Use 4 If God be eternal, then we should learn hence to comfort our selves,1 when we look upon the mutability that we and all creatures are subject unto in this vale of misery, it is a thing that may comfort us exceeding much; if we serve him who is constant, without change, who is eternal, that can make up the changes that we are subject unto; it is the use that is made of it, in Psal. 102.11, 12.2 My days are like a shadow that declineth, and I am withered like grass; but thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever, and thy remembrance unto all generations. Why doth he put these two together thus? my shadow, and Gods enduring for ever, &c. as if he should say, this is my comfort, that though I am of short continuance, yet God with whom I shall live for ever, he is eternal, and ⟨p. 173⟩abides for ever. It is as if the beam should reason thus; though I am brittle and fading, yet the Sun that maintains me, abides for ever: or, if the stream should reason thus; though I may be dried up in Summer, yet the fountain that maintains me continues for ever: So, though men be subject to change, yet the Lord, that maintains them, is immutable, and abides for ever. You that have the life of Christ in you, have the beginning of this eternity; and though the old building be pulled down, yet you have a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; even as when one skin falls off, another comes on: and what though the outward man perish? yet the inward man grows daily more and more, till it come to perfection. This is not only a comfort to us, but also it is a great motive, and we should use it as a great argument to God; that because we are subject to change, yet because he is immutable, therefore he should help us, Psal. 102.26, 27.3 The heavens shall wax old, as doth a garment, but thou endurest for ever and ever; therefore cast me not off in the midst of my days: as if he should say, Lord,thou hast Time enough to bestow, thou art full of eternity; the heavens that seem to be of long continuance, yet are nothing to thee; therefore I pray thee to fill up my wants, and make me eternal with thee; so because thou inhabitest eternity, therefore comfort me, Isai. 57.15.4 Seeing God is eternal; learn hence to know that he is the Lord of all Time.
Vse 4 If God be eternall, then we should learne hence to comfort our selves,1 when we looke upon the mutabilitie that we and all creatures are subject unto in this vale of misery, it is a thing that may comfort us exceeding much; if wee serve him who is constant, without change, who is eternall, that can make up the changes that we are subject unto; it is the use that is made of it, in Psal. 102.11, 12.2 My dayes are like a shadow that declineth, and I am withered like grasse; but thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever, and thy remembrance unto all generations. Why doth he put these two together thus? my shadow, and Gods enduring for ever, &c. as if he should say, this is my comfort, that though I am of short continuance, yet God with whom I shall live for ever, hee is eternall, and ⟨p. 173⟩abides for ever. It is as if the beame should reason thus; though I am brickle and fading, yet the Sun that maintaines me, abides for ever: or, if the streame should reason thus; though I may be dried up in Summer, yet the fountaine that maintaines me continues for ever: So, though men be subject to change, yet the Lord, that maintains them, is immutable, and abides for ever. You that have the life of Christ in you, have the beginning of this eternity; and though the old building be pulled downe, yet you have a building not made with hands, eternall in the heavens; even as when one skin fals off, another comes on: and what though the outward man perish? yet the inward man growes daily more and more, till it come to perfection. This is not only a comfort to us, but also it is a great motive, and we should use it as a great argument to God; that because we are subject to change, yet because hee is immutable, therefore he should helpe us, Psal. 102.26, 27.3 The heavens shall wax old, as doth a garment, but thou endurest for ever and ever; therefore cast me not off in the midst of my dayes: as if he should say, Lord,thou hast Time enough to bestow, thou art full of eternitie; the heavens that seeme to be of long continuance, yet are nothing to thee; therefore I pray thee to fill up my wants, and make me eternall with thee; so because thou inhabitest eternity, therefore comfort mee, Isai. 57.15.
- 1To comfort our selves against the mutability of things here below.To comfort our selves against the mutabilitie of things here below.
- 2Psa. 102.11, 12.
- 3Psa. 102.26, 27.
- 4Isai. 57.15.
