Imprimatur. THOMAS WYKES. Octob. 9 1638. THE MAN FOR HEAVEN. A Sermon Preached at the Court to his Majesty's Household, Anno Domini, 1637. By JOHN GORE, Rector of Wenden-lofts, and Preacher of S. Peter's in Cornhill, LONDON. LONDON, Printed by R. Bishop, for Thomas Alchorn, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Green Dragon in Paul's Churchyard▪ 1639. The Man for Heaven. PHILIP. 3. 20. Our conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord jesus Christ. YE Honourable and Honoured Courtiers, here is a Text of Scripture fit for persons of your rank and quality. A text that will learn you so to demean yourselves, so to order your Conversation in this World, that after you have been Courtiers on Earth, you may be Courtiers in Heaven; after you have conversed with men, you may converse with God; after you have served and attended our gracious King and Queen below, you may be preferred and taken up by the Angels of Heaven to accompany and attend the King of Glory above. Certainly, if there be an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Heaven upon Earth, an Estate of Majesty, Height and Glory; Hear it is, and you are those that are advanced, and enstated in it; Let me only advise you (as a poor unworthy Messenger of Christ) to take heed and beware of capernaum's Doom, Mat. 11. 23. And thou Capernaum which art exalted to Heaven shalt be thrown down to Hell; Oh pray to God that ye may escape that woeful praecipitium, that dismal, that doleful, that deadly Down-fall: Rather (as Solomon saith) let your way be upward, direct your steps and courses to Heavenwards, and labour every day to arise in your care, in your zeal, in your devotions to God, that you may come nearer to Heaven at night, than you were in the morning; that so even while you live and converse on Earth, you may be truly and rightly said to have your conversation in Heaven. For so speaks my Text of some, and God grant it may be spoken of us all, that Our conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord jesus Christ. In which words there are two general parts to be observed: First, the excellency of the Saints (they have their conversation in Heaven.) Secondly, the expectation of sinners, (from thence also we look for the Saviour, etc.) First, what is meant by conversation. Secondly, how we that live and converse on earth, can be said in proper sense to have our conversation in Heaven. The first of these may be considered in four circumstances, 1. That a man's conversation is Res continuata, a constant, a settled, continued thing. It is not one or two, or some few particular actions that do denominate a man's conversation, but the general course and current of his life; which if it be rightly ordered, as it ought to be, than it is termed an Honest Conversation, 2 Peter 2. 12. (Have your conversation honest among the Gentiles.) if otherwise it be idly and unprofitably misspent, than it is termed a vain conversation: 1 Pet. 1. 18. (ye are redeemed from your vain conversation.) That which brings a man no profit, no credit, no comfort in the end, that's a vain conversation: And God forbid that any Christians conversation should be so vain. This we know, that as there is no man so bad but he may do some particular actions that are right and good; as God said of Abimelech, Gen. 20. I know thou hast done this thing in the integrity of thy heart: that one thing he did well, though his conversation went another way; so on the contrary, there is no man so good, but he may do some particular actions that are vile and bad; as 'tis said of David, he was upright in all things, save only in the matter of Vriah; In that one thing he failed exceedingly, though the whole stream of his life and conversation went right to God-ward. It is with a Christian in this world, as with a Ship that goes to Sea, They are bound for such a Coast, that way they sail, and thither they direct their voyage; now there may come many a contrary storm that may turn them clean back, or drive them quite another way: which for the present is a great trouble and grief unto them, but as soon as ever the storm is over, and the Sea is calm, they hale and toil and never are at rest, till they have recovered themselves, and are gotten into the right way again. So fares it with a Christian soul, such a one is bound for Heaven, that's his home, that's his harbour, that's the Heaven where he would be; now there may come, and daily there doth come many a cross, many a corruption, many a pleasing, or unpleasing temptation that turns him clean another way, into the way of sin and wickedness, or turns him clean back from the way of Grace and goodness; which for the present (like the divisions of Reuben, judg. 5.) must needs cause great sigh and thoughts of heart; and indeed he is never at quiet in his mind, nor at peace in his conscience, till by the mercy of God he have recovered himself by repentance, and come back to his old comfort and conversation again. So the meaning of