Exposition of John 17, Exposition · Part 21
JOHN 17.6.
Unto the men which thou gaveſt me out of the world.
AND thus far of our Saviours action, in reference to his Apoſtles and Diſciples, of which he minds his Father here, I have manifeſted thy Name.
Proceed we now to his deſcription of the perſons, to whom he had made known his Fathers Name, The men which thou gaveſt me out of the world.
The Father gives men to his Son Chriſt, either for outward adminiſtration, or elſe for inward union and incorporation. Either to be his ſervants, or to be his members. Our Saviour clearly ſpeaks of thoſe that were beſtowed on him in the latter way, to be united to him as living members of his body. And this is very evident, becauſe he ſaith, that they were given him out of the world. They that were beſtowed upon him only for outward miniſtration as Judas was; Or only in regard of outward profeſſion, as many others were, were given him. So that they were of the world ſtill. They were a part of the unbelieving world, and of the wicked world, the world that lies in wickedneſs, notwithſtanding this donation. But as for them who did in deed and truth believe in him, and were by faith incorporated into Jeſus Chriſt, they were the men that were given him out of the world. That is, they were beſtowed upon him. So that they were ſevered, ſeparated from the world, they were no longer of the wicked unbelieving world, but of another party, that were divided and diſtinguiſhed from the world. In the world they were indeed, but they were not of the world. And theſe are evidently they, of whom our Saviour ſpeaks in this place. The men whom thou gaveſt me out of the world.
Now to thoſe he here affirmeth that he had manifeſted and made known his Fathers Name. And you muſt underſtand it to be ſpoken by our Saviour here excluſively. I have manifeſted thy Name unto the men which thou gaveſt me out of the world, that is, to them and none others.
Why, did not Chriſt make known his Fathers name to all without diſtinction? Did he not Preach to all? Did he not open and unfold his Fathers love and mercy, and the like, to all the multitude that came to hear him? He did indeed as to the outward Promulgation, but not as to the inward and effectual revelation. He did not manifeſt it by his Spirit ſavingly to all: No my Beloved, this was the Priviledge but of a few, and in particular of thoſe who were beſtowed upon him by his Father to be Members of his body: So ſaith our Saviour to his Father here, I have manifeſted thy name unto the men which thou gaveſt me out of the world: To them, and not to others; or elſe at leaſt to them ſo, as I have not done to others. They have a Priviledge in this reſpect, which others are not made partakers of: I have made it known to them effectually and ſavingly, and not to others.
You ſee the meaning of the words; the Points to be obſerved are two: Firſt, There are ſome certain men, whom God the Father gives to Ieſus Chriſt out of the world. Secondly, that Ieſus Chriſt doth make his Father known effectually and ſavingly to them, and none beſides them. At this time of the firſt.
DOCTRINE. There are ſome certain men, whom God the Father gives to Jeſus Chriſt out of the World.
In proſecution of this Obſervation, I ſhall diſtinctly evidence and clear theſe four things.
Firſt, There are ſome men, whom God the Father giveth to Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly, There are a certain number of them.
Thirdly, They are of the World before the Father gives them to the Son: And
Fourthly, After they are given up to Jeſus Chriſt, they are of the world no longer. All theſe particulars are wrapt up in the Obſervation and the Text, as I ſhall ſhew you briefly and in order.
Firſt, There are ſome men whom God the Father gives to Jeſus Chriſt: So he himſelf deſcribes the perſons to whom he manifeſts his Fathers name, not by their inward diſpoſition, not by their outward action or condition, but by the Act of God upon them, or concerning them, his giving them to Jeſus Chriſt. They are the men, ſaith he, whom thou gaveſt me: So that ſome have this priviledge, you ſee, above the reſt of loſt mankinde, that God the Father gives them to his Son Chriſt, and gives them to him in a ſpecial manner, as I ſhewed you even now, not to be his Servants only, but to be his Members too. He beſtows them upon Chriſt to be his own peculiar people. I will not ſtay on this, becauſe it hath been largely handled heretofore.
