(2d) The soul before the body. In all reason the better part should have most respect and care. The good of the body is fluid, and van- ishes ; the soul is immortal. Now, shall we pamper the body and neglect the soul ? What a fool is he that hath cared for all things more than what should be most cared for, his precious and immortal soul ! Luke xii. 20, ' Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee ; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided ? ' Luke X. 42, ' Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken from her.' Surely we have better souls than a dog or a swine — souls which are capable of better things than the pleasures of this life ; the know- ledge of God, and the love of God. If you would seek good, seek the good of your souls in the first place.
(3d.) That a long life should be preferred before a short one, eternity before time. All that are convinced of a life to come should therefore lay out more care upon things eternal than temporal. What wise man would be careful to furnish his inn, where he tarrieth for a night, and be content that his house be naked and destitute, where his constant abode is ? Do thus, and temptations will little sway with you, 2 Cor. iv. 18. What is a little affliction here, or happiness here ? Kom. ii. 7, ' To them that, by patience in well-doing, seek for glory and im- mortality, eternal life.' Every one would do well, have good ; then seek everlasting good ; this your religion directeth you unto.
Use 1. Information or instruction how false the prejudices of the world are, as if the ways of God were rigid, severe, and unprofitable. No ; 'He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good.' He requireth nothing that is hard, unjust ; nothing that is noxious and harmful, or for our real loss and damage ; nothing which a man well in his wits would refuse, if left to his own option and choice. What notion have you of good ? that which is amiable, pleasant, profitable, honourable ?
1. That which is amiable or draweth affection : kuXov earl ov iravTa, &c. What is more amiable than holiness ? It is the beauty of the soul. It is nothing else but putting the soul in a decent posture of subor- dination to God, or a regular decency in our thoughts, affections, words, and actions. The beauty of the body, which consists in good colour or good proportion, is a mean thing to this. As it consists in good colour, it is but skin deep, and soon blasted and withered by age and sickness, or as lovely proportion that may be in an horse or any other creature. But this of the soul, si oculis cerneretur, if it could be seen by the eyes of the body, how would it ravish us, and stir up a wonder- ful love in the hearts of men to itself ! By this we are made amiable to God, in whose sight it is a great price, 1 Peter iv. 3, to Christ, to the holy angels, to good men. It is a pleasant sight to see it in a
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. & 403
thorough good man, who seeketh to do good to all, to hurt none, histeth not to honour and greatness, but giveth plac3 to all, giveth due respect to all, and, how great soever, condescendeth to the meanest ; wrongeth none, is angry witli none, railetli at none, revengeth himself upon none, but is courteous to all, beneficial to all : to God ; is careful to keep up a due remembrance of God by daily invocation and wor- ship ; always rejoiceth in Christ, and liveth in obedience to the sanc- tifying motions of his Holy Spirit ; so that his life is not tainted with the blot of any heinous sin ; is still encouraging himself by the pro- mises of another world, and levelling and directing ail his actions thither. Thus is the good man described in scripture ; and can there be a more delightful spectacle, unless it be to a man blinded with pre- judice and the love of vice, than to see such a man ?
2. Pleasant. Surely the truest delight is found in the exercise of godliness : Prov. iii. 17, ' All her ways are ways of pleasantness, and her paths are peace.' None have such a sweet life as they that live holily and suitably to God's commands, moral and evangelical. Sensu- alists are sots and fools, that I'un to carnal delights ; they never come away from their sports with such a merry heart as the christian cometh away from the throne of grace. The conscience is the most sensible faculty, and the pleasures are more intimate and deep than those that only tickle the sense, as all carnal delights can do no more. The sad- dest duties have their pleasure annexed ; no man ever repented his i-epentauce, 2 Cor. vii. 18. But those duties that concern communion with God, as prayer, though it seem a dull unpleasing ta.'^k to the carnal, ife is a sweet reviving to the gracious: 1 Sam. i. 18, Hannah, having poured out her prayer to God, 'was no more sad.' So conformity to God ; as in justice : Prov*. xxi. 15, ' It is a joy to the just to do judg- ment.' So mercy is a blessed god-like thing. Acts xx. 38. These are chaste delights, never soured with any sting or remorse.