the Text is this; that it is not enough for a man to look to Heaven at some particular times, as in the time of sickness, of sorrow, of extreme adversity; (as the manner of the world is) for then the wickedest man that is, will peradventure have an eye to Heaven. Just as you see a Hog, that never looks to Heaven, till he be over-turned, and cast upon his back, than he looks to Heaven, and cries; whereas if you do but let him lose, that he gets upon his legs again, he returns with his snout to the earth, and looks to Heaven no more; so fares it (I fear me) with many a carnal man, that seldom or never looks to Heaven, till he be overturned in his credit, overthrown in his estate, or cast upon his back on the bed of sickness and death; then he lisis up his eyes to those Hills from whence cometh his help, (as David speaketh:) whereupon if God do but set him at liberty, and restore him to his health, that he get upon his legs again, he returns like a Hog to his old swinish disposition, & looks no more after Heaven, till he be castdown again into the like distress. Thus it is, but thus it should not be: If you desire to have comfort from Heaven in your sickness, let your conversation be there in your health; and that not for a fit or a brunt, but in a constant, & settled, and continued course of life; that like as it is said of God, Deut. 11. 12. that his eyes are upon the land, from the beginning of the year, to the end thereof; so let thine eyes be upon God from the beginning of the day, of the week, of the year, even to the end and consummation of thy life. You know what our Saviour said to those Jews which believed on him, john 8. 31. Si manserit is in me, If ye abide in me, then are ye my Disciples indeed. They that only come to Christ, and make profession of Christianity for a time, and then like Demas fall away, and embrace this present World; these are but disciples in name only, like Laban's Images, that were called Gods, when they were but blocks: Those and none but those are disciples in deed and in truth, that do as their master did, of whom it is said, Philip. 2. 8. that He humbled himself, and became obedient unto the death: He was not only obedient in his death, submitting himself to all the cruelty, all the infamy, all the extremity of pain and shame that God or man could lay upon him; but He was obedient unto death; that is, (as Beza expounds it) unto his Dying day, from the beginning of his Incarnation, to the very end of his dissolution: Here's the Loadstar that we must all be guided by▪ let us bear the same mind, and hold the same resolution, that our Saviour did, to become obedient to the death, (or as job speaketh, Cap. 27. 5.) not to leave our innocency till we die; then may we take it as an undoubted evidence and assurance to our souls, that we, even we ourselves are of the number of those blessed Saints that have their conversation in the Heavens. This is the first circumstance to be considered, that a man's conversation is Res continuata, not a sudden or a momentary, but a constant and continued thing. 2. A man's conversation is Res manifesta, an open and a manifest thing: the Conscience of a man, that is secret, known only to God; but his conversation that is evident and apparent to the word. So the meaning of the Text is, that it is not enough for a man to have a care of his conscience inwardly towards God, but he must have as great a care of his conversation outwardly to the World. That like as it is said of our Saviour, Luke 9 53. They knew what he was by his face, because (saith the Text) his face was as though he would go to jerusalem: So should a good Christian be known by his face (that is) by his outward carriage and conversation to be one that is going to Jerusalem that is above; If thou be'st such a one, let it be thy principal care to lead thy life in such a way as God doth best accept, in the way of Godliness and honesty, in the way of temperance and sobriety, in the way of truth and sincerity; that the World may see by thy life, that as thou dost live and move in God, so thou dost also live and move to God. As Alexander once gave order that the Grecians and Barbarians should be no longer distinguished by their garments; but (saith he) let the Greciens be known by their virtues▪ and the Barbarians by their vices: thus should a Christian be distinguished from a carnal man, not by his habit, but by his heart, not by his estate and condition, but by his wisdom and conversation, being such (as St. Paul speaketh) as becometh the Gospel, Philip. 1. 27. The works of the flesh are manifest (saith the same Apostle) and so should the works of the spirit be also. As it is said of the King's daughter, Psal. 45. 