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

And 2. Do not only believe, but accustom thy self to frequent and serious meditations about it. Meditation in the Word of God is made a blessed thing, and certainly this is a duty, though much neglected, yet wonderfully necessary, to set thy self to meditate and think over and over some main points of Scripture truth, whereof this eternity is not the least. Meditation is like the birds sitting upon her eggs, if she should not be constant upon them, there would never be warmth enough to cause living young ones; thus it is here: It's not a transient thought, it's not a sudden motion, but it must be a constant serious ⟨p. 71⟩meditation upon eternity; certainly if thou wert careful in this, thou wouldst find it raising up thy heart, heating thy affections, and making of thee earnestly desire this eternal life.

And 2. Do not only beleeve, but accustom thy self to frequent and serious meditations about it. Meditation in the Word of God is made a blessed thing, and certainly this is a duty, though much neglected, yet wonderfully necessary, to set thy self to meditate and think over and over some main points of Scripture truth, whereof this eternity is not the least. Meditation is like the birds sitting upon her egges, if she should not be constant upon them, there would never be warmth enough to cause living young ones; thus it is here: It's not a transient thought, it's not a sudden motion, but it must be a constant serious ⟨p. 71⟩meditation upon eternity; certainly if thou wert carefull in this, thou wouldst finde it raising up thy heart, heating thy affections, and making of thee earnestly desire this eternall life.

3. Consider this, that one great end why God hath thrown so many bitter roots in every thing here below, why there are so many sad exercises and afflicting troubles, it is to seek after eternal life. Thou hast not perfect health, thou hast not full content, every day hath some evil or other, and why is all this? because eternal life should be desired by thee. God seeth thy mouth cannot be brought off from sucking the breasts of the creatures, therefore they are rubbed with wormwood to wean thee. As God therefore suffered the Egyptians to afflict and oppress the Israelites, that so they might be weary of Egypt, and long for Canaan, thus it is here, God makes this world a valley of tears and fears, a valley of death, there is no ground but some worm or other devoureth it, and all this, that thou shouldst long for an haven, who art tossed in this restless sea of the world: Look then upon all the afflictions, pains, miseries, or whatsoever bitter thing it be that thou art to grapple with, and say, The Lord doth this to make me undervalue these things below, it's to make me esteem a better life. If every thing were here as I would have it, heaven would not be so welcome: Had the Prodigal not met with husks and extreme hardship,