There are two callings, our general and particular calling, and we shew religion, that is our general calling, in our particular calling, as we are placed in this or that calling ; and what we do in either of these callings is the way to heaven. Now the care of a Christian is, that he be well advised what to do, and on what ground.
10. And even as a traveller considers of things by the way as they make to his end, to further his journey or hinder his journey, he looks to heaven as his country that he hopes for, and therefore he doth not tangle himself with any more than may help him home. If they hinder him once, away they go ; if they may help him, he takes them. A Christian in his travel in the way to heaven considers of things that may fall out by the way, as they may help and further him to heaven. If I find that things, though they be indifi'erent in themselves, if they trouble me in my way to heaven (it may be they are not so to another, but they are to me), though another can do it, yet I must consider whether I can do it, and find myself enlarged to heaven as at other times. If not, away with it. It is not indifferent to me, because it hinders my journey to heaven. A wise traveller will venture upon things and courses as they serve or hinder the main, though they be things perhaps that he cannot over- well spare, yet if they trouble him in his journey, off they go, that he may be more expedite and right in his way.
I wonder at the boldness of many that profess themselves religious, and yet dare venture upon anything. Undoubtedly, if they did search their own hearts, they could not but say that such courses do dead and dull them, and make them forget religion; that such company is not safe to keep. I find myself the worse by it, why should I venture upon anything that may stop and hinder, or cool and dead me in my way to heaven ?
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FAITH TRIUMPHANT.
If a man be wise, he will consider of things as they help or hinder him to that.
As for sins whereof we are convicted, it is the apostle's counsel, Heb. xii. 1 — ho puts it out of all question — ' We must cast off all that burden, that presseth down,' &c. A traveller will not have a burden upon him. The sin that hangs so fast on we must labour to mortify, to kill our lusts and corruptions more and more, and never leave till we have cast them off. These things are undeniable. I spake before of things in themselves indifferent, and to other men indifferent, if they have a larger measure of wisdom; but for corruptions and sins, they fight against the soul, they fasten us to the world, therefore above all things we must cast off them ; as St Peter saith excellently, in 1 Peter ii. 11, 'I beseech you, brethren, as pilgrims and strangers, abstain from fleshly lusts, which fight against your souls :' insinuating that pilgrims and strangers should altogether abstain from lusts, from the cherishing of carnal lusts, for these fight against the soul, they fight against the comforts of the soul, against the graces of the soul, and against the eternal well-being of the soul. The more a man chorisheth base lusts, the more it damps his comfort and grace, and weakens his assurance of life everlasting. They fight against all good in the soul ; therefore let us abstain ' from fleshly lusts, that fight against the soul.' That is clear; all confess that. But the other that I spake of before, carefulness of things indifferent, if we find them not so to us, till we get more mastery of ourselves, we must even be careful of our liberties, and not give ourselves those liberties that others do, if we find they hinder us in particular. Yet with a secret concealing of it, not to entangle the consciences of other men, who perhaps may use those things with less hindrance than we do : a wise Christian will be wary in that kind. If he find the things of the world to hinder him, he will not have his heart eaten up with the world, nor eaten out with lawful things. Being therefore to prepare for a better hfe, and to do God's business, he will only take the things of this life as they may make for a better life, and be a furtherance of him to his home. He winds home by all means, he useth all advantages to come nearer to God, and whatsoever hinders him he labours to avoid.
11. Again, he that accounts himself a stranger here, he doth not value himself by outward things. Faith teacheth a man, when he is an heir of heaven, not to value himself by earthly things. He thinks himself a stranger in his own house, as David did, though he were a king, as I said. Every Christian is a stranger at home. He values not himself by his honours, nor dignity, nor by the things that he hath here ; nor he doth not disvalue himself by poverty or disgrace. He knows he is a stranger; he is going home; therefore he values himself by that he hath at home. Christians are kings and heirs; they esteem not or disesteem of themselves by what they have here below; they account them as things in the way, that God gives them, if they be good, to sweeten their pil- grimage ; if they be ill, to sharpen their journey. It is necessary that God should give them these things, good things to sweeten their journey; and if they loiter in their way to heaven, then that they should have crosses to drive them homeward.