SERM. are comprehended in the latitude of the object," the "things which are above."

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And" to feek," and "mind," and "fet our "affections" upon thefe, is to do thofe things, which the confideration of each of these respectively calls for; fo to meditate on GOD, and mind him, as to fear, and love, and ferve him; to feek his glory as our laft end, and the enjoyment of him as our chief good; to feek his favour above all things, and to fue to him, as the fountain of all grace, and the giver of every good and perfect

gift," and of all bleffings temporal, fpiritual, and eternal, by the powerful interceffion of his Son, the great and only mediator between GoD and man, to be obtain❜d for us, and to be wrought in us, by the powerful virtue and operation of the HoLY SPIRIT. So to mind the angels and bleffed faints above, as to aspire after their fociety, by imitating their virtues, and "being followers of thofe, who "through faith and patience have inherited the pro"mifes." So to meditate on our future bleffedness, as to raise our hearts and affections above this world, and effectually to engage us to fit ourselves for that bleffed state and condition, that we may be "meet "to be made partakers of that glorious inheritance." And lastly, fo to mind all the duties and means neceffary and conducing to our falvation, as effectually to perform them; to order our lives and all the actions of them, with a regard to eternity; in a word, to omit and neglect nothing that may further and promote the great defign of our eternal falvation, and to do nothing that may contradict or hinder it. This is to feek and fet our affections upon the "things that are above." And thus I have done

with the first thing I propounded, the nature of the SERM duty which we are exhorted to. I proceed to the

Second thing I propounded, which was to confider the force of the arguments, which are used to perfuade us to it. Here are three arguments in the text to this purpofe; two of them are exprefs, and the third of them implied.

I." If ye be rifen with CHRIST, feek the things "which are above."

II. "Seek the things which are above, where "CHRIST fitteth at the right hand of God."

III. The tranfcendent and incomparable excellency of the things above, in comparison of earthly things. This is intimated in the oppofition, "fet your affec❝tions on the things which are above; and not on things on the earth." I fhall briefly shew the force of each of thefe arguments.

I. "If ye then be rifen with CHRIST, feek the "things which are above." That is, if ye believe his refurrection, if ye will be conformed to him in it, if ye be made partakers of the power and virtue of it.

1. If ye believe the refurrection of CHRIST. The refurrection of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, was the great feal of his miniftry, and confirmation of his doctrine; and one great branch of his doctrine was heavenly-mindedness, that we should "lay up for "ourselves treasures in heaven," because "where

our treasure is, there will our hearts be alfo;" that we fhould "firft feek the kingdom of GOD, "and the righteoufnefs thereof."

2. If we will bear a conformity and refemblance to him in his refurrection. He is our great pattern and example, which the gospel propounds to us;

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SERM. and that we may have the nearer conformity to him, CXCV. the apoftle doth not only propose the virtues of his life to our imitation, but where we cannot literally imitate him, the apostle urgeth fpiritual conformity; that those things which he did and fuffered in his body, we should do and fuffer fpiritually; as CHRIST "died for fin," fo we fhould "die to fin;" as he literally "rofe again from the dead," fo in conformity to him, we fhould be fpiritually "raifed to "newness of life." As he " afcended into heaven," fo we fhould "afcend thither alfo in our hearts and "affections." Col. ii. 12. "Buried with him in

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baptifm, wherein alfo ye are rifen with him, "through the faith of the operation of GoD, who "hath raised him from the dead." Rom. vi. 4, 5. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into "death, that like as CHRIST was raised from the "dead by the glory of the FATHER, even fo we "alfo fhould walk in newness of life. For if we "have been planted together in the likeness of his "death, we fhall be alfo in the likeness of his refur"rection." To be raised from the dead, is in order to a new life. So the apostle tells us, ver. 9, 10, II. "Knowing that CHRIST being raised from "the dead, dieth no more, death hath no more do"minion over him. For in that he died, he died "unto fin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto "GOD. Likewife reckon ye alfo yourselves to be "dead indeed unto fin: but alive unto God, through

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JESUS CHRIST our LORD." As the refurrection of CHRIST was in order to a better and happier life, to his afcenfion into heaven, and his living with GOD: fo in conformity to CHRIST, our spiritual refurrection fhould be in order to a hea

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venly and divine life. And what is the meaning of SER M. all this? but that men are apt to imitate those whom they love, and do affect to resemble them as much as they can. And therefore to endear our duty to us, the mortification of our lufts, and a holy life, the apostle tells us, that hereby we bear a conformity to CHRIST, the great object of our love and imitation.

3. If ye be made partakers of the power and virtue of his refurrection. The refurrection of CHRIST is not only a pattern, but hath a power and efficacy in it, to raise us to a fpiritual and heavenly life. When CHRIST rofe, he did not rife alone, but many of the bodies of the faints who were dead rofe with him, to fignify to us the power of his refurrection. It communicated a virtue to thofe who had an interest in the merits of his death and fufferings, whereby they are enabled to live a new and heavenly life. John xi. 25. "I am the refurrection and "the life; he that believeth in me, though he were "dead, yet shall he live." Eph. i, 19." And

what is the exceeding greatness of his power to "us-ward, who believe, according to the working. "of his mighty power, which he wrought in "CHRIST, when he raised him from the dead." Phil. iii. 10, 11.." That I may know him, and the 66 power of his refurrection, and the fellowship of "his fufferings, being made conformable unto his "death; if by any means I may attain the resur"rection from the dead." Col. ii. 13. " And you

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being dead in your fins, and the uncircumcifion "of your flesh, hath he quicken'd together with "him," Now this power is derived to us by "be" lieving on him, who raised up JESUS from the

SERM." dead," that "he is also able to raise us, who are dead in trefpaffes and fins, to a divine and "heavenly life.". The

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IId argument is contained in these words, "feek the things which are above, where CHRIST "fitteth at the right hand of GoD." Which words do declare to us the exaltation of CHRIST's humane nature, and his being advanced to be the king and governor of his church, having all power and judgment committed to him. Luke xxiv. 26. CHRIST'S afcenfion, and his fitting at the right hand of GoD, is called," his entring into his glory. Ought he "not to have fuffer'd these things, and then to en"ter into his glory?" that is, to be invested with all power and authority for the good of the church. But moft particularly the apostle defcribes this, Eph. i. 20, 21, 22.1 "And fet him at his own right "hand in heavenly places, far above all principali❝ties, and powers, and might, and dominion, and 66 every name that is named, not only in this world, "but that which is to come; and hath put all things "under his feet, and given him to be head over all "things to the church."

And now the force of this argument is from the relation that is between the head and the members, between CHRIST and chriftians. The members have an affection for the head, which makes them afpire heavenwards; and the head hath an influence upon the members. "If I be lifted up from the "earth," fays our LORD, "I will draw all men 66 unto me." This is fpoken of his crucifixion, "fig"nifying what death he fhould die," as the text tells us, John xii. 32, 33. But it is proportionably true of his afcenfion, and fitting at the right hand of

God;