SERMON XXXIX. The right Improvement of Life. 1 Cos. iii. 22.Whether life or death all areyours. IT is a large and fair inheritance that belongs to the children of God. They have no need to divide themselves into little parties, and to quarrel about their particular interest in one minister or another, in one blessing or another; for whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, whether life or death, all things are theirs, My former discourses have explained in what sense chris- tians possess all things, and that is, that all things present or to come, that can any way affect or concern them, shall certainly turn to their benefit, and subserve their great and final interest. I proceed nowmore particularly to enlarge on the words, which I had, chiefly in my design, whether life or death, all are yours. The first doctrine arising from the words is this, " Life itself, and the continuance of it to the saints, is for their advantage." Now to improve this proposition to practical purposes, I shall do these things : I. I shall make it appear under a variety of instances, that life is designed for the benefit of christians.II. I would am- plify and confirm the doctrine yet further, by discovering what a variety of graces may be exercised on earth, which can have no place in heaven ; and make it appear, that in some respects, a saint below bath advantage above the saints that are ou high. III. I shall answer a considerable objection or two that seems to rise against the doctrine, while I am treating of it : And,, at last some inferences will be drawn from the whole discourse. First let me shew wherein life appears to be a benefit to true believers. Life isyours, O christians, for 1. This is is the time that was given you for your reconcilia- tion to God, and securing your everlasting interest. All the elect of God are born into this world sinful and miserable, by their relation to the first Adam, therefore St. Paul seems to in- clude himself, as well as the heathen infidels, when he speaks of the iniquity of their nature, and the guilt of their state. Eph, N n 3
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