forgetful of God unapt for spiritual things the flesh governeth but if the spiritual life doth more and more discover it self with life and power in our thoughts words and actions the Flesh is on the wane and we shall not be reckoned to have lived after the flesh but after the spirit we have every day an higher estimation of God and Christ and Grace weaneth and draweth off the heart from other things that we may grow more dead to them and live to God in the Spirit and more intirely pursue our everlasting hopes 4. Some things more immediately tend to the pleasing of the flesh as bodily pleasures and therefore the inclinations to them are called the lusts of the flesh 1 John 2.16 Other things more remotely as they lay in provisions for that end as the honours and profits of the world now tho a man be not voluptuous he may be guilty of the carnal minding because he is wholly sunk and lost in the world and is thereby taken off from a care of and delight in better things Envyings Emulations Strife and Divisions make us carnal 1 Cor. 3.3 For ye are yet carnal whereas there is among you envyings strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men They have little of the spirit in them that bustle for greatness and esteem in the world tho they be not wholly given to brutish pleasures and those that will be rich are said to fall into foolish and hurtful lusts which drown the soul in perdition and destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 These are taken off from God and Christ and the world to come and therefore the fleshly minding must be applied to any thing that will make us less spiritual and heavenly Luk. 12.21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God They seek outward things in good earnest but spiritual things in an overly careless or perfunctory manner 5. Some please the flesh in a more cleanly manner others in a more gross Gal. 5.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The works of the flesh are manifest adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness idolatry witchcraft These are the grosser out-breakings of the flesh now tho we fall not into these yet there is a more secret carnal minding when we have too free a relish in any outward thing and set loose the heart to such alluring vanities as draw us off from God and Christ and Heaven and these obstruct the heavenly life as well as the other therefore still all must be subordinated to our great Interest some are disingaged from baser lusts but are full of self-love and self-seeking I proceed to the Second Thing 2. What is that death which is the consequent of it Death signifieth Three Things in Scripture Death Temporal Spiritual and Eternal The first consisteth in the Separation of the Soul from the body The Second in the Separation of the Soul from God The Third in an Eternal Separation of both body and Soul from God in a State of endless Misery 1. Death is a separation of the Soul from the body with all its antecedent preparations As Diseases Pains Miseries Dangers these are death begun in deaths often 2 Cor. 11.13 that is in dangers that he may take from me this death Exod. 10.7 Meaning the Plague of the Locusts and death is consummated at our dissolution 1 Cor. 15.55 Now all this is the fruit of sin and they forfeit their lives that only use them for the flesh they are unserviceable to God and therefore why should they live in the world 2. Spiritual Death or an estrangement from God as the Author of the Life of Grace so we are said to be dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 and so it may hold good here 1 Tim. 5.6 She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth That is hath no feeling of the life of Grace But 3. Eternal Death which consisteth in an everlasting separation from the Presence of the Lord called the second death Rev. 20.6 On such the second death hath no power and v. 14. Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death This is most horrible and dreadful and is the portion of all those that are slaves to the flesh Now this is called death 1. Because In all creatures that have sence their dissolution is accompaneed with pain Trees and Vegetables die without pain and so doth not Man and Beast and death to men is more bitter because they are more sensible of the sweetness of life than beasts are and have some forethought of what may follow after and because 't is a misery from which there is no release as from the first death there is no recovery into the present life This second death is set forth by two solemn notions The worm that never dieth and the fire that shall never be quenched Matth. 