LII.

SERM. tormented in the other world, notwithstanding all that he had got in this. And therefore nothing be sure in this world, no not this whole world, can be the "one thing needful," spoken of in my text.

Tit. 3. 9.

But why did our blessed Saviour put that question, and leave it upon record, for all men to consider at their leisure? It was doubtless to teach us, that the chief thing that a man is to take care of, is his soul, that it may not be lost, but saved for if all things in the world can no way profit him if he lose his soul, the saving his soul, must needs be preferred before all things in the world. Not only before the riches, honours and pleasures in it, but before all things else, which men are apt to busy themselves about, to the neglect and hazard of their souls. Such, among other things, are the controversies and disputes about the circumstances of religion, which many are so hot and eager about, that they let go the substance, upon which the Salvation of their souls depends. This men were apt to fall into, even in the great Apostle's days; who therefore forewarned Titus of it, saying, "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain." The same advice I must give to you, you cannot but know what strivings and contentions there have been, and what mischiefs they have done among us. If people believed in God, and worshipped and served Him according to the doctrine and directions of our Church, they would be undoubtedly saved. This the Devil knows well enough; and therefore to take them off from the Church, he fills their heads with a parcel of vain and unprofitable questions about little indifferent things, which serve only to distract their minds, and divert them from the substantial parts of religion, which are necessary to the Salvation of their souls. Wherefore, as you tender that, avoid all such unnecessary disputes and controversies, and follow only the "one thing needful," that without which ye cannot be saved. Remember there are no outward circumstances in the whole Christian religion for which a man can have so fair a plea to trouble himself about them, as Martha had for her providing an entertainment for Christ Himself; and yet Christ

Himself here tells her, that she did more than she needed; Martha, Martha," saith He, " thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful."

And that she might know what that "one thing" is, He directs her to it, by saying, "And Mary hath chosen the good part." Mary was careful and troubled about nothing but the Salvation of her soul; and therefore while her sister was running about, she sat at her Saviour's feet, and heard and received the word of Salvation from Him, that she might be sanctified or made holy, without which, she knew she could not be saved: wherefore our Saviour saith, that she had "chosen the good part," the "one thing needful." And hath thereby given us to understand, that the "one thing" which He here calls "needful," is true piety, or holiness, which is so absolutely needful to Salvation, that no man ever was, or can be saved without it: whereas, they who attain to true holiness, cannot but be saved; God Himself having engaged His Word that they shall. For "holiness," or "godliness," as the Apostle tells us, "is 1 Tim. 4. 8. profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." It is of that mighty profit and advantage to mankind, that it hath not only the necessaries of this life, but eternal happiness and Salvation in the next, promised to it by Him who cannot lie. Who Himself also saith, that other people "shall go into ever- Matt.25.46. lasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal." And when the other shall be cast "into a furnace of fire,"

then "the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the ch. 13. 42, kingdom of their Father."

43.

The righteous, or Saints: they who are "created in Christ [Eph.2.10.] Jesus unto good works," and accordingly do all the good works which God hath prepared for them to walk in. They whose hearts are wholly inclined to God, and set to obey His Commandments. They who "deny ungodliness and [Tit. 2. 12.] worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." They who are wholly sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and so are made "holy, as He who hath called [1 Pet. 1. them is holy, in all manner of conversation." They shall receive the "crown of righteousness; an inheritance incor- [1 Pet. 1.4.] ruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in

15.]

LII.

SERM. Heaven for them;" where they shall see and enjoy God, and live as happily as it is possible for creatures to live for Heb. 12. 14. evermore. But none else shall do so; "for without holiness no man shall see the Lord; nor indeed can, if he might; for he that is not pure and holy, is not capable of seeing Him who is purity and holiness itself; nor, by consequence, of enjoying those pure and spiritual joys which the sight of Him affords: and therefore, such a one, though he Col. 1. 12. might, yet he is not "meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light." It is the inheritance of the Saints, and of them only. None else ever shall or can have any part or portion in it.

[Acts 24. 16.]

From hence therefore we may see, what is the "one thing 2 Tim. 3. 5. needful;" even that which the Apostle calls the "power of godliness;" whereby a man is able to overcome the world, the flesh, and the Devil, and to exercise himself always to "have a conscience void of offence both towards God and men;" whereby his soul is so firmly fixed upon God, that he is in a right disposition to love, and fear, and serve, and honour, and obey Him, heartily and sincerely upon earth; and to behold, admire, and enjoy Him perfectly in Heaven. Unless a man be thus holy, he can never be happy. And therefore this must needs be the "one thing needful," which all men must labour for with all their might, above all things upon earth besides, as ever they desire to be saved.

