Fifthly, They speah one language, the language of Canaan. The language of the beast they abhor.
And lastly, Tl\eir carriage is aliJce. Grave like citizens of heaven, their faces are still as they were going to Jerusalem, their continuing and abiding city ; for while they are in this life, they are still as it were in the suburbs.
Hence we may gather divers grounds, that while we live in this world, a Christian is but a pilgrim and stranger. First, Heaven is his home, and this life is but a toay, and he a passenger. And thus David accounted of himself, though a king, yet but a stranger, both himself and his fathers ; and therefore, as a passenger, he provides for his journey, he stands not for ill usage, cares not to look after delights in the way, but uses them as advantageous to his journey.
And secondly. He is inquisitive after the way, fearing he should go amiss ; and furnisheth himself with cordials, to cheer him and strengthen him in his journey. He inquires after the guide of God's Spirit, to be as the pillar of fire to guide him in the darkness of this world.
Thirdly, He is loell provided of weapons against such enemies as he shall meet with in the way. He hath the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
2, The second ground that arises hence is, that a Christian's endeavours are of a high nature. His look is high, his soul and mind are ever upward, casting all burdens of earthly cares and delights from him, that he may freely mount up in the presence of his Maker.
3. Thirdly, This carriage of a Christian is not by fits, hit it is his trade, his conversation and course of life. In all things he looks to heaven. His
- course is by rule and by law. Whatsoever he does he does as in obedience to God chiefly, with all his power, as approving himself to God, in whose
* The original is ToXirsuf/ja. — G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 20. 137
sight he ever sets himself. Briefly, he doth all things as a citizen of heaven.
4. Fourthly, We may also ground hence, that a Christian may have his conversation in heaven, even tvhile he is here alive; for he is bona anew, having received the life of grace. God requires not impossibilities, but always gives ability to the discharge of that which he enjoins.
Quest. But in particular, how may a Christian be said to be in heaven, or to have his conversation in heaven ?
Ans. (1.) I answer, A Christian may be said to be in heaven ; first, as in his head Christ Jesus, who is in heaven ah-eady, being gone to prepare a place for us.
(2.) Secondly, He is there hy faith, which makes things absent as present ; and so it is that ' Abraham saw Christ's day and was glad ;' and therefore is faith called, ' The evidence of things not seen,' Heb. xi. 1.
(3.) Thirdly, A Christian is in heaven hy his hopes.
(4.) Fourthly, He is there hy his desires. Animus est iihi amat (an).
(5.) Fifthly, A Christian is in heaven, irheuas his meditations are there; when his thoughts are thereon continually busied, as St Paul was, when in admiration of those joys he crieth out, ' 0 the depth both of the riches and wisdom of God !' Rom. xi. 33.
(6). Sixthly, He is there, ivhen by continual imiyers to God, he hath an inward admittance to the throne of grace, where he may freely open his heart to his God ; and therefore it is that those that are Christians indeed are often in this duty.
5. Hence we may gather, that the glorious estate in heaven is of the sa7ne kind ivith this life of grace, only differing in degrees of happiness ; both estates are free : there only a freedom of glory, here a freedom of grace. Both are estates of redemption. There we are redeemed from sin and death and the devil, here we are only redeemed fi'om the power of them ; there have we the full harvest, here we have the first fruits ; here we are heirs by faith, there by full possession ; to all of us Christ is all in all, only there he rules immediately, here he rules, by means, by his deputies. There they have communion wdth the saints, here we also have communion, though we live amongst the wicked. There they praise God continually, here we endeavour it continually. There they have communion with the beatifical vision, here we have communion with the ordinances which will bring us to it.
And, therefore, let such as intend to he saints hereafter be saints here, and live by the laws that are given us from heaven, and that they live by in heaven ; for the kingdom is in such sort one and the same. The kingdom of grace, the preaching of the word, is called ' the kingdom of heaven,' as well as the kingdom of glory ; and men do think in vain ever to enter into glory, without coming in at the gates of gi-ace, as appeareth out of the apostle's argument, 2 Peter i. 10, 11, ' Give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abun- dantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.'