9.44 By which is meant the sting of Conscience and the Wrath of God both these make the sinner for ever miserable the sting of conscience or the fretting remembrance of their past folly when they reflect upon their madness in following the pleasures of sin and neglecting the offers of Grace and besides this there are pains inflicted upon them by the Wrath of God there is no member or faculty of the soul free but feeleth the misery of the second death as no part is free from sin so none shall be from punishment in the first death the pain may lie in one place head or heart but here all over the agonies of the first death are soon over but the agonies and pains of the second death indure for ever The first death the more it prevaileth the more we are past feeling but by this second death there is a greater vivacity than ever the capacity of every sence is inlarged and made more receptive of pain while we are in the body vehemens sensible corrumpit sensum the more vehemently any thing doth strike on the Sences the more doth it deaden the sense as the inhabitants about the fall of Nilus are deaf with the continual noise and too much light puts out the eyes tast is dulled by custom here the capacity is improved by feeling the power of God sustaining the sinner whilst his wrath torments him as the Saints are fortified by their Blessedness and can indure that Light and Glory the least glimpse of which would overwhelm them here so the wicked are capacitated to endure the torments in the first death our praying is for life we would not die there our wish shall be for destruction we would not live Every man would lose a Tooth rather than be perpetually tormented with the Tooth-ach these pains never cease this Death is the fruit of the carnal Life Secondly To be spiritually minded is Life and Peace Here all will be easily and soon dispatched 1. What it is to be spiritually minded I Answer When we know the Things of the Spirit so as to believe them and believe
the Trial of all Doctrines God himself wrote the first Scripture that ever was written with his own Finger Exod. 24.12 And the Lord said to Moses Câ—me up to me into the Mount and be there and I will give thee Tables of Stone and a Law and Commandments which I have written that thou mayest teach them And then commanded Moses and the Prophets to do the same Exod. 17.14 And the Lord said unto Moses Write this for a Memorial in a Book And Exod. 34.27 And the Lord said unto Moses Write thou these Words for after the Tenor of these Words I have made a Covenant with thee and with Israel So he bids Jeremiah Chap. 36.2 Take thee a Roll of a Book and write therein all the Words that I have spoken thee And so God spake to all the Prophets tho it be not exprest and by inward Instinct bids them write their Prophecies that it might be a publick Record for the Church in all Ages Now this Way was always accompanied with Prophetical Revelations until Christ's time who as the great Doctor of the Church perfected the Rule of Faith and by the Apostles as so many Publick Notaries consigned it to the use of the Church And so when the Canon was compleat then John as the last of the Apostles and outliving the rest closed up all and therefore closeth up his Prophecy thus Rev. 22.18 19. For I testify unto every Man that heareth the Words of the Prophecy of this Book If any Man add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any Man shall take away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the holy City and from the Things that are written in this Book Which sealeth up the whole Canon and Rule of Faith as well as the Book of the Revelations And therefore 3. There is now Writing only without the Word without Visions and Revelations There needeth no more now because here is enough to make us wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness That the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works It is sufficient to make us wise to preach and you wise to practise It is now certain enough God hath left a publick Record that we might not spend our time in doubting and disputing And it is full enough you need nothing more either to satisfy the Desires of Nature or to repair the Defects of Nature to satiate the Soul with Knowledg For God hath given to the Church sufficient Instruction to decide all Controversies to assoil all Doubts and to give us sure Conduct and Direction to everlasting Glory III. The next Question is Of what Concernment it is to enquire of the Truth of the Scripture Many think that such a Discussion needs not because this is a principal matter to be believed not argued and Arguments at least beget but an humane Faith Yet certainly it is of great necessity if you consider four things 1. It is good to prepare and induce carnal Men to respect it and to wait for the Confirmation of the Spirit An Humane Faith maketh way for a Divine when Men hearken to the Word upon common grounds God may satisfy them as those John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Son of the Living God They first believed upon the Woman's Report and then upon their own Experience So it is good to establish sound Grounds that we may know the Truth of God first upon Hear-say and afterward upon Experience This way we induce and invite Men to make a Trial. 