SERM. VII.J FALLING SHORT OF HEAVEN. 12S But I would dwell upon this last thought a little, and therefore I shall propose my fourth remark in this man- ner. 4thRemark. Many lovelyaccomplishments, joined to- gether, will not carry a natural man to heaven. The finest composition of beauty and youth, strength and riches, and all this embellished with many forms ofgodliness and some shining outwardvirtues, will not obtaineternal life. The man that is thus qualified and adorned, if he pre- fers earth to heaven, and loves the possessions of this world, above spiritual treasures, abides in a state of condemnation and death. Grace is not a flower that grows in the field of nature, nor is it made by the art of man; it is a divine seed ; it is planted in our hearts by the Spirit of God, John i. 13. The saints are born not of blood ; that is, by natural generation : nor of the will of the flesh, that is, by our own powers of nature: nor of the will of man; that is, by the influence that others have over us : but of God. Aman may set himself to work awhile for the good of his soul, and yet may miss of salvation : Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and fera there be that,find it, Mat. vii. 14. And many which seek to enter in, shall not be able, Lukexiii. 24. They seek, but not tvith all their might: they are not willing to forsake all for heaven, and therefore they obtain it not : they seek, perhaps, with diligence for a season, and give out before they have attained ; they tire, and grow weary, and lose the prize : they seek, but not in God's appointed way, and according to the rules of the gospel ; and no wonder if their labour be vain ; for he that striveth is not crowned except he strive lawfully Tim. ii. 5. And this was the case of the rich young man; he sought eternal life, but not with all his soul, for he could not take up his cross and follow Christ:. he sought the kingdom of God for a season; but when he- came to the hard work of self-denial, he would nót vén- ture into that thorny path, but turned back, and went away sorrowful. He soughtjustification and peace with God, but not in a right way; for being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish his own, he fell short of the righteousness of God, and at-
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