One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 88
SERMON LXXXVIII. The Heavenly man much improved by much conſidering that he is not of this world.
JOH. 17.14.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
OUR Saviour had immediatly before in the tenth Verſe urged this Argument in his Praier for his Diſciples, and here we ſee within ſo little a ſpace he repeateth it again.
Though therefore we have handled this already, yet becauſe it is repeated again, and it is well obſerved that thoſe things which our Saviour did more then once ſay they have ſome notable Excellency, and deſerve a ſecond Conſideration, according to that old Rule, Pulchra ſunt bis dicenda; And in the Hebrew there is often a Gemination of the Word for the more Efficacy and Certainty; Becauſe I ſay it's thus repeated by our Saviour who had infinite Treaſures of Wiſedom within him, who was the foreign, and could not be ſtreightned in words, Therefore let us alſo have a ſecond improving of it: You ſee the Argument that it is twice repeated, They are not of the world, God is entreated to preſerve them becauſe they are not of the world even as Chriſt is not.
The Explication of this you have heard already, Therefore I proceed to the Obſervation.
Obſ. That it's good for the People of God often and often to meditate on this, Doct.That they are not of the world; This is a Truth that unleſſe unfolded and drawn out, We can never ſee the Excellency of it, unleſſe you rub and pounce this matter into powder, you can never finde the ſweetneſſe of it if you do not as they did to the Sacrifice open it and cut it in peeces, laying every part by it ſelf methodicaly, you cannot ſee the inward excellency of it: The people of God are not of this world, they are in it but not of it, They are foreign and foreign Sanctified and ſet apart from the common uſe of the world, as in the Jews Pedagogy, Veſſels and Garments, and Perſons were ſet apart only for a ſacred uſe; Hence they are compared to Starres that ſhine in a dark night, thus are they in a crooked Generation, Phil. 2.15. As the Starres are not compounded of ſublunary matter, neither are they capable of ſuch deſtructive alterations,The Godly mans often remembring that he is not of this world is of great uſe. as ſublunary and materiall things are, So it ſhould be with the Children of God.
Now there are two main Grounds and Reaſons, or Springs from whence the people of God ſhould ſo often reflect upon this, That they are not of the world.
And the one is of Inſtruction to duty,1. Inſtructing to duty.
The other is of Conſolation and Comfort.
The due Meditation of this will abundantly inſtruct to duty in theſe particulars.
1. To heavenly-mindedneſſe.Firſt, It will make us heavenly-minded, and take away that predominant earthlineſſe in us which makes us incline downwards; The …one doth not more naturally fall to the ground then our Souls till regenerated move to earthly things; Now the Apoſtle argueth to the People of God Col. 3.1, 2, 3. If ye be riſen with Chriſt, ſeek thoſe things that are above, and ſet your affections upon them: Oh this is a great matter, when not only our minde and tongue but our affections are ſet on things above; The Affections are like wings to the bird, like fire among the Elements, it aſſimilates and turneth every thing into fire; Thus where the beleever affectionately remembers he is not of the world, he cryeth out as the Maid ready to be raviſhed under all inordinate and worldly thoughts, What do you come to overwhelm me for? He runneth away as Joſeph from his Miſtreſſe, how can I do this and ſinne againſt God? The Apoſtle ſpeaks in the Name of all Beleevers, Phil. 3.20. Our Converſation is in Heaven; Thus as the Sunne in Heaven though the Beams of it ſhine upon Dunghils and noiſome Jakes, yet it's not defiled; So the Godly though they live in a noiſome, ſinful, and wicked world, yet they are not ſtained therewith becauſe their Converſation is in Heaven, and as the Bird as long as ſhe ſoars on high is out of all danger from the ſnares and gins of the Fowler: Thus the Childe of God as long as his thoughts and his affections are kept above, and are out of reach, they receive no defilement from theſe things below; Oh then let the Beleever remember he is not of this world, and this will inflame him, it will be a fiery Chariot to carry him up into Heaven: But becauſe to be heavenly-minded is a general, and particular things do moſt inform and affect, Singularia ſunt, quae pungunt.
