By THOMAS BOSTON.
X.
(Continued from p. 21).
There is yet a third case wherein this contempt or slighting the world should appear in one sent to preach the gospel; that is, when a man is settled, and has encouragement or stipend coming in to him, and so must needs have worldly business done, especially if he be not single, whereby he is involved in more trouble thereabouts, than any in my circumstances for the time are. In such a case a minister would endeavour to meddle as little as he can with these things, but shun them as much as lies in him, especially if he have any to whom he can well trust the management of his affairs. For surely the making of bargains or pursuing them, are not the fit object of a minister’s employment. Not that I mean simply a man may not do that, and yet be a fisher of men; but that many times the man that takes such trouble in the things of the world to catch them, indisposes himself for the art of man-fishing. But this not being my case, I pass it, referring any rules in this case how to walk till the Lord be pleased so to tryst me, if ever. Only do thou, O my soul, follow Christ in the contempt of the world. Do not regard it. Thou mayest use it as a staff in thine hand, but not as a burden on thy back, otherwise the care of souls will not be much in thy heart. And to help thee to this contempt of the world, consider, (1.) The vanity of the world. Solomon knew well what it was to have abundance, yet he calls all vanity of vanities, all is but vanity. The world is a very empty thing, it cannot comfort the soul under distress. No; the body it can do no good to when sore diseases do afflict it. The world cannot profit a man in the day of wrath. When God arises to plead with a person, his riches avail nothing. When he lies down on a death-bed, they can give him no comfort, though all his coffers were full. When he stands before the tribunal of God, they profit him nothing.
Why then should such an useless and vain thing be esteemed? (2.) Consider that the love of the world, where it predominates, is a sign of want of love to God: If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Yea, even in a gracious soul, in so far as the love of the world sways the heart, in so far doth the love of God decay. They are as the scales of the balance, as the one goes up, the other goes down. (3.) Consider the uncertainty of worldly things. They are as a bird that takes the wings of the morning, and flies away. Set not thy heart then on that which is not. How many and various changes as to the outward state are in a man’s life! Men sometimes vile are exalted, and honourable men are depressed; that part which is now up, shall ere long be down. Seest thou not that there is no constancy to be observed in the world, save a constant inconsistency? All things go on in a constant course of vicissitude. Nebuchadnezzar in one hour is walking with uplifted heart in his palace, saying, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built? &c.; and the next driven from men and made to eat grass as an ox. Herod, in great pomp, makes an oration; the people cry out, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man; and he is immediately eaten up of worms. The rich man to-day fares sumptuously on earth, and to-morrow cannot get a drop of water to cool his tongue. (4.) Consider the danger that people are in by worldly things, when they have more than daily bread. The rich man in Luke, xii. felt this to be a stumbling-block on which he broke his neck. The young man in the gospel, for love of what he had of the world, parted with Christ, heaven, and glory, and so made a sad exchange. Prosperity in the world is a dangerous thing: it is that which destroys fools, Prov. i. 32. When Jeshurun waxed fat, he kicked against God and forgot the Lord that fed him, Deut, xxxii. 15. It was better for David when he was on the one side of the hill, and his enemies on the other, and so in great danger, than when he was walking at ease on his house-top, when he espied Bathsheba washing herself. And of this, O my soul, thou hast had the experience. Our Lord tells us, that it is very hard for a rich man to be saved; and teaches us, that it is hard to have riches and not set the heart on them. What care and toil do men take to themselves to get them! what anxiety are they exercised with, and how do they torment themselves to keep them! Many by riches and honour, &c., have lost their bodies, and more have lost their souls. It exposes men to be the object of others, as Naboth was even for his vineyard; and who can stand before envy? Prov. xxvii. 4. This ruined Naboth, 1 Kings, xxi. See 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. So that he that handles the world can very hardly come away with clean fingers. It is a snake in the bosom, that, if God prevent it not by his grace, may sting thy soul to death. 5. Remember the shortness and the uncertainty of thy time. Thou are a tenant at will, and knowest not how soon thou mayest remove; and thou canst carry nothing with thee. Therefore, having food and raiment, (which the Lord does not let thee want,) be therewith content, 1 Tim. vi. 7, 8. Thou art a stranger in this earth, going home to thy Father’s house, where there will be no need of such things as the world affords. Why shouldst thou, then, O my soul, desire any more than will carry thee to thy journey’s end? Art thou going to set up thy tent on this side Jordan, to dwell here? Art thou saying, It is good for me to be here? Art thou so well entertained abroad, that thou desirest not to go home? No, no. Well, then, O my soul, gird up the loins of thy mind. thou art making homeward, and thy Father bids thee run and make haste: go, then, and take no burden on thy back, lest it make thee sit up by the way, and the doors be shut ere thou reachest home, and so thou lie without through the long night of eternity.
(To be continued.)
Gospel faith perceives that there is no inconsistency between the glory of God and my salvation.—Dr. John Owen.
The parting from iniquity is a work that will last thee thy lifetime.—John Bunyan.