Sermons Volume 2, 2 Corinthians 5 · Sermon 9
SERMON IX.
2 Cor. 5.6.
— Knowing that whilst we are at home in the Body, we are absent from the Lord.
FRom the connexion with the former branch, you see a Christians Condition in the World is mixed; he is comforted, but not satisfied; his Faith is satisfied, for he is confident, but his love is not satisfied; For while he is at home in the Body he is absent from the Lord. And that not for a little time only, but for his whole course, as long as his Life shall last, all the while that he is at home in the Body. This is added to shew the reason, 1. Of groaning. 2. Of confidence. Of groaning, because we are absent from Christs presence and full Communion with him in Glory. Of confidence. We must be sometime present with the Lord. Now we are not, therefore we have a certain perswasion, that there shall be granted to us a nearer access after Death. Then we look cheerfully upon Death, as that which bringeth us home to God, from whom these earthly Bodies keep us as strangers.
Two points offer themselves to us.
1. That a Christian is not in his own proper home, while he sojourneth in the Body, or liveth here in this present World, in an earthly Tabernacle.
2. The main reason why a Christian counteth himself not at home, is because he is absent from the Lord.
1. That a Christian is not in his own proper home, while he sojourneth in the Body, or liveth here in this present World, in an earthly Tabernacle. The Greek words run thus; We in dwelling in the Body, dwell forth from the Lord. That is, from the Lord Jesus, the beholding of whose Glory and presence we must want so long, which is grievous to a Christian. Instances; Abraham who had best right by Gods immediate Donation, Heb. 11.9. He sojourned in the Land of promise, as in a strange Country. As in a place wherein he was to stay but a while, and to pass thorough it to a better Country. David who had most possession, an opulent and powerful King: Abraham inherited or purchased nothing in the Land of Canaan, but a burying place; but David counted himself a stranger too, Psa. 39.12. I am a stranger and a pilgrim, as all my Fathers were. He that bore so full a sway in that Land, did not look upon the world as a place of rest and stability. But it may be he spoke this when he was chased like a flea, or hunted like a partridge, upon the mountains. No; in the midst of all his wealth and opulenlency, when he had offered many Cart-loads of Gold and Silver for the building of the Temple: See 1 Chron. 29.15. For we are strangers and sojourners before thee, as were all our Fathers: Nay Jesus Christ, who was Lord Paramount telleth us, John 17.16. I am not of this World. He that was Lord of all, had neither House nor home, he passed through the World to sanctify it as a place of service, but he setled not his constant residence here as in a place of rest. We do not inhabit, only pass through to a better place.
Reasons.
1. Our birth and parentage is from Heaven, every thing tendeth to the place of its original. Men Love their native soil; things bred in the water delight to return thither; Inanimate things tend to their centre; a stone will fall to the ground, though broken in pieces by the fall; air imprisoned in the bowels and caverns of the Earth causes terrible Convulsions and Earthquakes, till it get up to its own place. All things seek to return thither from whence they came: Grace that came from Heaven carryeth the Heart thither again. Jerusalem from above is the Mother of us all. Heaven is our native Country, but the World is a strange place: And therefore though the man be at home, yet the Christian is not; he is out of his proper place. Contempt of the World is usually made the fruit of our regeneration, 1 John 5.4. Whosoever is born of God overcometh the World. There is something in them that intitleth it self to God, and worketh towards him, and carryeth the Soul thither where God sheweth most of himself, so 2 Pet. 1.4. We are made partakers of the Divine Nature, and escape the corruption which is in the World through lust. The World will not satisfy the Divine Nature; there is a strong inclination in us, which disposeth us to look after another World, 1 Pet. 1.3. Assoon as made Children, we reckon upon a Childs portion; another Nature hath another aim and tendency. There is a double reason why the new Creature cannot be satisfied here. 1. Here is not enough dispensed to answer Gods Love in the Covenant. I will be your God, noteth the gift of some better thing than this World can afford unto us, Heb. 11.16. God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a City. That Title is not justified till he give us Eternal rewards, For to be a God to any, is to be an Infinite, Eternal Benefactor. Compare Matth. 22.32. with the forementioned place. 2dly▪ Here is not enough to satisfy the desire, expectation and inclination of the renewed heart. The aim of it is carryed after two things: Perfect injoyment of God, and perfect conformity to God. There is their home, where they may be with God, and where they may be free from sin. Their Love to Christ is such, that where he is there they must be, Phil. 1.23. Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, Col. 3.1. If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. And there is a final, perfect estate, to which the new Creature is tending; when it shall never dishonour God more, but be made like him, and compleatly subject to him; when never troubled with sin more.