Secondly, Now for the ſecond thing, there are a certain number of them; there are ſome certain men, whom God the Father gives to Chriſt: They are thus many, not a perſon more or leſs: The number of them is exactly known to God and Chriſt; he knows how many of them there be to a man. And hence our Saviour ſpeaks of them in ſuch a way, as being able to diſtinguiſh them from all the world beſides. I have manifeſted thy name unto the men whom thou gaveſt me out of the world. And ſo he tels us that he knows his ſheep that are given him of his Father, as his own expreſſion is, John 10.27, 29. And yet he calls his ſheep by name, ver. 3. and in the 9th. verſe of this very Chapter; I pray for them, ſaith he, I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou haſt given me. So that our Saviour Chriſt diſtinguiſhes you ſee; he knows who are his own by free donation of his Father, and for them he prays. He knows who are not given him, and for them he prays not. There are a certain number of them known to Chriſt.
Thirdly, now this ſelected Company are of the world before the Father gives them to the Son: I do not mean before he gives them by Election, but before he gives them to him by actual union and incorporation: And therefore they are ſaid expreſly to be given to Jeſus Chriſt out of the World; ſo that the World is always beforehand with Jeſus Chriſt in this regard. The World hath the poſſeſsion of them firſt, and afterwards they come to appertain to Jeſus Chriſt. In the firſt place they are the worlds, as all unſanctifyed and unregenerated perſons are, and then at length they come to be the Lords.
Fourthly, and then when they are once the Lords, they are no longer of the world, which is the laſt thing in the point. They are given Jeſus Chriſt out of the world, and conſequently when he hath them once, they are not of it, they are no longer men of this World. As for the reſt that are not actually beſtowed on Chriſt, they are Inhabitants, Indwellers of the earth, as they are often ſtiled in the Revelation; they are the men of this World, as the Prophet David calls them, who have their portion in this preſent life, Pſal. 17.14. They are not of the Father, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, but of the World, 1 John 2.16. They are of the world, therefore ſpeak they of the world, and the world heareth them, John 4.5. But they that are delivered up to Jeſus Chriſt and become his Members, they are of the World no longer. And this the Saints in Scripture have confeſſed, that they were Strangers, Pilgrims, Sojourners in this World, and therefore looked for, and made towards their own Country, Hebr. 11.6. I am a ſtranger on the earth, ſaith David, Pſal, 119.196. not in his place of baniſhment alone with the Philiſtims, but in the Land of Canaan too, yea in his houſe, yea in his bed, yea any where upon the earth, he was a Stranger, he counted not himſelf at home in any place but heaven only: To ſay the truth, the world lays no claim at all to thoſe that belong to Chriſt; and therefore this will need no great proof: It doth not own them, or acknowledge them for hers: but rather caſts them out and perſecutes them, and doth them all the ſpight and miſchief that it can. And this evinceth manifeſtly, that they are not the Worlds, as Chriſt himſelf informeth his Diſciples upon the very ſame ground, Joh. 15.19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but becauſe you are not of the world; but I have choſen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
To open this a little further to you, becauſe it is the great thing of the Doctrine and the Text, that they that are beſtowed on Jeſus Chriſt, are given him out of the world, and ſo are of the world no longer, I ſhall make it to appear in a few particulars.
They that are actually given up to Jeſus Chriſt to be his Members, are actually dead with Chriſt, and conſequently they are out of this world. We uſe to ſay of men when they are dead, that they are gone, they are departed out of this world. The ſame may be affirmed (in a ſenſe) of thoſe who are dead with Jeſus Chriſt. And this is that which the Apoſtle Paul inſinuates, Col. 2.20. If ye be dead with Chriſt, ſaith he, (as that he takes for granted and ſuppoſed) why as though living in the world, are ye ſubject to Ordinances? He reaſons there from the Condition and the ſtate of the Coloſsians, on whom thoſe worldly Ordinances were impoſed: They were dead in relation to the world, they lived not in the world, and therefore were not to be burthened (in their conſciences at leaſt) with the inventions and conſtitutions of the world. Law is the rule of life and action, ſo that where there is a ceſſation of life, there is no further obligation of the Law, becauſe there is no action in a dead man to be ordered by it. Know ye not ſaith the Apoſtle to the Romans, chap. 7.1. that the Law hath Dominion over a man ſo long as he liveth? So long and no longer; for aſſoon as he is dead he is looſed from the Law, as it is added there in that place. It were a ſenſeleſs thing to lay Commandements on the carriages of men, and to exact obedience from them after they are dead. But ye are dead ſaith the Apoſtle, dead to the world, and therefore theſe unlawful Ordinances ought not to be impoſed upon you by the world. They ſhould not burthen you with theſe things, for this is not the Countrey that you live in. And in another place the Apoſtle ſpeaking of himſelf, ſaith he was crucified to the world, Gal. 6.6, 14. not only dead, but crucified to it, and ſo he was no more of this world.
