CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Sixthly, God will not immediately take us into Heaven, because it's fit that we who have served sin in this world, should serve God as much in this world. Thy life hath been a reproach and a dishonour to him. It's fit it should bring glory to his Name: Though it be thy loss to be kept from Heaven, though every day be thy great hinderance, yet for Gods glory thou art to deny thy self. Remember thou hast given up thy self to serve sin, Remember how much service the devil hath had from thee; so that if thou lovest Gods glory more then thy own, thou art to be willing to spend thy self for him, as thou hast done against him.

Sixthly, God will not immediately take us into Heaven, because it's fit that we who have served sinne in this world, should serve God as much in this world. Thy life hath been a reproach and a dishonour to him. It's fit it should bring glory to his Name: Though it be thy loss to be kept from Heaven, though every day be thy great hinderance, yet for Gods glory thou art to deny thy self. Remember thou hast given up thy self to serve sinne, Remember how much service the devil hath had from thee; so that if thou lovest Gods glory more then thy own, thou art to be willing to spend thy self for him, as thou hast done against him.

Seventhly, God doth not remove His immediately out of the world, because of the dependencies and relations that They have. Children need their godly Father, the wife her godly husband: So that although it be better for them to be in Heaven, yet not for theirs. Indeed when they have finished their course, then they are obedientially to resign, as our Saviour said to his Disciples, If ye loved me, you would be glad (Joh. 14.28) because I said, I go to my Father: So we all ought to rejoice in that our friends are taken out of this world into glory, but yet so far as their presence was comfortable and necessary to us, we may grieve; God would not have the old bird killed with her young ones, and he that would have mercy showed to the fowls of the air, will much more show it to his people. It is true, God in his wisdom many times takes his own children betimes out of the world, even too soon for them (we would think) being in the prime of their service, and too soon also for their children and dependents on them, but therein God is even merciful, though for the present we do not perceive it. For this you know, God hath determined in mercy the time of our abode in this world; Thou canst not follow me now, said Christ to Peter, but he should in his time,