2. There lyeth their Treasure, and their Inheritance. 'Tis said, Eph. 1.3. that Christ had blessed us with spiritual Blessings in heavenly places. He hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in earthly places; hath he not? Here he hath Adopted, Justified, and Sanctified us in part, but the full accomplishment is reserved for the World to come. God would not dispense the fulness of our blessedness in the present World, that's an unquiet place; we are not out of Gun-shot and harms way, nor in an earthly Paradise. There Adam injoyed God among the beasts, but we shall injoy him in Heaven among the Angels. In the World God would shew his bounty to all his Creatures. A Common Inn for Sons and Bastards; the place of tryal, not of recompense; the place where God hath set his Foot-stool, not his Throne. Isa. 66. 'Tis Satans walk, the Devils Circuit; Whence comest thou? From compassing the Earth too and fro, Job 2.2. A place defiled with sin, and beareth the marks of it, given to all mankind in Common, Psa. 115.16. The Heaven, even the Heavens are the Lords, but the Earth hath he given to the Children of men. The slaughter House and shambles of the Saints, for they are slain upon Earth: A receptacle for elect and reprobate.
3. There are all our kindred. There is our home and Country, where our Father is, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and all the Holy ones of God. Vbi pater ibi patria. We pray to him, Our Father which art in Heaven. 'Tis Heaven that is our Fathers House, and the everlasting mansions of the Blessed. There, is our Redeemer and Elder Brother, Col. 3.1. The Heaven of Heavens doth contain him. There are the best of the family, Matth. 8.12. There is Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 'Tis a misery to be strangers to the common-wealth of Israel, to be shut out from the society of Gods people; but in Heaven there are other manner of Saints there. To be shut out from the company of the Blessed, is a dreadful excommunication indeed.
4. There we abide longest. An Inn cannot be called our home. Here we abide but for a night; but there for ever with the Lord. The World must be surely left; if we had a certain term of years fixed, yet 'tis very short in comparison of Eternity. Therefore since we live longest in the other World there is our home, Mic. 2.10. Arise, depart hence, this is not your rest. God speaketh it of the Land of Canaan, when they had polluted it with sin; 'tis true of all the world, sin hath brought in Death, and there must be a riddance: This Life is but a passage to Eternity. Israel first dwelt in a wandring Camp before they came to dwell in Cities, and walled Towns; and the Mysteries of their Religion were first seated in a Tabernacle, and then in a Temple: So here first in a Mortal, Frail Condition, and then come to the place of our Eternal rest. There is an appointed time for us all to remove, Job 7.1. There is an appointed time for man upon Earth, his days are as the days of an hireling. An hireling when he hath done his work, then he receiveth his wages, and is gone. Actors when they have finished their parts, they go within the curtain, and are seen no more: So when we have served our generation, and finished our course, our place will know us no more, and God will furnish the World with a new Scene both of Acts and Actors.
5. The necessary graces that belong to a Christian, shew that a Christian is not yet in his proper place, as Faith, Hope and Love.
1. Faith hath another World in prospect and view; and our great aim is to come at it: Sense sheweth us we have no abiding City upon Earth, but Faith points at one to come, where Christ is, and we shall one day be. Now this Faith were but a fancy, if we should always abide in this Earthly Tabernacle, and there were no other Life to be expected when this is at an end. The Salvation of our Souls is called the end of our Faith, 1 Pet. 1.9. That is, the main Blessing we look for from Christ. So 1 Tim. 1.16. We believe on him to Life everlasting. So Heb. 10.39. We are not of them who draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of their Souls. The great satisfaction that the immortal Soul hath by Faith is, that it seeth a place of Eternal abode, and therefore it cannot settle here, it must look higher than the present World. Faith perswadeth us that the end of our Creation and Regeneration was far more noble than a little miserable abode here. There is no man in the world, but if he follow the light of reason, much more if he be guided by the Light of Grace, will seek a place and an estate of rest, wherein he may finally quiet his mind. Therefore Faith cannot be satisfied till we reach our Heavenly Mansion; he is unworthy of an Immortal Soul that looketh no further than earthly things.
2. Hope was made for things to come, especially for our full and final Happiness. God fits us with grace as well as with Happiness, he doth not only make a grant of a glorious estate, but hath given us grace to expect it. Hope would be of no use, if it did not look out for another Condition, Rom. 8.24. Hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for it? No; there is something to come; and therefore because we have it not in possession, we lift up the head, and look for it with a longing and desirous expectation. 'Tis said, Col. 1.5. That our Hope is laid up for us in Heaven. A Believers portion is not given him in hand; he hath it only in hope. He hath it not, but 'tis safely kept for his use, and that in a most sure place, in Heaven, where Thieves cannot break thorough and steal.
