A30592:747
Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…
Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of a self-denying heart, delivered in a treatise upon Hebrews II, 25, 26 / by Jeremiah Burroughs.
London: printed by John Field, 1650
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Therefore when any temptation comes, to draw your hearts to any thing that gives content to the flesh for a season, O that you might improve this Argument to resist the temptation! What, shall I while away that time I have to improve for eternity to seek after you, and take content and pleasure in you? you are not only temporal your selves, but you do hazard the loss of eternal things, and hazard the bringing of eternal evils. And therefore do not think it much that I press this argument, because it is ordinary: all that perish, perish because they set their hearts upon that which is for a season: and therefore though the knowledge of this in some general notion be ordinary, yet the truth is, to know it powerfully indeed, and effectually, it is a riddle to the world.
Therefore when any temptation comes, to draw your hearts to any thing that gives content to the flesh for a season, O that you might improve this Argument to resist the temptation! What, shall I while away that time I have to improve for eternity to seek after you, and take content and pleasure in you? you are not onely temporal your selves, but you do hazard the loss of eternal things, and hazard the bringing of eternal evils. And therefore do not think it much that I press this argument, because it is ordinary: all that perish, perish because they set their hearts upon that which is for a season: and therefore though the knowledge of this in some general notion be ordinary, yet the truth is, to know it powerfully indeed, and effectually, it is a riddle to the world.
It is a notable place we have in Psalm 49. 3, 4. The whole scope of the Psalm, is to show the happy secure estate of the godly in all troubles, and the vanishing condition of all ungodly in prosperity; now mark how he calls to us in the beginning of this Psalm, to hearken to this argument: We might say, this is an argument we have heard a hundred times, and know what it is, Why should we hearken so? Though you think this is an ordinary Theme, yet this is the great wisdom, and understanding of a gracious heart to know; this is the dark saying that I will open, so says the Psalmist, My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and the meditation of my heart