In this he is distinguished from all other persons whatsoever —
[Others may be weary of the world through disappoint- ment and vexation ; or they may feel an indifference towards some things that are in it. But there is no man, except the Christian, that is uniformly and universally dead to the world, at the same time that he has every opportunity to enjoy it. No person, but the true Christian, compares the two worlds together, so as to give a deliberate and determined preference to that which is above. The glories of the eternal world are seen by none but him, and therefore are coveted by him alone. Others, in iheix judgment indeed, will acknowledge the superior
'^ Col. ill. 2. <> narpi^a conveys this precise idea, ver. 14.
<^ Confessed, ver. 13.
excellence of the eternal world : (in truth, there is no man so stupid and brutish as to entertain a doubt of it :) but in their hearts they do not love it ; and in their lives they do not seek it. The true Christian, on the contrary, does seek it above all. And in this there is no difference to be found between saints of any country, or any age. The mind of the Patriarchs is the mind of every Christian under heaven. The same sen- timent prevails among the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the learned and the unlearned, the healthy and the dying. There may be a difference in many points both of faith and practice : but in this thei'e is none. Every individual that is truly converted to God will say, " I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers were^."]
If the Christian be exalted in his character above others, so also is he in,
II. The high honour conferred upon him —
God is, by way of eminence, his God —
[Jehovah is the God of all the universe : there is not a creature in heaven, earth, or hell, that is not subject to his controul. But he is in a peculiar manner the God of those who consecrate themselves to him, and endeavour to walk ac- cording to his will. This is particularly declared in reference to the point before us ; a separation, in mind and spirit, from the unbelieving world. " Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what communion hath light with darkness ? and what concord hath Christ with Belial ? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel ? and what agree- ment hath the temple of God with idols ? For ye are the temple of the living God ; as God hath said, " I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God ; and theij shall he my people^ y See what God was to Abraham : how he conversed with him as a friend ; admitted him to the closest fellowship ; heard and answei'ed his prayers ; protected him from every enemy; and finally admitted him to his beatific presence in heaven. Thus will he do to all, who, like Abraham, endeavour to maintain a constant fellowship with him. Yea, whatever God himself possesses, even all his own infinite per- fections, shall be employed in behalf of the believing soul, as much as if there were not another creature in the universe to engage his attention. Thus will he do, I say, in this Hfe : and, in the life to come, " he has prepared for the heavenly-minded Christian a city," o. fixed habitation, a habitation suited to him, and worthy of God himself,']
<■ Ps. xxxix. 12. e 2 Cor. vi. 16 — 18.
2324.] THE christian's DESIRE. 399
Nor will God be ashamed to avow himself' his God —
[God would be utterly ashamed to acknowledge a world- ling- as standing in such a relation to him ; just as we should to acknowledge as our friend and favourite a notorious robber, or an abandoned prostitute. The worldling does "rob God" in ten thousand respects. He robs him of his heart, his time, his service'^: and commits whoredom and adultery, as the Scripture expresses it, with every base thing which solicits his regards'. How is it possible that God should approve of such base proceedings, or profess himself the friend of such worthless creatures ? Our Lord tells us, that " of those who are ashamed of him, he will be ashamed, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with his holy angels^" He will turn from them with indignation, saying, "Depart from me; I never knew you." But of a faithful servant, neither God the Father, nor the Lord Jesus Christ, will ever be ashamed. On the contrary, " both the Father and the Son will come to him, and make their abode with him^" Indeed, God rather loves to be called his God, and chooses to be designated by that very name. When Moses asked of God, by what name he should make him known to the children of Israel, God replied, " Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel ; the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you. This is my name for ever ; and this is my memorial i(7ito all generations'^" Individual believers indeed are not, nor can be, mentioned in Scripture, as these patriarchs are : but it is as true of one as of another : and God will put no difference between one and another, any further than the fidelity of each individual shall justify a dis- tinction in his behalf.]