3. Love. The Saints have heard much of Christ, read much of Christ, tasted and felt much of Christ; they would fain see him, and be with him, 1 Pet. 1.8. Whom having not seen ye Love. Many Love Jesus Christ, whom they have not seen in the flesh, or conversed with him bodily, but though they have not seen him, they desire to see him; for Love is an affection of union, it desireth to be with the party loved. The Spirit in the Bride saith, come, Rev. 22.17. The Adulteress saith, stay away, but the loving Spouse and the Bride saith come. Carnal men will not give their vote this way, but the Soul that loveth Christ would have him either come to them, or take them up to him: their Souls are not at ease till this be accomplished.
1. Use. Let us give in our names among them that profess themselves to be strangers and sojourners here in the World. This Confession must be made not in word only, but indeed and in truth. We must carry our selves as strangers and pilgrims.
1. Let us be drawing home as fast as we can. A Traveller would be passing over his Journey as soon as may be; so should we be hastening home in our desires and affections. 'Tis but a sorry home to be at home in the Body, when all that while we are absent from the Lord. There is a tendency in the New Nature to God, a perfect enjoyment of God, and a perfect subjection to God; therefore our desires should still draw homewards, Heb. 11.16. They desire a Countrey that is an heavenly. All that have gotten a new heart and nature from the Lord, their hearts run upon the expectation of what God hath promised, they cannot be satisfied with any thing they enjoy here.
2. By making serious provision for the other World, Matth. 6.33. But first seek the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added unto you. Men that bestow all their labour and travel about earthly things, and neglect their precious and immortal Souls, they are contented to be at home in the Body, and look no farther: But when you are furnishing the Soul with Grace, and grow more heavenly, strict and mortified, you are more meet, Col. 1.12. Who hath made us meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. They that wallow in the delights and contentments of the flesh, dislike strictness and holiness; What should they do with Heaven? they are not fit for it. Every degree of Grace is a step nearer home, Psal. 84.7. They shall go on from strength to strength. Get clearer Evidences of your right to everlasting Life, 1 Tim. 6.19. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life. The comfort of what you have done for God will abide with you; therefore let it be your care and great business not so much to live well here, as to live well hereafter; our wealth, and honours, and dignities do not follow us into the other world, but our works do. Consider the place you are bound for, and what Commodities grow currant there, what will stead you when other things fail.
3. Mortifie Carnal desires, 1 Pet. 2.11. As strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the Soul. The Flesh-pots of Aegypt made Israel despise Canaan. Fleshly lusts do only gratifie the Body, as corrupted with sin, and therefore they must be subdued and kept under by those who have higher and better things to care for. If we were to live here for ever, it were no such absurd thing to gratifie the flesh, and please the body; though even so it were not a practice so suitable to the rational life, yet not altogether so absurd, as when we must be gone, and shortly dislodge, and when we have great and precious Promises of happiness in another World, 2 Cor. 7.1. Having therefore these Promises, let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit. That bindeth it more upon us. These lusts blind the mind, besot the heart, burden us in our Journey homeward, divert our thoughts and care; yea, being indulged and allowed, they make us forfeit Heaven, and will prove at length the ruine of our Souls. Sowing to the flesh cuts off the hopes of happiness, Gal. 6.8. Well then, bethink your selves, if you look for Heaven, will you cherish the flesh, which is the Enemy of your Salvation? Do you expect a room among the Angels, and will you live as those who are slaves of the Devil? The World is not your Countrey, and will you wholly be occupied and taken up about worldly things, what you shall eat and drink, and what you shall put on?
4 Patiently endure the inconveniencies of your Pilgrimage. Strangers will meet with hard usage: 'Tis no news that all things do not succeed with the Heirs of Promise according to their hearts desire here in the World. The World will love its own, but they are chosen out of the World. Joh. 15.19. Christ died not for this, that we should be dandled upon the Worlds knees: As long as the end shall be happy, let us bear the inconveniencies of the way with the more patience. A Christian that is convinced of a Life to come, should not be greatly dismayed at any temporal Accident. The discourse between Modestus a Governour under Valence, and Basil the Great in Naz. his twentieth Oration is very notable to this purpose, when he threatned him with banishment.
