As travellers have the end of their journey in their thoughts habitually, though not actually — for every step they take is in virtue of their end — so we should consider that we are all travellers in the way to heaven, and every step of our life should be to that end.
The ignorance of this maketh the life of most men to be but a digression from the main, as if they were brought into the world only to satisfy base lusts, and to seek themselves, to serve Satan and sin, the professed enemies of God, which are not only digressions, but motivesf to hell and eternal destruction. What a pitiful thing is it, that creatures should come * That is, 'communication.' — G. t That is, ' motions.'-— G.
THE christian's END. 297
into tlio world and live, some twenty, some fort}', some more* years, and go out of the world again, not knowing wherefore they lived.
Good reason it is we should live to Christ, acknowledge him in all our ways, live answerable to our knowledge, resign up ourselves to his govern- ment, and seek his glory in all things ; that we may make Christ known in the world ; that all that see us may see Christ in us, and perceive our love to him ' that hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.' 1 Peter ii. 9.
And also to acknowledge him to be Lord of our life ; and in death to resign ourselves to him ' as a faithful Creator ;' knowing that he taketh care of us in life and death.
1. For we are not our own : ' We are bought with a price,' as the apostle saith, 1 Cor. vi. 20.
2. Again, Ourselves are our greatest enemies. There is no such flatterer as the bosom flatterer. That enemy self, that we have in our bosoms, betrayeth us to Satan, else all the devils in hell could not hurt us. Self is our own enemy and God's enemy. Nay, enemy is too easy, too good a word : the best thing in us is enmity itself against God.
3. By woful experiment! we find that which hath brought all the misery that the world ever felt hath been self-will. Men will be turned upside down, rather than their wills shall be crossed. But doth not this provoke God ? Shall a piece of earth strive against him ? and will not he break it to powder ? Surely God will set us a mark to shoot at, and will triumph and get himself victory and glory over those creatures that will have their wills. Hell is fit for such. God will be sure to have his will of them. "When the creature shall set his will against God's will, when an earthen pot shall set itself against a mace of brass, which will have the worst, think you ?
4. If we live to ourselves, we lie open to Satan. But, on the contrary part, a man that liveth to God is fit for any gracious motions, whatsoever they be. He is fit for God and a blessed communion of saints.
5. Man is a reasonable creature, made for God, And if you grant there is a God, you must grant that man is to do service to that God. God is the creditor and man the debtor, and of necessity there must be an obli- gation.
Now, to shew the nature of this living to Christ.
(1.) First, It imports a vital operation, an exercise that proceeds from life. Now, as natural life springeth from union of the body with the soul, so the union of the soul with Christ bringeth into the soul true principles of an holy and spiritual life. For Christ and the soul cannot touch one another, but presently he infuseth a living principle. All artificial motions proceed from something without. And such are the self-seeking Christians that do only act a part in religion ; but those that truly live to God and Christ, they have an inward instinct that inclines them to holiness.
(2.) Secondly, There is entircness in a Christian course, so that he liveth to none but Christ. Life is not only taken for the space of his being in the world, but for the improving of all the furtherances of our hfe to Christ. As to bestow ourselves upon him, in all the civil relations we have in the world, by being obedient to him and to others in him and for him ; and in whatsoever callings we are, not only in our natural life, but also in our civil life, to go on in a constant tenor all the whole course of our lives aiming at Christ ; not to set ourselves in our callings to get riches — for ♦ Spelled ' moe,' as in Spenser.— G. t That is, ' experience.'— G.
298 TiiK cuuistian's end.
those shall be cast in by tho way — God alloweth us riches, but not to be our ends, but that wo may serve him and honour him. There is no time to sin, but a time for everything else.
(3.) Thirdly, In our hving to Christ there must bo eretuieas and nnifor- miti/. We must not Hvc to Christ for a iit, but constantly ; not to do now and then a good action, but to make it our course, our trade, to live to Christ entirely, constantly, uniformly.