* Now much more in my absence.' These words I take not to be so meant, as if the apostle had spoken of what they already had done, but rather what he would have them to do, as if he should have said, ' I know now that I am absent, you shall want no allurements nor temptations to draw you away ; and I know now I am gone grievous wolves shall enter in, not spraing the flock,' as it is in Acts xx. 29, * therefore now be much more careful, and watch.' Hence therefore observe, the want of means that for- merly men had is no suflicient plea to excuse decay in grace in any man. ' Redeem the time.' Why ? Not because goodness increases amongst all sorts, but ' because the days are evil,' Eph. v. 16. The world would have reasoned clean contrary. Because the days are evil, be thou also evil, follow the fashion. Religion teaches us to reason otherwise. Because you have not the helps you formerly enjoyed, double your diligence ; God will graciously supply you. If you be not wanting to yourselves, he will never
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 11
depart from you though I am gone. He was a sanctuary to the Jews in Babylon when they wanted the sanctuary ; and yet then were they in greatest glory. And it is remarkable, men have been still most glorious for religion in want of outward means.
(4.) The fourth motive is laid down hi the end. It is to our salvation ; which as it carries the form of a direction, so as it is an end it hath a power to move us to it. Considering we are not yet perfect, go on till you come to perfection. It is an encouragement to us to begin, and when we have begun, it doth encourage us to go on forward. See this in Titus ii. 11 : ' The grace of God teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly,' &c., and encourageth us on, looking for the glorious appearing of Christ. We are sons ; shall we be rebellious ? We look for salvation ; shall we not then w'ork it out ? Yes. Moses chose rather to suffer afflictions with the children of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Why ? ' He had respect to the recompence of reward,' Heb. xi. 26. We have an evidence here [that] we shall be saved hereafter ; and this makes us strive to ascertain it more and more to us. And indeed, he that carries his salvation in his eye, needs no better encouragement. What made them, in Heb. si. 38, to wander about and to forsake all ? They looked for another city, whose builder was God. Thus it is in ordi- nary afiairs. What seasons war but the hope of peace ? the troubles and the tempests on the sea, but the hope of the haven ? the labour and cost in sowing, but the expectation of harvest ? Shall not we much more endure a little labour here, for endless happiness assured to us hereafter ? This is much forgotten. What makes persons so dull in good duties ? They either know not, or forget this reward ; for he that sets his mind on it cannot be cold or dull. But here's the pity ! Men labour, sweat, take pains and travail, spare no cost ; and all this to go to hell, to heap up wrath against the day of wrath. The devil has more servants in his barren and fruitless service than God gets with all his promises and good things that he liberally gives. Besides, I add one or two directions more.
First, Labour to get a jjlatform of ivholesome icords. If we would work, we must have an idea of the thing we work in our head. We must labour to get a form of practice and doctrine out of the word of God, and to carry it still about with us.
Then cast thyself into that mould thou hast thus framed, Rom. vi. 17. Be moulded in that form of doctrine ; believe what he will have us to believe ; love that which he will have us to love. And having this frame in thy mind, in what estate soever thou art, whether single or married, governing or governed, thou shalt have still with thee a platform of duties, fitting for the carriage of thyself ; and there will be no duty thou hearest taught but thou wilt be able to draw it to thine own practice. The want of this makes most men unfruitful, heaping up thereby damnation unto themselves.
Lastly, Observe the good motions of God's Spirit in thee; further them to the most advantage ; turn them to present practice ; lose nor delay them not ; for the devil will steal thee away from them.
Now when we come to another part of the manner of a Christian's work, it must be done ' in fear and trembling,' Not to stand on the divers kinds of fear; in general, it is an afiection planted by God in om- natures, whereby we, foreseeing dangers which may hinder our being or wellbeing, are afraid of them. This is incident to our natures, and it was also in Christ. And were it not for this, men would be prodigal of their lives, and would rush into desperate dangers. There is a carnal feai', as when we fear the