Heaven taken

2. It reproves them, who instead of ¹drawing near to God, draw near to the world. The world engrosseth all their time and thoughts, Phil. 3. 19. Who mind earthly things. A good Christian useth the world for his necessity, but his main work is to draw near to God. Whoever he compounds with, and pays short, he will be sure God shall not be a loser. He ⟨p. 206⟩gives God a daily sacrifice; he follows God fully, Numb. 14. 14. But covetous persons make the world their treasure, and what is their treasure, that doth most command their hearts. Worldlings live by sense; and to talk to them of drawing nigh to God, is to speak riddles and paradoxes to them. They can no more live out of the earth, than the fish out of the water. They have the Serpent's curse upon them to lick the dust. Things of a worldly aspect draw away the heart from God. They are retinacula spei (as Tertullian saith) they hinder our passage to the holy Land. Had not the fall beat off mens head-piece of wisdom, they would think thus with themselves, If there be any beauty in the world, what is there in God that made it^*? he gives the flower its colour and odour; he gives the diamond its lustre; he gives food its delicious taste; and if there be such sweetness in creatures, what is there in God? he is infinitely better than all. Shall these poor things draw off our hearts from God? shall the drop draw us from the fountain? shall the light of the Taper draw us from the Sun? shall we admire the gift, and forget the giver? Solomon ⟨p. 207⟩speaks of a generation of men, madness is in their heart, Eccl. 9. 3. Sure they who draw near the world, and leave God, madness is in their hear!. O how empty and insignificant are all other things without God! they are in their matter earthly, in their procuring painful, in their fruition surfeiting, in their duration dying, in their operation damning.