Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

The soul hath a resemblance to God in a post-Eternity: Why should it be drawn aside by the blandishments of earthly things, to neglect its true establishment, and lackey after the Body, which is but the shadow of the Soul, and was made to follow it, and serve it? But while it busieth it self altogether in the concerns of a perishing body, and seeks satisfaction in things that glide away, it becomes rather a body than soul, descends below its nature, reproacheth that God, who hath imprinted upon it an image of his own Eternity, and loseth the comfort of the everlastingness of its Creator. How shall the whole world, if our lives were as durable as that, be an happy Eternity to us, who have Souls, that shall survive all the delights of it, which must fry in those flames, that shall fire the whole frame of nature at the general conflagration of the world?^*

The soul hath a resemblance to God in a post-Eternity: Why should it be drawn aside by the blandishments of earthly things, to neglect its true establishment, and lacquey after the Body, which is but the shadow of the Soul, and was made to follow it, and serve it? But while it busieth it self altogether in the concerns of a perishing body, and seeks satisfaction in things that glide away, it becomes rather a body than soul, descends below its nature, reproacheth that God, who hath imprinted upon it an image of his own Eternity, and loseth the comfort of the everlastingness of its Creator. How shall the whole world, if our lives were as durable as that, be an happy Eternity to us, who have Souls, that shall survive all the delights of it, which must fry in those flames, that shall fire the whole frame of nature at the general conflagration of the world?^*

1. *2 Pet. 3.10.

4. Therefore let us provide for an happy interest in the Eternity of God. Man is made for an eternal state. The Soul hath such a perfection in its nature, that it is fit for Eternity, and cannot display all its operations but in Eternity: To an Eternity it must go, and live as long as God himself lives. Things of a short duration are not proportioned to a Soul made for an eternal continuance; to see that it be a comfortable Eternity, is worth all our care. Man is a forecasting Creature, and considers not only the present, but the future too, in his provisions for his family; and shall he disgrace his nature, in casting off all consideration of a future Eternity? Get possession therefore of the eternal God: A portion in this life is the lot of those, who shall be for ever miserable.