SERMON UPON 2 CORINTHIANS IV. 18. 291
{1st.) Concerning the certainty of the thing itself. Is the whole scripture false, the gospel a fable? Are all the oracles of the prophets, the doctrine of Christ, his miracles, resurrection, ascension, but a dream ? Were they all deceived that followed Christ upon these hopes, that took such pains in subduing the flesh, and hazarding their interests freely upon the hopes of another world? Are the wisest sort of men the world ever saw such fools? all the ordinances of Christ a customary superstition? Is grace a fancy, the joys of the Spirit delusions or fantastical impressions ? these rejoicings and fore- tastes of the children of God, a mere deceit and imposture ? Surely it cannot be that all this solemnity should be used to establish a vain conceit.
(2d.) Excite and work up your own faith and hope. Is there not a state of blessedness reserved for me in the heavens ? invisible and glorious things, which I am bound to seek after ? Th'ou hast not possession, but thou hast the grant, the deed of gift sealed ; thou hast the conveyance to show ; God's own word and promise to assure thee. Yea, it is not nudum pactum. God hath given thee the earnest of a greater sum: 2 Cor. i. 22, 'Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.' What should I do, then, but look for it, long for it, and earnestly seek after it ?
Use 2. Is for reproof —
1. To the incredulous and unbelieving, to whom all invisible things seem a fancy. Scoffing atheists, they will not believe there is an heaven or an hell till they see them. In the face of the visible church there may be such, and in the latter times there shall be many such, 2 Peter iii. 4 ; but in hell there are none such, because then matters of faith are matters of feeling, and to their bitter cost they find the truth of what they doubted of. To these I shall say, God hath always tried his people, and distinguished them from others, by respect to things not seen : Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house ; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.' By this he con- demned the world, by his costly industry and care to frame dn ark ; but whilst he provided for his safety, they perished in their sins. Must everything be seen before we fear it or hope for it? Why then do men provide for time to come so long beforehand ? Why for old age in youth ? why for winter in summer ? As the industry of the ant is recommended for our imitation, Prov. vi. 6-8, ' Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise, which, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.' It is uncertain we shall live to old age or see another winter, but it is certain we shall live for ever in heaven or hell. Reason and conscience and scripture assureth us of that. Atheists think the people of God are a sort of credulous fools, as Celsus objected that faith and credulity brought in error. None 80 credulous as the atheists, who hearken to every foolish fancy, and cavil against the light of the universal tradition of mankind and the evidence of scripture, which God hath so often owned and confirmed.
2. The inconsiderate and brutish part of mankind, who come into
292 SERMON UPON 2 CORINTHIANS IV. 18.
the world they know not why, and then go out of the world they know not whither ; these live in the world as in an house of smoke ; as they see nothing out of it, so scarce see the things they converse with in it. These mistake their banishment for their country, the sea for their haven, and themselves for beasts instead of men Oh ! let these consider —
[1.] Why they came into the world. Not to eat, and drink, and sleep, and sport. We were made for eternal things, not for temporal. Not for the world, nor for ourselves, nor for anything less than God, to glorify him and enjoy him ; and all other things to serve as helps to heaven. Rurely we were not made in vain, nor by chance brought forth into light. The least things have their appointed ends; and surely man, that hath an immortal spirit, was never made for a mortal happiness. Oh ! then, that men should be so senseless as never to regard whether there be an eternity, yea or no; that they should suffer the beast to ride the man, should live merely to live, use their bodies only as a strainer or a channel for meat and drink to pass through ; that they should only employ their souls about trifles and carnal satisfactions : John xviii. 37, ' To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.' All is for some md.