The Combat Between the Flesh and Spirit, Sermon 15
SERM. XV.
1 Cor. 7.31.
—For the faſhion of this world paſſeth away.
THe faſhion of this world paſſeth away. The obſervation from theſe words was this, that all the comforts and contentments of this life are paſſing away from us, even while they are with us. They are of …anſitory and fading nature.
(Beloved) that I may a little work this generall point upon your affections, I ſhall firſt ſhew you that this is a truth, and then draw ſome practicall inferences from it, and ſo finiſh this Text.
That all the things of the world are poſting away from us while they are with us, I ſhall manifeſt unto you by theſe 3. or 4. demonſtrations.
1. It appears to be ſo by an induction of particulars, All the comforts of this life are paſſing away from us while they are with us.if you look upon all conditions of men, whether in honours or proſperity, or riches, &c. you ſhall ſee all theſe conditions in a fading and conſ…ming poſture. Look upon Adams condition in innocency, his condition was in probability like to be a firm and laſting condition, and yet Adam continued not a night in honour, but became like unto the beaſt that periſheth. And ſo if you look upon Solomon that was the glory of the world neither before him nor after him was there any like unto him; all the things of the earth made obeyſance, and brought preſents to him, 2 Chron. 9.13. there is ſet down the totall ſum of Solomons glory, the waight of Gold that came to him in one year was 666. Talents of Gold, and as for ſilver it was plentifull as ſtones in the ſtreet, and nothing at all accounted of in his dayes, he had 4000 ſtalls for Horſes and Chariots, and 12000 Horſemen; he had 232 quarters of wheat every day brought into his houſe, he had ſilver as ſtones and gold was of no value with him; and yet what became of all his honour and glory? Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like the Lilly in the field, (as Chriſt ſaies) and ſo if you look upon the conditions of all men in honour, they ſtand in ſlippery places, and are ſliding down every day, as in Job 20.6,7,8,9. Though his excellency mount up unto the Heavens, and his head reach unto the Clouds, yet he ſhall periſh for ever like his own dung, they which have ſeen him ſhall ſay, where is he? he ſhall flee away as a dream, and ſhall not be found, yea he ſhall be chaſed away as a viſion of the night. So the Aſsyrian Monarchy paſſed to the Perſian; the Perſian to the Grecian, and the Grecian to the Roman. The condition of honour is a fading condition. D…v…tiae habent ſi nem ſuum cut finem tuum.Or if it be your fortune to be rich and wealthy in the world, th… condition is fading too; thy riches will either ſee an end of thee, or thou wilt ſee an end of them, 1 Tim. 6.17. Truſt not in uncertain riches; ſo Prov. 23.5. Riches take unto them wings and flie away: ſo Prov. 27.24. Ric…es are not for ever, neither does the Crown endure to every Generation.
Demon. 2 2. Another demonſtration to prove that all the things of the world are fading and paſſing away is this; becauſe the whole world is of a periſhing nature, and therefore the things of the world muſt needs be ſo. In 2 Pet. 3.10. The Heavens ſhall paſſe away with a noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat; the earth alſo, and the works that are therein ſhall be burnt up.
Demon. 3 3. Man which is Gods Maſter-peece in the world, is ſtill fading, and paſſing away, and therefore the things of the world much more. Mans life is but a vapour, but a flying from his womb to his Tombe, Animantis cujuſ que vita eſt in fuga. Pſal, 14… 4 Pſal. 39 6.Men have here no continuing City, Heb. 13.14. In the 1 Job laſt, ſaies Job, Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked ſhall I return: there is no mention made of ſtaying in the world, nothing but a coming into the world, and a going out of it again.
Demon. 4 4. It appears to be ſo by thoſe ſimilitudes that this world and the things thereof are compared to in Scripture.
The ſpirit of God, to note the uncertainty of all things here below, in Rev. 15. compares the world to a Sea of glaſs mingled with fire. It is compared to a Sea, becauſe of its fluctuation and variation: and to a Sea of glaſse, for its brittleneſs and uncertainty, it is ſoon broken; and to a Sea of glaſſe mingled with fire, to note to us that the world is alwayes in a conſuming condition. Now no man will look upon the Sea but as a very uncertain and unſtable Element; that drop of water that was here, but now, is preſently gone, and cannot be found.
