If it is prudent to provide for the time to come—how much
more so to provide for eternity! While to be rich in this world is the
passion of thousands—to be rich in eternity should be my passion. An
appetite after earthly grandeur, betrays a sordid heart, and a base soul—but
an ambition to be great in heaven, is worthy of an heir of God, of an
expectant of glory. For it is to the honor of the supreme Potentate, that
all his subjects be nobles, be priests, be kings.
In this short lifetime is the foundation laid of things
of eternal consequence—and true wisdom will teach me to send all my
treasures there. It deserves little or no pity to be poor in this world—but
poverty in in eternity is deplorable beyond the reach of compassion.
Temporal losses may distress me; but such is the brevity of life, that while
I complain I expire, and then I am possessed of all the treasures of glory,
of all the fullness of God. And yet, according to the capacity of glorified
saints, shall that same undiminished fullness be possessed in greater or
lesser degree.
"How rich did he die?" is the speech of fools at the
decease of an acquaintance or friend. But none ever die rich but true
Christians; for, how can that man be said to die rich, when the very moment
of his dissolution robs him of his all.
"Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven," is the
admonition of the dear Redeemer. Let me, then, lay down a plan for
myself—how to be rich for eternity.
1. Then, presupposing that I am in a gracious state, I
must have a godly contempt of the world. No man ever filled his coffers with
sand; no monarch ever wore a pebble in his crown; so the soul that lays up
his treasures in heaven, will not concern himself with perishing trifles. If
my affections are not weaned from the creature, and set on things above—I
shall be but poor in the eternal world.
2. I must be watchful in all things. The man who is
anxious to be rich will not waste a penny; so must I watch my actions, my
thoughts, my words. Again, I must against all my secret sins, and also to
reprove the transgressor. A bold and sincere reproof of sin, is a stroke
against the enemies of the King, from which a palm of victory shall spring
in the world of glory. I must also speak in commendation of the land of
glory—that others may be encouraged to set out for the land of promise. And
could I bring many with me, I would be the more welcome to the seats of
bliss.
Again, I must watch against worldly sorrow. Should the
heir of a crown lament the loss of a feather? What can death do in a godly
family? It may separate them a little while—but it is only to meet again
forever. Worldly riches give their owners joy—but joy in the Lord increases
spiritual riches. So I must guard against carnal delight; none of the
mirthful things of time must be objects of my affection. It would be
contemptible for a noble personage to be charmed with a hut, who has a
palace prepared for him. It would be contemptible for an heir of God to sit
down and feed on the refuse of worldly vanities. Again, I must beware of
carnal company. These are bankrupts that will spend at my expense, and
whatever loss I make by them, yet in their company I shall never be able to
add a mite to my celestial treasure. How can I be safe among robbers? They
may rob me of a holy frame of mind, wound my conscience, and at last leave
me with a bleeding heart—which may pain me many days.
3. To grow rich for the world to come, I must study to be
heavenly-minded, not by fits and starts—but in one constant, steady, holy
frame of spirit. Thus every duty will be my delight; prayer and praise, like
my daily food, always pleasant; attendance on the public ordinances, like
walking in the King's palace-garden; reading the Scriptures, like conferring
with the dearest friend; and self-examination, like the merchant from a far
country, counting over his rich jewels and precious gems, inspecting his
gold and silver, that it has the king's stamp, and so be sterling money;
that his graces, his duties, his attainments, are approved by Scripture and
conscience.
4. Holy meditations will mightily augment the spiritual
riches. To find God in all things, and at all times, in all places, and in
all providences—will enrich my soul for eternity. To find his power in this,
his wisdom in that, and his goodness in all—will greatly improve my
inquiring, my admiring soul. Meditating much, meditating often, meditating
with delight, on him in whom are hidden the treasures of wisdom—is a noble
way to enrich me for a future world.
5. To be rich in the better country, I must heartily
study to approve of all the dispensations of Providence; though not
insensible when God frowns, or when he smiles. When the soul of the
Christian, with a filial resignation, acquiesces in the conduct of his
Almighty Father, however adverse to flesh and blood; and, in the midst of
all commotions, reposes himself on God's unchangeable love—he takes deep
root for eternity. Fear and unbelief toss the unstable person, like a
rolling thing before the whirlwind. It is proper only to children, not to
men, to be peevish for toys and trifles; so let the men of this world lament
the loss of worldly vanities—but let the heirs of God, the joint-heirs with
Christ, rejoice that the treasures of eternity are theirs.
6. To be rich unto God, and for eternity, I must act
strong faith on the Rock of ages; for it is from the spoils of battles won
by faith, that I amass riches for the invisible world. Faith relying on a
reconciled God in all his attributes and perfections, on Jesus in all his
offices and relations, on the Holy Spirit in all his graces and
operations—must remove mountains of difficulty, pluck up trees of
corruption, pull down strong-holds of sin, wrestle against principalities
and powers, and be more than conqueror at last—through her all glorious
Author and Finisher.
7. I must also redeem time, and improve time; redeem time
from this world, and improve it for the world to come. The man of business
will be reluctant to lose an hour for any trifling amusement; and the soul
that would be busy for eternity, should look on every hour as his last hour,
and should avoid excess of sloth and slumber. Foolish amusements and vain
diversions are cruel moths of time! Our time is to be economized,
though worlds should be squandered away by others. As the jeweler deals with
gold--so must I deal with time. He is careful about the filings, and loses
nothing; so should I be careful about the smallest divisions of time--the
hour, the minute, the moment. It never made a dying person's bed thorny,
that by a bad bargain, he lost such and such a sum; but misspent time has
made the dying moments of many dismal beyond expression.
8. To be rich in the world to come, I must have an
intense love towards God and heavenly things. The men that love the world,
pant after the dust of the world, and spare no pains to be rich in the
world. A man will never toil to gather what he despises; so, unless I prefer
heavenly things to earthly, I shall never seek to fill my treasure with
invisible excellences. "He who loves silver," says the wise man, "shall not
be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance with increase." But he
who loves God shall be satisfied with God, and entranced with the exuberant
fullness of eternal excellencies.
9. To be rich indeed at last, I must endeavor to maintain
communion with God now. To have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ, in all his divine fullness, his glorious perfections, and his
gracious ways—is the most enriching course that I can carry on below. Every
moment of divine fellowship is adding another sum in the bank of heaven, so
that I should be wondrously rich at last. He who leaves the Indies for
Europe, sends his treasures before him; then, though he is poor at his
departure from the one country—yet he is rich on his arrival at the other.
So, well were it with me, if I could detach my thoughts and meditations, my
cares and affections, my joys and delights, my hopes and expectations—from
this perishing world, and center them on the invisible world!
10. In a word, to abound in all things in the better
country, I must make God my all in all, and just sit down and wonder at the
overflowing treasure, until my moldering clay lets my immortal soul fly
hence—to enjoy immense riches in heaven—in the possession of his infinite
self—world without end!