I know no Banishment that know no abiding place here in the World: I cannot say that this place is mine, nor can I say the other is not mine, where ever God shall cast me; rather all is the Lords, whose Stranger and Pilgrim I am: Every place is alike near to Heaven, and thither I am tending. This is to carry our selves as Strangers and Pilgrims. Indeed, to be more indifferent as to the good things of this life, and to take them as God sendeth them; but Heaven will make amends for all. Many times the World proveth a Step-mother. The ground that bringeth forth Thistles and Nettles of its own accord, will not bear choicer Plants: But 'tis your comfort you shall be transplanted, Heb. 10.34. From whence do you fetch your supports in any cross? 1 John 3.1. A Prince that travaileth abroad in disguise, may be slighted and ill treated, but you have a Glorious inheritance reserved for you, therefore this should be your comfort and support.
5. Beg direction from God, that you may go the shortest way home, Psa. 119.19. I am a stranger upon Earth, hide not thy Commandments from me. It concerneth a stranger to look after a better and a more durable estate; there is no direction how to attain it, but in the Word of God, and there is no saving understanding of it but in the light of his Spirit; this we must earnestly …e…k, that in every thing we may understand our duty, that we be not found in a false way: Saved as by fire, 1 Cor. 3.13. Make an hard shift to scramble to Heaven.
6. Get as much of home as you can in your pilgrimage, in the earnest and first fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8.23. And not only they, but our selves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we our selves groan within our selves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our Bodies. In Ordinances, Matth. 26.29. But I say unto you I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the Vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdom. Meditation, Word, Prayer and Communion of Saints.
2. Doct. The main reason why a good Christian counteth himself not at home is, because he is absent from the Lord, while he is in the Body.
I shall here enquire,
1. How believers are absent from the Lord.
2. Why this maketh them look upon the World as a strange place, and Heaven as their House.
1. How are believers absent from the Lord: When he dwelleth in them as in his Temple, and there is a near and close union between him and them? And he hath promised, that where two or three are gathered together in his name he is in the midst of them?
I answer; Christ is with us indeed, but we are not with him. He dwelleth in us by his grace, and influenceth us with quickening and strength, but he is at a distance; we can have no personal converse with him, though there be a Spiritual commerce between us. But in Heaven we shall be translated to Christ, and injoy the fulness of his grace; here we walk by faith and not by sight, as it is in the next verse. In short our Communion with Christ is, 1. Not Immediate. 2. Nor full. 3. Often interrupted.
1. 'Tis not Immediate. We see him now as covered and vailed in Ordinances and Providences, but then we shall see him Face to Face. In providences we injoy him only at the second or third hand, Hosea 2.21, 22. I will hear the Heavens, and they shall hear the Earth, and the Earth shall hear the Corn, and Wine, and Oyl, and they shall hear Jezreel. The mercy and goodness of God passeth from Creature to Creature before it cometh to us. So in Ordinances all that we have from him, is by the means of the Word and Sacraments; there we shall injoy him without means, and without these external helps, for there God will be all in all, 1 Cor. 15.28. We shall then ever be before him, in his Eye and presence: And in his presence is fulness of joy, Psa. 16.11. Our Communion with him is not a fancy, but indeed, 1 John 1.3. Truly our Communion is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. But this commerce is maintained at a distance, he is in Heaven and we are upon Earth; 'tis maintained by Faith, but then all is evident to sense.
2. Now 'tis not full. There is a defect both in the Pipe and the Vessel, we cannot contain all that he is able to give out, nor can the means convey it to us; the means are as narrow conduits from the fountain, or as Creeks from the Sea; the fountain could send forth more water, but the pipe or conduit can convey no more: The Sea could pour a greater floud, but the Creek can receive no more. When God dispenseth himself by means, either in a way of punishment or blessing, he doth not give out himself in that fulness and Latitude, as when he is all in all. In punishing the wicked here he punisheth us by a Creature. A Giant striking with a straw cannot put forth his strength with it: So in blessing no Creature nor Ordinance can convey all the goodness, of God to us. Therefore now we have an imperfect power against sin, imperfect peace and comfort in our Consciences, an imperfect Love to God, but when our Communion is Immediate then will it be full; we converse with Christ, without lett and impediment, and he maketh out himself to us in a greater latitude and fulness then now.
3. Our Communion with Christ is often interrupted; but in Glory we shall injoy his company for ever, and shall have constant and near fellowship, 1 Thes. 4.17. We shall be ever with the Lord. That day is never darkened with Cloud or night; we shall meet and never part more; all distance is gone, and weakness is gone, and we shall everlastingly abide before his Throne.
2. Why Gods Children count themselves not at home, till they are admitted into this perpetual society with Christ?
1. Because this is the blessedness which is promised to them. And therefore they expect it, and thirst after it, John 12.26. Where I am, there shall my Servant be. 'Tis our duty to follow him where ever he leadeth us here: And 'tis our happiness to be with him for ever hereafter. We often look upon the Happiness of Heaven, as it freeth us from all pains and torments; No: The chiefest part is to be with Christ. Our Glory and Happiness consists much in being in his company. So when he maketh his last will and Testament, John 17.24. Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me, may be where I am, and behold my glory. That's it; He prayeth they may be brought safe there and be happy for evermore.
