Whereas our bodies are Gods workmanship, we must glorify him in our bodies, and all the actions of body and soul, our eating and drinking, our living and dying, must be referred to his glory: yea we must not hurt or abuse our bodies,1 but present them as holy and living sacrifices unto God. And whereas God made us of the dust of the earth, we are not to glory and boast our selves, but rather to take occasion to praise the great goodness of God, that hath vouchsafed to honour us being but dust and ashes. And after that man is created, what is his life? alas, it is nothing but a little breath: stop his mouth and his nostrils, and he is but a dead man. By this we are put in mind to consider of our frail and uncertain estate, and to lay aside all confidence in our selves: and for this cause the Prophet Isaiah teacheth us to have no confidence in man,2 because his breath is in his nostrils. Again, let us mark the frame and shape of mans body. All other creatures go with their bodies and eyes to the ground-ward; but man was made to go upright: and whereas all other creatures have but four muscles to turn their eyes round about, man hath a fifth to pull his eyes up to heaven-ward.3 Now what doth this teach us? surely that howsoever we seek for other things, yet first of all, and above all, we should seek for the kingdom of heaven, and the righteousness thereof: and that our whole desire should be set to enjoy the blessed estate of Gods children in heaven. Secondly, it teacheth us in receiving Gods creatures, to return thankfulness unto God by lifting up the heart to heaven for the same. These are very needful and profitable lessons in these days; for most men indeed go upright: but look into their lives, and they might as well go on all four: for in their conversation they set their whole hearts upon the earth, as the beast doth, and their eyes upon the things of this world: hereby they do abase themselves, and deface their bodies, and being men make themselves as beasts: we shall see great numbers of men that run and ride from place to place, to provide for the body, but to seek the kingdom of heaven where their souls should dwell after this life in joy for ever, they will not stir one foot.
Whereas our bodies are Gods workemanship, we must glorifie him in our bodies, and all the actions of bodie and soule, our eating and drinking, our liuing and dying, must be referred to his glorie: yea we must not hurt or abuse our bodies,1 but present them as holy and liuing sacrifices vnto God. And whereas God made vs of the dust of the earth, we are not to glorie and boast our selues, but rather to take occasion to praise the great goodnesse of God, that hath vouchsafed to honour vs beeing but dust and ashes. And after that man is created, what is his life? alas, it is nothing but a little breath: stoppe his mouth and his nostrells, and he is but a dead man. By this we are put in minde to consider of our fraile and vncerten estate, and to lay aside all confidence in our selues: and for this cause the Prophet Esay teacheth vs to haue no confidence in man,2 because his breath is in his nostrills. Againe, let vs marke the frame and shape of mans bodie. All other creatures goe with their bodies and eyes to the ground-ward; but man was made to goe vpright: and whereas all other creatures haue but foure muscles to turne their eyes round about, man hath a fifth to pull his eyes vp to heauen-ward.3 Now what doth this teach vs? surely that howsoeuer we seeke for other things, yet first of all, and aboue all, we should seeke for the kingdome of heauen, and the righteousnesse thereof: and that our whole desire should be set to enioy the blessed estate of Gods children in heauen. Secondly, it teacheth vs in receiuing Gods creatures, to returne thankfulnes vnto God by lifting vp the heart to heauen for the same. These are very needfull and profitable lessons in these daies; for most men indeede goe vpright: but looke into their liues, and they might as well goe on all foure: for in their conuersation they set their whole hearts vpon the earth, as the beast doth, and their eyes vpon the things of this world: hereby they doe abase themselues, and deface their bodies, and beeing men make themselues as beasts: we shall see great numbers of men that runne and ride from place to place, to prouide for the bodie, but to seeke the kingdome of heauen where their soules should dwell after this life in ioy for euer, they wil not stirre one foote.
- 11. Cor. 16.31. •om. 12.1.
- 2Isai 2.22.
- 3Columb. lib. 5. cap 9.
