richer for that? Far from it, I should lessen even that which I have; I should be no better by making him as lukewarm in religion as myself. No; I should, by God's grace, covet what is his, not by depriving him of it, but by endeavouring to do the same: I should not wish to put out, or take from him, his light which he had received from Heaven, but should endeavour to light my lamp by his, that both might burn together; that we both might have more light from each other, and be able, the better, to see our way. Or, again, if we see another richer than ourselves in having something the world prizes, which we have not, this can be no great matter to him who has in his heart the love of God; but if we see another quite indifferent to such things, and showing by his conduct that he cares not for them, because, like the good Mary, he hath chosen the good part, and the one thing which alone is needful; then, surely, this does concern us very much : to see, or hear, or read of an instance like this with unconcern and indifference, would, indeed, be a great proof that we were already far gone in the love of this world. On the contrary, if a person were to spend anxious days and sleepless nights, as the saints did of old, on witnessing a case of this sort, surely this were a great sign of hope for himself; for a covetousness of this kind would never rest till it had added something to its own eternal treasures. For, in cases such as this, we may be assured that whatever good we see in another, we are able ourselves to obtain the same from God, if we please, and might have obtained before this. With regard to any earthly object we may see in another's possession, no pains of ours, perhaps, could ever have gained the like; for we are not sure that God would grant it to our labours or our prayers. But whatever progress in holiness we witness in another, whether patience, or charity, or heavenly-mindedness, this we may assuredly attain to by our endeavours and prayers. It is this which is especially contained in the great promise made to prayer. If ye know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly FATHER give good things, yea, give His HOLY SPIRIT, unto them that ask HIM? When we read of any true servant of GOD, be assured we may be like him, we may obtain what he has, if we strive. The love same. 66 of St. John, the zeal of St. Peter, the over-flowing self-devotion of St. Paul, the penitence of David, the patience of Job, the intercessions of Samuel, the faith of Abraham-any share of these any one of us may obtain from GOD, if we use sufficient labours, and pains, and prayers: and when we see any of these things in others, well, indeed, may we earnestly covet and desire the And if we do indeed desire them as we should, we shall leave no room in our hearts for earthly objects. For how are we to be so dead to this world as to covet none of its objects, which GOD bestows as He wills around us, to wish for neither house, nor wife, nor goods which are given to another? Surely there is but one way in which this can be done,-by being content to have GOD for our portion, in having all our rest and satisfaction in HIM. As is so often expressed by the Psalmist, "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance, and my cup." Whom have I in Heaven but THEE? and there is nothing upon earth that I desire in comparison of THEE." Words such as these we have need to be constantly repeating: yet it is not in words only, however frequently repeated, but the whole life of a good man must speak this language. Wherever the heart is most of all emptied out, there CHRIST most of all comes in His fulness and therefore it was so much the custom in the early Church for men to give up all that they had, in order that their heart might have nothing to take hold of; that by their being thus prepared, CHRIST might come to be their guest, and fill them with His treasures. When men would receive a great earthly guest, they bring all their riches about them, and make a great show of their abundance; but in order to receive HIM Who emptied HIMSELF of His unspeakable glories, and for our sake became poor, we must begin by showing that we are becoming empty and poor, with no earthly objects or honours, and no desire to obtain them. For the hungry He fills with good things, not the rich: they that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. : For this reason we may observe that our LORD sets before us two points, in language equally strong and forcible; the one is the absolute necessity of our being perfectly free from care, desire, or covetousness, with regard to any thing whatever in this world; and the other the inconceivable importance of our whole heart, and time, and strength being devoted to purify ourselves and please GOD. All the objects and pursuits of the men of this world are taken by the HOLY GHOST as figures, to explain to us that all our ambition, all our covetousness, all our care, all our pleasure, must be turned to those great things which faith hath opened to us. Our mortal state is described as being to the Christian as much a matter of care and business as it can be to men of this world: it is called laying up treasure, looking for payment, labouring at a plough so earnestly as not once to look back; running in a race and outstripping others, as knowing that one only receives the prize; walking in a narrow and difficult way; laying out our MASTER'S money at interest, and endeavouring to obtain as much as possible for it; labouring with watchfulness, like a servant who expects his master, while his fellow-servants are playing or quarrelling; travelling on a journey with an adversary whom we must get rid of; cultivating a piece of land of which the harvest is to be our eternal portion. Now all these descriptions taken from the affairs of this life must surely serve to show us that we have a work to do, as thoroughly and entirely as the children of this world have in their generation; and this work is to root out every thing from the heart but the love of God and our neighbour; to love God with all our heart, and all our soul, and all our mind, and all our strength: and he who does in earnest strive to do this, will find in his heart no room for any thing else. Blessed is he who so strictly examines himself, and so bewails and laments himself daily, as to cut off every desire upon earth but that of pleasing GOD in all things, at all times, and in all places. END OF VOL. IX. GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London. PLAIN SERMONS, BY CONTRIBUTORS TO THE "TRACTS FOR THE TIMES." "We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 66 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, VOL. X. LONDON: FRANCIS & JOHN RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE. 1848. |