3. It is our great concernment, because this makes us alone emi- nently conformable to Jesus Christ. When the church is raised up to an expectation of his coming, she is bid to look for him as one " meek and lowly," Zech. ix. 9. And when he calls men to a con- formity to his example, this he proposes to them. " Learn of me," saith he, Matt. xi. 29. What shall we learn of him? what doth he propose to our imitation? — that we should work miracles? walk on the sea? open blind eyes? raise the dead? speak as never man spake? " No," saith he ; " this is not your concernment ; but ' learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.'" " Let this mind be in you," saith the apostle, "that was in Jesus Christ," Phil. ii. 5. What mind was this? He describes it in the next verse, — in his humbling, emptying himself, making himself poor, nothing, that he might do the will of God ; coming to his foot, waiting for his command, doing his will cheerfully and readily. " Let," saith he, " this mind be in you, to be like Christ in this." I might go over all the contents of humble walking with God, and show the excellency of Jesus Christ in them, and how our conformity to Christ doth principally consist therein ; but I must hasten.
4. I might farther evince it, by an induction of the promises that are made unto humble walking with God. But this would be a long work, to insist on the most considerable particulars; so that I shall wholly omit it.
5. It will appear so by comparing it with any thing else wherein men may suppose their interest and concernment to lie : —
(1.) Some men (I speak of professors) live as though their great concernments were in heaping up to themselves the things of this world. Their hearts are devoured with cares about them, and their thoughts taken up with them. This I shall not so much as compare
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with humble walking with God ; nor make it my business — from the vanity, uncertainty, uselessness as to any eternal end, unsatisfactori- ness, attendings of fear, care, and love — to manifest their great incom- petency once to come into consideration in this inquiry, as to what is the great concernment of a professor.
(2.) There are others whose designs lie after greatness, high places, esteem in the world, — to be somebody in their days ; outrunning the providence and call of God to that end; and who make this their business and interest, without farther consideration. But we may say the same of these as of the former, — their way is folly, though they that follow them should praise their sayings.
(3.) There are those whose aim is to be learned indeed, and so ac- counted. This they make their work; on this they set up their rest; this takes up their time and strength. If this succeed, all is well ; — they have their hearts' desire. The beauty of this also is fully sullied, and the vanity of it hath been discovered by many, and the shame of its nakedness made to appear. Is this thy great concernment? Dost thou waste thy time and spirit about it? Is this the bosom of thy rest? Hast thou here laid up thy glory? and dost thou aim at this as thy end ? Poor creature ! thou snuffest up the empty wind. All this while God may abhor thee; and thy learning will never swell to such a greatness as that the door of hell will not be wide enough to receive thee. The vanity, vexation, dreadfulness, emptiness, of this concernment may be easily discovered.
Nay, put all these together ; suppose thou hadst high places, learn- ing, and an answerable repute and credit to them all, — that thou hadst on these heads all that thy heart can desire, and more than ever man had before thee, — would it all give rest to thy soul ? Canst thou not look through it all? Why, then, dost thou spend thy strength for a thing of nought? Why is the flower of thy spirit laid out about these things, that indeed are not, or are as a thing of nought ? But, —
(4.) Some men's great concernment seems to lie in a profession of religion. So they may attain to that, and therewithal a name to live, it doth suffice. Whether this humble walking with God, in any of the causes or effects of it, be found on them, they are not solicitous. That men may not rest here, give me leave to offer two or three considerations : —
[1.] All that they do may be counterfeited; and so, wherein is its excellency? It may be done by him who hath not the least of God or Christ in him. Hypocrites may hear much, pray often, speak of God and the things of God, perform all duties of religion, excel in gifts and parts, be forward in profession to a great repute, — and yet be hypocrites still.
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