to SERMONS upon Serm.2 5. their whole Portion in this Life, becaufe they look for no more ; no wrong is done to them, it is but their own choice. But a Believer will not give God an Acquittance nor Difcharge, having fuch great Promises. `Use i. To Phew us what to judg of Persons, that live fo as if they were of the World. You may know it by thefe three Notes, when they do nothing worthy of their New Nature, their Glorious Hopes, and the Example of Jefus Chrift. r. Nothing worthy of the New Nature; What difference is there between you and others ? The Chriftian thould be like Saul, fo much higher by the Head than other Men. Wherein do you differ ? r Cor. 3. 3. are ye not carnal, and walk as Men ? wire .vÛQt irov, Men of an ordinary Nature, deftitute of the Spirit, would do the fame. Chrift maketh it to be the ground of Hatred, becaufe they are not of the World ; the World will loon fent out him that is Regenerate, he walketh fo as to convince the World, they declare plainly that they feek a Country, Heb. a r. 14. their Hopes are dis- covered in their Converfation. They reprove the World, Heb.r 1.7.By Faith Noah,being warned of God of things not feen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an Ark to the faving of bis Honfe, by which he condemned the World. A Carnal Man juftifieth the World, as as Ifrael juftified Sodom. Carnal Men are called the Children of this World, the Spirit of the Mother is in them, the Spirit of the World inclineth them, they are all for Lufts of the Fle(b, Lulls of the Eye, and Pride of Life, to go fine, to feed high, to thine in worldly Pomp, affect Honour and great Places. Too many Chriftian are bap- tized into this kind of Spirit ; they live as if they were born and bred here, and then they juftify the Carnal Praílices of Men. Therefore what difference fhoiald there be between a Chriftian and the World 1 r Pet. 4.4. They think it firange, that you run not with them to all excel of Riot, fpeaking evil of yon. Mortifying Pleafures, denying Interefts upon Religious Reasons, this maketh the World wonder what kind of Nature have thefe Men. This fheweth that there is fomething Divine in you. 2. Nothing worthy of their Hopes, and of that Eternity which they expert. Whey Men wafte their ftrength and time in worldly Projects and Purfuits, they live atIT their Portion were only in this World. A Traveller, that is to flay but hall an hour in a -Room, or for a Night in an Inn, would he adorn it with Hangings ? They that are fo much in this World, they thew they do not look for better. Prov. r q. 24. The way of the Wife is above ; their Heart is fixed on Heaven, and the Face of their Conversation is turned that way. Your Lives do not bear proportion with your Hopes. Well then, what do you make the fcope of ydur Lives ? A Chriftian is fatif- fied with nothing but Eternity. 2 Cor. 4. IS. wl aaravrisvrr v iypehav, While we look not at the things that are feen, but at the things that are not feen : for the things that are feen, are Temporal; but the things that are not feen, are Eternal. A Chriftian ufeth the World, and followeth his Bufinefs, but he doth not make it his Scope, his Heart is within the Vail. There is an eternal Principle in the Heart of every Godly Man, and therefore they cannot be fatisfied with the Things of the World, he mindeth other things in a fubordination to Eternity, Mercies and Duties of his Calling, with respect to his llfe- fulnefs and Service ; and therefore fpendeth his Time and Estate fo, that his main Work is to provide for Eternity. r Tim. 6.59. Laying op in fiore for themfelves a good Foundation againfi the time to come, that they may lay hold of Eternal Life. But now Men think, they can never have enough in theWorld, and make but flight Provifion for the Life to come : they make all things fure in the World, and any flight Affu- rance ferveth the turn for Eternity : They live as if their Hopes were altogether in the World, they do not make Eternity their Scope. 3. Nothing worthy of Chrift's Example. In Chrifl's Example, we may take notice of two things, the Heavenlinefs of it, and the Courage of it. a. The Heavenliness. Chrift defpifed the World ; the great Encouragement of his Humane Soul, was the Glory fit before him, Heb. r 2. 3. He came from Heaven on purpofe to fet us this Example. But now, when a Chriftian followeth the World, when he is of this temper, that hecould with to live always, that he might enjoy the World always, They have their 7eward, ai kin, Mat. 6.2. They difcharge God of all his Promises, and look for no more. A thoufand Worlds will not fatisfy a craving Heart ; but a Child of God is content with the leaft Mercies,, but not fatisfied : Con- tentment refpects God's Allowance ; but this is not their portion : they do not murmur, but yet they delire more : A Reprobate's Portion will not ferve the turn. Nothing is more acceptable to a Carnal Heart in conceit, than to live here for ever; and to delight themfelves
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