SERM. the Mind, whether a man will or no, when perhaps it may be too late for them XVI. to be of Any Ufe to him. Confiderate Christians wait continually for the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, 1 Cor. i. 7. Denying ungodliness and worldly lufts; living Soberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world; looking for that bleed Hope, and the glorious Appearance of the Great God, and of our Saviour Jefus Chrift. Thus did the Apoftles themselves; and to This did they continually exhort Others, as in the Text; Brethren, faith St Paul, be Followers together of Me, and mark them which walk fo as ye have Us for an example; -------For Our converfation is in Heaven, from whence alfo we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jefus Chrift. MORE particularly. Having our converfation in Heaven, as it fignifies meditating upon the Prefence and Attributes of God, will naturally be upon our Minds a Strong Motive and a conftant Affiftance, to Purity and Holiness of Life. For if hereafter we fhall therefore be like him, because we shall fee him as he is; at prefent alfo in proportion we cannot but imitate SER M. imitate him, if by ferious meditation we XVI. accuftom ourselves to live as Seeing him who is invifible. And therefore St John rightly infers, 1 Job. iii. 3. Every man that bath This Hope in him, purifies himself even as he is pure. AGAIN: Converfing in Heaven, as it fignifies meditating on the Company by whom that region of Happiness is poffeft; an innumerable Company of Angels, and the Spirits of just men made perfect, living together in complete and uninterrupted Love; and Jesus himself, the Mediator of the New Covenant, who loved us and gave himself for us All: under This View, it cannot but be a powerful Argument perpetually upon our Minds, to live here alfo, as preparative to That more perfect State, in mutual Love, Forbearance, and univerfal Charity. Laftly, As it fignifies meditating on the Greatness and Duration of the Happiness itself, which we fhall There enjoy; it is the great Security, to preferve us from being overcome at any time by the Temptations of worldly Profperity, or by the Fears of Temporal Adverfity. I reckon, I faith XVI. 18. faith St Paul, that the Sufferings of this SER M. prefent world, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be reveal- Rom. viii, ed in us. For which caufe we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are feen, but at the things which are not feen; for the things which are feen, are temporal; but the things which are not feen, are eternal, 2 Cor. iv. 16. By This Faith, the Martyrs of old fuffered themselves to be tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better Refurrection, Heb. xi. 35. By This Faith, Mofes chofe rather to fuffer affliction with the people of God, than to injoy the Pleafures of Sin for a Seafon; efteeming the reproach of Chrift greater Riches than the Treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompenfe of Reward, ver. 25, 26. And our Saviour himself, ch. xii. 2. for the Joy that was fet before him, endured the cross, defpifing the Shame, and is fet down at VOL. V. C c the SERM. the right hand of the Throne of God. XVI. But 2dly, AND to Conclude. If we understand the Phrase, having our Conversation in Heaven, to fignify in the latter Senfe (according to the most strict and proper Meaning of the words in the Original,) baring our Citizenship, our Home, our proper Country or Habitation in Heaven, and confequently looking upon ourselves as Members and Subjects of That City or Kingdom which is above: If we confider it under This View, the obvious Inference from hence is, that then we ought constantly to indeavour to obey the Laws of That Kingdom, that is, the Commandments of God; least if, during our Pilgrimage here in a a foreign Country, we live contrary to the Laws of Heaven, we be hereafter rejected at our return, and refused admittance into our own City. Rev. xxii, 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have Right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in thro' the Gates into the City; For without, are dogs and forcerers, and whoremongers and murderers and Idolaters, and whofoever loveth and maketh a Lie. For there shall in no wise enter in-S E R M. to it any thing that defileth; neither what- XVI. foever worketh Abomination, or maketh a ch.xxi.27. Lie. And the fame thing is expreffed by our Saviour in the Gofpel, Luc. xiii. 26. |