An exposition with practical observations upon the three first chapters of the book of…

That some take in their life time more care for their Sepulchres, then they do for their souls. Here are great men, what do they? They build desolate places, they will be sure to have stately monuments: And they had gold, they will be sure to fill their graves with treasure, they will be buried richly, or they will have their riches buried with them; But what care did these take for their poor souls in the mean time, where they should lie? Had they taken order what should become of their souls? When all things are disposed of, this choice piece for the most part is left undisposed of, unprovided for; Some will carefully provide for their children, they will provide for their families, they will provide for their dead bodies, for their carcasses, but for their immortal souls there is no provision made: While their bodies are assured of a resting place, they may say of and to their departing souls (as that trembling Emperor bespake his) O our poor fleeting wandering souls, whether are you going, where is the place of your rest. As it is said of Absalom in the place before cited, He in his life time had reared up a pillar (a monument, or a Tomb) for himself in the Kings dale; What a careful Prince was this for his body! But how careless was this Prince for his soul! He will have a pillar to preserve his name, and yet runs out in rebellion against his own father, to the destruction of his soul. The great business of the Saints on earth, is to get assurance of a place for their souls to lodge in when they die: It troubles them not much what lodging their bodies have, if they can put their spirits into the hand of Christ: What though their bodies be cast upon a dung-hill, or trodden upon,¹ like mire in the streets, by cruel men? A Heathen said, The loss of a Funeral, or of a Sepulchre may easily be borne; I am sure, a Christian may: That loss will never undo any man, especially not those who believe. For in the person of such the Apostle speaketh, 2 Cor. 5.2. We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.

That some take in their life time more care for their Sepulchers, then they doe for their soules. Here are great men, what doe they? They build desolate places, they will be sure to have stately monuments: And they had gold, they will be sure to fill their graves with treasure, they will be buried richly, or they will have their riches buried with them; But what care did these take for their poore soules in the meane time, where they should lie? Had they taken order what should become of their soules? When all things are disposed of, this choice peece for the most part is left undisposed of, unprovided for; Some will carefully provide for their children, they will provide for their families, they will provide for their dead bodies, for their carcasses, but for their immortall soules there is no provision made: While their bodies are assured of a resting place, they may say of and to their departing soules (as that trembling Emperour bespake his) O our poore fleeting wandring soules, whether are you going, where is the place of your rest. As it is said of Absolom in the place before cited, He in his life time had reared up a pillar (a monument, or a Tombe) for himselfe in the Kings dale; What a carefull Prince was this for his body! But how carelesse was this Prince for his soule! He will have a pillar to preserve his name, and yet runs out in rebellion against his owne father, to the destruction of his soule. The great businesse of the Saints on earth, is to get assurance of a place for their soules to lodge in when they die: It troubles them not much what lodging their bodies have, if they can put their spirits into the hand of Christ: What though their bodies be cast upon a dung-hill, or trodden upon,