A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

2. It withdraws our Hearts from present things; Phil. 3.20. Our Conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. A Christian lives in the Earth as if he were in the midst of the Angels. We are weaned from the World by looking for better things, and so the World is out-shined. As a Man that hath looked upon the Sun, his Eyes are dazzled, and cannot see an Object less glorious: So when we look within the Veil upon our blessed Hopes, the Glory of the World is obscured. The Apostle renders this as a Reason why Abraham was a Stranger in the promised Land, there where he had most right, yet he dwelt in Tents; Heb. 11.9, 10. For he looked for a City which hath Foundations. Abraham had other Expectations, he did not look upon the walled Cities of the Amorites, but upon Heaven that was founded by God himself; he had other Thoughts. They that live to the World and to the Flesh, never tasted what eternal Life means. Look as the Israelites longed for the Flesh-Pots of Egypt, before they had tasted the Clusters of Canaan: so here, the Heart is carried out after better things; the Soul must have some Oblectation and Delight, for Love cannot be idle; it is carried out to present things if we know no better. See how fitly they are joined together in the Text; denying worldly Lusts, and looking for the blessed Hope; thereby do we come to deny worldly Lusts, by looking for the blessed Hope. We should soon return to worldly Lusts, if we do not often look up and consider what God hath provided for us in Heaven. A Man whose Heart is much in Heaven, his Affections are pre-engaged, and therefore the World doth him little hurt. Birds are seldom taken in their Flight, but when they pitch and rest: O if we had more of these heavenly Flights, if the Soul did mount upward more, it would better escape the Snares of worldly things.

2. It withdraws our Hearts from present things; Phil. 3.20. Our Conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Iesus Christ. A Christian lives in the Earth as if he were in the midst of the Angels. We are weaned from the World by looking for better things, and so the World is out-shined. As a Man that hath looked upon the Sun, his Eyes are dazled, and cannot see an Object less glorious: So when we look within the Vail upon our blessed Hopes, the Glory of the World is obscured. The Apostle renders this as a Reason why Abraham was a Stranger in the promised Land, there where he had most right, yet he dwelt in Tents;