1. Luxury should not be used by Christians, because of its
inconsistency with the spirit of Christianity.--2. The cup of
which Christ's true disciples drank.--3. O! who will drink of
this cup!--4. An objection answered of the nature of God's
kingdom, and what it stands in.--5. Of the frame of the spirit
of Christ's followers.
I. But the luxury opposed in this discourse should not be allowed
among Christians, because both that which invents it, delights in
it, and pleads so strongly for it, is inconsistent with the true
spirit of Christianity; nor doth the very nature of the Christian
religion admit thereof. For therefore was it, that immortality and
eternal life were brought to light, that all the invented pleasures
of mortal life, in which the world lives, might be denied and
relinquished: and for this reason it is, that nothing less than
immense rewards and eternal mansions are promised, that men and
women might therefore be encouraged willingly to forsake the vanity
and fleshly satisfactions of the world, and encounter with boldness
the shame and sufferings they must expect to receive at the hand of,
it may be, their nearest intimates and relations.
For if the Christian religion had admitted the possession of this
world in any other sense than the simple and naked use of those
creatures, really given of God for the necessity and convenience
of the whole creation; for instance, did it allow all that pride,
vanity, curiosity, pomp, exchange of apparel, honours, preferments,
fashions, and the customary recreations of the world, with whatever
may delight and gratify their senses; then what need of a daily
cross; a self-denying life; working out salvation with fear and
trembling; seeking the things that are above; having the treasure
and heart in heaven; no idle talking, no vain jesting, but fearing
and meditating all the day long; undergoing all reproach, scorn,
hard usage, bitter mockings, and cruel deaths? What need these
things? And why should they be expected in order to that glorious
immortality and eternal crown, if the vanity, pride, expense,
idleness, concupiscence, envy, malice, and whole manner of living
among the called Christians, were allowed by the Christian religion?
No certainly; but as the Lord Jesus Christ well knew in what foolish
trifles and vain pleasures, as well as grosser impieties, the minds
of men and women were fixed, and how much they were degenerated from
the heavenly principle of life, into a lustful or unlawful seeking
after the enjoyments of this perishing world, nay, inventing daily
new satisfactions to gratify the carnal appetites, so did He not
less foresee the difficulty that all would have to relinquish and
forsake 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 speak unto them in the language of
the law, that they should have an earthly Canaan, great dignities, a
numerous issue, a long life, and the like: no, rather the contrary,
at least to take these things in their course; but He speaks to them
in a higher strain; namely, He assures them of a kingdom and a crown
that are immortal, that neither time, cruelty, death, grave, or
hell, with all its instruments, shall ever be able to disappoint or
take away from those who should believe and obey Him. Further, that
they should be taken into that near alliance of loving friends, yea,
the intimate divine relation of dear brethren, and co-heirs with Him
of all celestial happiness, and a glorious immortality. Wherefore,
if it be recorded that those who heard not Moses were to die, much
more they who refuse to hear and obey the precepts of this great and
eternal Rewarder of all that diligently seek and follow Him.
II. And therefore it was that He was pleased to give us, in his
own example, a taste of what his disciples must expect to drink
deeply of, namely, the cup of self-denial, cruel trials, and most
bitter afflictions: He came not to consecrate a way to the eternal
rest, through gold, and silver, ribbons, laces, prints, perfumes,
costly clothes, curious trims, exact dresses, rich jewels, pleasant
recreations, plays, treats, balls, masques, revels, romances,
love-songs, and the like pastimes of the world: no, no, alas! but
by forsaking all such kind of entertainments, yea, and sometimes
more lawful enjoyments too; and cheerfully undergoing the loss
of all on the one hand, and the reproach, ignominy, and the most
cruel persecution from ungodly men on the other. He needed never
to have wanted such variety of worldly pleasures, had they been
suitable to the nature of his kingdom: for He was tempted, as are
his followers, with no less bait than all the glories of the world:
but He commanded to seek another country, and to lay up treasures in
the heavens that fade not away; and therefore charged them never to
be much inquisitive about what they should eat, drink, or put on,
"because," saith He, "after these things the Gentiles," that know
not God, "do seek;" (Matt. vi. 29-33;) (and Christians that pretend
to know Him too,) but "having food and raiment, therewith to be
content:" (1 Tim. vi. 11:) He, I say, that enjoined this doctrine,
and led that holy and heavenly example, even the Lord Jesus Christ,
bade them that would be his disciples take up the same cross, and
follow Him (Luke, xiv. 26, 27, 33.)
