impress of the gospel now, nor are they ever like to attain the vision of the blessed face of God and the impress of his likeness hereafter, that desire it not above all things, and are not willing to quit all things else for it. And is it not a just exprobation of our earthliness and carnality, if mere philosophers and pagans should give better proof than we of a spirit erected above the world, and alienated from what is temporary and terrene? Shall their Gentilism outvie our Christianity? Methinks a generous indignation of this reproach should inflame our souls, and contribute somewhat to the refining of them to a better and more spiritual temper. Now, therefore, O all you that name yourselves by that worthy name of Christians; that profess the religion taught by him that was not of the earth, earthly, but the Lord from heaven; you that are "partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the great Apostle and High Priest of your profession," who only took our flesh that we might partake of his Spirit, bore our earthly that we might bear his heavenly image, descended that he might cause us to ascend. Seriously bethink yourselves of the scope and end of his apostleship and priesthood. He was sent out from God to invite and conduct you to him, to bring you into the communion of his glory and blessedness. He came upon a message and treaty of peace; to discover his Father's love and win yours; to let you know how kind thoughts the God of love had conceived to you-wards; and that, however you had hated him without cause, and were bent to do so without end, he was not so affected towards you to settle a friendship, and to admit you to the participation of his eternal glory. Yea, he came to give an instance, and exemplify to the world in his own person, how much of heaven he could make to dwell in mortal flesh; how possible he could render it, to live in this world as unrelated to it; how gloriously the Divine life could triumph over all the infirmities of frail humanity: and so leave men a certain proof and pledge, to what perfections human nature should be improved by his grace and Spirit, in all them that should resign themselves to his conduct, and follow his steps; that heaven and earth were not so far asunder, but he knew how to settle a commerce and intercourse between them; that a heavenly life was possible to be transacted here, and certain to be gloriously rewarded and perfected hereafter. And having testified these things, he seals the testimony, and opens the way for the accomplishment of all by his death. Your heavenly Apostle becomes a Priest and a Sacrifice at once that no doubt might remain among men, of his sincerity in what, even dying, he ceased not to profess and avow; and that by his own propitiatory blood a mutual reconciliation might be wrought between God and you, that your hearts might be won to him, and possessed with an ingenuous shame of your ever having been his enemies; and that his displeasure might for ever cease towards you, and be turned into everlasting friendship and love; that, eternal redemption being obtained, heaven might be opened to you, and you finally be received to the glory of God,—your hearts being bent thitherward and made willing to run through whatsoever difficulties of life or death to attain it. Do not think that Christ came into the world and died to procure the pardon of your sins, and so translate you to heaven, while your hearts should still remain cleaving to the earth. He came and returned, to prepare a way for you, and then call, not drag you thither; that by his precepts, and promises, and example, and spirit, he might form and fashion your souls to that glorious state; and make you willing to abandon all things for it. And lo! now the God of all grace is calling you by Jesus Christ unto his eternal glory. Direct then your eyes and hearts to that mark, "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." It is ignominious, by the common suffrage of the civilized world, not to intend the proper business of our calling. It is your calling to forsake this world and mind the other; make haste then to quit yourselves of your entanglements, of all earthly dispositions and affections. Learn to live in this world as those that are not of it; that expect every day, and wish, to leave it: whose hearts are gone already. It is dreadful to die with pain and regret; to be forced out of the body; to die a violent death, and go away with an unwilling, reluctant heart. "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness." Fain he would stay longer, but cannot. "He hath not power over the spirit, to retain the spirit, nor hath he power in death." He must away whether he will or no; and indeed much against his will. So it cannot but be, where there is not a previous knowledge and love of a better state; where the soul understands it not, and is not effectually attempered and framed to it. O get then the lovely image of the future glory into your minds. Keep it ever before your eyes. Make it familiar to your thoughts. Imprint daily there these words, "I shall behold thy face, I shall be satisfied with thy likeness." And see that your souls be enriched with that righteousness, have inwrought into them that holy rectitude, that may dispose them to that blessed state. Then will you die with your own consent, and go away, not driven, but allured and drawn. You will go, as "the redeemed of the Lord, with everlasting joy upon your heads;" as those that know whither you go, even to a state infinitely worthy of your desires and choice, and where it is best for you to be. You will part with your souls, not by a forcible separation, but a joyful surrender and resignation. They will dislodge from this earthly tabernacle, rather as putting it off than having it rent and torn away. Loosen yourselves from this body by degrees, as we do anything we would remove from a place where it sticks fast. Gather up your spirits into themselves. Teach them to look upon themselves as a distinct thing. Inure them to the thoughts of a dissolution. Be continually as taking leave. Cross and disprove the common maxim, and let your hearts, which they use to say are wont to die last, die first. Prevent death, and be mortified towards every earthly thing beforehand; that death may have nothing to kill but your body; and that you may not die a double death in one hour, and suffer the death of your body and of your love to it both at once; much less that this should survive to your greater and even incurable misery. Shake off your bands and fetters, the terrene affections that so closely confine you to the house of your bondage. And lift up your heads in expectation of the approaching jubilee, the day of your redemption; when you are to go out free, and enter into the glorious liberty of the sons of God; when you shall serve, and groan, and complain no longer. Let it be your continual song and the matter of your daily praise, that the time of your happy deliverance is hastening on; that ere long you shall be absent from the body, and present with the Lord; that he hath not doomed you to an everlasting imprisonment within those close and clayey walls, wherein you have been so long shut up from the beholding of his sight and glory. In the thoughts of this, while the outward man is sensibly perishing, let the inward revive and be renewed day by day. What prisoner would be sorry to see the walls of his prison-house,' so a heathen speaks, mouldering down, and the hopes arriving to him of being delivered out of that darkness that had buried him, of recovering his liberty, and enjoying the free air and light. What champion, inured to hardship, would stick to throw off rotten rags, and rather expose a naked, placid, free body, to naked, placid, free air? The truly generous soul,'-so he a little above,— never leaves the body against its will.' 1 Rejoice that it is the gracious pleasure of thy good God, thou shalt not always inhabit a dungeon, nor lie amidst so impure and disconsolate darkness; that he will shortly exchange thy filthy garments for those of salvation and praise. The end approaches. As you turn over these leaves, so are your days turned over. And as you are now arrived to the end of this book, God will shortly write finis to the book of your life on earth, and show you your names written in heaven, in the book of that life which shall never end. 1 Max. Tyr. Dissert. xli. |
