2. In the habit of their lives —
[The name " pilgrims and strangers " was not given to the patriarchs merely on account of their sojourning in a strange ^ Gen. xxiii. 4. and xlvii. 9.
land ; for David, after he was established on his throne, and had subdued all his enemies on every side, assumes the same title''; and the same appellation is given to us also under the Christian dispensation "=. Though we are not called to dwell in moveable habitations, we, as much as the patriarchs them- selves, should answer to the character of pilgrims. We should
feel only indifference to the things of this world We
should be daily advancing towards the heavenly world —
And we should look forward to death as the consummation of all our happiness ]
b 1 Chron. xxix. 15. " 1 Pet. ii. 11.
THE christian's DESIRE.
Heb. xi. 16. JSFow they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly : wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God.
WHEREVER the Gospel is faithfully declared, it is generally knov^n that we are to be saved by " the same faith as that which dwelt in our father Abra- ham :" but it is not so generally understood, that we are to " walk in the steps of Abraham ;" and that, in the most self-denying acts of his life, he was in- tended to be an example to us^ But in its fruits, as well as in its object, our faith must resemble his. Now, amongst his most eminent virtues we must reckon his superiority to the world, in that he will- ingly left his own country to " sojourn in the land of promise, as in a strange land ;" and continued, with Isaac and Jacob, to the very end of his days, to walk as a pilgrim and a sojourner there, in the assured hope and expectation of a better country, which he had in view". Both he and his family " had oppor- tunities in abundance to return" to their own land, if they had been so disposed : but they knew them- selves to be under the Divine guidance and direction; and regarded nothing in comparison of God's favour, and the ultimate possession of that recompence to which they had respect.
a Rom. iv. 12. ^ Heb. xi. 8—10.
2324.] THE christian's DESIRE. 397
In them, then, we may see, I. The character of every true Christian —
The Christian seeks a better portion than this world can give him —
[He is in the world, and performs the duties of his station, like others : and, as to external appearance, he differs not materially from the sober part of mankind. He does not make an unnecessary parade of his religion ; nor does he affect need- less singularities : but he moves quietly and unostentatiously in the sphere which God has assigned him. But, in " the spirit of his mind," he is widely different from every uncon- verted man. " His affections are set on things above, and not on things below''." He sees the emptiness and vanity of all earthly things : he has weighed them in a balance, and found them wanting in every respect. He has seen how uncertain they are, both in the acquisition and enjoyment ; how wholly unsatisfying to a. spiritual mind ; and how soon they pass away. Heavenly things, on the contrary, he has found to be every way worthy of his pursuit : and he has determined, through grace, to disregard every thing in comparison of them. He has learned to regard this world as a mere wilderness ; a land through which he is passing to his own native country ''; the country where his Father dwells, and which is the place of his ultimate abode. The conduct of the patriarchs gives, in this respect, a just idea of the Christian. They dwelt in tents, and not, like those around them, in cities : and thus they shewed to all, and indeed avowed^, that they were travelling towards a better land. Thus the Christian takes not up his rest in any thing here below ; but shews, by the whole of his spirit and conduct, that he is indeed looking for " a better country, that is, an heavenly."]