13. She is all glorious within, and her clothing also is of wrought Gold: so should every Christian soul, which is the Spouse of Christ, and the daughter of the King of Heaven, be all glorious, or rather indeed all gracious and all virtuous, both within and without: And as it is said of the Ark of God, Exod. 37. that it was over-laied with pure Gold both within and without: so should every Christian pray, that he may have a good conscience as the overlaying of gold within, and a good conversation, as the overlaying of gold without; providing things honest, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men, Rom. 12. 17. And this is the second circumstance to be considered in our conversation; namely, that it is or aught to be Res manifesta, a manifest thing. 3. A man's conversation is Res familiaris, a friendly, or a familiar thing; You know there is no one thing that breeds so much entireness, so much familiarity and acquaintance among all sorts of persons, as living, and loving, and conversing together: So the only way to bring a man into an humble familiarity and acquaintance with his God, is to be conversant in holy duties, and to have his conversation in the Heavens. It is the phrase of job, (and I do not remember that I find it any where but in that book) job 22. 21. Acquaint thyself with God, and thereby good shall come unto thee. Asuesce cum Deo, (that is) Accustom and enure thyself to walk with God, as Enoch did; to talk with God, as Moses did; to seek the face of God, as David did: make nor thyself a stranger to God now, lest he know thee not, lest he own thee not, at the later day, when thou and all the world will be glad to claim acquaintance of Him. But some may say; What am I, or what is my father's house, that I should dare to think of being acquainted, with so great a Majesty, as is the Lord? that is too familiar a word: I answer, according to the common proverb; volenti nonfit injuria, That which is an injury to our thinking, is no injury to him that is willing and desirous of it. Now you shall observe that all the persons in the Blessed Trinity, are so far from taking ill at our hands, that they do even desire and wish for sinful man's society. God the Father he desires it, Esay 1. 18. Come (saith God) let us reason together, let us parley, let us confer, let us be familiar (as it were) and renew our old decayed acquaintance, which hath slept so long, and been so unkindly laid aside. In the original it is, Adeste, & increpemus, come let us chide together; as one friend chides another for being strange and aloof, & taking distaste without a cause: And this is it, makes God to chide us as he doth, partly by word of mouth, in the Ministry of his Word; and partly by Act and Deed, by sending his real Judgements into the World to plague us for sin; which David calleth Increpationem Domini, the chiding of God, Psal. 18. 15. and all for our averseness, and aloofenesse in this kind, that we will not come at him to renew our acquaintance with him, by a sound and serious humiliation, as his mercy, and our duty doth require. God the Son, He desires our acquaintance likewise, as you may read, john 5. 39 Ye search the Scriptures (saith Christ) and in them ye look to have eternal life, and yet ye will not come to me that ye might have life. We deal just with our Saviour, as one said of his Friend or Father, Si bene essem sine te, nunquam venirem ad te; If I could be well without thee, I would never come at thee: It is our illness, and our weakness, our lameness, and our sickness, that makes us to repair unto Christ, or else (I am afraid) we would seldom or never come at him. As for the Holy Ghost, David calls him a Loving Spirit, Psal. 143. 10. a Spirit that loves the company and the conduct of a poor sinner (let thy loving Spirit lead me into the land of Righteousness;) it is not only a leading Spirit, but a loving Spirit; a Spirit that loves to lead us, and to carry us into all truth, into all goodness, and to guide our sinful feet into the way of peace; we read of diverse that were condemned in Scripture, for having to do with Familiar Spirits, and justly, for what graceless wretches were they that durst be familiar with those evil spirits that were the mortal enemies of their souls; that durst to harbour those hellish Serpents in their bosoms, that stung their Souls to death eternal: And oh, what a blessed and a happy thing it were, if we were but half so desirous of the familiarity and acquaintance of the Good Spirit, as they were of the evil ones; then as job speaks in the place forenamed, Ind proventus erit bonus, thereby good shall come unto thee: Good to thy estate, thou shalt prosper by it; Good to thy children, they shall flourish by it; Good to thy name, thou shalt have credit and reputation by it; Good to thy body, thou shalt have health and protection by it; but special good shall come to thy Soul, thou shalt have mercy, and peace, and salvation by it: Thou shalt have his good Word to instruct thee, his good Angels to guard thee, his good Spirit to comfort thee, and above all his good Kingdom to receive thee. Therefore, if thou lovest thyself, and tenderest thy own good, let thy conversation with God, be Res familiaris, a free, a frequent, and a familiar thing. Lastly, if we take the original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the native and proper sense, as it signifies the traffiquing and trading that one Merchant or one Citizen hath with another, than it affords us this consideration; That to converse or to have commerce with God, is Res quest vosa, the gainfulest trade, and the richest merchandise under Heaven. For if we believe the Apostle; Godliness is no vile commodity, but exceeding gainful, yea gain itself, yea and great gain too; (if not to the purse, yet to the Conscience; if not to the estate, yet to the soul it is) for it hath the promises not only of the life that now is, but of that which is to come. There be many that say (saith David, Psal. 4. 