2. The world is compared to a Cloud, in Job 30.15. my welfare (ſaies Job) paſſeth away like a Cloud, Clouds are alwayes poſting away, and ſo is the world, and all things therein. And therefore David ſaith, Pſal. 104.3. God maketh the Clouds his Charrets, noting his volubility and celerity in his works of mercy or judgement.
3. The World is compared to the wind in Pſal. 78.39. as a wind that paſſeth away and commeth not again: ſo in Pſal. 18.10. and 104. Pſal. 3. what more ſwift then the wind? how ſoon is a guſt and a gale of wind gone by: ſo neither is there any continuance in any thing here below.
4. The vvorld is compared to graſſe in 1 James 10. as the flower of the graſs the rich men ſhall paſſe away; for the Sun is no ſooner riſen with a burning heat, but it withereth the graſſe, and the flower thereof faileth, and the grace of the faſhion thereof periſheth; ſo alſo ſhall the rich man fade away in his wayes. Not only to graſſe, but the flovver of graſſe.
5. They are compared to ſmoak, and you knovv the vvind ſcattereth, and driveth that to and fro preſently. In Hoſ. 13.13. They ſhall be as the morning Cloud, and as the early dew, it paſſeth away. (You knovv as ſoon as the Sun ſhines, the devv is preſently gone.) and they ſhall be as the chaffe that is driven duplicate page duplicate page with a whirlewind out of the floor, & as the ſmoak out of the chimney: there are 5. reſemblances put together in one verſe, ſo that beloved, you ſee theſe compariſons doe make it very manifeſt and evident, how uncertain and fading and periſhing all the glory and comforts of the world are.
I come now to that which I chiefly intended, and that is, to wind up all in a practicall application. And all that I ſhall do herein, ſhall be to draw out ſeven practicall inſtructions from this generall Doctrine.
1. Is this ſo, Practicall inſtructions by way of uſethat all the things of this world are paſſing away from us, while they are with us? why then let the conſideration of this, wean your affections from all worldly things. Why will you love that much that cannot ſtay with you long. It is the advice that Solomon gives in Prov. 23.5. ſaies he, why wilt thou ſet thine eyes upon that which is not, (that is) though they are in being, yet not in continuance; for riches certainly make themſelves wings and flie away. This conſideration ſhould wean our loves from all creature comforts. And though vve look upon the things of the World vvith our eys, yet not vvith our hearts; but let them be fixt, not upon thoſe things that are ſeen; but upon thoſe things that are not ſeen: for the things that are ſeen are temporall; but the things that are not ſeen are eternall, 2 Cor. 4.18. they are not vvorthy the looking on, becauſe temporary. In Sparta, a City of Greece, a man vvas King but one year: aftervvards lived in retirement and meanneſs, therefore no man could hardly be gotten to accept of it: ſo ſhould the conſideration of the fading nature of all vvorldly things, cauſe us to vvithdravv our affections from them.
2. If the faſhion of this vvorld be paſſing avvay, then let this excite and ſtir up your ſoules to look after the things of another World, vvhichwhich are more permanent and laſting. Chryſoſtome compares the World to an Eele; and you know the harder you hold an Eele, the ſooner it will ſlip out of your hands; ſo the things of the world, the faſter you think to hold them, the ſooner it will ſlide from you, and therefore labour to lay hold upon Chriſt, and grace, and glory, upon Heaven and happineſs. In Heb. 13.14. (ſaies the Apoſtle) here we have no continuing City, therefore let us ſeek one to come. Becauſe they had no continuance here, therefore they lookt for one to come, even a City whoſe builder and maker was God, they lookt after the things of another world, that would not paſſe away as theſe do. As in 2 Cor. 4.18. we look not to the things which are ſeen, that are temporall, but to the things which are not ſeen that are eternall. You have another notable Text for this purpoſe, in Heb. 11.15,16,17. it is ſpoken of the godly Patriarks, that if they had been mindfull of the Countrey from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned; but they deſired a better Countrey, that is, an heavenly. Becauſe they did not look after their own Land, the Land of Canaan, therefore they did declare that they had a better Countrey in their eye, which they did look after, namely, a heavenly Kingdom. The King of Sparta that year he was King, ſent a great deal of Treaſure into the place of his baniſhment, that he might live well ever after: ſo ſhould Chriſtians while they are here, lay up treaſure in Heaven, Mat. 6.19,20. (Beloved) if the things of this world be ſo vain and fading, and uncertain, let us look after the things of a better world.
