Sermons, pages 385–402
SERMON, XVIII. HEBREWS
nd confessed that they
were Strangers and Tilgrims on the Earth, For they that say such Things declare plainly that they seek a Country.
DOCTRINE. This life ought to be /pent by us, so as to be only a jurney towards heaven.
Tj Aving fiiewn how I. J,
this is to be
the reasons of it, in
done, and given
the preceeding difcourlc, I
now proceed to the
APPLICATION. I.
In a use of inflru6sion,
I. This dodrine may teach us moderation in our mourning for the hfs of such dear friends, who v/hik they lived, improved their lives to right purposes.
If they lived a holy life, then ihelr lives were a jour-
ney towards heaven.
And why should we be immo-
derate in mourning, when they are got to their journey's
"The true Chrijlians Life,
Death to them, tho'
appears
Ser. XVIII. to us with
Their end is hap'* The than better their and beginning, dty of py, their death, is better to theni than the day of their While they lived they desired heaven, and birth".* chose it above this world, or any of the enjoyments of h. They earnestly sought and longed for heaven and why should we grieve that they have obtained ir. Now they have got to heaven, they have got home. Th y never were at home before. They have got to They find more comfort a thoutheir father's house. sand timqs, now they are got home, than they did in their journey. AVhile they were on their journey, they underwent much labour and toil. It was a wildcrnefs frightful afpeft,
a great blcfting.
that they
through
pasted
A difficult road.
There
mountains were abundance of difficulties in the way and rough places. It was laborious, fatigueing thing to travel the road. They were forced to lay out them ;
selves to get along ; and had
many wearisome days and
nights ; but now they have
they have through they are got home got to their everlafling reft. They need to travel no more nor endure any more toil and nor labour any more and will difficulty but enjoy perfcft reft and peace " And 1 hoard a voice from heaenjoy them forever. ven, fayint unto mc, writCj bielTed are the dead which ;
got to the place they sought ;
die in the Lord, Jiom henccforih
Yea, faiih the spirit,
that they may reft from their labours ;
and their works do follow them", f They don't mourn that they arc They look back upon rot home, but grcntly rejoice. the difficulties, and iorrows.and dangers of iil'e, rejoicing that they have got through
them all.
We are ready to look upon death as tho' was a caWe are ready to mourn over theni lamity to thefrn it
with tears of pity ; to think that thofe that were so dear to
Slii.XVIII.
a Journey toivards Heaveti-
to us, jQiould be in the dark rotting grave iliat ihey should there turn to corrui jtion and worms : that they Ihould be taken away from their dear chiltlrcn, and o;
ther pleasant enjoyments
and that they never ihould
have any part more in any thing under the sun. Our bowels are ready to yearn over them, and we arc ready to look upon it, as tho' lome sorrowful thing had befallen them and as tho' they were ift a /sui Circumstances. But this is owing to our infirmity that we arc ready thus to look upon ir. They are in ahappy coiidition. They are inconceivabb blefled. They don't mourn, but rejoice with exceeding joy. Their mouths arc filled with ;
joyful songs :
They drink at rivers of pleasure. They
find no mixture of grief at all, that they have changed
enjoyment;, and ihcir earthly and the company of mortal mankind, for heaThey think of it without any degree of regret. ven. This is an evil world, In compirifbn of that they arc
their earthly houses and
friends,
now in.
Their life here, if attended vvich the belt cir-
cumffances that any earthly life ever was; was attended with abundance that was adverse and affliiftive ; '* They Ihall but now there is an end to all adverlity. neither shall the hunger no more, nor thirlt any more For the lamb which sun light on them, nor any heat. is in the midd of the throne, shall feed them, and shall ;
them unto living fountains of waters ; And God fliall wipe away all tears from their eyci". Tis true we fhail see them no more while h':rc in this world, yet we ought not immoderately to mourn lead
fjr that ;
tho'
ufcd to be pleasant to us to see .them was sweet. For we .ihv)uld con;
tho' their cotnpany
(ider ourselves as
but on a journey too ;
travelling towards the
we ihould be
f.imo place, that they
gone
and why should we break our hearts .v:m that, that they are got there before us \ when we arj loilowto
i,ng he true Chrifiians Life,
Ser. XVIII.
and hope, as soon as ing after them as sad as wc can ever we gel co our journey's end, to be with them again ; ;
Co be wiih them in better circumitanccs than ever wc were with ihcm while here A degree of mourning f*
for near relations when departed,isnot inconfiftant with christianity, but very agrcable to it For as long as we :
arc ficfh and blood, no other can be expelled, than that
we shall have aniinaupropenfities and affccftions. But we have not jull rcafon to be overborn and funk in (piWhen the death of near friends is attended with nt. these circumflances, wc (hould be glad they are got to
heaven, our mourning should be mingled with joy, not have you to be ignorant, brethren, 1 would concerning them that are aileep, that ye sorrow not, even as others that have no hope** " ( i. c. ) that they should not (orrow as the heathen, that had no knowledge of a future happiness, nor any certain hope of any thing for themselves or their friends, after ihcy were dead. This appears by the following verse "For if wc believed that Jesus died and rose again, e-
ven so theiTi also which ilecp
in Jesus, will
God bring
with him".
