2. Else you feel not the true virtue of Christ's cross. And how will you glory in it when you hear of such a mighty Christ, and feel nothing ? Gal. vi. 14, ' God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Christ/ Therefore consider, What benefit have I found by Christ ? I profess to believe the doctrine of the cross, but what good hath it done me ? If I pretend it giveth me ease in my conscience, and doth not mortify my lusts, this is the fashion of hypocrites, who would have Christ pacify their conscience, and the world gratify their hearts beside. You will never find rest without taking on Christ's yoke and taking up his burden, Mat. xi. 29.
3. You are never dead to the world till the flesh be crucified ; for they whose god is their belly will mind earthly things ; and flesh must be crucified if the world be crucified, Gal v. 24, for the world is the provision of the flesh.
V*ER. 19.] SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. 131
4. Till you tame the flesh and grow dead to the world you are under the power of Satan : 1 Peter v. 8, ' Be sober, be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.' The worldly and carnal are ' led captive by him at his will and pleasure,' 2 Tim. ii. 26, 2 Cor. iv. 10.
5. Your faith in Christ, love to God, and hope of heaven will still be questionable till you be more mortified to the world. What ! do you be- lieve in a mortified Christ ? What similitude is there between you and him ? a christian, and yet worldly ! a christian, and yet sensual ! a chris- tian, and yet proud ! It is as great a contradiction as to say, a believer, and yet an infidel. You that are given to pleasures, do you believe in Christ, a man of sorrows ? You that are carried after the pomps and vanities of the world, do you believe in Christ, whose kingdom is not of this world ? You that are proud and lofty, do you believe in him who said, ' Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly ? '
So your love to God is questionable. What ! love an invisible God, and yet dote so inordinately on visible things! A mind that is enchanted with the delusions of the flesh, can it be lifted up to God who dwelleth in another world ? Can you love God, and do so little for him? Love him, and the world hath so much of your time, and strength, and care, and delight, and God so little ? They are a very corrupt sort of men who are described to ' be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,' 2 Tim. iii. 4. So far as we set our hearts upon these things, so far are they deadened and estranged from God. Can you love God when his favour, if not parted with or quite lost, is put to hazard for the world's sake ?
Your hope of heaven is questionable. What are you ? whither are you a-going ? Are you passing to heaven, and are so greedy of this world ? Do you look and long for a better estate, that are so satisfied with your portion here, that seek so earnestly after present things, and so slightly and coldly after those blessed things which are to come ? Who is the carnal fool but he that heapeth up treasure to himself, and is not rich towards God ? Luke xii. 21. Doth he long for heaven that is so loath to depart, and maketh so little preparation for it, or giveth so little diligence to clear up his title or interest in it ? To profess the hope of another life, and yet to be digging like a mole in the earth, is incongruous.
SEKMON XIV.
Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. — Phil. iii. 19.
Here is a further description of evil- workers, to show why they should have no fellowship in their sin, either by giving them countenance or following their example, that they might not be involved in their ruin and destruction, ' Whose end is destruction,' &c.
In these words three things are observable — (1.) Their sin ; (2.) The aggravations of their sin ; (3.) The punishment.
132 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SeR. XIV.
1. Their sin is ' Minding earthly things/
2. The aggravations are two, further discovering the nature of it — (1.) ' Whose god is their belly ; ' (2.) ' Whose glory is in their shame.'
3. The punishment, ' Whose end is destruction.'
1. Their sin, ' They mind earthly things,' which must be interpreted of their doctrine and practice ; for they are considered as a carnal sort of christians, and as seducers of others by their carnal opinions.
[1.] By their doctrine. They corrupted the gospel, and obstructed the progress and power of it, by suiting it to their carnal ends. Such false teachers are elsewhere described by their earthly mindedness, where we are bidden to try the spirits : 1 John iv. 5, ' They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.' Their doctrine is a doctrine of licentiousness, calculated for secular in- terest, or a worldly design, to save themselves from persecution ; and worldly-minded men follow them.