Not to speak of grosser sensualists (whom at present I have less in my eye.) Is there not a more refined sort of persons, that neglecting the great business of inspecting, and labouring to better, and improve their spirits; are wholly taken up about the affairs of another Sphere? that are more solicitous for better times, for a better world, then better spirits. That seem to think all the happiness they are capable of on earth, is bound up in this, or that external state of things. Not that the care of all public concernments should be laid aside. Least of all a just solicitude for the Churches welfare; but that should not be pretended, when our own interest is the one thing with us. And when we are really solicitous about the Churches interests, we should state them aright. God designs the afflictions of his people for their Spiritual good, therefore that is a much greater good, then their exemption from suffering these evils; otherwise, his means should eat up his end, and be more expensive then that will countervail; which were an imprudence, no man of tolerable discretion would be guilty of. We should desire the outward prosperity of Zion for, it is a real good; but in as much as it hath in it the goodness, ⟨p. 321⟩not of an end, but only (and that but sometimes neither) of a means; not a constant, but a mutable goodness; not a principal, but a lesser subordinate goodness; we must not desire it absolutely, nor chiefly, but with submissive, limited desires. If our hearts are grieved to hear of the sufferings of the Church of God in the world, but not of their sins; If we more sensibly regret at any time, the persecutions, and oppressions they undergo, than their spiritual distempers, their earthliness, pride, cold love to God, fervent animosities towards each other; It speaks an uninstructed carnal mind. We take no right measure of the interests of Religion, or the Churches welfare, and do most probably mistake our selves, as much in judging of our own; and measure theirs by our own mistaken model.
Not to speak of grosser sensualists (whom at present I have less in my eye.) Is there not a more refined sort of persons, that neglecting the great business of inspecting, and labouring to better, and improve their spirits; are wholly taken up about the affairs of another Sphere? that are more solicitous for better times, for a better world, then better spirits. That seem to think all the happiness they are capable of on earth, is bound up in this, or that external state of things. Not that the care of all publique concernments should be laid aside. Least of all a just solicitude for the Churches welfare; but that should not be pretended, when our own interest is the one thing with us. And when we are really solicitous about the Churches interests, we should state them aright. God designs the afflictions of his people for their Spiritual good, therefore that is a much greater good, then their exemption from suffering these evils; otherwise, his means should eat up his end, and be more expensive then that will countervail; which were an imprudence, no man of tolerable discretion would be guilty of. We should desire the outward prosperity of Sion for, it is a real good; but in as much as it hath in it the goodness, ⟨p. 321⟩not of an end, but onely (and that but sometimes neither) of a means; not a constant, but a mutable goodness; not a principal, but a lesser subordinate goodness; we must not desire it absolutely, nor chiefly, but with submissive, limited desires. If our hearts are grieved to hear of the sufferings of the Church of God in the world, but not of their sins; If we more sensibly regret at any time, the persecutions, and opressions they undergo, than their spiritual distempers, their earthliness, pride, cold love to God, fervent animosities towards each other; It speaks an uninstructed carnal mind. We take no right measure of the interests of Religion, or the Churches welfare, and do most probably mistake our selves, as much in judging of our own; and measure theirs by our own mistaken model.
