3. To show that these are not the chief good things by which his special love is manifested unto us. God will not now govern the world by sense, but by faith ; and therefore prosperity and adversity of them- selves do not clear up a man's estate before God, and are not perfect demonstrations of his love and hatred, nor can a man judge of his acceptance with God by his outward condition, nor should we quarrel with the wicked about their outward condition, which are their portion, not ours : Eccles. ix. 1, 2, 'No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them : all things come alike to all ; there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked.' For these things are promiscuously dispensed without any difference, evil things to good men, and good things to evil men. Josiah died in battle as well as Ahab. Is Abraham rich ? so is Nabal. Is Solomon wise ? so is Achitophel. Is Joseph honoured by Pharaoh ? so is Doeg by Saul. Hath Demetrius a good report of all men ? 3 John v. 12 ; so had some false teachers, that complied with men's lusts and humours: Luke vi. 26, ' Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you.' Had Caleb health and strength ? Josh. xiv. 11 ; so have wicked ones : Ps. Ixxiii. 4, ' There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm.' Hath Moses beauty ? so hath Absalom, 2 Sam. xiv. 20. Learning and
300 SERMON UPON LUKE XVI. 25.
wisdom is given to the Egyptians as well as to Moses, Acts vii. 22, and Daniel, chap. i. 17. Ishmael had long life, Gen. xxv. 17, as well as Isaac, Gen. xxxv. 29. Is greatness and powerful reign given to David ? so to infidels. So that nothing hence can be concluded. To bring us to look after more distinguishing mercies, these are given to others as well as to his children.
II. Who are those carnal men to whom God will give no more than carnal felicity ? In the general, those that choose these things for their portion. Men have according to their choice: 'Thy good things:' choose, and have. It absolutely holdeth good in spiritual things : Luke X. 42, ' Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.' But it is not always so in carnal things, though many times it is. Here a man may choose, and not have ; they that choose worldly greatness, and the wealth and credit of the world, cannot always have their choice. God denieth it to some in mercy, that they may look higher ; but sometimes he giveth it to others in wrath. God giveth them their heart's desire in judgment. These are their good things, the only things suitable to their hearts ; the world is all they care for, let God keep his heaven, and his Spirit to himself. It is good to observe what our heart calleth ours ; as Nabal : 1 Sam. xxv. 11, ' Shall I take my bread, and my water, and my flesh which I have killed for my shearers ? ' and Laban to Jacob : Gen. xxxi. 43, ' These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine.' A carnal man with a lively gust and relish calleth these things his things ; a godly man owneth them as coming from God, and referreth them to him : 1 Chron. xxix. 14, 'All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.' Well, then, how just is God in giving every man his good things, and in letting them take their own choice, and heaping worldly things upon them who have placed their felicity in them 1
But how shall we know that men count these things their good things, and have chosen them for their portion ?
1. Our choice is known by our use. They that abuse these things to the satisfaction of their own lusts, and with too free a license let loose their hearts to worldly things, these count them their good things. They would have their heaven here and their happiness here, as this rich man altogether lived voluptuously, and fared deliciously every day. The world is to be used sparingly : 1 Cor. vii. 29-31, ' But this I say, brethren, the time is short ; it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none ; and they that weep, as though they wept not ; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not ; and they that buy, as though they'possessed not ; and they that use this world, as not abusing it : for the fashion of this world passeth away.' We stay here bub a while: 1 Peter ii. 11, 'Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts ; ' James v. 5, ' Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth.' The place of our exile and separation from God. If we converse not with weaned- ness and sobriety (which is necessary for the heirs of promise, who expect their heaven and happiness elsewhere), it is a plain argument we would make the best of the present world, and would please and gratify the flesh, as if all the happiness of the world to come were but