//// he so, that our lives ought to be only ajourhow ill do they improve their lives, that spend them in travelling towards hell f 2.
ficy
tozvards heaven ;
Some men fprnd their whole lives from their infancy to their dying day, in going dovvn the broad way to dcftru( ion. They don't only draw nearer to hell in length of lime, but ihty every day grow more ripe for dc' ihcy are more alTiaulaicd to the inhabitants Uru ion While others press forward in of the infernal woi id. \
the flrait and ncrrow way to life, ;ind Inboribnlly travel up the hill toward i ion, againlf the inclinations and
tendency t Thcf.
Ser. XVIII.
a Journey towards HeMven.
tendency of the flesh ; these run with a swift career down towards the valley of eternal death towards the ;
lake of fire ; towards the bottomless pit.
This is the
employment of every day, with ail wicked men ; the whole day is (pent in it. As soon as ever they awake in the morning, they set out anew towards hell, and spend every waking moment in it. They begin in " The wicked early days, before they begin to speak. ar2 estranged from the womb, they go aHray aj soon speaking lies".* They hold on in Many of them that live to be with perseverance. if they live to be an hunold, are never weary in it dred years old, they will not give out travelling in the way to hell, 'till they arrive there. And all the concerns of life are subordinated to this employment. wicked man is a servant of sin ; his powers and faculties are all employed in the service of sin, and infitmg as they are born, it
for hell.
And all his pofteflions arc so used by him. as
same purpose. Some men spend their time in treasuring up wrath again/l the day Thus do all unclean persons, that live in of wrath. to be
subservient to the
lascivious praftices
fccret.
Thus do all malicious
Thus do all prophane persons, that neglcft Thus do all u nju persons ; and duties of religion.
persons
thofe that are fraudulent and oppreflive in their dealings.
Thus do all backbiters and revilers. Thus do all covetous persons, that set their hearts chiefly on the richThus do tavern-haunters, and frees of this world. quenters of evil company ; and many other kinds of Thus o far the persons that might be mentioned. of part men the bulk mankind are hasting greater of ; onward in the broad way to deftru£\i(m. The way, as broad as it is, is, as it were, filled up with the mulritude And they that are going with one accord this way. are every d y g ing into lieJl out of this broad way by ihouiaDds>
The true Cbriflians Life,
Ser.XVIII.
thoulands. Multitudes are continually flowing down into the great Jake of fire and brimllone, out of this broad as Tonic miglny river constantly
way,
difembogues ics
waters into ihc ocean. Jfenre
ivhfti prrfom
are converted, they do but
begin their n/ork, and Jet out in the zi ay /hey
have
They never which their
'till
ihcn do any thing at
wiiolc lives ought
to be
that
work
ipent in,; which
we have now flievvn to be travelling towards Per Ions before convcrdon,
heaven. never take a flep that way.
Then docs a man firlt set out on this journey, when he and he is but jufl set ouL broudit home to Christ having done his woik, that he he from far is So in it. towards heaven. to face set his begins His only then then only f.rft is brought finilhcd he to not is journry to look that .ay fothac if, and begins go to willing be his care and labour in hischriflian woik and business, is then but begun, which he mufl spend the remaining part is
of his life in. 1 hose persons do ill, who when ihcy are cohvertcd, and have obtained a hcpe of their being in a good condition, don't drive as cmneflly as il'ey did before, while ihcy were under awakenings. They ought henceforward, as long as t! ey live, to be as earnefl and laborious as ever
as waichful and careful as ever ; yea, ihcy fliould
incrcale more and more. It is nojufl i.bjeiflionor excufc from this. that now ihey have not ihc same toflrivc for
before ihcy lirove ihai they nrght be converbut that ihey have, obtained. Is there nothing ellc ihat persons have as much reason to flrivc, and lay out their llrci ;.Mh for, as ilcirtwn fafciy P Should we not
as before
that we
may Icrve &: glo-
as willing to be diligent
lify
God, as that we curfclvcs may be happy ? And if \vc
Ser. XVIII.
a Journey towards Heaven,
we have obtained grace, yet there is not all obtained that may be. *Tis but a very little grace that we have obtained we ought 10 strive that we may obtain more. We ought tp strive as much that we may obtain the o;
ther degrees that are before, as small degree that is behind.
we did to obtain that
The apostle tells us, that
he forgot what was behind, and reached forth towards what was before.* Yea thofe that are converted, have now a farther reason to strive for grace than tliey had
before
now they have tasted, and seen fomethingof the sweetness and excellency of it. A man that has once tasted the bleflings of Canaan, has more reason to press forward towards it, than he had before. And then, they that are converted, should flrive that they their calling and eleftion sure.
may make
All thofe that are con-
verted, are not sure of it ; and thofe that are furc of it,
don't know that they shall be always io ; and fliil seek(ervingGod with the utmod diligence, is the way
to have afturance, and to have it maintained.