They that are actually given up to Jeſus Chriſt to be his members, as they are actually dead, and ſo departed out of this world, ſo they are actually living in another world. You are dead ſaith the Apoſtle, Col. 3.3. and what follows? you are not ſo dead, that you do not live at all, but you do not live here, no you live above with God, You are dead, and your life is hid with Chriſt in God. Their converſation is indeed in heaven, as the ſame Apoſtle ſpeaks, Phil. 3.20, their life is Angel-like, they walk with God as Noah did, Gen. 6.9. They are with him in the Palace, Pſal. 45.15. Others are abroad in the Town or in the Countrey, but theſe men are in houſe with him; they are without doors, but theſe are within; ſuch faithful ſouls have fellowſhip with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Joh. 1.3. They are far from God, and far from Jeſus Chriſt by Nature, they dwell a great way from him, as the Prodigal in a ſtrange Countrey, and ſo have no commerce with him. But when they are converted and given up to Chriſt, they are made nigh, as the expreſſion is, Epheſ. 2.13. When peace is once effectually preached to thoſe that are afar off, they have acceſs by one Spirit to the Father, and ſo they are no longer forreigners and ſtrangers, but fellow-Citizens of the Saints and of the houſhold of God. Indeed my Brethren, whatſoever they that are beſtowed on Chriſt do in regard of their natural life, yet in regard of their ſpiritual life, they do not live ſo properly in this world, as in the other, and therefore in that reſpect are out of this world, as I ſhall ſhew you in a few particulars. For
1. There is no life but is accompanyed with ſome relation to thoſe that have the ſame alliance, and deſcent and Original of life. Now true it is, that they that are beſtowed on Jeſus Chriſt, in regard of their natural life, have natural parents and kindred, and allies in this world. But in regard of their ſpiritual life, they have ſpiritual parents and kindred in another world: Their Father that begat them, God, is of another world; Their Mother that conceived and bare them, and gave them ſuck, the Church, is of another world. The new Jeruſalem which is above is free, which is the Mother of us all, Gal. 4.26. Their Brethren and their ſpecial friends, that are united to them in the neareſt bond and tie of grace, are of another world. So that their chief relations are above in heaven. And whereſoever they may ſojourn for a Seaſon, there they live where their Father, and their Mother, and their Brethren, and their choice Relations are.
2. There is no life but is accompanyed with ſome place of habitation (though in ſome I muſt acknowledge it may be more unſetled then in others) and with ſome means of ſuſtentation. Now it is very true, that they that are given up to Chriſt, in regard of their natural life may have an earthly habitation, and earthly means of ſuſtentation, and ſo in that reſpect they may be yet in this world. But in regard of their ſpiritual life, their manſion houſe is in another world, as the Apoſtle tels us, 2 Cor. 5.1. They have a building with God, a houſe not made with hands, but eternal in heaven. The means which they ſubſiſt upon, by which this life is nouriſhed, and maintained, are not any earthly things; They feed upon the bread which comes from heaven, which was prefigured by the Manna, with reference to which the Pſalmiſt ſaith, that man did eat Angels food. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven, ſaith our Saviour, John 6.32. And what is that? I am the bread, ſaith he, that came down from heaven, at ver. 41. This bread all they that appertain to Chriſt do eat, by faith, and of his blood do they drink, and ſo the life of grace is ſtrengthened in them. And for the eſtate they live upon, the main poſſeſſion, it lies not here but in another world. In Chriſt they have obtained an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, &c. and ſo in him they ſit already in heavenly places.
