But what is this particular wisdom, when in the general scope of his life he is foolish, not considering what is good for him as a Christian ? None is wise but a Christian. Every man else is a mad man, or a fool. What arc all other things but straw and baubles to eternity ? Therefore regard the things that bo beyond the soul, and more excellent than the soul.
I beseech you, take this course. It will make us wise and diligent in our place and calling ; for we should eye what is to eternity, notwithstand- ing all discouragements. Many have fainted and given over, because they be unthankful persons, and they grow cold in doing good. What is the reason ? They look not to eternity. It is good sometimes to meet with ill usage from unthankful persons, for God will make amends, though we deserve well of ungrateful persons. And sometimes again I will do them good, and let the glory alone to God. It is good to meet with ill usage in the world ; for there is sufficient amends made in the world to come. Wilt thou have all thy wages here ? And therefore do as St Paul did, get into heaven in our thoughts by faith, and meditation how it will be with us ere long ; and that will set us in such a frame of conversation as shall fit us for Christ, and only that. It will keep us in a growing condition, in a fruitful condition, in a constant courageous condition.
And when we do not so we fall into discouragements. The cause of sin, is it not some present temporal thing we doat upon ? So sin is nothing but placing that affection on that which is temporal, which should be on that which is eternal.
Now when doth a man sin, but when he lets go his object ? As long as a man keeps his eye on heaven he is well enough ; but when he looks to discouragements, to the arm of flesh, then he is discouraged. But when is he not discouraged ? When he hath heaven in his eye, and God in his eye, and spiritual things in his eye. And now in this pitch he is neither sinful nor discouraged ; and then he is as well as he can wish in this world. Therefore labour with Paul to have the eyes of your souls exercised about these spiritual things. Look on things that be not seen, because they be eternal ; and be not carried away with outward things, nor dazzled with them, because they be temporal.
NOTES.
(a) P. 309. — ' Luther was wont to say, If he were to choose his callinp;, lie would dig with his hands rather than be a minister.' In the midst of his superabounding labours, even the stout heart of the great Reformer was sometimes like to give way under the ' care of all the churches,' when he sighed for the lowly toil of the miner ; as appears from various of his ' Table Talk ' sayings, though I have not been able to trace the exact words ascribed to him by Sibbes. Cf. note mi, Vol. III. page 533.
(b) P. 309. — ' The disposition both of speakers and hearers, saith Chrysostom, makes this work difficult,' &c. (De Sacerd., lib. v.) Sucli is the reference in the margin. The whole fifth book of the Be Sacerdote, is on the difficulties of the minis- terial work, from the relation in which the preacher stands to the people ; tho dangers of popularity, and the discouragements of unpopularity. The summing up is as follows : —
'E/ fJ^'iv ovv rig lariv avd^w-~uv roiovrog, ug dvvaadai rh ^vad-^oarov roZro xai aza- rayuviarov y.al avri'Msoov Sjjg/'ov, tyiv tuiv toXXoov do^ccv -/.a-aiaTiTu, zaJ Tag 'xoXkag a\)Trig r/,rs/j,siv 7ii(paXag, fLaXXov di n,r^bi fvvai rriv o-zyji^ G-oy/jjioiU'i ^ b'jv/iGfrai tyxoXug, %al rag croXXdg raurag drrox^ouicdui "TrgoiyCoAac, xa/ i-jbiov Tivhg «.7io-
486 COMMENTARY ON
Xaiiiiv Xi/Mvog- Tavr/ig 3s ouk d'7riXXa'yfj,i'Jo;, ffoXs/jt/Oi' riva T&?.i;s/3^, xa/ So'^uCoi/ o'ui's;^/^, xat dOu/J^la;, xa/ t-wi/ Xoi-ttuiv TaiJoov rov 0^X01/ xaTatrxsua^s/ rjjj
(c) P. 30y. — ' Alas ! liow many tliink tlio work is done wlicu the pjlass is out.' Tlio allusion is to the hour-glass placed by the side of the pulpit to mark the lapse of time. A rare portrait of the notorious Hugh Peters represents him reversing an hour glass, with the legend, ' One glass more.' For many interesting and curious mcmoj-abilia concerning hour-glasses in churches, cf. Notes and Queries. In illustration of tlie lamentation of Sibbes, I quote the following from Philip Goodwin's ' Evan- gelical Communicant' : — ' It is reported of a good man, that coming home from a public lecture, and being asked by one whether the sermon were ended, made this answer, fetching a deep sigh : " Ah ! it is said, but not done.'' And to speak truth, the sermon cannot be said to be done till it be practised. But herein the Jjord be merciful to most of us. We are apt to think that when a sacrament-day is over, all the sacrament duties are over too ; when the discourse from the pulpit is finished, the sermon is finished ; as if when the ordinance were at an end, there were an cud of the ordinance, and of us with the ordinance also. Audire est obedire. Isidore.^