Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 3 – Chapter 4
CHAP. I Rebuke of thoſe that follow the example of the wicked, and reject the example of the godly.
IF the example of men whoſe Converſation is in Heaven is to be followed, hence then are to be rebuked thoſe that rather follow the example of wicked and ungodly ones, if they be great, or learned, or the example of the multitude, will rather follow the example of any than the example of thoſe whoſe Converſation is in Heaven: thou doeſt thus and thus, and yet ſay, Do not others do ſo? but who are they that do ſo? can you ſay in your conſciences, that you think that they that do ſo have their Converſations in Heaven, you will do as they do? If there be any example that you will follow, they ſhould be ſuch that you can take it upon your conſciences, that theſe are the men who have their Converſations above; you will do as others do, in drinking; ſwearing, Sabbath-breaking, and in all manner of prophaneſs; have theſe their Converſations in Heaven? Certainly you that do ſo, you follow the example of thoſe who have their Converſations in hell. But it may be you have ſome neighbors live by you whoſe Converſations are blameleſs, yea, they are Heavenly, and when you are in your good moods, your conſciences witneſs to them, and you could wiſh that you might die the death of the righteous; are there not ſome that live in the ſame families, ſtreets, or towns where you live, that though ſometimes your hearts are againſt them, you oppoſe them, and ſcorn them, and ſpeak againſt them, yet when you are in any good temper, or afraid of death, then you could wiſh that you were as they are, and might die their death; now will you not follow their example, but rather the example of others, whoſe examples are in ſuch things as are ſutable to your vile, ſinful, and baſe luſts? We know that theſe examples of holie men ſhall riſe up in judgment againſt you another day, the Lord will condemn you from their example, and ſay, Did not ſuch and ſuch live in the familie and place where you liv'd, and did not you behold their holie and gracious Converſation, and ſhall the example of ſuch and ſuch vile wretches be followed rather than the example of my Saints? (I ſay) this will ſtop your mouthes and aggravate your condemnation in the great Audit-day: Some there are, that are ſo far from following the example of thoſe whoſe Converſations are in Heaven, as they rage and fret againſt them, and do what they can to darken the glorie of their holie lives, and if they can but have any miſreport of them they will follow it what poſſibly they can to the end that they might eclipſe the holineſs of their lives, that ſo they may ſtop their own conſciences, whereas were there not ſomething to darken the luſter and beautie of the lives of the Saints, certainlie mens hearts would condemn them for walking in contrarie waies unto them, and therefore for relief of their conſciences that they may not condemn them for walking in waies contrary to them they do what they can to ſpew upon their glory, and are glad if they can hear any ill report of them; and will follow them to their uttermoſt, and all becauſe their corrupt hearts are againſt the holineſs of their lives and Converſations.
And then laſtly, Let thoſe that profeſs Religion labor to walk ſo as their examples may be convincing others: Is there ſuch a power in holy examples to prevail with men? you that profeſs Religion, make this an argument to work upon your hearts, that your Converſation may be more in Heaven, that ſo your example may do the more good in the place where you live: you that profeſs Religion and yet have earthly ſpirits, and live ſcandalouſlie, and vilie, Oh know! you live to do as much miſchief almoſt as a man can do in this world, no greater miſchief than for one to profeſs Religion, and yet for his Converſation to be wicked and ungodly, and ſo to give the Lye to his profeſſion. But for that we ſpake to heretofore, when we treated upon that Scripture, Only let your Converſation be as becomes the Goſpel.
CHAP. IV. Two Doctrines obſerved from the Text.
THus we proceed to the principal Doctrinal Truths, For our Converſation is in Heaven. Our Citie Converſation, our Citizen-like behavior, or Citie Burges eſtate, for ſo the word ſignifies, our carriage like free denizens it is in Heaven: now from thence you have, Firſt,
That the Saints are the Citizens of Heaven.
Secondly, That their behavior and Converſation even while they are in this world it is in Heaven.
For the firſt (but briefly to make way to the ſecond) The Saints of God, they are the Citizens of Heaven, they are all free Denizens, Burgeſſes of Heaven. In the 2. Epheſ. 19. there you may ſee how God hath gathered all the Saints together to be fellow-Citizens of Heaven: Now therefore ye are no more ſtrangers and forreigners, but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houſhold of God. They have an Heavenly Citie here in the Church: the Church it is a Heaven to the Saints, and as a type of that Heaven that they ſhal come into to live for ever both with the Saints and Angels hereafter. And in the 11. Heb. 10. it's ſpoken of Abraham, He ſojourned in the Land of Promiſe, as in a ſtrange Country, dwelling in Tabernacles with Iſaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the ſame Promiſe, for he looked for a City which hath foundations, whoſe builder and maker is God. It ſeems then that all the Cities in the world in compariſon of this Citie have no foundations; Abraham looked for a Citie that hath foundations, and whoſe builder and maker is God: The builders and makers of theſe Cities are men, the founders of the moſt famous Cities in this world have been men, and manie times wicked and ungodlie men are the builders of them: The firſt Citie that we reade of was built by Cain. The builders and makers I ſay of theſe Cities are men, laboring men: But Abraham look'd for a Citie that had foundations, whoſe builder and maker is God. And in the 12. Heb. 22. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the Heavenly Jeruſalem: mark, and to an innumerable company of Angels; ſo that you are to have them your fellow Citizens, The Heavenly Jeruſalem, that is here in the Church: which is in compariſon of Jeruſalem that was in Canaan called the Heavenly Jeruſalem, ſo that they are Citizens of Heaven even as they are Members of the Church: the Saints of God here in the Church are ſaid to dwell in Heaven, but in that their Citie there are an innumerable company of Angels alſo, that plainly notes that it hath reference unto the glorious Heaven of the Saints that they are the Citizens of; the Saints are the Citizens of Heaven, there they dwell: in the 13. of the Revelation, 6 and 8. verſes, (this would ſerve for proof of this thing and ſo for the other point that remains, That their Converſation it is in Heaven) And he opened his mouth in blaſphemy againſt God, to blaſpheme his Name and his Tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the Saints, and to overcome them. Now theſe were not in Heaven, that is, in their bodies they were not in Heaven for the preſent; But they are ſaid to dwell in Heaven becauſe they are of the Church here, and they are free Denizens of Heaven too, of the Heaven of the Saints that they ſhall live in hereafter in a more glorious way; They are Now Citizens of it; and they may be ſaid to dwell in Heaven, as we ſhall ſee afterward in the opening of their Converſations being in Heaven.