1. Their contempt of the world. They that dwell in Tents, intend not a long dwelling in a place. They are movables, ever ready to be transferred at the occasion and will of the Inhabiter, Hebr. 11.1 Abraham dwelt intents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same Promise. The reason is added. For he looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD. These Saints studied not to enlarge their barns, as the rich Cosmopolite, Luke 12. or to sing Requiems to their souls,2 in the hoped perpetuity of earthly habitations. Soul live; thou hast enough laid up for many years: Fool! he had not enough for that night. They had no thought, that their houses should continue for ever,3 and their dwelling places to all generations; thereupon calling their lands after their own names. God convinceth the foolish security of the Jews, to whom he had promised (by the Messiah to be purchased) an everlasting royalty in heaven;4 by the Rechabites; who built no houses, but dwelt in Tents; as if they were strangers, ready on a short wa•ning for removal. The Church esteems Heaven her home, this world but a Tent. A Tent, which we must all leave, build we as high as Babel, as strong as Babylon. When we have fortified, combined, feasted, death comes with a Voider,5 and takes away all, Dost thou ⟨p. 19⟩think to reign securely because thou closest thy self in Cedar? Friends must part, Jonah and his gourd, Nebuchadnezzar and his palace, the covetous churl and his barns. Arise, 6and depart, for this is not your rest. Though you depart with grief, from Orchards full of fruits, grounds full stocked, houses dightly furnished, purses richly stuffed; from music, wine, junkets, sports: yet go; you must go, every man to his own home. He that hath seen heaven, with the eye of Faith, through the glass of the Scripture, slips off his coat with Joseph, and springs away. They that lived thrice our age, yet dwelt in Tents; as Pilgrims that did not own this world. The shortness and weakness of our days, strengthens our reasons to vilipend it. The world is the field, thy body the Tent, heaven thy free-hold. The world is full of troubles; winds of persecutions, storms of menaces, cold of uncharitableness, heat of malice, exhalations of prodigious terrors, will annoy thee. Love it not: 7Who can affect his own vexations? It is thy through-fare;
1. Their contempt of the world. They that dwell in Tents, intend not a long dwelling in a place. They are mouables, euer ready to be transferred at the occasion and will of the Inhabiter, Hebr. 11.1 Abraham dwelt intents with Isaac and Iacob, the heires with him of the same Promise. The reason is added. For hee looked for a Citie which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD. These Saints studied not to enlarge their barnes, as the rich Cosmopolite, Luke 12. or to sing Requiems to their soules,2 in the hoped perpetuity of earthly habitations. Soule liue; thou hast enough laid vp for many yeares: Foole! he had not enough for that night. They had no thought, that their houses should continue for euer,3 and their dwelling places to all generations; thereuppon calling their lands after their owne names. God conuinceth the foolish security of the Iewes, to whom hee had promised (by the Messias to be purchased) an euerlasting royalty in heauen;4 by the Rechabites; who built no houses, but dwelt in Tents; as if they were strangers, ready on a short wa•ning for remouall. The Church esteemes Heauen her home, this world but a Tent. A Tent, which we must all leaue, build we as high as Babel, as strong as Babilon. When wee haue fortified, combined, feasted, death comes with a Voyder,5 and takes away all, Dost thou ⟨p. 19⟩thinke to raigne securely because thou closest thy selfe in Cedar? Friends must part, Ionas and his gourd, Nebuchadnezzar and his pallace, the couetous churle and his barns. Arise, 6and depart, for this is not your rest. Though you depart with griefe, from Orchards full of fruits, grounds full stocked, houses dightly furnished, purses richly stuffed; from musicke, wine, iunkets, sports: yet goe; you must goe, euery man to his owne home. Hee that hath seene heauen, with the eye of Fath, through the glasse of the Scripture, slippes off his coate with Ioseph, and springs away. They that liued thrice our age, yet dwelt in Tents; as Pilgrims that did not owne this world. The shortnesse and weakenesse of our dayes, strengthens our reasons to vilipend it. The world is the field, thy body the Tent, heauen thy free-holde. The world is full of troubles; windes of persecutions, storms of menaces, cold of vncharitablenesse, heate of malice, exhalations of prodigious terrours, will annoy thee. Loue it not:
- 1Hebr. 11. 9
- 2Luke 12
- 3Psal. 49. 11
- 4Jerem. 35. 7Ierem. 35. 7
- 5Jerem. 22. 15.Ierem. 22. 15.
- 6Micah 2. 10
- 71. John 2. 151. Iohn 2. 15
