Use 1 Seeing eternity is a property of God; we should learn hence, to mind most the things that are eternal,1 for they are, of all other things, of the greatest moment, because they do most participate of this transcendent property of the almighty. God is eternal, the soul is eternal, heaven and hell are eternal; therefore they are more to be regarded of us. You shall see this in 1 Joh. 2.17. as a reason why we should not mind the things of the world;2 because the world vanisheth, it passeth away, and the lusts thereof (saith the Apostle;) that is, look upon all the things below, and both the things pass, and your affections and desires pass, that which you love to day, to morrow you will not love; therefore love them not, regard them not, for they are of a flitting and passing nature, but he that doth the will of the LORD abides for ever; and therefore we are to mind such things most: such as the King is, such are his subjects, and such are the rewards and punishments that he gives. Now God, he is eternal, 1 Tim. 1.17.3 To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, and only wise GOD, be honour and ⟨p. 162⟩glory for ever. And as he is an eternal King, so he hath given to us, his subjects, to be eternal, as the soul is; and he hath given punishments, and rewards eternal; hell is an everlasting prison, and heaven is an eternal Palace; therefore these are the things most to be regarded of us. And if we would but throughly consider that these things are eternal, it would effectually draw our minds to the things that are above. A man that comes to an Inn, if he can get a better room, he will; if not, he can be content with it, for he saith, it is but for a night; so your habitation here is but for a night: if you can have a better condition, use it rather, but if not, be not much moved, for it is but for a night. In worldly things the shortness of them makes us to undergo them cheerfully. An apprenticeship that is hard, a man will endure it, for he saith it is but for a time; so things that are pleasant, if they be but of short continuance, we regard them the less. Now our time that we have here, in respect of eternity, is shorter than an apprenticeship, nay, than a night, nay, shorter than an hour. Now put the case, that a man should have an hour given him; and it should be said to him;
Vse 1 Seeing eternitie is a propertie of God; wee should learne hence, to minde most the things that are eternall,1 for they are, of all other things, of the greatest moment, because they doe most participate of this transcendent propertie of the almightie. God is eternall, the soule is eternall, heaven and hell are eternall; therefore they are more to be regarded of us. You shall see this in 1 Ioh. 2.17. as a reason why we should not minde the things of the world;2 because the world vanisheth, it passeth away, and the lusts thereof (saith the Apostle;) that is, looke upon all the things below, and both the things passe, and your affections and desires passe, that which you love to day, to morrow you will not love; therefore love them not, regard them not, for they are of a flitting and passing nature, but he that doth the will of the LORD abides for ever; and therefore we are to minde such things most: such as the King is, such are his subjects, and such are the rewards and punishments that he gives. Now God, hee is eternall, 1 Tim. 1.17.3 To the King eternall, immortall, invisible, and only wise GOD, be honour and ⟨p. 162⟩glory for ever. And as he is an eternall King, so he hath given to us, his subjects, to be eternall, as the soule is; and he hath given punishments, and rewards eternall; hell is an everlasting prison, and heaven is an eternall Palace; therefore these are the things most to be regarded of us. And if wee would but throughly consider that these things are eternall, it would effectually draw our mindes to the things that are above. A man that comes to an Inne, if he can get a better roome, he will; if not, hee can be content with it, for hee saith, it is but for a night; so your habitation here is but for a night: if you can have a better condition, use it rather, but if not, be not much moved, for it is but for a night. In worldly things the shortnesse of them makes us to undergoe them cheerefully. An apprentiship that is hard, a man will indure it, for hee saith it is but for a time; so things that are pleasant, if they be but of short continuance, wee regard them the lesse. Now our time that we have here, in respect of eternity, is shorter than an apprentiship, nay, than a night, nay, shorter than an houre. Now put the case, that a man should have an houre given him; and it should be said to him;
- 1To mind more those things which are eternal.To mind more those things which are eternall.
- 21 Joh. 2.17.1 Ioh. 2.17.
- 31 Tim. 1.17.
