2. Secondly, We should be content icith the judgment and approbation of God, and hearken to the admonitions of his ministers, and care not for the censures of the world.
• 3. Thirdly, Take we heed of the first beginnings and motions of sin ; at the first they are ever modest. The worst man that ever was, was not shameless in sin at the beginning, but giving way to sin by little, loses all shame, and causes at last corruption in judgment, and justifying a man's self in wicked courses. Pleasures, riches, and such things, they are like a vizard, only an outside of beauty ; or like one that vaunted himself, he can act the person of a king, but is in himself a bond slave. They act their parts here on this worldly stage for an hour, and leave all their followers in eternal bondage for ever. Therefore let us not be ashamed for Christ's cause ; but stand out, labour for sincerity now, and we shall have glory hereafter, which as the light shall increase, whenas ' the candle of the wicked shall be put out,' Prov. xxiv. 20.
Who mind earthly things.
To ' mind,' in this place is taken largely, to think upon, remember, desire, joy, and to have all the soul exercised. ' Earthly things ;j' that is, lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes, pride of life, pleasures, and profits, and honom-s, which are therefore called ' earthly,' because they are conversant about earthly things, and because they make their followers 'earthly minded ; ' and lastly, they are called earthly, in opposition to those that are heavenly. And thus in particular, those that mind honour are ambitious; those that mind riches are covetous; if pleasure, then they are voluptuous, and all of them are earthly. For as the ocean is but one, and yet divers parts thereof have several names, so worldHness is but one sin, yet having many kinds it hath also divers names.
1. The observation that hence we may gather is, that the earthly disposi- tion and mind is the temper of that vian who is in the estate of damnation; for the mind of such do shew a dead soul, estranged from the hfe of God: ' To
134 EXPOSITION OP
be carnally-minded is death,' saith the apostle, Kom. viii. 6. For a man lives as he minds and loves.
2. Secondly, Earthly disposition is opposite to God ; so Rom. viii. 7, * The carnal mind is enmity against God.'
Observe we further, the apostle describes not these by any notorious gross scandalous sin, but by the inward disposition of the heart ; for out- ward actions are only effects and rivers flowing from the spring of corrup- tion in our hearts.
Whence we may note, tJiat God looks to the inward frame of the soul in men ; and therefore though in the eyes of men a man may be without spot, yet is his corruption that is within, open and manifest to the all-seeing eye of God.
And therefore from hence we are to he stirred up to humble ourselves before God, hy examining our hearts, and laying open our most secret corruptions.
2. And secondly. This ought to comfort us, that though in our daily practice we often fall, yet God in his goodness looks at the inward frame of the soul, and accepts of it.
3. Thirdly, This justly lays open the folly of men's censures. If a man break not out into open outrageous sins, they esteem and commend such for good men, though it may be his soul is full stuffed with atheism, revenge, and all manner of villany.
4. Fourthly, This should teach us to condemn ourselves, even for sinful thoughts ; for know, though thou livest without danger of man's law, thou mayest have a rebellious mind opposite to the divine law of God, by which thou shalt be judged.
Yet seeing for this present life we stand in need of earthly things, and are not to cast off all care of them, let us hearken to some directions in the use of them. For riches and other necessaries, God sends them unto us to be as means to sweeten our pilgrimage here.
Rules. 1. In using them, take heed they do not j^ossess and take iip our whole heart, immoderately lahouring after them, and before any spiritual grace. This the apostle blames in these men. He saw they made religion to be subordinate, and to give place to their worldly lusts, and that as he cared not, if by any means he could attain to the resurrection of the dead ; so they contrarily cared not, if by any means, through any cross or loss whatsoever, they could attain to riches, honour, or the like; yea, if religion stood in their way, though it were with the loss of religion and a good con- science.
2. Secondly, We must take heed that we use these earthly things so as to draw good oid of them, and to employ them to good. Labour we to see God in pleasure, in riches, and in our abundance, knowing and esteeming of them as a beam of the bright sunshine of God's favour to us, and thus to be lifted up to admire and praise his goodness.
3. Thirdly, Make them instruments of mercy and bounty. It is an ex- cellent way to further our accounts. So receive the good as we avoid the snare. The way is not to hide our talents in a napkin, to enter into a monastery, to live idle ; but to occupy, use, and employ them in the ser- vice of God and of our neighbours.