Gospel-conversation

Now if you should ask me, what Conversation is becoming the Gospel? I would tell you, that which we have in the third Chap. of this Epistle; For our Conversation is in Heaven. Upon what ground is it? from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord ⟨p. 112⟩Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like to His glorious body. We look (saith he) for the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, who shall put forth such a power as shall change our vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto His glorious body; therefore our Conversation is in Heaven. Do you expect that this flesh of yours should be made like the Sun in the Heavens, like the glorious body of Jesus Christ? Oh then do not abuse your flesh to sin, make not provision for the flesh to satisfy the lusts thereof, let no member of your body be a weapon of unrighteousness to sin against God withal: when you are tempted to any bodily sin, stop your selves with this meditation: Shall I sin against God with this body of mine that I believe shall one day be more glorious than the Sun in the firmament, which ere long will be made like to the glorious Body of Jesus Christ? Have we the hopes and promises of such an inheritance in Heaven? Oh then, let not only our thoughts be there, but our Conversation, our Trading, our only business be there also; Oh let it appear that we have heavenly hearts, and spiritual carriages, that we live as it becomes those that hope within a few days, or months, to be possest with the glory of Heaven which Christ hath prepared for us; such should our Conversations be, heavenly Conversations, shining with the light of the glory of Heaven upon us, Heaven should appear in our Conversations now, so that they who look upon us and converse with us, may truly judg, these are the Citizens of the new Jerusalem, free Denizens of Heaven, they speak the very language of Canaan already, and ere long they will be possest of that promised Land.

Now if you should ask me, what Conversation is becoming the Gospel? I would tell you, that which we have in the third Chap. of this Epistle; For our Conversation is in Heaven. Upon what ground is it? from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord ⟨p. 112⟩Jesus Christ, who shall chang our vile body, that it may be fashioned like to His glorious body. We look (saith he) for the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, who shall put forth such a power as shall change our vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto His glorious body; therefore our Conversation is in Heaven. Do you expect that this flesh of yours should be made like the Sun in the Heavens, like the glorious body of Jesus Christ? Oh then do not abuse your flesh to sin, make not provision for the flesh to satisfie the lusts thereof, let no member of your body be a weapon of unrighteousness to sin against God withal: when you are tempted to any bodily sin, stop your selves with this meditation: Shall I sin against God with this body of mine that I beleeve shall one day be more glorious than the Sun in the firmament, which ere long will be made like to the glorious Body of Jesus Christ? Have we the hopes and promises of such an inheritance in Heaven? Oh then, let not only our thoughts be there, but our Conversation, our Trading, our only business be there also; Oh let it appear that we have heavenly hearts, and spiritual carriages, that we live as it becomes those that hope within a few daies, or months, to be possest with the glory of Heaven which Christ hath prepared for us; such should our Conversations be, heavenly Conversations, shining with the light of the glory of Heaven upon us, Heaven should appear in our Conversations now, so that they who look upon us and converse with us, may truly judg, these are the Citizens of the new Jerusalem, free Denizons of Heaven, they speak the very language of Canaan already, and ere long they wil be possest of that promised Land.