SERMONS upon Serm.i4. would always live here, is like a Scullion that lyeth among the Pots ; would you your felves hug Naftinefs, and embrace the Dunghil ? 2. To preis God's Children to be holy and heavenly in their Minds, to wean their Affections from the World : We fhould be where Chrift is; Phil.3.20. Our Converfi- Jion is in Heaven, whence we leak for the Saviour, the Lord fefus Chrifi : Co1.3.1. If ye then be rifen with Chriii, feek thofe things which are above, where Chri fits at the Right -hand of God : Who would not defire to be in Heaven, now Chrift is there ? As the Load- {tone draws Iron to it ; let us be prefent in Heaven, as Chrift is prefect on the Earth by the Spirit : Though our Bodies are tied with the Fetters of the Flefh, yet lee our Souls afcend, let our Minds be there, our Wilbes, our Delires there ; by theCe means we, walk in Heaven before our time. A Stone, though it breaks to pieces by the fall, will move to its Center; though we naturally abhor Death, we thould defire it to be with Chrift. It is a Ihame that a Stone fhould be carried with greater force to its Center, than we to Chrift. Z1fe 3. Comfort. We have Chrift for us in the Heavens; Heb. 4. 54. Seeing there- fore that we have a great HighPriefi, that is paid into the Heavens, Jefsas the Son of God : We have Chrift always for us in Heaven; he bath a part of his Office to perform there ; his Abfence doth not hinder us from having a Right to him, or a Spiritual Poffeflìon of him. He is ours, and he bath his Ret3dence in Heaven, and bath Power to open it to us, and give us entrance: His high Honour doth not hinder him from the Dilcharge of his Office to do ús good ; he is at God's Right -hand, and yet a Mi- áifier of the SantXuary. Chrift bath ä Miniftry, and part of his Service to perform in Heaven; he is our faithful Agent; Heb. 8. I, 2. We have fach an High-Priefi, who is fit on the Right-hand of the Throne of the Majefiy in the Heavens, a Mintier of the SanEivary. For all his Glory, Chrift is called slcr 416>v Aserapyós, a Minifter of holy Things; he taketh care of all holy things, which we prefent to God, and to convey holy and fpiritual Things to us. Chrift is not ftately : many forget their poor Friends when advanced ; Chrift regardeth his poor Church as much as ever. The Butler, when he was advanced, forgot )'ofeph ; but he remembreth us ; he difdaineth not to look after every poor Chriftian ; Heb. 4. r5. We have not an High- Priefl, which cannot be touched with thefeeling of our Infirmities. His Heart is not changed by his Honour, but he is in a greater Capacity to do us good. Having loch a Friend in Heaven, we need not fear a Foe upon Earth. Heaven is open for us ; Heb. 50. 19, 20. Having boldnefi to enter into the Holiefi by the Blood of Jefus, by a new and living way, which he bath con: - crated for us, through the Vail, that is to fay, his Flefh. Vfi 4. Direction in the Sacrament. If we have any thing to do with Chrift, we know where to leek him: Bled are they that believe, and have not feen; John 20. 19. Thole Thai are far from Court, never law the King. God hath removed Chrift out of fight, that we might behold him by Faith : Let us look for him in the Sacrament, not for his bodily Prefence ; how can he be there bodily, when he is received into Glory ? but for his Spiritual Prefence, the Influences of his Grace, and a Derivation of Vertue from his Perlon. I . The next Point is the neceffary ceafing of his Corporal Prefenceupon his Alcen- fion ; 1 am no more in the World, but theft are in the World. Let us fee the Reafon why he will be nomore with us : Now the Reafons why Chrift would withdraw his bodily Prefence from us, are there : I. That he might try the World, and yet in a way fuitable to his glorious Eftate. Chrift when he came to try the Jews, he came in Difguife, not as the Son of God in 'Majelly and Glory; John I. I r. He came untó his own, and hie own received him not. Still to try Men's Obedience, there mull be Tome Vail. If he fhould be prefent in the World, in a glorious way becoming his Majefty and Empire, there would be no Trial ; and therefore in a manner he fill cometh in Difguife, his Glory is vailed under the Miniftry of Men, and - carried on in a fpiritual manner. If he thould appear in Glory and Power, Sinnersdurlt not quack, and fo the'Wickednef3 of Man would not be difcovered ; nor would the Faith of his People be exercifed with fuch Praife and Honour, if he were perfonally and glorioufly prelnt. This is the Commendation and Praife of Chriftianity, that they can walk by Faith, when they cannot walk by fight, '2 Cor. 5. 7. We walk by Faith, not by Sight : -They .fee not Chrift, becaafe he is abfent in
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