The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…

Thirdly, Improve the hope thou hast for this reward, to make thee live above this present world. Truly, thou mayst well be content with a little here, who lookest for so much hereafter. If the Labourer hath but meat and drink at his work, he asketh no more, but stays willingly for the rest till night, when he is to receive his wages. If thou hast Food and Raiment here, and Heaven at the end, doth not God deal well with thee? Oh, 'tis for want of Faith in the Promise, and activity in our Hope, to exercise it self on this Blessed Object, that we are so having and craving after the things of this world, and so dissatisfied with our portion here. We read of Solomon, ⟨p. 118⟩that he made Silver to be in Jerusalem, as stones, & Cedars as the Sycamore trees, 1 Kings 10.27. The Christian might do more, had he a lively Faith and Hope; he might make all this worlds Glory, Pleasures, and Treasures, to be but as dirt and dung in his valuation, from what he expects to be preferred to, within a while in Heaven. And he is the happier man, that can live above the world, than he that swims in all its abundance. It is for want of better Metal, that Leather and Copper are stamped for Coin; and for want of Faith, or exercising it on the Promise, that we set too high a price of the things of this world. This would, and nothing else can take off our Hearts from present things. Our Affections are too great a stream to be dried up; but turned, they may be, into another Chanel; and truly, the world is too narrow a Chanel to contain them: But here is roomth enough, and more than enough for them all; here is a place of broad-water, no fear ⟨p. 119⟩of wanting Sea-room. If we would launch out into the Meditation of this blessed place, oh how should we find our Hearts inflamed with longing desires to be there, and no more envy the Carnal world, for what we leave them here to enjoy, than you would the Swine his swill, if you were going to Feast at a Princes Table; which minds me of the next particular.

Thirdly, Improve the hope thou hast for this reward, to make thee live above this present world. Truly, thou mayst well be content with a little here, who lookest for so much hereafter. If the Labourer hath but meat and drink at his work, he asketh no more, but stays willingly for the rest till night, when he is to receive his wages. If thou hast Food and Rayment here, and Heaven at the end, doth not God deal well with thee? Oh, 'tis for want of Faith in the Promise, and activity in our Hope, to exercise it self on this Blessed Object, that we are so having and craving after the things of this world, and so dissatisfied with our portion here. We read of Solomon,