian's case, that which you account his misery. And the worst of Christ is better than a worldly man's con- dition, and better than all that for which they lose their souls. If the reproach of Christ be better than all the treasures that are so highly esteemed in the world ; if to be scorned for Christ is better than to have the world at will, this strikes temptations to the heart. And as Moses, so Paul doth thus, Phil. iii. 10, compared with ver. 8, ' I count all things but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,' &c. ' That I might know him, and the power of his re- surrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.' What is the fellowship of his sufferings and conformity to his death ? The meaning is, that I may be disgracefully handled for Christ, as Christ was for me and my salvation. I count this to be such excellency as all else is but dung and dross. To clear this to you there are five ways of comparison which a christian should use.
[1.] Comparing temporal good things and eternal good things, the good and the good, as the portion of a carnal man, and the happiness of a child of God. This way of comparison is used in Ps. xvii. 14, 15. The men of this world they have their jx)rtion, and what good doth it do them ? Their bellies are well filled, their backs well clothed, they have heritages which they leave to their children after them, that they may live a life of pomp and ease in the world. Now when the christian is set upon his duty, to enjoy communion with God, it will check the temptation — 'But as for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness. When I awake, that is, out of the sleep of death, I shall be satisfied with thy likeness.' That vision will make way for
VeR. 26.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 4g9
fruition, and that fruition for an exact likeness to God. Or, suppose when sensual delights are compared with those pleasures that we have at God's right hand for evermore ; the poor dreggy pleasures, which enchant men's souls, and lull them asleep, are compared with those chaste satisfactions and holy delights that we shall have for ever with God: Ps. xvi. 11, 'In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.' So when vainglory is compared with eternal glory : John v. 44, ' How can you believe, that receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only ? ' Is not God's glory better than a little vainglory ? And so compare temporal deliverance with our final escape : Heb. xi. 35, 'Not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better re- surrection.' They refused deliverance upon man's terms. They were stretched out like a drum, but these bodies shall rise again.
[2.] Another way of comparison is when temporal evil things are compared with eternal evil things ; as suppose killing the body with the casting of body and soul into hell fire, Luke xii. 4, 5. We read in the story concerning Biblis, a woman that revolted from the f\iitli for fear of burning, when she saw the fire kindled upon her fellows- martyr, the historian tells us, that she thought of the eternal fire, and then repented of her apostasy, and was burnt together with her fellow. So if we compare a prison with hell, or compare the wrath of man with the wrath of God, or compare shame and scorn in the world now with the confusion of face that shall be at the last day.