Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

Thirdly, there is a mighty deal of power in it; because this respect unto the recompense of reward, does so much take up the faculties of the soul, the intention of the mind being taken up about so great an object, other things are not minded in comparison; and this is the reason why those that are in a frenzy, are insensible of what you do unto them; because their minds are taken up about that which they apprehend so strongly, as nothing else is minded by them; and if there was any object made known to take up the mind of man, it must be such great things as these, made certain and real to the soul by faith. It is a property peculiar to God, that though he hath many glorious things that he exercises his wisdom about, yet he does mind the least thing, the least creature in the world, as much as if there were nothing else to mind; but no creature can do so, no creature can mind great things with intention of mind, and yet mind inferior things with any strength of intention too, but if he minds great things with intention, other things must be lightly ⟨p. 612⟩minded. An Ecclesiastical Historian tells us of the Christians they did so mind the glory of God, and the glory of Heaven, as that the pains they suffered were as in the bodies of other men, and not in their own bodies. It is reported of Archimedes, who was a great Mathematician, that when the City was taken wherein he was, and the Warlike instruments of death clattering about his ears, and all was in a tumult, yet he was so busy about drawing his lines, that he did not know there was any danger, and heard no noise: If such objects as these can take up the intention of the mind, so as not to mind other things, then much more such an object as eternal life, and eternal glory and happiness. And therefore that place is very observable, in 2 Cor. 4. 16. We faint not in our sufferings, because we look not at things that are seen, but at things that are not seen: We are so intense about Heaven, and the glory of God, that we do not give a look at things that are seen. So in Heb. 11. 15, 16. They were not so much as mindful of that Country from whence they came, because ¹they sought a Country that was better, and heavenly. It is a notable expression that Basil hath concerning the Martyrs, says he, They do not look at the danger they are in, but at the crown: