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

That nothing which is but for a season, can satisfy a heart rightly principled, appears:¹

That nothing which is but for a season, can satisfie a heart rightly principled, appears:¹

1. 1No temporal thing can satisfy a spiritual heart.No temporal thing can satisfie a spiritual heart.

First, because there is no proportion between an immortal soul, and fading transitory things; indeed the sensitive soul that does depend upon the present temper of the body, that is satisfied only with present things, and the reason is, because it depends upon that which is present; but the rational soul being immortal, and not depending upon any such thing, whatsoever it be that continues not for ever, cannot satisfy it.

First, because there is no proportion between an immortal soul, and fading transitory things; indeed the sensitive soul that does depend upon the present temper of the body, that is satisfied onely with present things, and the reason is, because it depends upon that which is present; but the rational soul being immortal, and not depending upon any such thing, whatsoever it be that continues not for ever, cannot satisfie it.

Secondly, a gracious heart knows the things of ¹eternity after another manner then any other does, God hath revealed eternal things to it, and upon the sight of those eternal things, it comes to know it is taken off from all temporal things; for all temporal things, be they never so glorious, yet in comparison of eternal, they are but as the point of a centre to an infinite circumference: Indeed while a man knows no better then temporal things, the heart is let out upon them, as the greatest good, but when it comes to know the things of eternity, the heart is greatened, and all temporal things are but small to that soul; when it comes to know what an eternal God is, and what an eternal crown is, and an eternal inheritance, when it knows that God does intend to communicate himself eternally to his creature, it cannot be satisfied, unless it knows it shall live to enjoy those things that God shall communicate eternally.