Which conſiſts in theſe particulars.Let us branch it out in particulars, and ſhew you wherein a Godly man, remembring he is not of the world doth expreſſe his heavenly Converſation, and that emptieth it ſelf into theſe ſtreams.
1. He mortifieth and moderateth his affections to lawful things.Firſt, He mortifieth and moderateth his heart and affections even to lawfull things, 1 Cor. 7. The time is ſhort, Thoſe that marry muſt be as if they married not; Grace doth alter the pallat of Nature, ſo that like old Barzillai they take not that delight which once they had in the comforts of the world; Nature is content with few things, but Grace with the one neceſſary thing which is God himſelf; If then thy heart be like a water overrunning the banks, and ſo be muddied, ſtop thy ſelf, and remember thou art not of this world, and therefore thou dareſt not over-love or over-deſire, or go beyond thy bounds; Thou haſt indeed theſe mercies but as if thou hadſt them not; Truly this is an excellent diſcovery of an heavenly heart, when this Ivy doth not ſo cleave to thee as to conſume thee; When thou canſt ſo eat, drink, and enjoy all earthly and worldly Comforts, that yet thou do not diſtemper and diſeaſe thy ſoul.
2. Worldly things are but ſecondary and leſſe principal.Secondly, An Heavenly Heart is in theſe worldly things, when they are made but the ſecondary and the leſſe principall; They are the Stars not the Sun; This our Saviour makes a fundamentall qualification to every Diſciple; He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me, Matth. 10.37. The Godly man therefore hath Chriſt lying neareſt to his heart, There muſt be nothing above him, equall to him, as David expreſſeth this predominancy often, Whom have I in Heaven but thee? And My Soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thee at all times; And God was his Portion; The Light of his Countenance was better then Life, and all Earthly Comfort.: If therefore thou remembreſt thou art not of this world, Earthly things ſhall be admitted only to the Court of the Temple, not to thy heart which is the Holy of Holies; They are kept at the bottome of the Hill not ſuffered to come up to the Mount; There is no man if not truly regenerated, though never ſo great in parts and expreſſions of Religion, that giveth Chriſt the better part of his Soul; That gives the Superiority to him; As in the Sacrifices of old, all the fat was to be burnt unto God; Oh then awaken thy ſelf in this matter, if thou art not of the world then God and Chriſt are in the uppermoſt room of thy heart, They are more unto thee then ten thouſand Creatures; To ſay, thou ar… no prophane perſon, no wicked perſon, is a poor and a ſmall matter; But art thou one to whom Chriſt is more then Wealth, then honour, and all Greatneſſe?
Thirdly,3. He will not ſin againſt God to obtain great advantages. The man that remembers he is not of the world dareth not ſinne againſt God to obtain the greatest advantages here below; This doth neceſſarily follow from the former, For if once he be ſo heavenly as to love God and Chriſt better then all, then he will do nothing that he may loſe them: He will not be ſo fooliſh as to take Dirt, and to loſe Gold: Hence thoſe Hearers that had the Cares of the world choaking the good Seed, and thoſe Apoſtates that fell off in Perſecution, all theſe did ſerve Mammon, and not God, for when it comes to this, here is an offer and choice, either I muſt loſe God or this worldly advantage: If thou wilt take the preſent world and leave Chriſt, this cannot ſtand with an Heavenly heart: I do not ſpeak of ſome particular paſſages, for the Fleſh ſometimes overcometh the Spirit, but of an habituall and conſtant courſe; Therefore it was a full diſcovery that Moſes was not of the world, when he choſe the Reproaches of Chriſt rather then all the Treaſures of Egypt: This an earthly heart would never have done.
Fourthly, The man that remembers he is not of the world, deſires not, 4. He affects worldly things no further then by them he may be ſerviceable to God.neither rejoyceth in worldly things any further then thereby he is made more ſerviceable to God and inſtrumental te his glory; All theſe earthly things they are Talents, and we are called Stewards, Now the Steward looks not upon the money and Rents he receiveth as his, he rejoyceth not in them as his own, He is to improve all for the beſt to his Maſters uſe; Thus the heavenly Chriſtian doth, This Health, This Life, Theſe parts, Theſe Comforts they are none of mine, I am but a Steward, I muſt give an account what improvement I have made of them; This is a notable diſcovery of thy heavenlineſſe, when thou art thus affected.
