VER. 20.] SERMONS UPON PHIL1PPIANS III. 149
hath loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it.' Peace of conscience : Rom. v. 1, ' Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.' The use of ordinances, which may put us in mind, and quicken us to seek after the country to which we do belong. So that this is the city of God.
2. That believers have a right to the heavenly city. By nature we are of another corporation, of the earthly society, not belonging to the holy city of God, but to the kingdom of Satan, strangers to the com- monwealth of Israel and the city of God : Col. i. 12, 13, ' Who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light ; Avho hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.' It was the mercy of God to trans- late us into another state and society of men. He found us unmeet, as being under the curse and power of Satan, dead in trespasses and sins ; but he drew us out of this corrupt estate, changing our hearts, and pardoning our sins, and by a strong hand rescuing us from the power of the devil, that he might put us under the blessed government of Christ ; and then ' we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,' Eph. ii. 19 ; and Heb. xii. 22, ' We are now come to the city of the living God.' While we are in the way, as soon as converted, upon our sincere faith in Christ we are admitted and incorporated into this blessed city. Not only at last in the close of our days, but now when our hearts are turned to the Lord : Eph. ii. 6, ' He hath made us sit together with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.' We have a right, though not full possession. Christ is entered, and sat down as head of all the faithful.
3. Being made burgesses of heaven, our manner of living must be suitable ; partly because it is the wisdom of God to place all things in their proper places. As in nature, so in a way of grace ; light bodies are uppermost and heavy bodies below ; so also in a way of grace. Sometimes we read that heaven and glory is prepared for us, Mat. xxv. 34 ; and sometimes that we are prepared for heaven and glory ; Rom. ix. 23, ' Vessels of mercy which he hath afore prepared unto glory.' There must be a suitableness between the receiver and the thing received, and therefore we must be made meet for this blessed estate. From heaven we received our first spiritual being, and there is the final consummation of it, and there we must converse, and thither we must tend. And partly out of gratitude on our part. Our lives must suit and agree with our heavenly calling : 1 Thes. ii. 12, ' Walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.' We must live as those that have a present right, and one day shall have full possession. Shall God advance us to such an estate, and shall we lie grovelling in the dirt, as if we had not such high and blessed hopes, and slight all this mercy and goodness ?
4. This suitable manner of living consists partly — (1.) In the exercise of those graces which belong to this blessed estate ; (2.) In the constant use of the means, whereby we may attain it ; (3.) In such a course of living as suiteth with the properties of it.
[1.] There are certain graces which belong to it, which are given to us for that end and purpose. It is an unseen felicity, and therefore requireth faith to believe it. It is a future felicity, and therefore re-
150 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SeR. XV.
quires hope to expect it. It is our chief felicity, and therefore requires love to desire it.
(1.) We must certainly believe this blessed estate in the world to come. Faith is at the bottom of all, and therefore deal seriously with your hearts : John xi. 26, ' Believest thou this ? ' Most men here talk of it ; take it up from the common report by a human credulity, but are not settled in the firm belief of it by the illumination of the Holy Spirit : Eph. i. 17, 18, ' That the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him ; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.' This faith goeth before affection, and affection to heavenly things before mortification to earthly things : Heb. xi. 13, ' These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were per- suaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.' Are you verily persuaded that there is eternity at the back of time ? that God intends such great things for penitent believers ? Surely men's boldness in sinning and coldness in holy duties showeth their faith is not firm and sound. Sense telleth you that here is no abiding city, for we have seen the ruin of so many castles, palaces, cities, states, and kingdoms, which formerly flourished in great splendour, power, and strength, that now lie in the dust and do not appear. We need not tell you, you must die ; graves and skulls show you that ; but faith only can tell us there is an abiding city to come, and we must believe it before we can seek after it. Therefore can you depend upon Christ's fidelity and the truth of his promises for the happiness of the world to come ? Why, then, if you believe as christians, do not live as infidels. If heaven be not a dream, let not your godliness be but a vain show. We have Christ's word for the reality of it; and for his fidelity, we may be assured that he would not delude us with vain hopes : John xiv. 2, 'In my Father's house are many mansions ; if it were not so, I would have told you ; I go to pre- pare a place for you.' Wherefore should God flatter a worm, or what need he to court creatures into an imaginary happiness? Surely there is a quiet resting-place prepared for saints in the heavens, God never told us of anything but it came to pass. He told the old world of a flood which should drown the ungodly, and that was a thing as much unseen as heaven and hell is by us : Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith, Noah, being warned of God of tilings not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.' Those that accepted his warning fared well, and others were drowned in the flood. He told the old patriarchs of Christ's coming in the flesh ; and rather than go back from his word, the Son of God must come and die. God, that hath kept touch with the world hitherto, will not fail at last. Thus should you rouse up a languid and drowsy faith.