There are a generation of men in the world, that count themselves
men of the largest capacities, when yet the greatest of their
desires lift themselves no higher than to things below. If they can
with their net of craft and policy encompass a bulky lump of earth,
Oh, what a treasure have they engrossed to themselves!
Meanwhile, the man who comes to God by Christ, has laid siege to
heaven, has found out the way to get into the city, and is resolved,
in and by God's help, to make that his own. Earth is a drossy thing
in this man's account; earthly greatness and splendors are but like
vanishing bubbles in this man's esteem. None but God as the end of
his desires, none but Christ as the means to accomplish this his
end, are things counted great by this man. No company now is
acceptable to this man, but the Spirit of God, Christ, angels and
saints, as fellow-heirs with himself. All other men and things, he
deals with as strangers and pilgrims were wont to do. This man's
mind soars higher than the eagle, or stork of the heavens. He is for
musing about things that are above and their glory, and for thinking
what shall come to pass hereafter.
Is it so, that coming to Christ is by the Father? Then this should
teach us to set a high esteem upon them that are indeed coming to
Jesus Christ, for the sake of him by virtue of whose grace they are
made to come to Jesus Christ.
We see that when men, by the help of human abilities, do arrive at
the knowledge of, and bring to pass that which, when done, is a
wonder to the world, how he that did it is esteemed and commended.
Yea, how are his wits, parts, industry, and unweariedness in all,
admired; and yet the man, as to this, is but of the world; and his
work the effect of natural ability. The things also attained by him,
end in vanity and vexation of spirit. Further, perhaps, in the
pursuit of these his achievements, he sins against God, wastes his
time vainly, and at long run loses his soul by neglecting of better
things. Yet he is admired.
But, I say, if this man's parts, labor, diligence, and the like,
will bring him to such esteem in the world, what esteem should we
have of such a one that is, by the gift, promise, and power of God,
coming to Jesus Christ?
1. This is the man with whom God is, in whom God works and walks--a
man, whose motion is governed and steered by the mighty hand of God,
and the effectual working of his power. Here is a man!
2. This man, by the power of God's might which worketh in him, is
able to cast a whole world behind him, with all the lusts and
pleasures of it, and to charge through all the difficulties that men
and devils can set against him. Here is a man!
3. This man is travelling "to mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem,
the city of the living God; and to an innumerable company of angels,
and the spirits of just men made perfect, to God the judge of all,
and to Jesus." Here is a man!
4. This man can look upon death with comfort, can laugh at
destruction when it cometh, and long to hear the sound of the last
trump, and to see the Judge coming in the clouds of heaven. Here is
a man, indeed!
We pass through a threefold state from nature to glory; the state of
grace in this life, the state of felicity in paradise, and our state
in glory after the resurrection.
They are all kings that go to that world, and so shall be proclaimed
there. They shall also be crowned with crowns, and they shall wear
crowns of life and glory, crowns of everlasting joy, crowns of
loving-kindness.
The coming man, the man that comes to God by Christ, if his way, all
his way thither were strewed with burning coals, would choose, God
helping him, to tread that path rather than to have his portion with
them that perish.
"The angel of the Lord encampeth about them that fear him, and
delivereth them." This, therefore, is a glorious privilege of the
men that fear the Lord. Alas, they are some of them so mean, that
they are counted not worth taking notice of by the high ones of the
world; but their betters do respect them: the angels of God count
not themselves too good to attend on them, and camp about them to
deliver them. This then is the man that hath his angel to wait on
him, even he that feareth the Lord.
It is said, that when the church is "fair as the sun, and clear as
the moon," she is "terrible as an army with banners." The presence
of godly Samuel made the elders of Bethlehem tremble; yea, when
Elisha was sought for by the king of Syria, he durst not engage him
but with chariots and horses, a heavy host. Godliness is a wonderful
thing; it commandeth reverence, and the stooping of the spirit, even
of the ungodly ones.
Godliness puts such a majesty and dread upon the professors of it,
that their enemies are afraid of them; yea, even then when they rage
against them, and lay heavy afflictions upon them. It is marvellous
to see in what fear the ungodly are, even of godly men and
godliness; in that they stir up the mighty, make edicts against
them, yea, and raise up armies, and what else can be imagined, to
suppress them; while the persons thus opposed, if you consider them
as to their state and capacity in this world, are the most
inconsiderable--but as a dead dog or a flea. O, but they are clothed
with godliness; the image and presence of God is upon them. This
makes the beasts of this world afraid. "One of you shall chase a
thousand."
The ornament and beauty of this lower world, next to God and his
wonders, are the men that spangle and shine in godliness.