2. Because it giveth an additional Confirmation and greater Certainty to the People of God Foundation-Stones can never be laid with exactness and care enough For if you mark it you will find all doubting in your Belief all disproportion in your Practice ariseth from this because the supreme Truth is not setled in the Soul We ought to believe it more and more then it stirs up greater Reverence greater Admiration and makes way for your Delight and Joy to have your Charter cleared It is good to look upon this Argument that it might further Our Comfort and that this Fire may be blown up into a Flame and that Truth may have more Awe upon the Conscience 3. It awakeneth them that have received the Word upon slight grounds to be better setled Most Men look no further than humane Authority and publick Countenance they have no other grounds to believe the Scriptures than the Turks to believe the Alcoran because it is the Tradition of their Fathers Most Mens Belief is but an happy Mistake a thing at peradventure and they are Christians upon no other grounds than others are Turks God loveth a rational Worship he would have us to render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Reason of the Faith that is in us But they are Christians by Chance rather than Choice and solid Reason it is because they know no other Religion not because they know no better Well then that you may be able to justify your Religion For Wisdom is justified of her Children Mat. 11.19 that you may take up the Ways of God upon a rational Choice it is good to see what Grounds and Confirmations we have for that holy Faith we do profess 4. That we may know the distinct Excellency of our Profession above all other Professions in the World The Daughters of Jerusalem are brought in asking the Spouse Cant. 5.9 What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved O thou fairest among Women What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved that thou dost so charge us What can you say for your Christ and for your way of Salvation and for your Scriptures above what other Men can say for their Worship or their Superstition A Christian should know the distinct and special Excellency of his Profession Jer. 6.16 God bids us Stand in the way and see and ask for the old Paths Where is the good Way It is good to survey the Superstitions we have in the World and compare the Excellency of our holy Profession with other Professions In Scripture we are required not only to glorify God but to sanctify him Isa. 8.13 Sanctify the Lord of Hosts in your Hearts So 1 Pet. 3.15 Sanctify the Lord God in your Hearts and be ready always to give an Answer to every Man that asketh you a Reason of the Hope that is in you with meekness and fear Now what is it to sanctify It is to set apart any thing from common Uses This
that looketh upon the Gospel in the Light of Parts and External Tradition hath a Model of Truth in his Brain but these find it impressed upon their Hearts there is Light and Fire Wait for this Witness Sixthly By the wonderful preservation of Scriptures even to our Times There is no Doctrine so ancient it describeth the whole History of the World from the very Creation Moses was ancienter than the Gods of the Heathens No Doctrine can produce such Records of the Original of the World The Doctrine of the Gospel is as Old as Paradise where God preached it to Adam Gen. 3.15 I will put enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed It shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel The Foundation was laid long since tho it was more explicitly revealed upon the coming of Christ. None so much oppugned We have some ancient Writings of the Heathens tho nothing so ancient as Scripture Other Writings by tract of Time have been much mangled tho they have been cherished by Men as not contrary to their Lusts but the Scripture is still opposed persecuted maligned and yet it continueth Psal. 129.1 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my Youth may Israel now say Many a time have they afflicted me from my Youth yet they have not prevailed against me The Church hath been always bred up under Afflictions Enmity against it began betimes yet still it holdeth up its Head Errors are not long-lived 1 Cor. 3.12 13. Now if any Man build upon this Foundation Gold Silver precious Stones Wood Hay Stubble Every Man's Work shall be made manifest For the Day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by Fire and the Fire shall try every Man's Work of what sort it is The World hath had time enough to enquire into the Scripture and to discover the vanity and falshood of it if there were any Nay not only the main Doctrine of the Scripture hath been continued but no part of it is falsified corrupted or destroyed The World wanted not Malice nor Opportunity the Powers of the World were bent against it and corrupt Persons in the Church were always given to other gospelling Gal. 1.6 7. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another Gospel Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. 