Use may be of exhortation ; so to spend the pre»
sent life that heaven.
may only
be a journey towards
Labour to be converted and fanftified, and to obtain such a disposition of mind that you may chufc heaven for your inheritance and home ; and may earnestly long for it, and be willing and deGrou to change this world, and all the enjoyments of it for heaven. Labour to have your heart taken up so much about heaven and hea;
venly enjoyments, as that you may rejoice at any time when God calls you to have your bcft earihly things that are moll comfprrafriends, and thofe blc to you here, to go to heaven, there to cj>joy God
andchrift. * Phil.
Ser.XVIII.
Christian's Life,
Be perfwadcd to travel in the way that leads to hcaway of holiness, fclf-denial, mortification, in a way of obedience to all the commands of God, in a way of following Christ's example, in a way of a Tcn
viz. in a
heavenly life, or imitation of the faints and angels that Be content to travel on in this way, in live in heivcn. a laborious manner, to endure all the fatigues of if. Begin to travel it without delay, Jf you have noc already begun it and travel in it with afliduiiy. Let it be your daily work, from morning to night, and hold out let there be nothing that (hall stop or in it to the endladifcourage you, or turn you aside from this road. bour to be growing in holiness, to be coming nearer and nearer to heaven, in that you are more and more as ;
you fliall be when you
there ;
ever that be).
And let all other concerns be subordinated to this great Confider concern of getting forwards towards heaven. the reasons that have been mentioned why you should Confider that the world is not thus spend your life. your abiding place, and was never so intended by God. Confider how Iktle a while you are to be here, and how little worth your while it is to spend your life to any Confider that the future world is to be other purpose. your everlasting abode ; and that the enjoyments and concerns of this world, have their being only and entirely in order to another world.
And confider furibcr
for motive.
How worthy is heaven that yeur life Jhould be
tvhoUy Jfent as a journey towards it, .
To what better purpose can you spend your life, whether you rcfpcft your duty or your interest ? What better end can you propofc to your journey, ihan to obHere you are placed in this world ; In tain heaven ? ibis wildcrncfs,
and have your choice given you, that
Ser. XVJIL
a Journey towards Heaven.
you may travel which way you please. And there is oneway that leads to heaven. Now can you dirc(ft your course better than this way ? What can you chufc better for your journey's end ? All men have some aim or other in living. Some mainly seek wor dly things they ;
spend their days in the pursuit of these things. But is not heaven, where is fuunefs of joy forever and ever, much more worthy to be sought by you ? How can you better employ your strength, and use your means, and spend your days, than in travelling the road that leads to the everlasting enjoyment of God to his glorious presence, to the city of the new Jerufalcm to ihc heavenly mount Zion where ail your dcfircs will be filled, and no danger of ever loosing your happiness ? No man is at home in this world, whether he chufe heaven or no yet here he is but a tranfcient perlon. Where can you chufe your home better than in heaven f* The reft and glory of heaven is so great, that *tis worthy we should desire it above riches above our father's houses, or our own above husband or wife, or children, or all earthly friends. It is worthy that we should fubordinatc these things to it, and that we Ihould be ready chearfully to part with them for heavcn,whenever God calls. ;
This is the way to have death comfortable to us.
If we fpen.l our lives so as to be only a journeying towards heaven, this will be tlie way toluvc death, that is the end of the journey, and entrance into heaven noc but comfortable. This is the way to be free from boJage, through the fear of death, and to have the profpc t and forethought terrible,
of death comfortable.
Djcs the traveller think of his
journey's end with fear and terror, efpocially when he many days travelling, and it be a long and i:;as been
lircfomc
The true Cbrijlians Life,
Sex. XVIII.
