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

7. It informs us what little cause we have to envy carnal Men; the Hope of your Profession is a blessed Hope. This was David's Preservative, he was daily in danger of his Life, and his Enemies were fat, and shining in the Pomp of the World; and how doth he comfort himself? Psal. 17.15. When I awake, I shall be satisfied with thy Likeness: as if he had said, Alas, their Felicity is but a sorry thing; they are filled, and I shall be filled too. David sums up their Happiness under two Heads. Whatever here we have, it is either for personal Use, or for our Posterity. A worldly State is only valuable upon these two Grounds, what we may use for the present, and what we may transmit to our Children. Now what a sorry Happiness is this to what I expect? (1.) For personal Use; ver. 14. Their Bellies are filled with thy hid Treasure; that is, with the rarest Dishes, and best Meats which God's Store-house doth afford. By hidden Treasures, is meant Food and other worldly Comforts, therefore called hidden Treasures, because it doth not lie within every one's grasp and reach, they are not vulgar and common Delights. The meaner sort their Hand will not attain to it: Lo, here is all that which God allows them for their Portion, the filling of the Belly; and alas, this is but the Happiness of Beasts, who eat with less remorse: yet all their Happiness is to fill their Belly with better Food than the poorer sort; which indeed is a Misery rather than a Happiness: for what doth this but nourish sensual Lusts, and strengthen and hearten our Enemy? And gorgeous Apparel is but a Supply from Creatures beneath us; it is but Stercus in volutum, Dung neatly wrapped up: here's the Sum of all a Carnal Man's Happiness, that which God allows him for his Portion. But a Christian hath better Fare; if he goes into the Sanctuary, there's enough; but if he goes into Heaven, there's a great deal more. David defeats the Temptation by this, Psal. 73.16, 17. When I sought to know this, it was too hard for me; until I went into the Sanctuary of God, to enjoy God in his Ordinances, and the present Glimpses of God's Face. Present Communion with God is far to be preferred above all the Dainties in the World. But that is not all, we shall be satisfied for ever. We may go into Heaven as well as into the Sanctuary, and behold God's Righteousness:

7. It informs us what little cause we have to envy carnal Men; the Hope of your Profession is a blessed Hope. This was David's Preservative, he was daily in danger of his Life, and his Enemies were fat, and shining in the Pomp of the World; and how doth he comfort himself?