world, nay, inventing daily new fatisfactions to gratify the carnal appetites, fo did he not lefs foresee the difficulty that all would have to relinquish and forfake them at his call, and with what great unwillingness they would take their leave of them, and be weaned from them. Wherefore to induce them to it, he did not fpeak unto them in the language of the law, that they should have an earthly Canaan, great dignities, a numerous iffue, a long life, and the like: no, rather the contrary, at least to take these things in their courfe; but he speaks to them in an higher ftrain; namely, he affures them of a kingdom and a crown that are immortal, that neither time, cruelty, death, grave, or hell, with all its inftruments, fhall ever be able to disappoint, or take away, from those who fhould believe and obey him. Further, that they fhould be taken into that near alliance of loving friends, yea, the intimate divine relation of dear brethren, and co-heirs with him of all cœleftial happiness, and a glorious immortality. Wherefore if it be recorded, that those who heard not Mofes were to die, much more they who refufe to hear and obey the precepts of this great and eternal Rewarder of all that. diligently feek and follow him. S.. II. And therefore it was, that he was pleafed to give us, in his own example, a taste of what his difciples muft expect to drink deeply of, namely, the cup of felf-denial, cruel trials, Luke vi. 20. Ch. xii. 32. Ch. xxii. 29. Col. i. 13. ii. 12. Heb. xii. 28, James ii. 5. John xv. 14, 15. Heb. ii. 11. Ch. xii. 2. I Pet. ii. 21: Luke 2 Tim, iv. 8. Mat. xix. 27 to 29. Luke vi. 22, 23. I Thef. Rom. viii. 17. xii. 29 to 31 Heb. xi. 6 and most bitter afflictions: he came not to con fecrate a way to the eternal reft, through gold. and filver, ribbands, laces, points, perfumes, coftly clothes, curious trims, exact dreffes, rich jewels, pleafant recreations, plays, treats, balls, mafques, revels, romances, love-fongs, and the like paftimes of the world: no, no, alas, but. by forfaking all fuch kind of entertainments, yea, and fometimes more lawful enjoyments. too; and cheerfully undergoing the lofs of all on the one hand, and the reproach, ignominy, and the moft cruel perfecution from ungodly men on the other. He needed never to have wanted fuch variety of worldly pleasures, had they been fuitable to the nature of his kingdom: for he was tempted, as are his followers, with no lefs bait than all the glories of the world: but he that commanded to feek another country, and to lay up treasures in the heavens that fade not away; and therefore charged them never to be much inquifitive about what. they fhould eat, drink, or put on, because, faith he, after these things the Gentiles, that know not God, do feek; (and Chriftians that pretend to know him too,) but having food and raiment, therewith to be content: he, I fay, that enjoined this doctrine, and led that holy and heavenly example, even the Lord Jefus Chrift, bade them, that would be his disciples,. take up the fame crofs, and follow him." e §. III. O who will follow him! Who will be true Chriftians? We must not think to steer Mat. x. 37, 38. Mat. vi. 19, 20, 31, 32, 33. 1 Tim vi. to 11. i another course, nor to drink of another cup, than hath the Captain of our falvation done before us: no, for it is the very question he afked James and John, the fons of Zebedee of old, when they defired to fit at his right and left hand in his kingdom, Are ye able to drink of the cup that I fhall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptifm that I am baptized withal? Otherwise no difciples, no Christians. Whoever they are that would come to Chrift, and be right Chriftians, must readily abandon every delight that would fteal away the affections of the mind, and exercife it from the divine principle of life, and freely write a bill of divorce for every beloved vanity; and all, under the Sun of Righteoufnefs, is fo, compared with him. Obj. 1. §. IV. But fome are ready to object, who will not feem to want fcripture for their lufts, although it be evidently mifapplied. The kingdom of God ftands not in meats, or in drinks, or in apparel, &c. Anf. Right; therefore it is that we ftand out of them. But furely, you have the leaft reafon of any to object this to us, who make thofe things fo neceffary to converfation, as our not conforming to them, renders us obnoxious to your reproach; which how Chriftian, or refembling it is of the righte-oufnefs, peace, and joy in which the heavenly kingdom ftands, let the juft principle in your own confciences determine. Our converfation ftands in temperance, and that ftands in righteoufnefs, by which we have obtained that kingdom, your latitude and excess have no fhare or intereft in. If none therefore can be true difciples, but they that come to bear the daily crofs, and that none bear the cross, but thofe who follow the example of the Lord Jefus Chrift, through his baptifm, afflictions, and temptations; and that none are so baptized with him, but thofe whofe minds are retired from the vanities in which the generality of the world live, and become obedient to the holy light and divine grace, with which they have been enlightened from on high, and thereby are daily exercised to the crucifying of every contrary affection, and bringing of immortality to light: if none are true disciples but fuch, as most undoubtedly they are not, then let the people of thefe days a little fo berly reflect upon themselves, and they will conclude, that none who live and delight in thefe vain customs, and this un-chrift-like converfation, can be true Chriftians, or disciples of the crucified JESUS: for otherwife, how would it be a crofs; or the Christian life, matter of difficulty and reproach? No, the offence of the cross would foon ceafe, which is the power of God to them that believe; that every luft and vanity may be fubdued, and the creature brought into an holy subjection of mind to the heavenly will of its Creator. For therefore has it been faid, that Jefus Christ was and is manifefted, that by his holy selfdenying life and doctrine, he might put a baffle Phil. iii. 1O. I Pet. iv, 13. Rom, vi. 6. Gal. ii. 20. v. 24. Tit. ii. 11, 12, 13. vi. 4. Ibid. v. II. John i. 9. I Cor.i. 18. m upon the proud minds of men, and by the immortality he brought, and daily brings to light, he might stain the glory of their fading rests and pleasures; that having their minds weaned from them, and being crucified thereunto, they might feek another country, and obtain an everlasting inheritance: for the things that are feen are temporal," and those they were, and all true Chriftians are, to be redeemed from refting in but the things that are not feen, are eternal; those they were, and all are to be brought to, and have their affections chiefly fixed upon. f. V. Wherefore a true difciple of the Lord Jefus Christ, is to have his mind fo converfant about heavenly things, that the things of this world may be ufed, as if they were not: that having fuch things as are neceffary and convenient, he be therewith content, without the fuperfluity of the world; whereby the pleasure, that in times of ignorance was taken in the customs and fashions of the world, may more abundantly be fupplied in the hidden and heavenly life of Jefus for unless there be an abiding in Chrift, it will be impoffible to bring forth that much fruit which he requires at the hands of his followers, and wherein his Father is glorified. But as it is clear, that fuch as live in the vanities, pleasures, recreations, and lufts of the world, abide not in him, neither know him, for they that know him depart from iniquity; fo is their abiding and delighting in - 1 Cor. 1. 27, 28, 29. 1 Tim. vi. 8. |