2. This is that which is highly prized by them, to be where Christ is. Why is this so much prized by true Christians?
1. Out of thankfulness to Christ's delighting in our presence. Therefore much more should we delight in his. He longed for the society of men before the Creation of the World, Pro. 8.31. I rejoiced in the habitable parts of the Earth, and my delights were with the Sons of men. Christ delighted in all the Creatures, as they were the effects of his Wisdom, and Goodness, and Power, but chiefly in men as they were the objects of his grace, capable of Gods Image and favour. Thus he longed for the company of men before the World was. When the World was once made, he delighted to appear in humane shape before his incarnation: As Gen. 18. A man appeared to Abraham and he is called Jehovah. And Zach. 1.10, 11. And the man that stood among the Mirtle-trees, answered and said, these are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the Earth. As if he would try how 'twould fit him to become bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. When the fulness of time was come, 1 John 1.4. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us, as long as it was necessary; when he departed he had a mind of returning; before he went away, and removed his bodily presence from us, his heart was upon meeting, and fellowship again, and getting his people to him, John 14.2. In my Fathers House are many Mansions; I go to prepare a place for you; I will come again, and receive you to my self, that where I am you may be also. Until the time that the meeting cometh, he vouchsafeth his powerful presence to us, Matth. 28.20. Lo I am with you to the end of the World, he would never have gone from us if our necessities did not require it; 'twas necessary that he should die for our sins. That nothing might hinder our believing and coming to him 'twas necessary that he should go to Heaven; if our Happiness had lain here he would have been with us here, but it doth not. 'Tis reserved for us in the Heavens: Therefore he must go there to prepare a place for us; before he went he desired we might be there where he is. As if he could not take content in Heaven, till he hath his faithful with him. Now he is gone away, he will tarry no longer than our affairs require. To have our Souls with him that doth not content him, till he come and fetch our Bodies also: That we may follow him in our whole person, and then we and he shall never part, when all the elect shall meet in one Common Rendezvous and Congregation. Now shall not all this breed a reciprocal affection in us?
2. Out of Love to Christ. We would fain get near him who is our great friend, Psa. 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? And the Saints are described to be those that love his appearing, 2 Tim. 4.8. If we have heard him, if we be Christians indeed, if we loved him when we saw him not, and delighted in him, and tasted his grace in truth, and felt his power, we shall long to be near him, and see him, and converse with him intimately.
3. Tast. Communion begun maketh us long for Communion perfected, Psa. 63.1, 2. O God thou art my God, early will I seek thee, my Soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty Land where no water is: To see thy Power and thy Glory, so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary.
4. Their compleat Happiness dependeth upon it, 1 John 3.2. We shall see him as he is, and be like him. John 17.24. That they may be where I am, and behold my Glory, Christ cannot be fully seen on this side time.
1. Use is, to condemn and disprove them from being true Christians that cannot abide the presence of Christ. The Gadarens desired him to depart out of their Coasts, Matth. 8. Yet carnal men have such a Spirit, Job 22.17. Which say unto God, depart from us: Cannot abide Christ in their neighbourhood, that he should come near their Consciences.
2. Vse is to press us to two things.
1. To prize the Communion and fellowship of Christ for the present. 'Tis constant and habitual; that he may dwell in your hearts by Faith, Eph. 3.17. Where Christ taketh up his abode, there his Spirit is the Fountain of Life, Gal. 2.20. Our defence against Temptations, 1 John 4.4. Greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the World. The seed and hope of Glory, 1 Col. 27. Solemn and actual in holy duties, there is Heaven begun, there we behold his Face in Righteousness, Psa. 17.15. And a day in his Courts is better than a thousand elsewhere, Psa. 84.10.
2. Let us long to be with him, to get out of the pesthouse of the World, and the Prison of corrupt Nature. I allude to that, Gen. 24.57, 58. And they said, we will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth, and they called Rebekah and said to her, wilt thou go with this man? and she said, I will go. Wilt thou go to Jesus? Lord I will go with thee Hindrances are these.
1. A surfeit on the sinful pleasures, and contentments of this World. This weakens your desires, and taketh off the edge of your affections, Lot lingered when he was to go out of Sodom, Gen. 19, 16.
2. Do not darken your confidence by your sin and folly. Then you will as a Malefactor fly from him as a judge, rather than rejoice to be with him as a Saviour.