And as man, while he lives is from the dust; so when he dyeth (that's another humbling consideration) his body not only returneth unto dust, but turneth into dust. David, as the figure of Christ cried out (Psal: 22.15.) Thou hast brought me into the ⟨p. 600⟩dust of death. Dust and death are near acquaintance, and all that die, grow quickly into nearer acquaintance with the dust. It is said (Psal: 103.14.) The Lord knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are but dust. But what advantage is that to us, that the Lord knoweth the one, and remembereth the other? I may answer as the Apostle doth to another question (Rom: 3.2.) much every way, chiefly, because he will pity us and spare us and deal tenderly with us, as considering how frail we are. Now as it may be our comfort that God remembereth we are but dust, so 'tis our duty to remember that we are but dust, and that we must to the dust. Shall God remember that we are dust, and shall not we remember it our selves? Did we more remember that we are dust, we should more prepare for our return to the dust. Yea, I may say, we should be more in heaven, if we were more in our dust; that is, the gracious and serious meditation of our natural vileness and infirmities would provoke us to look heaven-wards, and prepare for heaven, where these our natural bodies shall become spiritual (1 Cor: 15.44.) that is, they shall be like spirits (though not turned into spirits) living without food or sleep, living free from weariness and sickness, from pains and languishments, yea free from the remotest fear of ever dying or returning again into dust. Such as these and many more would be our souls advantages, did we often (as becomes us) remember that our bodies are of the earth, and must shortly be earth again. Thus to be earthly minded, is the way to be heavenly minded. Many are earthly minded, that is, they mind earthly things, but few mind that themselves are earth. In what holy heights and elevations of spirit should we be, if we could spiritually remember how low we once were, and how low, as to our bodies, we within a few days shall be.
And as man, while he lives is from the dust; so when he dyeth (that's another humbling consideration) his body not only returneth unto dust, but turneth into dust. David, as the figure of Christ cryed out (Psal: 22.15.) Thou hast brought me into the ⟨p. 600⟩dust of death. Dust and death are neere acquaintance, and all that dy, grow quickly into neerer acquaintance with the dust. It is sayd (Psal: 103.14.) The Lord knoweth our frame, he remembreth that we are but dust. But what advantage is that to us, that the Lord knoweth the one, and remembreth the other? I may answer as the Apostle doth to another question (Rom: 3.2.) much every way, chiefly, because he will pitty us and spare us and deale tenderly with us, as considering how frayle we are. Now as it may be our comfort that God remembreth we are but dust, so 'tis our duty to remember that we are but dust, and that we must to the dust. Shall God remember that we are dust, and shall not we remember it our selves? Did we more remember that we are dust, we should more prepare for our return to the dust. Yea, I may say, we should be more in heaven, if we were more in our dust; that is, the gracious and serious meditation of our naturall vilenes and infirmities would provoke us to looke heaven-wards, and prepare for heaven, where these our naturall bodyes shall become spirituall (1 Cor: 15.44.) that is, they shall be like spirits (though not turned into spirits) living without food or sleep, living free from weariness and sickness, from paines and languishments, yea free from the remotest feare of ever dying or returning againe into dust. Such as these and many more would be our soules advantages, did we often (as becomes us) remember that our bodyes are of the earth, and must shortly be earth againe. Thus to be earthly minded, is the way to be heavenly minded. Many are earthly minded, that is, they mind earthly things, but few mind that themselves are earth. In what holy heights and elevations of spirit should we be, if we could spiritually remember how low we once were, and how low, as to our bodyes, we within a few dayes shall be.
