An ark for all Gods Noah's in a gloomy stormy day, or, The best…An arke for all Gods Noahs in a gloomy stormy day, or, The best…

Fourthly, §4If the Saints have such an excellent, such a matchless portion, O then let them never set their hearts and affections upon any earthly portions: 'Tis true, O Christian, ¹thou mayest lay thy hand upon an earthly portion, but thou must never set thy heart upon an earthly portion, Psal. 62.10. If Riches increase, set not thy heart upon them. The Hebrews put the heart for the thoughts, affections, love, desire, joy, hope, confidence, &c. If riches increase, O set not thy thoughts upon them; If riches increased, O set not thy affections upon them; If riches increase, O set not thy love upon them, set not thy desires upon them, set not thy joy and delight upon them, nor never place thy hope or confidence in them. O what a shame and dishonour would it be to see men of great estates to rake in dunghills, and to sweep Channels, and to carry Tankards of water, and to cry ⟨p. 163⟩Trifles up and down the streets! and is it not a greater shame, a greater dishonour, to see those that have the great God for their portion, to set their hearts and affections upon a little white and yellow clay? 'Twas a generous speech of that Heathen, Themistocles, who seeing something glister like a pearl in the dark, scorned to stoop for it himself, but bid another stoop, saying, Stoop thou, for thou art not Themistocles. O 'tis below a generous Christian, a gracious Christian, a noble Christian, that hath God for his portion, to stoop to the things of this world: a true bred Christian will set his feet upon those very things that the men of the world set their hearts; Rev. 12.1. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a Crown of twelve stars. The Church is compared to a woman, for her weakness, for her lovingness, for her comeliness, and for her fruitfulness; ⟨p. 164⟩and being clothed with the Sun of righteousness, she hath the Moon, that is, the World, under her feet; the Church treads under her feet all temporary and transitory things, which are as changeable as the Moon; she treads upon all worldly and carnal enjoyments and contentments as things below her, as things not worthy of her: What vanity is it for a great man to set his heart on birds-nests and paper-kites that boys make fly in the air?