But then the great question is, how we may get this "one thing needful?" How we, who are all by nature corrupt and sinful, may notwithstanding, become thus pure and holy? That the thing is possible, we cannot doubt, seeing it hath been actually done. We read of many whom God Himself in His Holy Word was pleased to call Saints, righteous, and holy, and therefore may be confident they were such in His esteem, otherwise He would never have given them such a character. And in all ages since, there have been many such, though not in comparison of the rest of mankind, yet absolutely considered in themselves. And I doubt not but there are some at this time upon earth, and would be many more, if people would but take the right course for it. But that the generality of mankind will not

do: most will not labour at all for it, and of those that do, many seek it where it is not to be had. As our Saviour Himself hath taught us, saying, "Strive to enter in at the Luke 13.24. strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able," even because they do not seek it aright. They seek it by their own light, or by their own strength, or by their own merits, or some such by-way, which God hath not appointed for it, and then it is no wonder if they miss of it; for it is impossible to have it any other way, than that which God hath made and prescribed for our attainment of it.

Which in general is by His Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; for He is the "Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh John 14. 6. unto the Father but by Him;" "neither is there Salvation Acts 4. 12.

in any other," nor any thing necessary to it, much less

our Sanctification, which is in effect Salvation itself. And therefore we are said to be "sanctified in Christ Jesus." 1 Cor. 1 2. And to be "created in Him unto good works, which God Eph. 2. 10. hath before ordained, that we should walk in them." "So Phil. 4. 13. that we can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth us." "But without Him we can do nothing;" nor John 15. 5. by Him, without believing in Him. For it is to our faith in Him, that all things relating to our eternal Salvation by Him are ascribed in His Holy Gospel, particularly, our being sanctified or made pure and holy. For it is by "faith" that our hearts are purified. And we are 66 sanc- Acts 15. 9. tified by faith that is in Christ Jesus." And therefore the ch. 26. 18. first thing required towards our getting the "one thing needful," is to believe in Christ, and trust on Him to give it us; without which, whatsoever else we do, will avail us nothing, but all our endeavours after it will be in vain and to no purpose.

Whereas if we live with a steadfast belief and trust upon God our Saviour for it, He will most certainly fulfil the promises which He hath made us for that purpose, and accordingly bestow His special grace upon us, in the use of the means which He hath ordained in His Church for that end. And therefore our next care must be, to exercise ourselves constantly and sincerely in the use of the said means that He hath appointed for our obtaining grace and Salva

SERM. tion from Him, which we cannot choose but do, if we heartily and earnestly desire to have it.

LII.

I say, if we heartily and earnestly desire to have it; for unless we do so, we can never labour as we ought for it, nor [1 Pet. 1.9.] by consequence receive "the end of our faith, even the sanctification and Salvation of our souls." Which therefore that we may, we must follow the example of the great Saint in my text, of whom Christ Himself gives this testimony, that she had chosen that good part." So must we; we must choose it, as she did, as it is the good part, the best we can choose, the "one thing needful." And therefore before all things upon earth besides. For if there be any one thing which we choose before it, we do not choose it as it is the "one thing needful," and therefore do not properly choose it at all, as Mary did. Neither can we make it our chief care to obtain it, as we must do, if we ever have it; we must observe the method and order which Christ Himself hath Matt. 6. 33. prescribed for it. We must first "seek the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness;" that must be the uppermost in all our thoughts; the highest of all our desires; the first thing we seek and labour for in all the world. And so it certainly will be, if we believe it to be the "one thing needful." For then all things else would seem to us, as they are in themselves, needless and impertinent; at least in comparison of that. We should then play no longer with religion, but set about it in good earnest, and be willing to part with all we have in the world, for that which we believe to be better than all things in it. As the merchant in the parable, who having found one pearl of great price, sold all ch. 13.45-6. he had to purchase it. This is that pearl, that one pearl of great inestimable price, for which we can never give, or suffer, or do too much. When our minds are thus set upon true piety and virtue, so as to look upon it, as it is the " one thing needful;" then we shall be rightly disposed and qualified for the obtaining it in the use of the means which God hath appointed for it, and shall readily catch at all opportunities that we can get of using them, and thank God heartily for them.

This being premised, give me leave to suppose, what I most heartily wish, that all here present are thus minded;