Fifthly, He that Conſiders he is not of this world, 5. Labours to keep his heart holy in the midſt of earthly buſineſſe.his Heavenly-mindedneſſe is diſcovered, in that though he be in the midſt of all theſe buſineſſes, yet he labours to keep his heart holy and fervent; His Shop doth not dead his heart, his worldly affairs do not dull the Edge of his Spirit, but he can delight in God, call him Father, be fervent and effectuall in Duties: Not but that the moſt Heavenly man which is findes and complaineth of much deadneſſe and dullneſſe: They can be affected with worldly things but not Heavenly, onelyonly they are ſenſible and complain of this dead heart; That as they mourn over a dead Friend, a dead Childe, ſo they do over a dead heart, onelyonly herein they ſtrive and labour, that no worldly thing may any whit abate their Affections to God, That they may cry out, and ſay, O Lord, how gladly would I be enjoying of thee, but that this world will not let me; Truly theſe ſtrivings and reſiſtings of the world do very much argue thy ſpiritual and heavenly heart.
Sixthly, The Heavenly Heart would not be alwaies in the conflicting part of Grace, but in the triumphing part which is the more heavenly work,6. Would fain get to the triumphing part of grace▪ for as one Starre differs from another, So one part of Heavenly work is more excellent then another; To grapple with Luſts, to fig… with ſinne, this is Heavenly work; But to enjoy God, to rejoyce with joy unſpeakable, and full of Glory, this is more Heavenly: Now the Iſraelites did not ſo much deſire the deſtroying of the Canaanites, that they might be refreſhing themſelves with the Milk and Honey of the Land; As the People of God groan to be above an earthly, a proud heart, luſtful heart, that they might enjoy the ſweetneſſe of grace.
7. Longs for Chriſts coming.Seventhly, The Heavenly Heart conſidering it is not of this world doth therefore long for and haſten the Coming of Chriſt; We are daily to pray that Chriſts Kingdom may come, and the Godly are deſcribed by this Expectation, Heb. 2.29. They look for, and haſten the Coming of Chriſt; 2 Pet. 3.12. The Church cryeth, Come Lord Jeſus, Come quickly; She praieth vehemently, as if ſhe could not ſtay till he did come? That as Siſera's Wife ſtood looking out of the Window expecting her Lords Coming in Triumph, Thus do the godly, and therefore they are to lift up their Heads, Mat. 24. Then their Winter is over, and their Summer is come, Then ſhall there be no more ſinnes, no more cares, no more clogs nor troubles, thou ſhalt take thy leave of all theſe.
8. Delights in thoſe things that encreaſe a ſpiritual life.Laſtly, He that is not of the world delights in ſuch things that doe either beget or encreaſe spiritual and Heavenly Life; Now all the holy Ordinances of God are appointed for this end, Praier, Preaching of the Word, the ſolemn Aſſemblies, holy conference, all theſe things are like Wood to keep the Fire alwaies burning; You may ſee the Expreſſions David uſeth about the Ordinances, The Word was ſweeter then the honey and the honey-comb: In his Baniſhment there was no earthly thing troubled him ſo much as to be reſtrained and kept from the Solemn and Divine worſhip of God; That heart muſt needs grow cold and dead, that is not often enlivened by theſe, it will quickly be like a barren Wilderneſſe, if theſe Clouds drop not on it; The ſame Word that begat thee unto a ſpirituall Life, muſt encreaſe and continue thee therein.
