*his, the intereft of your fouls, and of your bodies, SER M "the things which are not seen, and are eternal," CXCV. and the things which are feen, and are but tem

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poral," a holy, and heavenly, and virtuous life, and a fenfual and finful courfe," choose the better "part," ftick to that which is the true and lafting intereft; prefer heaven before earth, and the care of your fouls, to that of your bodies, things eternal, to things temporal, and a holy and virtuous life which leads to heaven, to those sinful and vicious practices, which will fink men into perdition. For that this alfo the apostle means by things on the earth," finful lufts and practices, feems very probable, from what follows, at ver. 5. Mortify therefore your "members which are upon the earth."

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II. Let us confider the object of this act, what it is that we are to seek and set our affections upon; and that is "the things which are above."

I. The glorious GOD and FATHER of all, and his bleffed and eternal SON our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD; these are the great objects of our contemplation and adoration. And then the holy angels, and "the fpirits of juft men made perfect," who are examples to us, of doing the will of GoD here on earth, as it is done by them in heaven.

2. The bleffed ftate and condition which we afpire, after in the next life, with all the joys and glories of it, "fuch as eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, nei"ther have entred into the heart of man."

3. The difpofitions to be acquired, and the actions and duties to be performed by us, as neceffary qualifications and means for the obtaining of this happinefs, and bringing us to the poffeffion of it; all thefe VOL. X.

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SERM." above," and "fet your affections on things above." CXCV. Secondly, the arguments by which the apoftle urgeth and preffeth this exhortation. " If ye be "rifen with CHRIST, feek the things which are "above;" and "feek the things which are above, "where CHRIST fitteth at the right hand of "GOD." So that my work will be,

First, to fhew the nature of the duty, to which we are exhorted. And,

Secondly, the force of the arguments, which are used to perfuade us to it.

First, for the nature of the duty to which we are exhorted; and it is expreffed both affirmatively and negatively.

1. Affirmatively; and the apoftle ufeth two feveral expreffions. "Seek the things which are "above;" and, "fet your affections on things ❝ above."

2. Negatively;" and not on things on the earth." And this feems to be added, not only to explain and ascertain the object, and to add vehemence and earneftness to the exhortation; but likewise to fet off the excellency of the object, by way of oppofition and comparison. "On the things that are "above; and not upon thofe" pitiful and inferior

things, which are upon the earth." And likewife to fhew the inconfiftency of these, and the impoffibility of feeking and fetting our affections upon both in an intenfe degree. For that would be to have two chief ends, " to love GoD and mam"mon; to ferve two masters." which our SAVIOUR hath told us is impoffible. But this I fhall ufe afterwards, as an argument to enforce the exhortation.

Το

To explain the nature of this duty, I fhall confi- SERM. der the act, and the object.

I. For the act, here are two words used to express it, ζητεῖτε and φρονεῖτε, "feek and fet your affections;" and in these two words, thefe four things feem to be comprehended; an act of our understandings about these things; the ardency of our affections; and the activity of our endeavours in the pursuit of them; and a clear preference of the things which are above, to the things of the earth, when they come in competition. For these two words do comprehend, not only the power of our understandings, and wills, and affections, and an earnest attention and application of mind to these things; but the activity of our endeavours about them.

1. Here is implied an act of our understandings, that we should mind and think upon these things, that we should often confider them, and meditate upon them; that heaven fhould be much in our thoughts, and the glory and excellency of that state, which we hope to attain to, and by what ways and means we may come to be made partakers of that bleffed inheritance.

2. It implies likewife an act of our affections; that we heartily love and defire the things that are above, with that ardency and vehemency of affection,` which is proportionable to the worth and excellency of them. And both thefe are included in the word PROVETE, which is fometimes tranflated to mind," fometimes" to fet our affections upon a thing." 3. Activity and induftry in the profecution of these things, if by any means we may attain them. And this is implied in the word CTETE, "feek the "things which are above." When we know there

are

CXCV.

SERM. are fuch treasures in heaven, so great a reward laid CXCV. up for good men, "joys fo unfpeakable and full of glory," and when our understandings have dwelt

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fo long upon these things, as to work upon our affections, these, like so many springs of motion, will set our endeavours on work, for the obtaining of what we fo much love and defire, and will make us inquifitive, with the young man in the gofpel, "what good thing we shall do, that we may inhe"rit eternal life;" by what means we may best secure our title to heaven and happiness; and very Industrious to acquire thofe qualities and difpofitions, which will fit us for heaven, and the bleffed fight and enjoyment of GOD; nay, by which we may begin this happy ftate here, by our converfation in heaven, whilst we are fojourning here below, as "pilgrims and ftrangers in the earth."

4. It implies a clear preference of the things above, to the things of the earth, when they come in competition. And in this fenfe the word op is obferved to be used in good authors, for taking part with, and adhering to one fide, when two parties or interests come in competition. And indeed this phrafe and form of fpeech, when the thing is expreffed affirmatively and negatively, is very often ufed by way of comparifon, when two things come in competition. "Lay not up for yourfelves "treasures upon earth: but lay up for yourselves "treafures in heaven. Labour not for the meat that

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perifheth; but for that which endureth to eter"nal life." So here "fet your affections on "things above, not on things on the earth." When heaven and earth come in competition, the happiness of the next life, and the enjoyments of

this, the interest of your fouls, and of your bodies, SER M. "the things which are not feen, and are eternal," CXCV. and the things which are feen, and are but tem

poral," a holy, and heavenly, and virtuous life, and a fenfual and finful courfe," choose the better "part," ftick to that which is the true and lasting intereft; prefer heaven before earth, and the care of your fouls, to that of your bodies, things eternal, to things temporal, and a holy and virtuous life which leads to heaven, to those finful and vicious practices, which will fink men into perdition. For that this also the apostle means by " things on the earth,” finful lufts and practices, feems very probable, from what follows, at ver. 5.." Mortify therefore your "members which are upon the earth."

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II. Let us confider the object of this act, what it is that we are to feek and fet our affections upon; and that is "the things which are above."

I. The glorious GOD and FATHER of all, and his bleffed and eternal SON our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD; these are the great objects of our contemplation and adoration. And then the holy angels, and “the

fpirits of juft men made perfect," who are examples to us, of doing the will of GoD here on earth, as it is done by them in heaven.

2. The bleffed ftate and condition which we afpire after in the next life, with all the joys and glories of it," fuch as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nei"ther have entred into the heart of man."

3. The difpofitions to be acquired, and the actions and duties to be performed by us, as neceffary qualifications and means for the obtaining of this happinefs, and bringing us to the poffeffion of it; all thefe VOL. X.

R

are