Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Seven Reaſons of mens Earthly-mindedneſs.
I Shall now proceed unto the Reaſons of the Point, Why is it that mens hearts are ſo much ſet upon the earth, to mind earthly things. I give you briefly theſe Reaſons for it.
Firſt, The things of the earth appear real to them, but ſpiritual and heavenly things be but a notion: Now that that hath reality in it, takes with the heart moſt; though men are deceived in this, for the Scripture ſpeaks of ſpiritual things as the only real things, and earthly things as that that hath no being at all; in Prov. 23. 15. Wilt thou ſet thine eyes upon that which is not, (ſpeaking of the riches of the world) it hath no reality at all in it. But in the 8. Prov. 20. 21. I lead in the way of righteouſneſs, in the midſt of the paths of Judgment: That I may cauſe thoſe that love me to inherit ſubſtance; to inherit that which is, that which hath a being, othert hings they are not, the honors of the earth are but a fantaſie and vain ſhew; you have read of Bernice and Agrippa, They Acts, 23. 25. foreigncame with much Pomp, with great Fanſie, ſo the original is: but to an earthly man theſe earthly things are real things, and therefore he minds them: and wiſdom is a lye unto a fool.
Secondly, Theſe things they look upon as the preſent neceſſary things, though the Scripture tels us, but of one thing that is neceſſiary, but yet they think that theſe are preſent now, they may have need of heavenly things hereafter: They may have need of reconciliation with God, pardon of ſin, peace of conſcience, and ſuch things, they may have need of them, that is, when they depart out of this life. Oh! the infinite folly of moſt hearts to think, that there is no preſent neceſſity of ſpiritual and heavenly things, whereas indeed, our life conſiſts in them for the preſent, This is eternal life: we may come here in this world to enjoy eternal life; but the generality of people they look upon all ſpiritual things only as our good for the future, when we go from hence and are ſeen no more.
Thirdly, Theſe things are moſt ſutable to mens hearts. It's no wonder that they mind earthly things; They are of the earth, and from the earth, they have nothing but the terrae fillii.firſt Adam in them; now the firſt man was from the earth earthly. The truth is, the happineſs of mans eſtate even in innocency in the morning of the day of his creation in compariſon of the things that are now reveal'd by the Goſpel, was but earthly: take man when he was in Paradice, that Paradice was but earthly: but then take man in his fallen and corrupt eſtate then he muſt needs be earthly, and every thing cloſes with that that is ſutable to it: comfort, it doth not come ſo much from the goodneſs of a thing but from the ſutablneſs of the object with the facultie. Now the things of the earth, they are ſutable to men that are of the earth, and therefore they mind them: the heart will abundantly run out upon that which is ſutable to it.
Fourthly, Theſe things of the earth have a very fair ſhew in the fleſh, they have a kind of goodly appearance in the eye of ſence, yea, and in the eye of that reaſon that is now corrupted by ſin; we have a moſt elegant expreſſion of theſe earthly things, and earthly minded men having their hearts ſet upon theſe things, it is in the 6. to the Gal. 12. verſe, As many as deſire to make a fair ſhew in the fleſh ſaith the Scripture, the words are to ſignifie when a man looks ſmug and neat, as you ſhall have ſome men dreſſe themſelves curiouſly, and having handſom bodys they look ſo trim, fine, handſom, and very brave to the eye of all that do behold them. So ſaith he, theſe men that are the falſe teachers, they deſire to make a fair ſhew in the fleſh, that is, they look upon the things of the fleſh as thoſe things that are very brave to the eye, and they love to have all things ſo compleat about them, that they may look ſmug, and carry themſelves with ſuch beauty before the world; Oh! this is their happineſs, this they take content in, they ſeem to have fine eſtates, and to have brave cloathing, and all curious things about them, this looks ſo brave in the eyes of the world, and therefore it is that their hearts are upon them, they are here enemies to the Croſſe of Chriſt, they think ſuffering for Chriſt, poverty, diſgrace looks but untowardly. But now, thoſe that deſire to make a fair ſhew in the fleſh, that would have their countenances well waſh'd, fair, and beautiful whereſoever they come, and be as ſombody in the world, theſe do thus and thus, theſe forſake the truths of God, and ſeek to provide for themſelves in the things of the fleſh.
Fiftly, Men naturally never knew better things than the things of the earth: and therefore no marvel though they mind earthly things ſo much: Children that are born in a dungeon and never knew any better place, they can play up and down in the dungeon: So it is with men that never knew what the things of heaven and eternal life meant, they can mind earthly things better than thoſe: but when once the Lord opens the eyes of their underſtandings to ſee into the reality, excellency, and glory of ſpiritual things, they then wonder at their former blindneſs in minding ſuch poor, low, mean fooliſh rattles, as the things of the earth are.
Sixtly, There are earthly principles continually dropt into men by converſe with other men that are men of the earth: 49. Pſal. 11. and 13. Their inward thoughts is, that their houſes ſhall continue for ever, and their dwelling place to all generations, they call their lands after their own names. Their hearts are ſet upon theſe things, then in the 13. verſe, This their way is their folly, yet their poſterity approve their ſayings. They are applauded by men, they ſee that every body do applaud them in theſe waies, and when they converſe one with another, they do converſe about the things of the earth, and the common example of men, they ſee every body following the things of the earth, and are greedy after theſe toyes, and that likewiſe doth incline their minds to the things of the earth.
Laſtly, The ſenſible experience they have had of the ſweetneſſe that there is in the things of the earth: This is that that takes off their minds from ſpiritual things, and makes them to mind the things of the earth.
But though theſe be the reaſons why men do thus mind the things of the earth, and an earthly-minded man bleſſes himſelf in his way, and thinks he hath good reaſon for what he doth, and thinks all men fools that do not grovel in the ground like a mole with himſelf, and looks upon the matter of Religion but as meer words and talk, let them do what they will, I find contentment here: yet certainly at length it will prove folly, this their way, as the holy Ghoſt ſaith in the 49 Pſal. This their way it is but their folly, and in the end the wiſe men of the earth, thoſe that have ſought the things of the earth, and bleſſe themſelves in their way, they will prove to be the greateſt fools, the holy Ghoſt accounts them ſo: In the 17. of Jere. 11. verſe, As the Partridge ſitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not, ſo he that getteth riches and not by right, ſhall leave them in the midſt of his daies, and at his end ſhall be a fool. He applauds himſelf for the preſent in what he hath got, but at the end he ſhall be a fool.