1 Tim. 6.3 If any Man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words c. But still the Scriptures are wonderfully preserved as the three Children in the Furnace not an Hair was singed not a jot or tittle of the Truth is perished or corrupted If it were corrupted it must be before Christ's Time or after it not before then Christ would have noted it not after for then the Parts would not agree but we find no such thing but an exact Harmony Nor is there any lost for here is a sufficient Instruction and Guide to Happiness Christ hath promised not a tittle shall fall to the ground The Word hath been in danger of being lost but the Miracle of Preservation is therefore the greater In Joshua's Time there was but one Copy of the Law In Dioclesian's Time there was an Edict to burn their Bibles and Copies were scarce and chargeable and yet still it hath been kept Seventhly By his Judgments on those who have reviled abused and persecuted this Truth The Records of all Ages witness to this The whole Jewish Nation was destroyed for opposing the Doctrine of the Gospel After the slaughter of the Prophets and murder of Christ God let them alone for forty Years and then Wrath came upon them to the uttermost the People were carried captive contrary to the Roman Custom the Land lost its fertility Look into succeeding Times very few Persecutors went to the Grave by a natural Death Particular Stories are full of the Judgments of God executed on them Julian the Apostate confessed Christ had the best at last Vicisti Galilee and so died blaspheming Lucian that railed against God and his Word as he returned from a Supper his Dogs fell mad and tore him in pieces Eusebius reports of a certain Jew that took upon him to apply a sentence of the Word to a prophane End to make a Jest of Scripture was stricken with blindness till he made confession of his Fault Appion scoffing at Scripture and at Circumcision had an Ulcer growing in the place of Circumcision as Josephus reporteth God is very angry when Men are partial in the Law tho they do many good things Rev. 22.18 19. For I testify unto every Man that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book If any Man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any Man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things which are written in this Book SERMON XXIX JOHN XVII 17 Sanctify them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth II. THE Church hath owned the Word You see how God hath owned it he saith it is my Word Let us see how the Church hath owned it Here I shall shew three things 1. What is the Church's Duty to the Word 2. What Credit and Value we ought to put on the Churches Testimony 3. How the Church hath witnessed to the Word in all Ages 1. What is the Churches Duty To keep the Word and to transmit it pure to the next Age that nothing be added nothing diminished that it be published to the present Age and transmitted pure to the next Rom. 3.2 Vnto them were committed the Oracles of God We are Trustees Jude 3. Earnestly contending for the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of the Truth The Church is to hold it forth as a Pillar doth a Proclamation that it may not be lost and extinguished This is the Jewel Christ hath left his Spouse as the Law was kept in the Ark. 2. What respect we ought to bear to the Churches Testimony To hearken to it till we have better Evidence We do not ultimately resolve our Faith into the Churches Authority for the Authority of the Church is not Absolute but Ministerial as a Royal Edict doth not receive Credit by the Officer and Crier he only declareth it Yet the Church's Testimony is not to be neglected for Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10.14 It is a preparative Inducement John 4.42 Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World If we would know the Truth of a thing before we have experience go to them that have experience the judgment of others whom we respect and reverence causeth us
by the power and influence of Faith 'T is not enough to have Faith but we must walk by it our whole Conversation is carryed on and influenced by Faith and by the Spirit of God on Christs part Gal. 2.20 I live by the Faith of the Son of God a lively Faith There living by Faith is spoken of as it respecteth the principle of the Spiritual Life here walking by Faith as the scope and end of it there as we derive vertue from Christ here as we press on to Heaven in the practice of Holyness In short walking noteth a progress and passing on from one place to another through a strait and beaten way which lyeth between both So we pass on from the earthly state to the Heavenly by the power and influence of our way our way is through all Conditions we are appointed unto and through all duties required of us 1. Through all Conditions By honour and dishonour evil report and good report afflictions prosperities 2 Cor. 6.4 5 6.7 8. Whether despised or countenanced still minding our great journey to Heaven Faith is necessary for all that the evil be not a discouragement nor the good a snare Evil Rom. 8.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us Good 2 Tim. 4.10 For Demas hath forsaken us and loved the present World 2. All duties required of us That we still keep a good Conscience towards God and towards man Acts 24.15 16. In this Faith and Hope Reasons 1. Walking by Faith maketh a man sincere because he expecteth his reward from God only though no man observe him no man commend him Matth. 6 6. Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly Yea though all men hate him condemn him Matth 5.11 12. Blessed are you when men shall revile and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my names sake rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Now this is true sincerity when we make God alone our pay master and count his rewards enough to repair our losses and repay our cost 2. It maketh a man vigorous and lively When we consider at the end of our work there is a Life of endless joys to be possessed in Heaven with God that we shall never repent of the labour and pain that we have taken in the Spiritual Life 1 Cor. 15.58 Always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Phil. 3.14 I press towards the mark because of the high prize of the calling of God in Jesus Christ. The thoughts of the prize and worth of the reward do add Spirits to the runner 3. It maketh a man watchful that he be not corrupted with the delights of sense which are apt to call back our thoughts to interrupt our affections to divert us from our work and quench our zeal Now one that walks by Faith can compare his Eternal Happiness with these transitory pleasures which will soon have an end and everlastingly forsake those miserable Souls who were deluded by them As Moses Heb. 11.24 25. By Faith Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to injoy the pleasures of sin for a season 4. Walking by Faith will make a man self denying having for Heaven in his Eye he knoweth that he cannot be a loser by God Mark 10.21 Forsake all that thou hast and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven So the 29 30. Verily I say unto you there is no man that hath left House or Brethren or Sister or Father or Mother and Children and Lands for my names sake but he shall receive an hundred fold 5. Walking by Faith maketh a man comfortable and confident a Believer is incouraged in all his duty imboldened in his conflicts comforted in all his sufferings The quieting or imboldening the Soul is the great work of Faith or trust in Gods fidelity A promise to him is more than all the visible things on Earth or sensible objects in the World it can do more with him to make him forsake all earthly pleasures possessions and hopes Psa. 56.4 In God I will praise his word in God I have put my trust I will not fear what flesh can do unto me So Paul Acts 20.24 But none of those things move me neither count I my Life dear unto me so I may fulfil my course with joy Save the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me Did wait for him every where I make no reckoning of these things I maketh us constant Have ye fixed upon these hopes with so great deliberation and will you draw back and slack in the prosecution of them Have you gone so far in the way to Heaven and do you begin to look behind you as if you were about to change your mind Heb. 10.39 The Apostle saith Phil. 3.13 I forget the things which are behind reaching forth unto the things which are before The World and the flesh are things behind us We turned our backs upon them when we first looked after Heavenly things Heaven and remaining duties are the things before us if we lose our Crown we lose our selves for ever Use is to shew the advantage the people of God have above the carnal and unregenerate The people of God walk by Faith against the present want of sight How do the World walk Not by Faith they have it not nor by the sight of Heaven for they are not there and so continuing never shall be there So they have neither Faith nor sight what do they live by then They live by sense and by fancy by sense as to the present World and they live by fancy and vain conceit as to the World to come Live in their sins and vain pleasures and yet hope to be saved Here they walk by sight but not such a sight as the Apostle meaneth they must have something in the view of sense Lands Honours pleasures and when these are out of sight they are in darkness and have nothing to live upon But now a Christian is never at a loss let his Condition be what it will Suppose God should bring him so low and bare that he hath no estate to live on no House to dwell in yet he hath an inheritance in the promises Psa. 119.111 Thy Testimonies I have taken for an heritage for ever And God is his Habitation Psa. 90.1 A full heap in his own keeping is not such a supply to him as Gods alsufficiency Gen. 17.1 That 's his storehouse But his great Happiness is in the other World there is all his hope and his desire and he looketh upon other promises only in order to that SERMON XI 2 Cor. 5.8 We are confident I say and willing rather to be
their bodies but assoon as they are separated from the Body go to their place and state of torment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The place of their everlasting Imprisonment So Luke 16.23 24. And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torment and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom God is not more prone to punish than to reward if the wicked be in their final Estate assoon as they dye the Saints are in their happiness presently upon their dissolution On the other side Heb. 12.22 The Spirits of just men made perfect The Souls of men unclothed and divested of their bodys too these come How could these things be said if they did lye only in a dull sleep without any life sight joy or any act of love to God Present sleep 't is a burden to the Saints as 't is an Interruption to their Service though a necessary refreshment to their Bodys 4. That Argument also proves it Col. 1.20 That Christ by the bloud of his Cross hath reconciled all things to God both in Heaven and in earth He meaneth the universality of the Elect whether already Glorifyed or