Inſtruct 3 3. If it be ſo, that this world is ſo fading and vaniſhing, then labour to be convinced of the truth of it, and let your hearts be ſenſible of the vanity and uncertainty of all things here below. I may ſay of them as the Apoſtle ſpeaks in another caſe, in Col. 2.22. All theſe things periſh with the uſing. No ſooner are you graſping of the world, but it goes from you. We have no more hold of theſe earthly things, then of a flock of Birds, I cannot ſay they are mine, though they ſit in my yard: The glory of Ephraim is ſaid to flie away like a Bird. The world like a Noſe-gay withers while you are ſmelling to it, as ſnow melts while it is in the hands of Children. At the inthronization of Popes, one uſed to go before him, burning a wad of ſtraw, or flax, crying, ſic tranſit gloria mundi. It is an admirable obſervation that a learned man hath upon the names of the two firſt men that were born into the world, Cain and Abel; ſaies he, we may learn this Leſſon from their very names. Cain here ſignifies poſſeſſion, and Abel here ſignifies vanity; to ſhew that Adam and Eve did ſee nothing but vanity in all their poſſeſſions. And oh that you that are the Sons and Daughters of Adam, that have a great deal leſſe of the world then Adam had, that you would not ſet your hearts upon the vanities and uncertainties of this world, that are ſo ſoon gone away from you.
4. If this be ſo, that all the comforts of the world are paſſing away, then this ſhews the folly and madneſs of thoſe men whoſe eager purſuits are after fading vanities. O what a madneſs is it for men to be eager in their purſuits of theſe tranſient and fading things, and in the mean time neglect theſe things that are of a greater excellency and duration: and yet there are a world of ſuch fools and mad men amongſt us, that ſeek after vanities, and neglect durable and laſting riches. O how fooliſh are many men in the world, that are eagerly imployed about the mean and low buſineſſes of the world, and in the mean time neglect the great affairs of Heaven, like Artaxerxes, who imployed himſelf in making hafts for knives, and neglected the waighty affairs of his Kingdom, or like Archimedes, who was drawing mathematicall lines, and never took care to ſave the City nor his own life. It is ſtoried of Caligula, an Emperour of Rome, (and for which he is befool'd of all that ever writ of him) that having prepared and ſet out a very great Navy of Ships, when his men thought he would have done great exploits, and have conquered many Kingdoms with them, he contrary to all their expectations, commanded them to go and load all their Ships with Cockle ſhells and pibble ſtones, and ſo return again: Juſt ſuch fools are many men, that trouble themſelves in purchaſing Cockle ſhells and pibble ſtones, the fading vanities of this world, and neglect the looking after the firm and durable, and ſubſtantiall riches of the Kingdom of Heaven.
