CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Fourthly, The man that remembers he is not of the world, desires not, ¹neither rejoiceth in worldly things any further then thereby he is made more serviceable to God and instrumental to his glory; All these earthly things they are Talents, and we are called Stewards, Now the Steward looks not upon the money and Rents he receiveth as his, he rejoiceth not in them as his own, He is to improve all for the best to his Masters use; Thus the heavenly Christian doth, This Health, This Life, These parts, These Comforts they are none of mine, I am but a Steward, I must give an account what improvement I have made of them; This is a notable discovery of thy heavenliness, when thou art thus affected.

Fourthly, The man that remembers he is not of the world, desires not, ¹neither rejoyceth in worldly things any further then thereby he is made more serviceable to God and instrumental te his glory; All these earthly things they are Talents, and we are called Stewards, Now the Steward looks not upon the money and Rents he receiveth as his, he rejoyceth not in them as his own, He is to improve all for the best to his Masters use; Thus the heavenly Christian doth, This Health, This Life, These parts, These Comforts they are none of mine, I am but a Steward, I must give an account what improvement I have made of them; This is a notable discovery of thy heavenlinesse, when thou art thus affected.

1. 14. He affects worldly things no further then by them he may be serviceable to God.

Fifthly, He that Considers he is not of this world, ¹his Heavenly-mindedness is discovered, in that though he be in the midst of all these businesses, yet he labours to keep his heart holy and fervent; His Shop doth not dead his heart, his worldly affairs do not dull the Edge of his Spirit, but he can delight in God, call him Father, be fervent and effectual in Duties: Not but that the most Heavenly man which is finds and complaineth of much deadness and dullness: They can be affected with worldly things but not Heavenly, only they are sensible and complain of this dead heart; That as they mourn over a dead Friend, a dead Child, so they do over a dead heart, only herein they strive and labour, that no worldly thing may any whit abate their Affections to God, That they may cry out, and say, O Lord, how gladly would I be enjoying of thee, but that this world will not let me; Truly these strivings and resistings of the world do very much argue thy spiritual and heavenly heart.