Use 1. So then a Christian that is risen with Christ, must have nothing to do with carnal men, no further than he is thrust upon them, or that he may convert them. They must not accompany with men of a contrary spirit ; seeking by all means to express the love of piety. Thus should the life of a Christian be suitable to his state that he is in and called unto.
Use 2. If we should try all by this rule, how few then woidd he found to he risen ivith Christ. How few delight in heavenly company, in heavenly actions ! as to praise God, or to commune or partake with God in prayer. This is a death to most men to have such company, or to exercise them- selves in such actions.
Explan. 1. The apostle saith here, 'we must seek those things which are above with Christ.' Seeking implieth, first, want ; for a man will never seek for that which he hath ; secondly, it implieth a valuation and esteem of the excellency of the thing that is sought for ; thirdly, it implieth hope to
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get it, else none would seek it, but leave it as a thing desperate ; fourthly, it doth imply incdiis and use uf niedits to attain to that we want, esteem of, and hope to attain ; lastly, he that wants a thing which he doth highly esteem and hopes to attain in the use of the means, will by all means avoid all contra) ies thai maij hinder liiinfrom attaining tliereinito.
2. Now consider what this thing is that we must seek for. Briefly this is here meant, viz., Christ Jesus the joy of our hearts, in whom arc hid all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom, Col. ii. 3, together with all those things which are above, or whatsoever tends thereunto. And indeed all the excellency which we have or can hope for, is from above. Our full happiness and glorious inheritance is kept for us in the heavens. All our privileges are from above. Our kingdom is in heaven ; qualification for this happy estate is from above. Our holiness and heavenly-mindedness is from above, fulness of grace is from above, and all graces to lead us to that perfection are from above. Power to enable us to any holy duty is from above ; yea, the means, as the ordinances, the word and the sacra- ments, are from above. Here then is the sense of the words, seek for a nearer communion with Christ, for a further assurance of heaven, for a further qualification for heaven, that you may be more and more in heaven while you are here, by enjoying through faith your heavenly privileges, prerogatives, and excellencies. Seek for further actions of holiness ; for fulness of grace ; for grace to bring you to the fruition of all from above. Therefore attend upon the word of God, upon the sacraments, upon holy conference, where Christ will be present in a special manner ; and by holy actions seek for glory in the use of the means. Reach not for things above your reach. That is arrogancy. But seek for heavenly things, such as before named.
We see from hence this further to be observed :
Doct. 4. Tliat heaven! 11 duties have their sprijtr/ from the artich's and grounds of religion. ' Seek those things which are above.' Why ? Because you are risen with Christ.
The ground of our faith is the cause of holy duties. Whosoever is cor- rupt in faith, is corrupt in obedience in that degree. Evil opinions breed an evil life, and a sound understanding breeds an holy life.
Use. Understand therefore the main grounds of relir/ion ; and labour to digest them, to see the truth of them ; and labour with God by prayer that he would write them in your hearts by his Holy Spirit.
Again, in that the apostle willeth them to seek heavenly graces : and that because they are risen with Christ, note further this inference.
Doct. 5. That as a Christian ought to be heavenbj-minded, to seek heavenly graces, so he viust do it for this reason, viz., because he is in an estate fitting for it.
Use. Therefore let none saj^, he cannot for outward troubles or businesx, unless thou wilt deny thyself to be a Christian at the same time. He that will be a Christian must pretend no impossibilities herein. Art thou risen with Christ ? Then thou hast power to seek those things that are above, to be heavenly minded. A Christian or no Christian ! God doth not as Pharaoh, bid us do our work, and we must gather straw ourselves ; but he bids us do, and quickens us by his Spirit, and enables us to do. He fits us for such actions ; he gives us power to do them.
Doct. 6. Again, So far as a Christian is raised by Christ, so far he cannot but seek those things that are above. We need not teach a bird to fly, for it will learn it of itself;. it is natural to her. So a Christian cannot but do
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the things answerable to his nature. He is of a new nature, and therefore cannot but be heavenly minded. He cannot profane the Lord's day ; he cannot swear ; he cannot lie ; he cannot blaspheme ; he cannot delight in carnal courses. He cannot do these things, so far as he is a Christian. In the hour of temptation he is not himself. It is in this sense that the apostle saith, ' He that is born of God sinneth not,' 1 John iii. 9. So far as he is born again he cannot sin ; he can do no evil.