4. They are more easily to be attained —
[Multitudes, however much they were to labour, could never gain earthly distinction : and multitudes who do labour for it with a reasonable hope of success, are left a prey to the most painful disappointments. But who that has the heart of a man is incapable of acquiring heavenly blessings? or who ever failed in attaining them, provided he only sought them in humility and faith? Methinks this is one of the chief excellencies of spiritual things, that they are open alike to all, and never are sought in vain. Of them, in all their ful- ness, we may say, " Every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that seeketh, findeth : and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened."]
5. They are more lasting —
[Let a man possess the whole world ; how long shall he retain it? Every moment his happiness is drawing nearer to a close : no sooner is the breath departed from his body, than he surrenders it all to some new possessor, who shall, like him also, retain it but a little time : for " we can carry nothing away with us when we die :" we came naked into the world, and naked must we depart from it. But is it thus with the man who has sought his happiness in God ? No, verily : " he has treasures in heaven ;" and at death he goes to the full possession of them. His happiness, instead of being termi- nated at death, is then consummated : he then, as it were, comes of age, and enters on the full possession of " his inherit- ance, which is incorruptible and undefiled, and fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for him."
And now let me ask, Is it unreasonable that these things should occupy your minds, in preference to the vanities of time and sense? these things, which are so excellent in them- selves, so satisfactory to us, so conducive to our happiness, so certain to be attained, and so lasting in the enjoyment? Surely the poor empty vanities of time and sense cannot, for a moment, stand in competition with these ; nor do they deserve so much as a thought, in comparison of them.]
Let me now commend this precept to you, 1. As a test to try your character —
[In this view it is particularly set before us by St. Paul: " They that are of the flesh, do mind the things after the flesh ; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit3." Now, here the very same term is used as in our text : and it forms a line of distinction between the carnal and the spiritual man, between " him who is in a state of death, and him who
a Rom. viii. 5.