III. O who will follow Him! Who will be true Christians? We must
not think to steer another course, nor to drink of another cup, than
hath the Captain of our salvation done before us: (Heb. ii. 10:) no,
for it is the very question He asked James and John, the sons of
Zebedee of old, when they desired to sit at his right and left hand
in his kingdom, "Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink
of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
(Matt. xx. 22.) Otherwise no disciples, no Christians. Whoever they
are that would come to Christ, and be right Christians, must readily
abandon every delight that would steal away the affections of the
mind, and exercise it from the divine principle of life, and freely
write a bill of divorce for every beloved vanity; and all, under the
Sun of Righteousness is so, compared with Him.
Objection 1. IV. But some are ready to object, who will not seem to
want Scripture for their lusts, although it be evidently misapplied.
The kingdom of God stands not in meats, or in drinks, or in apparel,
&c. Answer. Right; therefore it is that we stand out of them. But
surely you have the least reason of any to object this to us,
who make those things so necessary to conversation, as our not
conforming to them renders us obnoxious to your reproach; which how
Christian, or resembling it is of the righteousness, peace, and joy
in which the heavenly kingdom stands, let the just principle in your
own consciences determine. Our conversation stands in temperance,
and that stands in righteousness, by which we have obtained that
kingdom, your latitude and excess have no share or interest in.
If none, therefore, can be true disciples but they that come to
bear the daily cross, but those who follow the example of the Lord
Jesus Christ, (Phil. iii. 10; 1 Pet. iv. 13; Tit. ii. 11-13; John,
i. 9; Rom. vi. 6; Gal. ii. 20; v. 24; vi. 4,) through his baptism,
afflictions, and temptations; and that none are so baptized with
Him but those whose 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 such, as most undoubtedly they are
not, then let the people of these days a little soberly reflect
upon themselves, and they will conclude that none who live and
delight in these vain customs and this un-christ-like conversation
can be true Christians, or disciples of the crucified JESUS: for
otherwise, how would it be a cross; or the Christian life matter of
difficulty and reproach? No, the offence of the cross would soon
cease, which is "the power of God to them that believe;" (Gal. v.
11; 1 Cor. i. 18;) that every lust and vanity may be subdued, and
the creature brought into a holy subjection of mind to the heavenly
will of its Creator. For therefore has it been said, that Jesus
Christ was and is manifested, that by his holy self-denying life and
doctrine, and by the immortality He brought, and daily brings to
light, He might stain the glory of their fading rests and pleasures;
(1 Cor. i. 27-29;) that having their minds weaned from them, and
being crucified thereunto, they might seek another country, and
obtain an everlasting inheritance: for "the things that are seen
are temporal," (2 Cor. iv. 18,) and those they were, and all true
Christians are, to be redeemed from resting in: but the things that
are not seen are eternal; those they were, and all are to be brought
to, and have their affections chiefly fixed upon.
V. Wherefore a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is to have his
mind so conversant about heavenly things, that the things of this
world may be used as if they were not: that having such things as
are necessary and convenient, he be therewith content, without the
superfluity of the world; (1 Tim. vi. 8;) whereby the pleasure that
in times of ignorance was taken in the customs and fashions of the
world, may more abundantly be supplied in the hidden and heavenly
life of Jesus: for unless there be an abiding in Christ, it will be
impossible to bring forth that much fruit (John, xv. 4, 7, 8,) which
He requires at the hand of his followers, and wherein his Father is
glorified. But as it is clear that such as live in the vanities,
pleasures, recreations, and lusts of the world, abide not in Him,
neither know Him, for they that know Him depart from iniquity; so
is their abiding and delighting in those bewitching follies, the
very reason why they are so ignorant and insensible of Him: Him who
continually stands knocking at the door of their hearts; (Rev. iii.
20;) in whom they ought to abide, and whose divine power they should
know to be the cross on which every beloved lust and alluring vanity
should be slain and crucified; that so they might feel the heavenly
life to spring up in their hearts, and themselves to be quickened
to seek the things that are above; that when Christ shall appear,
they might appear with Him in glory who is over all, God blessed for
ever. (Col. iii. 1; Rom. ix. 5.) Amen.