An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

Fourthly, Some of the Saints would part with this life, because they have got such assurance and evidence of a better life. When much of eternal life appears to a godly man, he is weary of a temporal life. Natural things are but burdensome trifles to those who are stored with spiritual. Christ saith (Luk. 5.39.) No man having drunk old wine, straight way desireth new, for he saith the old is better: He that tastes what is better then he enjoys, is unsatisfied with all he enjoys. We can hardly be persuaded what we have is good, when we see better of the same kind. How much more hardly is this persuasion wrought in us, that earthly things (which differ in kind from heavenly) are any great good, when heavenly things are open before us. When the Disciples (at the transfiguration) had but a glimpse of glory, They say, It is good to be here, Let us build three tabernacles. They do not speak comparatively, as if now they had met with somewhat, better then ever they had before; but positively, as if they had never met with any good before. When the Spirit carries the Saints into his wine-cellar, and gives them a draught of everlasting consolations, the wine of worldly comforts will not down; they begin to disrelish the dainties and delicacies of the creature. A true sight of heaven makes the earth scarce worth the looking after, or the living in. Such live, because God will have them live to do him service, not because they desire to live to serve their own ends. Paul was in a great straight betwixt two (Phil. 1.23.) whether he should depart or abide in the flesh: but the straight was not in reference to himself, he was assured, dying would be to him, but a travelling to Christ, and therefore death was to him an easy election. His straight was only this, whether he should not abide still in the flesh, to to supply the needs of the Church, and forbear glory a while, that he might prepare others for glory. The same Apostle (2 Cor. 5.4.) saith in the first verse, We know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, an house made without hands, eternal in the heavens. When their faith was thus upon the wing, soaring up to the assurance of an house ⟨p. 424⟩made without hands; they grew weary of their smoky cottages presently;