[3.] Of a glorious issue ; for Christ escaped out of death, and entered into glory, which he promised us, and so still by his example calleth us off from the world to heaven : Heb. xii. 1, 2, ' Let us run with pa- tience the race which is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith ; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, and despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.' His cross was the ready way to the crown. Now, as it was to him, it will be so to us ; for ' if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him,' Eom. viii. 17. The way is rough, but the prize is excellent. He endured cruel pains of body, bitter agonies of soul ; but there was a glorious estate at the back of it in the close and issue ; not only to recompense his sufferings, but to be a pledge of our hopes. This now is the cross interpreted, and judge you what a perfect contradiction here is all along to a sensual and worldly spirit.
Secondly, Consider the religion founded on the cross ; which may be considered — (1.) On God's and Christ's part, as to its precepts and promises ; (2.) On our part, as to the graces wherein it is exercised.
I shall only now touch at the latter, and show you that all grace is at mortal enmity with the world: faith, hope, and love, these all en- gage us to another world, and do subordinate this unto it.
1. Faith, which is a dependence upon God for something which lietli out of sight. The nature of it is to carry us off from things present to things to come ; therefore this being a main grace in the gospel- covenant, surely requireth we should be dead and crucified to the world. The spirit of faith spoken of 2 Cor. iv. 13, is a temper of mind pre- pared for all dangers and hazards, or a ready confession of Christ, with courage, without pusillanimity, or love to our own ease. This is the true spirit of faith, opposite to that spirit of the world which maketh men afraid to venture for Christ.
2. Love. They that love not Christ in sincerity, they are enemies to his cross and kingdom. It argueth such an high esteem of God, and Christ, and his precious benefits, that our souls are drawn off from other things, and all things are made to give way to them : Ps. Ixxiii. 25, ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ? ' &c. The love of the world re- maining, the love of the Father is not in us.
3. For hope. This wholly carrieth us to a future happiness ; for vol. xx. I
130 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SER. XIII.
hope that is seen is not hope. To long for a better estate : Rom. viii. J23, ' We groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption.' To look for it and prepare for it : 1 John iii. 2, 3, ' Now we are the sons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be,' &c. So that the spirit which is in religion is not the spirit of the world, 1 Cor. ii. 12 ; and they that are under the power of a worldly spirit have neither true- faith, nor love, nor hope.
Use 1. To show how much they are mistaken who think they shall ever be counted friends of Christ, who would indulge the flesh, and re- concile the love of the world with a profession of godliness. No ; be you professors, be you preachers, you are enemies of the cross of Christ, especially they who serve themselves of Christ, and make religion a design and cover to some worldly end. The first sort are confuted by the instance of the young man. He had a mind to be a christian ; but when Christ telleth him of selling all, and looking for a reward in another world, he goeth away sorrowful, for he was very rich, Luke xviii. 23. There you see plainly that minding earthly things is enmity to the cross of Christ. For the second, none worse enemies than they that think to serve themselves and their worldly ends upon religion ; better keep in the world among worldlings, than creep into the church of Christ, and dishonour religion by greediness of filthy lucre, 1 Peter v. 2 ; Rom. xvi. 18, ' They serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.' To make that your inducement to be religious, to bring your base earthly minds among Christ's servants to infect them, it is worse than if you never professed. No ; both one and the other must sit down and count the cost. Never dream of being Christ's unless you can forsake all and follow him under the cross, upon the assurance of a promised treasure in heaven.
Use 2. To press those who would be accounted sincere christians to mortify their affections to earthly things.
1. Else you are not friends to Christ, but enemies. He counteth none friends but those that are prepared to take him and his yoke, take him and his cross ; therefore we should examine the strength of our resolu- tion. Can we follow a naked Christ, and be content to obey his coun- sel for another world, whatever be our lot here ? Never dream of build- ing a tower before you sit down and count the cost, whether you have sufficient to finish it, Luke xiv. 28.