3. There is no life but is accompanyed with ſome action. Now they that are beſtowed on Jeſus Chriſt, may in regard of their natural life, act in and with, and for this world. They may in many things do as worldly men do, they may labour in their callings, they may deal in the affairs, and trade in the Commodities of this world, for the procuring of ſubſiſtence here. But in regard of their ſpiritual life, their actings are in and for another world. Their minds and thoughts do work exceedingly on heaven and heavenly things. Their hearts are always running out to God and Chriſt, and the happineſs above, and feeding upon ſuch objects. They are too large to be contained within the narrow limits of this lower world; no, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, they are continually with God. With the woman, Apoc. 12.1. They tread upon the Moon, this variable and inconſtant world; they trample with an holy ſcorn upon theſe earthly things. They are aſpiring ſtill to heaven, walking and acting heavenward. Indeed they live in ſome reſpect in this world, but it is but as though they lived in the world, as the Apoſtle Pauls expreſſion is, Col. 2.20. They uſe the world, but yet it is as though they uſed it not, as the ſame Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Cor. 7.29. They lay not out the ſtrength of their affections and endeavours upon theſe things: But on the matters of the other world, there they are intent indeed, there they are in good earneſt, there they act with full vigor; foreign their Trading, their Commerce, their Dealing, their Negotiation is in heaven, Phil. 3.20. The word there uſed hath very much in it, and can hardly be expreſſed. Beza aſſaies in many wayes: The manner of our living is in Heaven, or which comes nearer yet, we carry and demean our ſelves as Citizens of Heaven. As if Heaven were a City, and we (as being free there) do walk and act according to the Manners, and the Cuſtoms, and the Laws, and Conſtitutions of the City we belong to. So that the Saints you ſee do live as if they were in Heaven already, as being now no more of this world.
Now is it ſo my Brethren, That there are ſome certain men whom God Uſe 1 the Father gives to Jeſus Chriſt out of the world? Are they the worlds before they come to be the Lord Chriſts by the donation of the Father? Here then you ſee the reaſon my beloved, why there is ſuch a ſtir ſometimes, when God is giving men to Jeſus Chriſt, and why the buſineſs meets with ſo much heat and oppoſition. You cannot but take notice what a fray is often made, when any one is about to leave the world, and to cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt. Carnal Parents, Brethren, Siſters, Friends, Acquaintance, by and by are up as it were in arms againſt it. When the Apoſtles were bringing men to Jeſus Chriſt, at Epheſus, you know my Brethren, it occaſioned ſuch an uproar in the City, and ſuch a mutiny among the Tradeſmen and Mechanicks there, as you can hardly parallel in any ſtory. You ſhall obſerve in the New Teſtament, when Chriſt began to gather people to himſelf, that whereſoever there were any numbers given to him by the Father, ſome were exceedingly diſquieted & out of patience at it. It galled the Phariſees, and cut them to the very hearts, that Jeſus Chriſt had ſuch an harveſt among the people there: why (ſay they in a great paſſion) the whole world runs after him: And ſo it is to this day, and will be to the worlds end, when God is pleaſed to give in ſouls to Jeſus Chriſt in any place, ſome will fret and ſtorm at it.
Nor is it any wonder that they ſhould, for they are given him out of the world. And the world is loth to loſe that which appertains to it, and which is its own poſſeſſion. If God did give a people to his Son, to which the world had no right, and to which it could pretend no title, the world would like it well enough, it would never be againſt it. But this is that which vexes it, and troubles it, that God muſt give away that which is his (the worlds) to Jeſus Chriſt. He cannot have a man, but the world muſt be a loſer, who cannot keep his own for him: what hath any one to do to meddle with that which is the worlds known right, to fetch away that which hath many years (perhaps) belonged to him? This is an injury (as he conceives) that puts him out of all patience; and this is that which makes him ſtrive and ſtruggle as he doth. Chriſt enters upon every ſoul that is beſtowed upon him by his Father, by diſpoſſeſſing and diſſeazing him: ſo that it is no marvel though he be extreamly ſtartled, and though he labour every way by promiſes and by preferments on the one ſide, and by threatning, and by perſecutions on the other, to keep that which he hath in his poſſeſſion.
Uſe 2 Are there ſome certain men whom God the Father gives to Jeſus Chriſt out of the world? So that however they were once the worlds, now they are the worlds no longer. By this let us examine and reſolve, whether we be given up to Chriſt or no? It is an admirable priviledge, an high prerogative for any ſoul to belong to Jeſus Chriſt, to be beſtowed upon him by the Father. It carries in it all the happineſs that is attainable by any Creature. Now would you know whether the Father have actually given you to Chriſt or no? Conſider whether you be out of this world; whether it may be truly ſaid of you, that you were once indeed of this world, you lived here, builded tabernacles here, your hearts, and your affections, and your chief delights were here. But now the caſe is altered with you, you are no longer of this world, but of another.