6.) Who will show us any good? It is not the saying of one man, or of some men, but of many and of most men, who will show us any Good; all their desire is to listen and inquire who can tell them of any good purchase, any good bargain, any good fortune that may concern them, or come to their hands; let the party that shows it be who he will, if he shows any good we love him, we thank him for it: Behold here is one (Saint Paul by name) that shows us Summum Bonum, the Greatest Good, the truest and surest Gain that is to be had in all the Christian World: and that is to keep a Factory in Heaven (as it were) by the means and mediation of Jesus Christ, to deal betwixt God and our own Souls in a secret and a sacred commerce, to exchange our Prayers for his Favours, our duties for his Mercies, and so to drive a Spiritual trade in the City of God; And this will bring us into such a way of profit, that we shall gain Wisdom and Grace, and Comfort and Credit in this life, and a Crown of Eternal Glory in the life to come, and now judge yourselves whether to have our conversation in Heaven be not Res quaestuosa, a gainful thing. I come now to the second general proposition of my Text, which is this: How we that live and converse upon Earth, can be said in proper sense to have our Conversation in the Heavens? I shall answer it four ways. 1. Per Elevationem, By lifting up our hearts and minds, and Souls to God. We read, Levit. 11. 21. that those Reptilia, those Fowls or other Creatures that crept on all four, were Abomination in Moses Law, the people might not eat nor touch them; but those that had legs and wings to leap withal, and to lift up themselves from the Earth toward Heaven, those were clean in God's account. This was certainly a symbolical type to signify unto us, that those Christians that are always creeping (as it were) and crawling and grovelling upon the Earth, always minding earthly things, and setting their hearts upon the muck of this World, they are unclean and Abomination to the Lord: But they that have the legs and wings of Faith and fervent Prayer, to leap (as it were) from the Earth, and to lift up themselves towards Heaven in their ejaculations and devotions to God, they are those whom God accepts. An Angel once cried, Revel. 8. 13. Woe, woe, wo to the inhabitants of the Earth. Inhabitantibus, non Accolis (saith a Father) not to the sojourners and strangers of the Earth (as all good Christians are, whose Home is Heaven, and the Earth but a place of their pilgrimage for a time.) But the woes are to the settled Inhabitants of the Earth, who so fix their hearts on the Earth, that they make it their Heaven; like that Cardinal that would not change his part in Paris for his part in Paradise: or like the Children of Reuben and Gad, Numb. 32. 3. that desired to make their stay on this side Jordan, and let their brethren if they listed pass over into the Land of promise; for their own parts, they liked well of the place where they were, and did not desire to remove, because it was a place fit for their cattle. In like sort, they that make more account of their cattle, than they do of their conscience; and do more esteem the pleasures and profits of a life temporal, than the incomprehensible joys of the life eternal; they that so love the Earth, that by their good wills they would not leave it for Heaven: Woe be to them three ways: first, woe to them in life; secondly, woe to them in death; thirdly, woe to them after death: or thus, woe to their bodies, woe to their souls, and woe to both body and soul together in that woeful place of torment. In a word, therefore if we desire to escape this threefold woe, and that it may be well with us both here and hereafter; let us do by our affection's, as Husbandmen do by their corn, if it lie low in a damp room, it is in danger to putrify, and corrupt, and stink; therefore they convey it and carry it up into some higher room that is farther from the Earth, and nearer to Heaven, and there it is safe. Such a damp place is this sinful World, therefore if thou wouldst preserve thy affections from stench and corruption, carry them up on high, list them up to Heaven by divine contemplations, and by a divine conversation, and then they are out of danger. We should frame our affections in form of a ship, which is close downwards, and open upwards, in an hearty desire of a Heavenly condition. One saith well, It is with Men, as it is with the Moon: When the Moon decreaseth, it is close above, and open below; Contrarily, when it increaseth, it is open above, and close below: So if our minds, (as Nature hath framed our hearts) be close downwards, using the World, as if we used it not, and enlarged upwards in seeking and sighing after the things that be above; then 'tis a happy sign of our increase in grace and favour with God, and an infallible evidence to our souls, that though our abode be below on Earth, yet our conversation is above in Heaven. 