I80 IMPORTANCE OF A HEAVENLY [Chap. II. minded Christian, than that of the most learned disputants or princely commanders. 8. No man so highly honoreth God, as he whose conver- sation is in heaven. Is not a parent disgraced, when his children feed on husks, are clothed in rags, andkeep com- pany with none but rogues and beggars ? Is it not so to our heavenly Father, when we, who call ourselves his children, feed on earth, and the garb of our souls is like that of the world; and our hearts familiarly converse with, and "cleave to the dust," rather than stand continually in ourFather'spresence? Surely we live below the children of the King, not according to the height of our hopes, nor the provision of our Father's house, and the great prepa- rations made for his saints. It is well we have a Father of tender bowels, who will own his children in rags. If he did not first challenge his interest in us, neither our- selves nor others could know us to be his people. But when a Christian can live above, and rejoice his soul with the things that are unseen, how is God honored by such a one ! The Lord will testify for him. This man believes me, and takes me at my word; he rejoices in mypromise, be- fore he has possession; he can be thankful for what his bodily eyes never saw ; his rejoicing is not in the flesh ; his heart is with me; he loves my presence, and he shall surely enjoy it in my kingdom for ever. "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Them that honor me, I will honor."' How did God esteemhim- self honored by Caleb and Joshua, when they went into the promised land, and brought back to their brethren a taste of the fruits, and spake well of the good land, and encouraged the people ! What a promise and recompense did they receive ! 9. A soul that does not set its affections on things above, disobeys the commands, and loses the most gracious and de- lightful discoveries of the word of God. The same God that hath commanded thee to believe, and to be a Chris- tian, hath commanded thee to " seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, and to set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth." The same God that has forbidden thee to murder, steal, or commit adultery, has forbidden thee the neglect of this great duty; and darest thou wilfully dis-
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