Now that you may be able to diſcover this, I ſhall give you marks for tryal.
If you be out of the world, you are not faſhioned and conformed to this world in the unlawful waies, and practices, and courſes of it. You faſhion not your ſelves according to this world, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Rom. 12.2. not as this world doth. As Turks and Spaniards are not like to Engliſh men, they have another kind of viſage, another garb, another habit, and the like. So they that are given up unto Chriſt out of the world, they differ manifeſtly from the world. There is a clear diſtinction to be made between them and other men, by any man that eyes them well, there are none like them in the earth, their wayes are of another faſhion. Now my Beloved, is it ſo with you? do you differ from the world? do you live ſoberly, and righteouſly, and godlily in this preſent evil world? In a world of wickedneſs, are you ſingular in goodneſs? ſo that the ſame may be affirmed of you, that is recorded to the everlaſting praiſe of righteous Noah, that he was juſt and perfect in his Generations. Gen. 6.9. and they were wicked and corrupt enough. Of holy Lot, that he was ſo far from joyning with the vitious Sodomites in their vile abominations, that his righteous ſoul was vexed at their filthy converſation, 2 Pet. 2.8. This is a comfortable evidence that you are given up to Jeſus Chriſt out of this world. But if you walk according to the courſe and cuſtom of the world, as the expreſsion is, Epheſ. 2.2. if you have fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, if you run out with others to the ſame exceſs of riot, if you be alſo led away with the error of the world, and ſo fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſs, if you be carried down with the ſwinge, and with the current of the times, and of the places where you live, do not deceive your ſelves, you are yet of this world. I muſt confeſs, it is a very ſtrong temptation, when the ſtream runs in a wrong courſe, and often ſhakes the holieſt Saints. But yet in ſuch a caſe, they that belong to Jeſus Chriſt, muſt conſider with themſelves that they are of another world, and therefore are not much to eye the faſhion and the wayes of this. They muſt behave themſelves according to the faſhion of their own Country. They muſt conclude with holy Joſhua 24.15. If it ſeem evil to other men to ſerve the Lord, if they will forſake God, and forſake his worſhip, let them ſerve whom they will for me; as for my own part, I am at a point for that, I and my houſe will ſerve the Lord. And they muſt ſay in ſuch a caſe as David did, Away from me ye wicked; I am not for your company, becauſe I am not for your courſes; away from me ye wicked, I will keep the Commandements of my God.
If you be now no longer of this world but of the other, your language is not of this world but of the other. You ſpeake the language of the world and of the Country you belong to. You are full of good diſcourſe, your heart boyles with good matter, as the expreſſion of the Prophet is, Pſal. 45.1. It is like a boyling pot, for that is the ſimilitude that is alluded to; it is alwayes bubling up and running over, and then it ſpeaks of good things, as it is added there in that place. The heart within boyles, and the tongue without ſpeakes; and as the boyling Pot runs over with the ſelf ſame matter which it hath within it, ſo it fares with ſuch an heart. It bubleth up with good matter, the matter which it hath conceived and meditated touching Chriſt, this is that which is ſo readily and freely uttered with the tongue. My heart is enditing of a good matter; I ſpeak of the things which I have made touching the King. Such are the hearts and tongues of thoſe that are of the other world; their ſpeech is gracious, and either tends to glorifie their God, or to edifie their Brethren; this is the language of their Country.
What think we then of thoſe whoſe language is alwayes vain and frivolous? it doth not benefit the hearers, it miniſtreth no grace, for there is no grace in it; or which is worſe, it is wicked and pernitious. Their ſpeech is rotten and corrupt, there is no ſalt to ſeaſon it and make it wholeſom: and hence their throat is likened to an open Sepulchre, Rom. 3.13. which breathes and ſteames up nothing elſe but odious ſmells and loathſom exhalations: or elſe at beſt, their ſpeeches and diſcourſes are of nothing elſe but earth and earthly things. Talk with them while you will, you hear of nothing elſe but worldly matters from them. Of what Country do you think are theſe men? The Apoſtle John tells you, 1 John 4.5. They are of the world, and they ſpeak of …he world. Shibboleth never deſcryed ſo many Ephraimites as this doth worldly wrerches. They are of Galilee, they are of this world, for their ſpeech bewrayeth them. Shall I believe they are Inhabitants of the Celeſtial Canaan, who cannot ſpeak almoſt without an oath, whoſe tongues are alwayes dipping in that blood which alone can cleanſe them from all ſin? Shall I ſay that ſuch a man or woman is of heaven, whoſe tongue is ſet on fire of hell? Brethren do not deceive your ſelves, if you cannot ſpake the language, you belong not to that Country.