yet upon the Earth it cannot be said of the Elect Angels who never sinned and therefore were never reconciled Se nunquam cum matre in gratiam rediisse c. But only confirmed in grace and put beyond all reach and possibility of sinning and so the things in Heaven which are reconciled are the Souls of the Godly who departed in the Faith 5. That place also proveth it Luke 20.37 38. Now that the dead are raised even Moses shewed at the Bush when he called the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead but of the living for all live to him The Sadduces denyed the Immortality of the Soul as well as the Resurrection of the body and say that there was no state of life after this Christ disproveth both by a Notable Argument I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For he is not the God of the dead but of the living for they all live to him The words were spoken by Moses after their deceasing not I was but I am the God of Abraham God said after their decease that he was still their God And therefore those that are departed out of the World live another life The Souls of the just are already in the hands of God and their Bodys are sure to be raised up and united to them by the power of God 6. My next place shall be Luke 16.9 And I say unto you make to your selves friends of the unrighteous Mammon that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations What is that time of failing 'T is not meant of condemnation in the Judgment for there is no escaping or reversing that sentence therefore 't is meant of the hour of death then are we received into everlasting habitations and our Everlasting habitation is Heaven 7. And lastly from Luke 16.22 And it came to pass that the Beggar dyed and was carryed by the Angels into Abrahams bosom By the â—osom of Abraham is meant Heaven and Hell is opposed to it and 't is explained he is comforted but thou art tormented Lying in the Bosom is a Feast Gesture as Mat. 8.11 A greater expression of love for the most Beloved disciple lay in the bosom of the Principal person at the feast and Mat. 13.43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father Basil telleth us of the forty Martyrs exposed naked in a cold frosty night and to be burnt next day that they comforted one another with this consideration Cold is the night but the Bosom of Abraham is warm and comfortable 't is but a nights enduring and we shall feel no more cold but be happy for evermore Well then here is proof such as is fit in the case in things future we are doubtful and of the state of the Soul we are in a great measure ignorant Therefore God hath discovered these things to us in his word 1. Use. Well then here is great comfort for those that are now hard at work for God the time of your refreshing and ease is at hand 2. To support us against the Terrours of death In Martyrdom if you are slain the sword is but a key to open the door that you may presently be with Christ if strangled the Animal life is put out that the Heavenly may begin if burnt 't is going to Heaven in a Fiery Chariot In the general death cannot separate us from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8 38 39. Though we dye the Soul is capable of loving God and being beloved by him 3. To support us under the pains of sickness 'T is but enduring pain a little longer and in a moment in the twinckling of an eye you shall be with God Angels will bring you to Christ and Christ present you to God and then you shall enjoy an Eternal rest 4. Here is comfort to the dying Commend your Souls to God as Stephen Acts 7.59 Lord Jesus receive my spirit There is a Redeemer ready to receive you heaven will be your residence and God will be your happiness and portion for ever 3. Doct. This presence with the Lord is earnestly desired and chosen by the saints as far more pleasing to them than remaining in the Body 1. The thing its self is true that presence with the Lord is infinitely much better than remaining in the Body and will abundantly recompense the absence from it Gods gracious presence is better than life bodily Psa. 63.3 Thy loving kindness is better than life 'T is that which giveth a value to life its self without which it were little worth Alas what should we do with humane nature or a rational Soul if it were not capable of loving knowing and injoying God what Imploy it only to cater for the Body that is to act but as an higher and wiser sort of beast Life is no life without God then we do live when we live to him injoy him and his love Now if his gracious presence is more worth than life what then is his glorious presence Phil. 1.21 To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain A Christian loseth nothing by death but he gaineth abundantly more by his being present with Christ. And the 23th verse I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better There is no proportion between the choicest Contentments which we attain unto here even those which are Spiritual and that Blessed estate which the Saints injoy hereafter Now there being such a disproportion in the things themselves there should be in our desires and our choice for we are to Judge and be affected according to the nature or worth of things otherwise we act not only irrationally