The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…

It may be when thine enemy Death beats thee out of the field of life, thou wilt be glad of a God, to which thou mayst retire, as a city of refuge, to shelter thee from the murdering piece of the laws curse; but what thoughts hast thou of him now, whilst thou hast the world at will? Dost thou count the fruition of him thy chiefest felicity? Is one God infinitely more weighty in the scales of thy judgement then millions of worlds? Dost thou say in thy prevailing settled judgement, of them that have their garners full and their flocks fruitful, Blessed is the people that is in such a case; or yea rather happy is the people whose God is the Lord, Psal. 144.13, 14, 15.

It may be when thine enemy Death beats thee out of the field of life, thou wilt be glad of a God, to which thou mayst retire, as a city of refuge, to shelter thee from the murdering piece of the laws curse; but what thoughts hast thou of him now, whilst thou hast the world at will? Dost thou count the fruition of him thy chiefest felicity? Is one God infinitely more weighty in the scales of thy judgement then millions of worlds? Dost thou say in thy prevailing setled judgement, of them that have their garners full and their floeks fruitful, Blessed is the people that is in such a case; or yea rather happy is the people whose God is the Lord, Psal. 144.13, 14, 15.

Every man esteemeth his portion at an high price: Naboth valueth his earthly inheritance above his life, and would rather die then part with it at any rate: God forbid that I should sell the inheritance of my fathers, saith he. O the worth of the blessed God, in the esteem of him that hath him for his portion! His house, land, wife, child, liberty, life, are hated by him, and nothing to him in comparison of his portions he ⟨p. 141⟩would not exchange his hopes of it and title to it for the dominion and sovereignty of the whole world. If the Devil, as to Christ, should set him on the pinnacle of the Temple, and show all the honours, and pleasures, and treasures of the world, and say to him, All this I will give thee, if thou wilt sell thy portion and fall down and worship me: Who can tell with what infinite disdain he would reject such an offer? He would say as a Tradesman that were bid exceedingly below the worth of his wares, You were as good bid me nothing, and with much scorn and laughter refuse his tender. This man is elevated to the top of the celestial orbs, and therefore the whole earth is but a point in his eye: whereas a man who hath his portion in outward things, who dwelleth here on earth, heavenly things are little (the glorious Sun it self is but small) in such a mans eye, earthly things are great in his esteem.