If you be now no longer of this world, but of the other, you have a dear affection to your Contrymen, to thoſe that are given up to Chriſt out of the world, as you are. If travailers and ſtrangers meet with any of their Country-men in a remote and forreign Land, how lovingly do they embrace them? what kindneſs do they ſhew them? how are they knit together in a bond of love? Juſt ſo it is with thoſe who are of the other world. If they light any time on any of that ſame world which they themſelves belong to, they are extreamly taken up with joy, although they never ſaw them nor had acquaintance with them in their lives before, and preſently their hearts and their affections do wonderfully cloſe together.
And therefore they are groſs diſſemblers, who would be thought to be given up to Chriſt out of the world, and yet their boſom friends and their Companions are all of them of this world. Theſe are the men which they converſe withall, and which they take delight in: Nay which is worſe then this, they hate the men whom Jeſus Chriſt hath called and choſen out of the world. They perſecute them with the hand and with the tongue, and do them all the ſpight and all the miſchief that they can. Suppoſe thou wert in Italy or Spain, or any other forreign Land, and there ſhouldſt meet an Engliſhman, wouldeſt thou mock and ſcoff at him? wouldeſt thou deride and jear at the faſhion of his cloaths, the manner of his complement, his gate and carriage, and the like? wouldeſt thou procure him to be taken up, impriſoned, put to death? thy Earthly Country would not own thee, if thou ſhouldſt be ſo unworthy: And truly heaven will not own the men, who deal thus baſely and injuriouſly with the Inhabitants of that Country.
Uſe 3 Are there ſome certain men whom God the Father gives to Jeſus Chriſt out of the world? ſo that however they were once the worlds, now they are of the world no longer. You then that find you are given up to Jeſus Chriſt, think it not much if you have but ill uſage and untoward entertainment in the world. Truly my Brethren, if you conſider whence you are, and to what Country you belong, there can no other be expected by you; if you were of the world, the world would love her own; but becauſe you are not of the world, but Chriſt hath choſen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you: And it ſhall be your wiſedom to look out and to provide for ſuch uſage. If Turks or Spaniards walk along the ſtreets, every one will gaze upon them, they will wonder at their gate and at their habit, and the like. Every one will be ready to abuſe them and to put them to the worſt, for they are friendleſs, being in a ſtrange Country. And are not you my Brethren of another Country, yea of another world? are you not men of ſingularity? are not your wayes and faſhions diverſe from the faſhions of this world. No marvel then though you be men of wonder, as the Prophet ſpeakes, though you be pointed at, and though you be made ſpectacles and gazing ſtocks: Though every one preſume to injure you and wrong you, and deal unworthily and baſely with you, while you remain as Sojourners in this Country.
Uſe 4 Are there ſome certain men whom, &c. ſo that however they were once the worlds, now they are of the world no longer? Then do not you regard the world, nor the things of this world. We ſee that Travailers do not uſe to ſet their hearts on any thing they meet with in a ſtrange Country. If they ſee ſtately houſes, orchards, gardens, if they hear curious muſick, they are not taken up with theſe things, no they keep on their way and are not hindered, or withdrawn by the moſt pleaſing avocations. Doth any ſtranger fall a building at his Inn? or doth he plant and ſow as he travails by the way? And therefore ſeeing we are of another world; let us not ſet our hearts on theſe things. No let us uſe the world but as though we uſed it not: for neceſſity alone, not for delight, to further us in holy duties, not to ſtop us, to help us heavenward, not to hinder.
