A Pastors Legacy to His Beloved People, Sermon 2
SERMON II. To the rich and worldly.
ARe there not divers, that eat and and drink, and sleep, have minds set on earth, and think 'tis to no purpose to be zealous for Heaven?
The first Word of Exhortation.
First, Canst thou slight long, when thou makest so much of short life?
Is not all thy pains for that only?
Should not fourscore thousand years, be of more value, then fourscore?
Oh! take care to live well, but let it be forever.
2. Word. Secondly, Make the cheapest, pleasantest, and surest provision for thy self and thine.
1. The surest: There is no assurance in the world; man liveth not by bread.
Riches take themselves wings, and flie away; Heaven and Earth shall pass, before one Iota of the Word of God.
1 John 2.17. The world passeth away, but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever.
Is earth, or joy best? Joy is sure only in God.
What ever is desired more then God, cannot come but with vengeance; it is but fatting to the day of slaughter; with him, wealth is no weale.
It's oft, that many have the desire of their souls in wrath, as Israel had quails; as Balaam had liberty to go to Balak; as Israel had a King.
However they may seem blest, the wrath of God is ever upon the Families that are irreligious, Jer. 10. last; Though they may seem to have the scabbart of blessedness, they have not the spirit of blessedness; but the fury of the Lord is certainly upon them.
2. Pleasantest, one day in God's Courts, is worth ten thousand in the the world.
Ask those that have tried both.
3. Cheapest; less pains will serve for Eternal life, then most bestow for Temporal.
And though Religion seem grievous to corrupt nature, yet know, faith does that with delight, in which infidelity finds great pain.
Many get greater estates by Marriages, then thou dost by thy Plough or Shop.
Marry the Lord Jesus, and with him thou hast all things, 1 Tim. 4.8. Bodily exercise even in Religion, profits all, but godliness hath the promise of both worlds.
All the cost for Heaven, is to part with that which is worse then nothing.
3. Word. Thirdly, a worldly heart stands in direct opposition to God, and contradiction to Life.
Consider, Rom. 8.6, 7. The carnal mind is death, and enmity to God, 1 John 2.15. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Which savours and relishes most with thy heart, a promise from God, a good bargain with men?
Remember, Mat. 6.24. It's impossible to serve both God and the world, Phil. 3.18, 19. The carnal minds, are enemies to the Cross of Christ, (that is to the spirituality of the Gospel, and the suffering of the Cross) and their end is destruction.
Thou that snuggest in thy calling, hast no mind to the house of God, or, when thou art there, sleepest, lettest all go as a tale.
Thou art earthly, God is heavenly; thou sowest to the flesh, and wilt of it reap corruption.
God help him that comes hereafter to heave up thy heart; Oh that the Dove would put under her wings to mise clods of earth! Come let me meet you wealthy at the last day.
If thou goest downward, thou leavest God, and life, who are in the highest Heavens.
4. Word. Fourthly, God has warned thee from following the course of the world, and that's thy Rock on which thou restest, as worldly delight is the cord which draws thee.
Rom. 12.2. Be not conformed to this world. 1 John 5.19. The whole world lies in wickedness Ephes. 2.2. The course of the world is to obey the Devil. 1 Cor. 11.32. The world must be condemned.
Must thou needs go in this company? If thou lovest it so well, God grant I may bid thee farewel, not only in time, but for all eternity.
5. Word. Fifthly, Know the heaping up of wealth, is but the charging of thy account; the well imploying of it, is the satisfying of thy account.
It would be a strange alteration in the world, if men did believe indeed; wealth were only a Stewardship.
I pray remember; our estates were not given us for our delights, but for Gods use: All talents are his, Luke 16.2, 10, 11: They are another mans, and we are onelyonly trusted to be faithful in them, Mat. 25. He gives to every one what talent he pleases, but he looks for improvement: and how is that? This eminently, we are to bestow it on Christs receivers.