2. Per Anticipationem, you that desire to have Heaven hereafter, must begin your heaven here, by Anticipation; and that three ways: first, take direction from Heaven in all your ways and actions; do as ship-men do at Sea, because they have no common Road, nor beaten Path to sail by, they take their direction from the stars, and guide themselves by the Heavens; so because in this World (which is as brinish with sin, as the Sea is with salt; and as dangerous to the Soul, as the Sea is to the ship) there is no common Road (as I may say) no beaten path to Heaven, so few there be that go that way; let every one that desires to walk safely, take heed of walking rashly, and following the lusts, devices, and desires of his own heart, but let him look up to Heaven for direction, and desire God to be his guide and conduct; saying and praying in the words of the Prophet David, Psal. 48. 14. Thou O. God art my God for ever, oh be thou my guide unto the day of death. Secondly, learn the language of Heaven while ye are here; as one that is to travel into a foreign Country, will if he can possible learn some part of the language of that country beforehand, that he may not be altogether to seek when he comes into a strange place: So if Heaven be (as I hope it is) the Country and the Kingdom that ye all desire to live in; be careful then while ye are here to enure yourselves to the language of Heaven ere ye come there, (that is) to bless God, and praise him, and speak good of his Name: for as terrene, and sordid and base discourse is the language of the World, and lying, and lewd and profane discourse is the language of Hell: So pious, and profitable, and divine discourse, that savoureth and relisheth of the Grace and good Spirit of God, that's the language of Heaven: learn that. Thirdly, labour to get a Temper and a disposition fit for Heaven; As God hath given the fowls a Temper fit to live in the air, and fishes a Temper fit for the water; and creeping things a Temper fit for the Earth; so desire of God to frame thy heart to an Heavenly disposition, and to give thee a Temper fit for Heaven. Certainly Carnal Men mistake Heaven, taking it to be only a place of Rest, but not a place of righteousness; a place of happiness, but not a place of holiness; so that if a Carnal man should be admitted to peep into Heaven to see what is there adoing, to see how the Glorified Souls and Spirits are always lauding and magnifying their God and Saviour, always taken up with Holy and Heavenly exercises and employments; he would loathe no place so much as Heaven, as being no ways agreeable, but altogether contrary to his temper and disposition: He that is weary of one Sabbath here, how will he brook an eternity of Sabbath hereafter: if the Footmen have typed him (as jeremy speaks in another case, jerem. 12. 5. how will he do to hold▪ pace with the Horsemen: He that thinks too much of that little holiness that God requires in his Saints on Earth, how will he comply with that excellency of holiness that is in the Saints, and blessed Souls in Heaven. In a word then, as we all hope to have Carnem Angelisicatam (as Tertullian speaks) to have Angel-like bodies hereafter; so let us labour and pray that we may have Animas Angelisicatas, Angel-like Souls while we are here; that we may wholly addict and give our minds to do Gods will on Earth as it is done in Heaven, that we may begin our Heaven here in Grace, and perfect it hereafter for ever in Glory. 3 A man that lives on Earth, may be said to have his conversation in Heaven, Per Charitatem, by holy Charity, which is nothing else but a divine love to God, and to all Goodness. He that is a truly Charitable man on Earth, is in ultima & proxima dispositione, in the last, and likest, and nearest disposition to the Glorified Saints in Heaven: For this we know, that most of those other virtues wherein men excel on Earth, do fail and cease when the Soul returns to Heaven; Our Faith, that shall cease, for we shall then see the beatifical face of God, and the blessed reward of the Godly, which we now believe unseen. Our Hope, that shall cease; for we shall then enjoy the good things we hoped for: no more need of Anchor when we are passed the Sea of this world, and landed upon the shore of Heaven. So likewise Patience shall cease, for there shall be no more pain; and Continency, for there shall be no more temptations; and Mercy, for there shall be no more objects of misery: Only Charity, that remains and abides, and accompanies the soul into the kingdom of Christ, and of God; that's a Grace that is begun on earth, and never ceaseth in Heaven; it is a celestial, a heavenly quality, whether it be in men or women; in persons of noble, or of meaner rank. It is true, all have not means alike to express their charity to those that are poor and needy; therefore you must know, that Charity is twofold; there is the outward charity of the hand, and the inward charity of the heart; this later is that which God requireth equally of all, both rich and poor. It is like that Tribute of the Sanctuary Exod. 30. 