Is it terrible to him to think that tirefomc journey ? he has ahnoft get to his journey's end ? Arc not men
rather wont to rejoice at it ? Were the children of Ifracl \\t wllderncfs, when
sorry after forty years travel in
This is the way to they had almost got to Canaan ? have death not terrible when it comes. 'Tis the nzy Does to be able to part with the world without grief. home, to quit it grieve the traveller when he has got his flaff and load of provisions that he had to sustain him
by the way P 3. No more of your. life will be pleasant to think of zuhen you come to die, than has been /pent after this
manner. All of your pad life that has been fpenr as a journey towards heaven, will be comfortable to think of on a death bed, and no more. If you have spent none of your life this way your whole life will be terrible loyou to think o , unless you die under some great dclufion. You will see then, how that all of your life that has You will then ice the been spent otherwise, is loll. vanity of other aims, that .you may have propos'd 10 The thought of what you here poflcftcdand yourself un<snjoyed in the world, will not be pleasant to you jcls you can think withal dial you h;<ve fuboidinatcd ;
hem to this pur pole. 4.
their
Confider that thofe that are rvillin thus tofpend lives as a journey towards heaven, may haie
heaveju
Heaven, tainable
We, even
high as it is, an(! glorious as it is, is at-
lucl)
Tuch
poor worthier crcarurcs as we are. worms, may attain to have for
gur home, ih- i ; lorigus region that is ihc habitation cf tiic
Ser. XVI I L
a "Journey towards Heaven
the glorious angels ; yea, the dwelling place of the glorious Son of God ; and where is ihe glorious prefencc of the great Jehovah. And we may have ii freely ; there is no high price that is demanded of us for this We may have it without money and withpriviledge. out price; if we are but willing to see out and go on
towards it ;
are but willing to travel the r ad that leads
to it, and bend our course that way as long as we live;
we may and Ihall have heaven for our eternal reding place.
Let it he
that if our lives be not a they will be a journey to
confider' d
journey towvrds heaven, helL
We can't continue here always, but we must gofome where else.
All mankind after they have been in this world a little while, they go out of it, and there is but two places that they go to the two great rccepticles of the one is heaven ; all that depart out of this world whether a few, a small number in comparison, travel ;
The way that leads hither, is but thinly occupied with And the other is hell, whether the bulk of And one or the other of ihefe mankind do throng. ihe illue oi our cour(e in must be our journey's end
travellers.
this
world. I ihall conclude by giving some dire< Ions.
Labour to get a sense of the vanity of this -world
on account of the liitle fatish tioa nnd on account of its fliort that is to be cnjoyM here
or the vanity of
continuance, and unfcrviieablenefs when wc moll liaiRi death bed. in need of help, viz. on a
All'mcn that live any conlidcrable time in the ./'. -i, them of the vunliy see abundance that might convince confijcr. but would they if of the world,
The true Chrijiians Life,
Ser. XVlII,
Beperiwaded to exercise confidcration, when you see and hear from time ro lime of the death of others. Labour to turn your thoughts this way. See if you can't see
the vanity of the world in such a Glass. were sensible how vain a thing this world is, you would see that it is not worthy that your hfe (hould be fjx nt to the purpofcs thereof; and all is loft tha< is n;)t fomc way aimed at heaven.
If you
Labour to be much acquainted with heaven.
If you arc not acquainted with it, you will not be
You will
likely to spend your life as a journey thither.
you long Unless you are much converfanc in your
not be sensible of the worth of it ; nor will for
mind with a better good, it will be exceediug difficult to you to have your hearts loose from these things, and to Uie them only in subordination to something clfe.and to be ready to part with them for the fake of that better good.
Labour therefore to obtain a realizing sense of a heavenly world, to get a firm belief of" the reality of it, and to be very much conversant with it in your thoughts. Seek heaven only by ye/us Chrifl,
Christ tells us that he is the way, and the truth, and H tells us that he is the door of the Oieep.
the lifc.
*I am the doT)r, by
me if any man enter in, he shall be If we
saved ; and go in and out and find padure". t
therefore would improve our lives as a journey towards' heaven, we must (cck it by him, and not by our own as expc.sting to obtain only for h!> fuke, rightcoufners looking to him, having our depcndance on him mly for ;
purchase of heaven, and procuring
Joh.
K.XVlIL / Hierit. 2ss,
And exped strength to walk in a way of holithe way that leads to heaven, only from him.
4. Let V journey.
a Journey low at a
chriflians
help one another
in going this
There are many ways that chriflians might greatly help and forward one another in their way to heaven by religious conference, and other wife. And persons greatly need help in this way, which is, as 1 have obferv'J, a difficult way.
Let chriflians be exhorted to go this journey as it were, in company, conversing together while their journey (hall end, and aftifling one another. Company is ery defireable in a journey, but in none o much as in this.
Let chriflians go unired, and not fall out by the wav which would be the way to hinder one another ; b _us »eall means they can to help one another up the hi'L This is the way to be more successful in travelling, anc to have the more joyful meeting at their father's hafe in glory.
FINIS.
The true Chrijliat
to be V