VeR. 13.] SERMONS UPON TITUS II. 11-14. 205
beneath us ; it is but stercus in volutum, dung neatly wrapped up. Here is the sum of all a carnal man's happiness, that which God allows him for his portion. But a christian hath better fare , if he goes into the sanctuary, there is enough , but if he goes into heaven, there is a great deal more. David defeats the temptation by this, Ps. Ixxiii. 16, 17, ' When I sought to know this, it was too hard for me, until I went into the sanctuary of God/ to enjoy God in his ordinances, and the present glimpses of God's face. Present communion with God is far to be preferred above all the dainties in the world. But that is not all ; we shall be satisfied for ever. "We may go into heaven as well as into the sanctuary and behold God's righteousness : ' When I awake/ that is, out of the dust, ' I shall be satisfied with thy likeness.' A child of God hath his content and happiness to the full when he comes to die. A carnal man's back hath been richly clothed and his belly filled, but when he comes to die he hath a sad doom : ' Son, remember thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus his evil things ; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented,' Luke xvi. 25 ; it was said to Dives, who fared deliciously every day, and was clothed in purple and fine linen. Well, you have your portion, and must look for no more ; you give God a discharge for aught else. But for God's children, then their happiness begins , they are going down to sleep in the grave, and when they awake they shall be tilled ; they have not only God's favour here, but eternal felicity hereafter. They that are called to a feast will not fill themselves at home with coarser fare. The rich glutton, who had his belly full of hid treasure here, was shut out, but Lazarus is carried into Abraham's bosom and feasted there ; for this was their table-gesture to lie in one another's bosoms. Christians, reserve your appetite a little ; you will be satisfied ; it is but staying a little longer for a better meal. We expect to be like angels, let others be like beasts whose happiness lieth in feeding.
[2.] Then, for the other part, the transmission of honour and ample revenues to posterity- It is true, man is much carried out this way ; he would fain advance his house, and live gloriously in his posterity. Posterity is a shadow of eternity ; children are but the father multi- plied ; when the father's thread is spun out, then the knot is knit : his name and memory is continued in the world by his children ; therefore men would live in their posterity, and have their families great. But this is a sad exchange to forfeit heaven that our children may enjoy the world ; as many times it falls out that the father goes to hell for getting an estate, and the son goes to hell for spending it. Though they have an ample patrimony, yet they know not who shall enjoy it ; * Who knows whether he shall be a wise man or a fool ? ' Eccles. ii. 19. A man hath no knowledge of future events, nor no power of them. So that you see still we have no cause to envy worldly men even in this happiness. AVe are better provided for, having a covenant interest that countervails all : ' I am thy God, and the God of thy seed.' Though we cannot leave them gold, land, and ample estate, yet you leave them a God in covenant, who hath undertaken for you and yours. And many times they have temporal blessings for their father's sake, the blessings of Ishmael, if not of Isaac.
Use 2. Direction, that we may not seek blessedness elsewhere. Some
206 SERMONS UPON TITUS n. 11-14. f Ser. XV.
seek it in a wrong way. Carnal men think that there is no such happiness as in letting loose the reins to carnal lusts, and living as the.y list. This is the basest bondage that can be : 2 Peter ii. 19, ' While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption ; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought into bondage.' The work is drudgery, and the reward is death ; they are entangled in snares and held in chains ; and is this an happy life ? This doth but increase our misery, and make way for more shame. Yet carnal men are much taken with this kind of life ; they wonder how men can abjure the pleasure and contentnwnt which they fancy : 1 Peter iv„ 4, ' Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot.' They think themselves very wise iu following the counsels of their own hearts, and doing as others do that are like themselves. You do but make yourselves more responsible to God's justice. Worldly comforts cannot make us happy ; it appeareth by our many inventions : Eccles. vii. 29, ' God made man upright, but he hath sought out many inventions.' Every sinner hath his wander- ings. Man, being off from God, never cometli on again of himself, but wandereth infinitely, and beats out himself with his own inventions. As a wayfaring man, who hath once lost his direction, turneth up and down, and knoweth not where to pitch, so are all endeavours fruit- less till God direct us. We are to follow God's counsel, not the counsel of the ungodly : Ps. Ixxiii. 24, ' Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and after receive me to glory ; ' as a clock runs at random when the balance is once out. The Lord is willing to direct us : Ps. XXV. 8, ' Good and upright is the Lord ; therefore will he teach sinners in the way.' He is too wise to be deceived, and too good to deceive. 0 sinners ! learn the upright way. When we are weary of wandering, and willing to be directed, such as submit themselves to God shall never want a guide. Creatures cannot make us happy ; such is the restlessness of the soul, that we must have shift and change. Envying one another showeth the narrowness of our comforts. Gripes of con- science spoil all ; as Belshazzar in his cups was affrighted with an handwriting upon the wall. Says the j'oung man in the gospel. Mat. six. 16, ' Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life ? ' What lack I yet ? saith the moralist. In false worship men are unsatisfied : Micah vi. 6, ' Wherewithal shall I come before the Lord ? and bow myself before the high God ? ' It is not a loose profession of the gospel that will make us happy : Mat. xi. 29, ' Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls.' Nothing can make us happy but what is a full relief from sin and misery. Here is rest for our souls ; the foundation is laid in justification and sanctification. Here is our reconciliation with God, hereafter is our advancement.