The Christian in Complete Armour

First, for earthly things, it is not necessary that thou hast them; that is necessary which cannot be supplied per vicarium, with somewhat besides it self. Now there is no such earthly enjoyment, but may be so supplied, as to make its room more desirable then its company. In Heaven there shall be light and no Sun, a rich feast and yet no meat, glorious robes and yet no clothes, thete shall want nothing, and yet none of this worldly glory be found there; yea, even while we are here, they may be recompensed; thou mayest be under infirmities of body, and yet better then if thou hadst health: The Inhabitant shall not say, I am sick, the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity, Isa. 33.34. Thou mayest miss of worldly honour, and obtain with those Worthies of Christ, Heb. 11. a good report by faith, and that is a name better then of the great ones of the earth: thou mayest be poor in the world, and yet rich in grace, and Godliness with content is great gain. In a word, if thou partest with thy temporal life, and findest an eternal, what doest thou lose by the change? but heaven and heavenly things are such as cannot be recompensed with any other. Thou hast a heavenly soul in thy bosom, lose that, and where canst thou have another? There is but one heaven, miss that, and where can you take up your lodging but in hell? One Christ that can lead you thither, reject him, and there remains no more sacrifice ⟨p. 323⟩for sin. O that men would think on these things! Go sinner to the world, and see what it can afford you in lieu of these; may be it will offer to entertain you with its pleasures and delights; O poor reward for the loss of Christ and heaven! Is this all thou canst get? doth Satan rob thee of heaven and happiness, and only give thee this posy to smell on as thou art going to thy execution? will these quench hell-fire, or so much as cool those flames thou art falling into? who but those that have foredone their understandings, would take these toys and new nothings for Christ and heaven? while Satan is pleasing your fancies with these rattles and babbles, his hand is in your treasure, robbing you of that which is only necessary; 'Tis more necessary to be saved then to be; better not to be then to have a being in hell.

First, for earthly things, it is not necessary that thou hast them; that is necessary which cannot be supplied per vicarium, with somewhat besides it self. Now there is no such earthly enjoyment, but may be so supplied, as to make its room more desirable then its company. In Heaven there shall be light and no Sun, a rich feast and yet no meat, glorious robes and yet no cloathes, thete shall want nothing, and yet none of this worldly glory be found there; yea, even while we are here, they may be recompenced; thou mayest be under infirmities of body, and yet better then if thou hadst health: The Inhabitant shall not say, I am sick, the people that dwell therin shall be forgiven their iniquiy, Isa. 33.34. Thou mayest misse of worldly honour, and obtain with those Worthies of Christ,