Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

Our God's house is a great house, wherein are not only vessels of gold, but also of earth, 2 Tim. ii. 20. Both these are apt to contract filthiness; and therefore, when God brings trouble upon the church, he hath an eye to both. As for the vessels of gold, they are not destroyed, but purged by a fiery trial in the furnace of affliction, as gold-smiths purge their gold, Isa i. 25. And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross But destruction is to the vessels of earth: they shall be broken in shivers, as a potter's vessel, ver. 28. And the destruction (or breaking) of the transgressors, and of the sinners, shall be together. It seems to be an allusion to that law, for breaking the vessels of earth, when unclean; while vessels of wood, and consequently vessels of gold were only to be rinsed, Lev. xv 12.

Our God's house is a great house, wherein are not only vessels of gold, but also of earth, 2 Tim. ii. 20. Both these are apt to contract filthiness; and therefore, when God brings trouble upon the church, he hath an eye to both. As for the vessels of gold, they are not destroyed, but purged by a fiery trial in the furnace of affliction, as gold-smiths purge their gold, Isa i. 25. And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross But destruction is to the vessels of earth: they shall be broken in shivers, as a potter's vessel, ver. 28. And the destruction (or breaking) of the transgressors, and of the sinners, shall be together. It seems to be an allution to that law, for breaking the vessels of earth, when unclean; while vessels of wood, and consequently vessels of gold were only to be rinsed, Lev. xv 12.

A Ninth benefit is Support. If thou be a branch ingrafted in Christ, the root beareth thee. The believer leans on Christ; as a weak woman in a journey, leaning upon her beloved husband, Cant. viii. 5. He ⟨p. 206⟩