Are there ſome, &c. ſo that however you were once, &c. This fits Uſe 5 you then with a reply to that uſual argument with which the Saints of God are often preſſed to ſinful practices. Other men do thus and thus, and why will not you too? will you be ſingular, and will you go in a way by your ſelves, and will you do as no body doth? Why what though other men do this? whence are thoſe other men? they are not of the world that we are, and therefore they are no examples for us. We muſt not do as they do; no we muſt differ from them, we muſt come out from among them, and be ſeparate, and touch no unclean thing. Though they handle it, we muſt not touch it. When Shadrach, Meſach, and Abednego refuſed to bow before the Golden Image which Nebuchadnezar the King had ſet up, they might have ſaid to them, What will you do as no body doth? you ſee that all men univerſally fall down before it, and they no ſmall ones neither, the Judges, Councellors, Princes, Rulers of the people, Dan. 3.3. And will you take upon you to be wiſer then your betters? will you ſtand out alone, and be ſo ſtiff in your opinion? yet this did not one whit move them, neither muſt ſuch an argument as this prevail with us. No we muſt keep the right way though we go alone, though all the world ſhould leave us and forſake us. And to this end I propound two things.
1. It will be a ſafe courſe thus to reſerve our ſelves from the pollutions of the world, and the contagion of the times and places where we live. The Lord moſt commonly vouchſafes to ſuch a ſpecial priviledge of preſervation, when dangers and calamities and troubles come; as he did to Lot, and Noah, and the Mourners in Ezechiel. And as they have not ſhared in common corruptions, ſo he exempteth them from Common deſolations, &c.
2. And as it will be ſafe for us thus to reſerve our ſelves, ſo it will be honourable too. The verieſt wretch may keep himſelf from wicked acts ſometimes, when there are no examples, no temptations to withdraw him. But in a world of wickedneſs to be ſingular in goodneſs, is Chriſtian-like indeed. It was Tullies Commendation of Muraena, Laudandus Muraena non tam quod in Aſia vixerit, quam quod in Aſia continenter vixerit. And Gods of Job, that there was none like him in the earth.
Are there ſome certain, &c. And are you of that number? there is Uſe 6 no reaſon then why you ſhould be ſo much diſtracted and diſquieted to ſee ſuch ſtirs and troubles, ſuch alterations and confuſions in the world. Why ſhould you be ſo out of patience to ſee things turned upſide down in ſuch a Country where you do not live, to which you do not appertain? What need you care (I ſpake of ſuch a Care as eateth out the joy and comfort of a man) how matters go, what ſtirrs and hubbubs and combuſtions there are here in this world, ſo long as all goes well at home in your world? Remember ſtill in ſuch a caſe that you are not of this world but of another. And why then ſhould it ſtartle you, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midſt of the Sea? Yea though the Kingdoms of this world be ſhaken, ſo long as your world and the Kingdom of it is not ſhaken, ſo long as that ſtands firm and ſure, you have no reaſon to be ſwallowed up with overmuch fear, and overmuch ſorrow: But rather on the other ſide, when you ſee all the world and all the Kingdoms of it in a flame, to bleſs and magnifie the Lord that you are out of this world; that you are out of Gun-ſhot, out of the reach of theſe things. Indeed with reference to the men of this world, who have their Converſation and their portion here, whoſe friends, and means, and dwellings lye in this Country, we have reaſon to be troubled when Concuſſions and Confuſions come upon the earth; for we ſhould pity thoſe who are of the ſelf ſame nature with us, in their troubles and diſtreſſes. But for our ſelves, we may behold the greateſt tribulation and diſtractions that come upon the world, as things that do not much concern us, juſt as we do the wars in Italy; when we have peace, we pitty the poor people there, and rejoyce that we live not in that Country. So long as all goes well at home, as no ill tydings come from heaven, from our own Country, we are in a good Condition: It may be we may ſuffer ſome outward evils and extremities; we may be baniſhed from the Country which we ſojourn in, but then we are but baniſhed from a place of baniſhment. We may be baniſhed (if I may expreſs it ſo) out of this world into the other, that is, we may loſe our lives, but then at worſt we are but baniſhed home. They do but ſend us to the world that we are of, and that we belong to; men may deprive us of the Life by which we live in this world, but this is but a ſeeming Life, the ſhaddow of a Life; it is but as though we lived in the world. But the life by which we live in the world that we are of, is an enduring and abiding life; It is a laſting and an endleſs life, it is above the reach of death and diſſolution: And though the natural life decay, this life of grace will flouriſh and grow ſtronger ſtill, till it be perfected in that of glory.