15. wherein there was an equal Rate set for the Ransom of their lives, that the poor paid as much as the Rich: so a poor man may have as Charitable an heart, as a Rich man, though God have straitened him in his means that he cannot have so charitable an hand: you see 1. Cor. 13. that Charity which the Apostle so magnifies, and extols above all other gifts, is only this inward Charity (Charity envieth not, is not easily provoked, seeketh not her own, but hopeth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things &c.;) all this reflects upon the heart, and therein a poor man may abound, as well as a rich; In a word then, if God have clipped thy wings, and cut short thy estate, that thou canst not have a charitable hand; yet howsoever retain a charitable heart, and what thou wantest in substance make up in prayer. This is the third way, whereby a man that lives on earth may be truly said to have his conversation in heaven. 4. The fourth and last way, is, per Claritatem, by brightness and shining in Grace, and good works; Heaven is a shining place, full of splendour, lustre and glory, and such are all the souls that dwell therein. The Prophet tell us Dan. 12. 3. they that be wise shall shine as the firmament, and they that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the stars for evermore. The firmament that shines by day, and the stars they shine by night; the meaning is, that they which are truly virtuous and wise, eruditi & erudientes, the practisers, and the teachers of wisdom; they that are wise themselves, and they that make others wise, shall shine as the Firmament in the daytime of their life, and as the Stars in the night when they are dead and gone; they shall shine in Grace here, and in Glory hereafter. Though for a time they be overclouded (as it were) with Crosses and Corruptions, which darkens and obscures the lustre that is in them; yet the time will come that all these Clouds, these Crosses, and Corruptions shall be blown away, and they shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father. When Moses conversed with God, his face shined, Exod. 34. there's no good man that converseth with God, but his face shines too, that is, he hath a venerable aspect, insomuch as they that will not imitate him, cannot but honour him: john was a burning and a shining light (saith the Gospel, john 5. 35.) burning with zeal inwardly to God, shining by a good life outwardly to the World. You that desire to shine in Heaven must begin your shining here on Earth: Let your light so shine, (saith our Saviour) that men may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. True Faith is in the heart, like a candle in a lantern, which must not, nay cannot be altogether hid, but discovers itself by its own shining light. Astronomers observe that the Galaxia, or the Milky way (as they call it) is a Glorious Circle, and possesseth a great part of Heaven, and yet is all of so little Stars, as have no name nor knowledge taken of them by Astrologers. So no doubt, there are many Saints in Heaven, that shine as the Stars in the Kingdom of God, that were none of those great magnitudes, that the World should take notice of them; but good and blessed Souls that have honestly performed the duties of their inferior calling, and behaved▪ themselves soberly, righteously, and godly in this World; and so glimmered in a poor estate, like a Diamond that glisters in the dust. In a word, as we all believe and hope that God will one day change our vile bodies (as the Apostle rightly calls them) and make them like unto the Glorious of our blessed Lord and Saviour; so let us now desire and beg of God to change our vile Souls, that they may in some measure be like the pure and precious Soul of our dear jesus; that all the fogs and fumes of our unsavoury noisome lusts may be dispersed and done away, that we may so shine on Earth, by a godly life and conversation, that we may be rewarded with shining in Heaven, in a state of immortality and incorruption. Which GOD of his mercy Grant, for JESUS CHRIST his sake, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be given and ascribed all honour, praise, and glory; be done and performed all service, obedience and duty, from this time forth for evermore, Amen. FINIS.