If thou keepest thy estate from a publick use, to thy private; if thou keepest it from the Church and poor, for thy superfluity, thou art an unjust steward; for every man must enjoy all to the glory of God, and most improve all his Talents for his Masters advantage, Phil. 2.4, to 9. The same mind is to be in us that was in Christ, and every man is to think of the things of others, more than his own; thy conveniencies must yield to others necessities.
Thy estate is so to maintain thee and thine, as for divine honour; all besides ought to be for the publick use, for the Church and poor, Amos 6.4, to 6. There's a sad denunciation against luxurious living, with neglect of those that are in misery.
Oh, regard the miseries of the poor, and the Church of God more!
Thou canst not help them from misery, because then thou shalt not live in so much superfluity; this will be a sad answer at the great day; thy accounts then (however) will be great enough: Oh, put something on the page of expences, let not all stand on that of receipts.
How gladly would men change their trading at that day?
6. Word. Sixthly, Art thou content to take this for thy chief portion?
Man! shall the gains of thy Plough, thy Shop, thy Trade be thy portion for ever? if not, why lookest not thou after another? why chosest thou that, which thou wouldst not have?
Art thou willing to be one of those, described, Psal. 17.16. Men of the world, that have their portion in this life? Wilt thou say farewel to God, and Heaven, and pardon of sins, and a holy heart, the light of Gods countenance, and everlasting joy? if not, why seekest thou not for them?
7. Word. Seventhly, What wilt thou say when the slighted offers of treasures of life shall be laid out before thee?
What wilt say when God shall put thee in mind of the Texts and Arguments thou hast forgotten, and (may be) didst not regard while they were speaking to thee? when he shall tell thee of his invitation, Isa. 55.1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price.
Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that are weary, and heavy laden.
John 5.40. You would not come unto me that ye might have life.
When he shall remember thee of the discovery of hypocrifie, from Job 27.8. What is the hope of the hypocrite, when God shall take away his Soul?
The laying out of treasures of the Gospel, from Mat. 12.18, 21. Behold my Servant, in whom my soul delighteth.
The serious warning thou hast received, from James 1.15. When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
When God will prove that to thee, Rom. 10.21. All the day long, have I stretched out my hands unto a disobedient and gain saying people.
How easie will God answer thy beggings for life? and say, No, go to thy Plow, and thy Oxen. Remember, thy Shop, and thy Cloth took up thy mind; So many Winter & Summer Sabbaths, and their serious Repetitions, when my poor Servant, with all earnestness, held out Eternal Life unto thee, drest it in all shapes, to present it lovely in thy sight; Go to thy Tools, thy Mony, thy Fields; Thou would'st have none of me, and I must have none of thee.
8. Word. Eightly, Tast the riches of Faith. Come, shall I shew you a good bargain before I part? It's this, Take Joy and Rest, and let go Labour and Sorrow; You toyl but for vexation; rest now, and live with God, and you shall rest, and joy, for ever.
Would you not sit on an easie Couch a day or two, for ten Thousand pound a Year? Such is the bargain of Religion, do but tast what the joys of God are, and you will say say so, as sure as ever you saw the Sun.
Remember at my parting, I commended a place of Scripture to you, Isa. 55.2, 3. Wherefore do you spend your Mony for that which is not Bread, and your Labor for that which satisfies not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat you that which is good, and let your souls delight it self in fatness; incline your ear, and come unto me, hear and your souls shall live.
Write small gains on all thy increase, where there is much labour, checks of Conscience, Gods curse, and Hells flames. Write great gai… where a life is Dignity, Rest, and Joy brings Divine blessings here, and a Crown, and Kingdom hereafter.
I have a request to you, exprest Mat. 6.33. Seek first the Kingdom of God, that so you may have comfort of both worlds; if thou seekest it last, thou wilt have comfort of neither.
Oh, how much fuller of wealth is faith than land? how much fuller of joy is God than money? Oh, turn thy face Heaven-ward, search thy state, cry for pardon, live in Gods fight, read, hear, and converse, and if thou findest not a better trade than toiling in the world, send thy curse after me; but if a better, send thy blessing.
Come, shall I now win thy heart? wilt thou henceforth lift up thine eyes to Heaven, and put thy name in the Book of the Converted, even this Sermon?