5. If the things of this world be ſo fading, then from hence we may ſee the diſparity and vaſt difference there is between earthly things and heavenly. The glory of this world paſſeth away; but you cannot ſay ſo of the things of Heaven: the former weares as your Garments, the other as the body weares not away. Riches are a vanity uſed to and fro, Prov. 21.6. but grace is durable riches, Prov. 8.18. 1 Pet. 1.24. The graſs withereth, and e flower thereof faileth; but the word of God, that endureth for ever: by graſſe and the flower of graſſe, is meant all the glory of this world, and theſe all fade and wither away; but the word of God that endureth for ever, (that is) the work of grace wrought in your hearts by the word that ſhall laſt and endure forever; that ſhall remain and continue when all the glory of the world paſſeth away, 1 John 2.17. The world paſſeth away and the luſts thereof; but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever. (Beloved) here you ſee the great diſparity between heavenly things and the things of the world, as riches and honours, &c. Suppoſe thou art an Heir to a Crown or Kingdom, yet theſe are but temporall inheritances, and laſt but for a ſeaſon, but an heavenly inheritance that endureth for ever, as in 1 Pet. 1.4. an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. All your comforts here below, are but momentary comforts, riches and honours are not everlaſting; but God and Chriſt, and grace and Heaven, and glory is everlaſting: theſe are comforts that ade not away, but laſt for ever: your earthly parents are not fverlaſting; but your Father in Heaven is everlaſting, Eſa 9.6. eour livee here are not everlaſting, but your life in Heaven is everyaſting, Luke 18 30. here below you rejoyce one day, and lweep another; but in Heaven your joy ſhall be everlaſting, as in Eſa 61.7. Everlaſting joy ſhall be upon their heads; ſo in 2 Theſ. 2.16. ſaies the Apoſtle, who hath loved us, and given us everlaſting conſolation, &c. here your comforts are but ſhort; but in Heaven you ſhall have everlaſting conſolation. Here your poſſeſſions are not everlaſting; but there ſhall laſt for ever in Heaven, and here you are ſoon forgotten, and the memory of your names loſt; but in Heaven you ſhall be had in everlaſting remembrance, Pſal. 112. verſ. 6.
6. Are the glory and comforts of the world paſſing away? why then know this for your comfort, that the croſſes and troubles, and afflictions of the world are paſſing away too, ſlight afflictions which are but for a moment, 2 Cor. 4.17. Suppoſe thou art a man of a mean fortune, poor and low in the world, why yet thy poverty ſhall paſſe away: ſuppoſe thou art a man of a ſickly and weak conſtitution, your ſickneſſe ſhall paſſe away too: ſuppoſe thou art impriſoned and in bondage, yet the priſoner ſhall ſhake off his fetters, and his priſon Garments, Job 11.16. thy miſery ſhall paſſe away as a ſtream of water: Omnia dura teleraltia quia brevia.ſo in Eſa 35 10. ſorrow and ſighing ſhall fly away, your miſeries and ſorrows as well as your comforts are paſſing away. And therefore beloved, this ſhould ſupport and bear up your hearts.
7. If the pleaſure and comforts of this world are paſſing away, then we ſhould take a great deal of heed that we do not incur eternall puniſhments for momentary pleaſures: Beloved, it were ſomething if our comforts here were equivalent and proportionable to our puniſhments hereafter; Gu…a quae ad uſum diutur na eſſe non poſſunt ad ſupplicium diutur…m depoſcent. Amb…. Divitiae ſunt cadu cae, ſae… vero perpetua.but why ſhould any man be ſo fooliſh as for to get an Eſtate that paſſeth away, to damn his ſoul, and purchaſe to himſelf a miſery and torment that ſhall never paſſe away. Riches and the outward bleſſings of this life quickly paſſe away; but the puniſhment for the abuſe of them that endureth for ever. This is like prophane Eſau, who for a meſs of pottage ſold his birthright. Be perſwaded therefore to chuſe rather to ſuffer afflictions with the people of God for a little ſeaſon here, that ſo you may raign and be happy with them in Heaven to all eternity, then to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon here, and thereby incur to your ſelves everlaſting puniſhments in the world to come.
And thus beloved, I have in theſe 15. Sermons, gone over many materiall points touching this ſubject. It remains only now, that for the time you have yet to live here in the world, that thoſe that meet with croſſes, and troubles, and afflictions, do weep as if they wept not. And thoſe that have riches, and honours, and comforts, and enjoy an affluence and confluence of all worldly pr…ſperity, that they rejoyce as though they rejoyced not. And thoſe that buy and ſell and trade in the world, it remains that they buy as if they poſſeſſed not. And thoſe that any other way uſe this world, it remains, that they ſo uſe it, as not abuſing of it; for the faſhion of this world paſſeth away.