436 Howare we to live by Faith Altiora fapio. * Excelfa pia mentis generof:. tan fupra ora - nem rerum ha- nranarum (peci_ em erede. ? PfaL39.6,7. Valde prose. 3latus fum, &c. = Aluila non cap nut fcas. Serm. 18. 2. On the things of God : and fo Faith concktdes, I have h igher b and nobler projects,defigns of deeper concernment than to fit down,ingulph and pleafe my felf in thefe poor,earthly, dro -fe, * dirty things here be- low. I have many Corruptions within, thefe are to be morti#ed : Many Temptations without, thefe are to be refifled; Many Tweet motions and whifpers of the Spirit, thefe are to b: cherifhed : many weakgracesthefe are to be flrengthned : Many perfonal, relational duties, thefe are to be performed ; In a word, an effeduall Calling and E1ec4ion to be made fore, Ibis above all is CO be regarded. Faith difcovers a World beyond the Moon, and trades thither: Leaving the men of the earth to load themfelves with clay and coles, Faith purfues its flaple commodity and trafiques for grace and glory. Thus z David; when he had branded the Worldling for difc dieting himfelf in vain, for heaping up riches, and knowing not xvho (hall gather them with an holy difdain turns his back, upon the World, as not worth his thoughts, faying,and now Lord, what wait I for ? q. d. his true, I have Riches, and Honour, a Crown, a Kingdom, but is this the portion I could be content to fat down with ? No, no, lily hope is in thee, deliver me from all my ?raufgreffions, v. 8. Let them that love the World enjoy it, but Lord, pay not my portion in fuch adulterate coyn , but in pardon of fin and peace of confcionce, this,this is that I wait for.Thus*Luther,having a rich Prefent fent laim, profited with an holy boldnefs to God, That fuch things fhould not ferve his turn. He was not taken with Pebbels , his nobler foul flew a higher, and was fiat on 'Pearls. It is Gods favour that the Subjects of the King of Heaven define rather than his preferment ; like him that preferr'd Alexanders kifs before a great fum of money , given by Alexander to another. Thus Faith looks upward on God, and the things of God, and ads accordingly. 2. Faith or truft loo/ej downward, on its fstllefl and fweerefl Tem- poral Enjoyments. And fo. 1. It accurately weighs thefe enjoyments in the Radiance of theSanauarj, and fo makes a jufl eflimate of them as to their worth and value. Faith knows that generally men look at the things which are feen, & therefore the things,thatfeem befl,thatglitter moft,are the befl delights of mofi of the children of men, the def:re of their eyes, the joy of their hearts. Theft they otter -rate, and not only efeem them highly, but adore them fnperflitiou fly,as aGod,or their chie fefl good.But now faith brings thefe to the tonchflone and ffandard, and there interprets them as they are,ae- cording to their jufl value,findsthem to be but the delights of fence, for - ir 00d bris4the (ports óf nat re, the Trials 2f humane felly,at t,Je6efl but
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