[2.] In the constant use of the means whereby we may attain it. There is no coming to the end of the journey but by the way, nor obtaining the happiness but by the means. The great difficulty of a christian lieth not so much in a respect to the end as to the means. There is some difficulty about the end, to convince men of an unseen felicity, that they may believe it and accept it as their happiness, look and long for it as such a happiness doth require. But we have a quick ear for offers of happiness, whilst usually we snuff at the conditions of duty and obedience as troublesome. Paul had a great desire of the happiness, yet he doth not stick at the means : ' If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead,' Phil. iii. 11. All would be blessed, but they do not come to this resolution, ' If by any means.' Balaam could say, Num. xxiii. 10, ' Let me die the death of the right- eous, and let my last end be like his ; ' but he loved the wages of un- righteousness. If wicked men are said to despise eternal happiness, it is not as happiness, nor eternal ; they like happiness well enough, for all that love themselves would be happy ; nor as eternal, for man, that hath lost the right object of his desires, hath not lost the vastness of them ; he would be happy for ever ; but it is in conjunction with the means that they dislike it. Thus the ' Israelites despised the pleasant land, and murmured in their tents,' Ps. cvi. 24, 25. What ailed them ? The land was a good land, flowing with milk and honey. Ay ! but the spies had told them of the giantly strength and stature of the men. Heaven is a good place, but the strictness of holy walking is disliked. We must submit to use all holy means to obtain it. What are they ? We do not now speak of the title, but the conversation : Kom. ii. 7, • To them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life.' When we walk in God's way, when our actions plainly tend to heaven. The believers of the old testament ' declared plainly that they sought a country,' Heb. xi. 14. How ? By resolving to seek till they find ; by being content to be pilgrims in the world, and not giving over till they saw some place of eternal rest. This is the fault of most christians, their actions do not declare plainly that they are for God and heaven, nor doth the course of their lives show it. If they are tending thither, then two things will show it — continuance, and patient continuance, in well- doing.
(1.) Continuance. When we walk in all holy conversation and godliness. Men's end is seen in their constant course, when in all their actions they study to please God. They believe there is such an estate, and they know the excellency and glory thereof, and therefore would not for all the world weaken their hopes, or darken and cloud their interest, nor offend that God from whom they expect it : 1 Cor. xv. 58, ' Always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you
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know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.' A christian aimeth at heaven in all his business, civil and sacred : Acts xxiv. 15, 16, ' And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.' He goeth about his earthly business with a heavenly mind ; in his attendance upon God in the ordinances : Acts xxvi. 6, 7, 'And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers : unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come.' It is to get more of God and heaven into his heart ; more of the first- fruits, more of his title and interest, more preparation of heart, new excitement of affections to God and heaven. He heareth that his soul may live ; he prayeth that he may live ; receiveth that he may take these pledges of heaven out of God's hand. He heareth the word, be- cause there are the promises of eternal life, or directions in the way that leadeth thither. He prayeth, that he may come as near as he can to his Father, and have as much familiarity with him as a soul dwelling in flesh possibly can have. He cometh into the assemblies of God's people, because they are the favourites of heaven.
(2.) Patient continuance, whatever temptations he meeteth with to the contrary : Eom. viii. 18, ' But I reckon that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us ; ' 2 Cor. iv. 17, ' For our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' These things do not greatly move him. It is for heaven, so that a christian is still travelling to God, improving all business and all conditions to this end, comforting himself with these hopes ; so that he is either living for heaven in seeking it, or upon heaven by the joy and hope he deriveth from thence ; he is still acting for this blessed- ness, or encouraging himself by this blessedness, because he expecteth one day to be glorified with God ; thence he fetches his solaces and supports. This carriage is not by fits, but it is their constant course : ' Their conversation is in heaven.'