z66 The <Refurrefion ofour Saviour confider'd, .V II. the Right Hand ofGod. Set your AffElians on Things above; not onThingson the Earth. So that the Words are an earneft Exhortation to a Divine Life, and a Spiritual and Heavenly Converfation. In which there are two Things to be confidered: Fi)fl, The Duty we are exhorted to, which is heavenly- mindednefs. Seek the Things which are above ; and, Set your Affeélions on Things above. Secondly, The Arguments by which the Apoftle urgeth and preffeth this Ex- hortation. Ifye be rifin with Chr, feek the Things which are above; and, Seek the Things which are above, where Chrifi fitteth on the Right Hand of God. So that my Work will be, Firft, To thew the Nature of the Duty, to which we are exhorted. And, Secondly, The Force of the Arguments, which are ufed to perfwade us to it. Firfi, For the Nature of the Duty, to which weare exhorted ; and it is ex- prefs'd both Affirmatively and Negatively. I. Affirmatively; and the Apatite ufeth two feveral Expreffions. SeektheTñings which are above and, Setyour AffEiions on Things above. 2. Negatively ; Andnot on Things on the Earth. And this feems to be added, not only to explain and afcertain the Obje&, and to add Vehemenceand Ear- neftnefs to the Exhortation; but likewife to fet off the Excellency of the Ob_jeet, by wayof Oppofition and Comparifon. On the Things that are above ; and not upon thole pitiful and inferiour Things, which are upon the Earth. And likewife to thew the lnconfiftency of thefe, and the Impofiibility of feeking and fettingour Affe&ions upon both in an intenfe Degree. For that would be to have twochief Ends, to love God and Mammon; to ferve two Maffers, which our Saviour bath told us is impoffible. But this I (hall ufeafterwards, as an Argument toenforce the Exhortation. To explain the Nature of this Duty, I (hall confider the A&, and the Obje&. I. For the Aft, here are two Words ufed to exprefs it, 7-d7g, and oemmn, fiek and fet your Af&lions; and in thefe two Words, thefe four Things feem to be com- prehended; an A& of our Underftandings about thefe Things; the Ardency of our Affe&ions and the A&ivity of our Endeavours in the Purfuit of them; and a clear Preference of the Things which are above, to the Things of the Earth, when they come in Competition. For thefe twoWords do comprehend, not only the Power of our Underftandings, and Wills, and AffeEtions, and an ear- nett Attention and Applicationof Mind to thefeThings; but the A&ivityof our Endeavours about them. r. Here is impliedan A& of ourUnderfiandings, that we fhould mind and think upon thefe Things, that we (hould often confider them, and meditate upon them ; that Heaven thould be much in ourThoughts, and the Gloryand Excellency of that State which we hope to attain to, and by what Ways and Means we may come to be made Partakers of that bleffed Inheritance. 2. It implies likewife an A& of our Affe&ions; that we heartily love andde- fire the Things that are above, with that Ardency and Vehemency ofAffe&ion, which is proportionable to the Worthand Excellency of them. And both thefe are included in the WordmeppÑr, which is fometimes tranflated, to mind, fome- times tofit our AffeElions upon a Thing. 5. A&ivity and Induftry in the Profecution of thefe Things, ifby any Means we may attain them. And this is implied in the Word Caril.Th, fiek the Things which are above. When we know there are fuch Treafures in Heaven, fo great a Reward laid up for goodMen, Toys fo unfeakable and full of Glory,and when our Underftandings have dwelt fo long upon thefe Things, as to work uponour Af- fe&ions, thefe, like fo many Springs of Motion, will fet our Endeavours on Work, for the obtaining of what we fo much love and delire, and will make us inquifitive, with the youngMan in the Gofpel, What good Thing wePall do, that we may inherit eternal Life . by what Means we may belt fecure our Title toHea- ven and Happinefs ; and very indufirious to acquire thefe Qualities and Difpo- fitions, ,which will fit us for Heaven, and the bleffed Sight and Enjoyment of God ; nay, bywhich wemay begin this happy State here, by our Converfation in Heaven, whilfi weare fojourning herebelow, as Pilgrims and Strangers inthe Earth. r 4. It
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