In the ſecond general place, It's good to reminde our ſelves often that we are not of the world hereby to preſſe our ſelves to a Non-conformity and Non-compliance with it, Rom. 12. Be not conformed to the world but transformed in your minde; We are not to love or delight in what the evil world doth, We are not to do as they do; Though it be the greater part, and though a multitude go that way, yea, though all the world go in an evil way, and though but one man yet thou wilt not ſymbolize with it; And truly this we ought to preſſe upon our ſelves, how often are we ready to ſay with that man concerning the Maſſe, Eamus ad communem errorem, Let us go to the common Errour, Who will ſwim againſt the ſtream? Who is like that River Alpheus that though it empty it ſelf in the Sea, yet keeps its own ſweetneſſe, and is not infected with the ſaltneſſe of that water? Oh what a comfortable Teſtimony of grace is it, to be ſuch an one that the world neither by its flatteries or its frowns is able to put thee out of a good path.
Thirdly, The frequent meditating on this, that we are not of the world will make us admirably love and commend the Grace of God: For whoſe heart will not move within him when he ſhall conſider how many thouſands of the world live and die in that worldly diſpoſition, yet God hath ſeperated me from it? Yea, how many of thy acquaintance, of thy Kindred, of thy near Friends, are yet of the world, and thou art not? So that the experimental knowledge of this will fill thy heart and mouth with joy and praiſes; God hath in this done more for thee, then if he had given thee the whole world.
Fourthly, The knowing and thinking this that they are not of the world will make them be content and patient under the afflictions and troubles they meet with in the world; For ſeeing they are not of the world they matter not how it is with them; Their happineſſe and miſery is not bound up in this Orb; They are Pilgrims and Strangers, and no wonder if ſuch do not matter the accomodations they finde in the way;II. Often reflecting upon this will bring much Conſolation, Conſidering If they come to an unfurniſhed Inne they will make a ſhift, they will ſay, it is but for a night, and thus if we are not of the world, though God lay this chaſtiſement upon us, though he raiſe up that trouble againſt us, yet it's but a night, they are not of this Countrey, and therefore cannot be undone here.
In the 2d place, The often reflecting upon this, that we are not of this world, will bring much conſolation: For
1. Hereby God will take the more ſpecial care of us, 1. Gods taking the more care of them.and vouchſafe the more powerful protection unto us, We are not of the world, Therefore under all the wrongs, troubles, and injuries of the world, we are to look up unto God, if God love his own Name, he will do good to ſuch who are ſerviceable to all his.2. Their being quaiified as that come under Chriſts Fraier.
2 Here is Conſolation, Becauſe they have the fit qualification of theſo who come under Chriſts Praier; You ſee that which makes Chriſt ſo earneſtly commend them io his Father, is becauſe they are not of the world, The effectual fervent praier of a righteous man prevails much, how much more will Chriſts praier?
3. Here is Conſolation, That becauſe we are not of the world,3. And that God will ere long take them out of the world. therefore God will at laſt take us out of it to Eternal glory; The godly are of heaven, and heaven is their proper place; That as it's ſaid of our body, Duſt thou art, and to dust thou ſhalt return, So, of heaven thou art, and to heaven thou ſhalt return.
Ʋſe 1 Ʋſe of Exhortation to the Children of God, Art thou not of the world then dwell on this, improve this, do not make thy ſelf like a worldling, Are they proud, paſſionate, earthy, envious? Do thou abhor to be ſo, Shall ſuch a man as I make my ſelf like the vile ones of the Earth? Neither be thou daunted, becauſe the world revileth, rageth, and walketh contrary to thee, Shall the Star leave its glory and come to be a clod of Earth? Say with the Olive-Tree and Fig-Tree, Shall I leave my fatneſſe, and become a bramble or a briar? It's the envy and malice of the world that ſets againſt thee, ſuch ſoar eyes cannot abide any dazling luſtre.
Ʋſe 2 Ʋſe 2. of Admonition to thoſe wicked men that are of the world, not to think it ſtrange if there are ſome who dare not run into the ſame exceſſe of Riot with them; Do not complain of their rigidneſſe and ſingularity, that they have no good fellowſhip with them, and ſo are not fit to live in the world; How can two walk together except they be agreed? vnleſſe there were the ſame natures, the ſame principles, never think there can be the ſame hearts, yea, do thou by them be admoniſhed and haſten out of this world by an heavenly change upon thee; It's no ſtaying in this Sodom, in this Babylon.