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a fancy. We are upon a journey homeward, and we must abstain from everything which may hinder us in it. The delights of the way over- freely used, show we have no mind to get home ; as the flesh-pots of Egypt stuck in the Israelites' minds, and diverted them from Canaan, and they were ready to run back at every turn. Well, now, those that abuse the good things of this life are cut off from better : Luke xvi. 11, 'If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who shall commit to your trust the true riches ? '
2. Our choice is known by the end of our lives. This rich man lived to himself, and not unto God ; satisfying his lusts, and not mind- ing his duty. The good things given him by God were spent upon himself, without any regard to God's glory and the good of others. If we have these things only for ourselves, we place our felicity in them : Luke xii. 21, 'So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God ; ' that is, that maketh no other use of his increase and plenty but only to possess it, or to provide for himself by it, never thinking of employing that he hath to spare for the service of God or the relief of the destitute. The apostle giveth it in charge to them that be rich in this world : 1 Tim. v. 18, * That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.' Our happiness is to be reckoned by the use and improvement of an estate, rather than by the enjoyment of it ; if so, then 'we may lay hold on eternal life,' ver. 19. For the comfort of the use continueth with us in the other world ; our works follow us, but our wealth doth not. And therefore, if we love the world, and seek the world for its own sake, and not as a means to higher things, we take up with present things. In all our enjoyments, our end should be to glorify God and be useful to others. A christian should still mind eternal ends ; and therefore, to mind the enriching of ourselves and ours, and not to do God service, implieth a loving of the world for its own sake, whereas all should be improved for God ; we must use them as his good things, rather than our own.
3. When all their bustle and their stir is about their good things liere : Ps. cxxvii. 2, ' They rise early, and sit up late, and eat the bread of sorrows ; * and all to get a larger supply of the comforts of the worldly life ; but heavenly things are neglected, or sought after in an overly and careless manner. Our main care should be about other things : Mat. vi. 33, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his right- eousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.'
4. When thy heart is satisfied with these things, not looking nor longing for an higher happiness : Luke xii. 19, ' Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years : take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.' Though we be not greedy to get more, yet we take too much com- placency in what we have already. Worldliness venteth itself by greedy desires and carnal delight ; chiefly by the latter. Delight, or a well- pleasedness of mind, is the supreme act of love ; it belongeth to God as the chief good. The world is not our felicity, but an appendage to our felicity, an overplus to the great blessings of the covenant ; and there- fore not first to be sought, nor first delighted in. Now to be satisfied, or sit down contented with honours, riches, and pleasures without God, or in the want of better things, is a great eviL The scripture dis-
302 SERMON UPON LUKE XVI. 25.
suadeth from this : Ps. Ixii. 10, ' If riches increase, set not j'our hearts upon them.' Let not your hearts be set on them so as to seek no farther : Mark x. 24, ' How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God.' Trust is quies animi, the repose of the soul in the midst of soul dangers. The scripture telleth us of God's children, how much more they delight in God than in other things : Ps. iv. 6, 7, ' There be many that say, Who will show us any good ? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness into my heart, more than in the time when their corn and their wine increased ;' and Ps. cxix. 14, ' I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches ; ' ver. 72, ' The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.' They are still longing and looking out for an higher happiness, professing they will not be put off with these things, but they desire pardon and grace, that they may taste the incomparable delights of being in the number of God's favourites : Ps. cvi. 4-7, * Kemember me, 0 Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people ; 0 visit me with thy salva- tion, that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance ; ' Ps. cxix. 132, ' Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.'