A Glimpse of Eternity, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Of Motives drawn from other things, other men, our ſelves, and the unſpeakable benefits of a proſpect of things Eternal.
HAving ſhewed how, and in what manner we are to look to things Eternal; I proceed to the ſecond things propounded, to lay down ſome Motives to provoke us in this manner to look to them. To this purpoſe I ſhall propound four ſorts of Motives:
(1.) From other things: Ask, ſaith Job, the beaſts, and they ſhall teach thee, and the Fowles of the air, and they ſhall tell thee: or ſpeak to the earth, and it ſhall teach thee, and the fiſhes of the ſea ſhall declare unto thee: (a)Job 12.7.All theſe may ſeem to teach us this Leſſon; The Philoſopher obſerveth that all Bipedes, creatures with two feet, are ſtill looking upward; Birds and fowles ſeldom ſtay long upon the earth; when they light there, it is to ſeek their food, no ſooner have they gotten that, but they mount upward toward Heaven; …hough where the carkaſs is, the Eagles are gathered toge…her; yet when they have got their prey, and ſatis…ied their hunger, they ſore aloft: as if they mounted …p to Heaven: Beaſts, though they cannot mount …pward, and are made ſo, as they look downward, yet they are often ſeen to lift up their heads toward Heaven, eſpecially in the time of extremity. Naturaliſts obſerve of the Lion and the Cock, that they expreſs their joy at the riſing of the Sun, as being ſenſible of the motion of the heavenly bodies; the like may be ſaid of ſome fiſhes in the Sea; they tell us of a fiſh which hath but one eye, which is ſeated like a …verticial point upon the top of its head, always looking towards Heaven, therefore is called by the Grecians, the beholder of Heaven (b)foreign.: others tell of a precious ſtone taken out of the head of a fiſh called Synodus, that beareth ſome reſemblance of the Sun and Moon, and other heavenly bodies: if we come lower to vegetables, Proclus obſerveth, that plants, and flowers, and other vegetables have all a dependence, and many of them ſome repreſentation of the Heavenly bodies, the Tulip, Marigold, and ſome other flowers wait upon the Sun, as the Handmaid upon the hand of her Miſtreſs, opening by degrees as the Sun aſcends; and again, ſhutting up themſelves gradually, as the Sun declineth; and this ſo punctually, that though the Sun appear not, a man may more infallibly know when it is high noon by their full ſpreading: than by any Clock or Watch. The Hopp in its growing winds it ſelf about the pole, always following the courſe of the Sun from Eaſt to Weſt, and can by no means be forced to a contrary way. Some affirm that the ſap in trees preciſely follows the motion of the Sun, aſcending and deſcending at the ſame time, and by the ſame ſteps the Sun doth: if we come lower to inanimate creatures: Plato obſerveth, that all the Elements do naturally deſire to evaporate themſelves into the coeleſtial Region (as it were) there to attain to a higher degree of perfection; the fire, and air, thoſe lighter elements ſtill aſpire higher and higher, as it were, to make nearer approaches towards Heaven, the earth and water, thoſe heavy Elements, though they do not aſcend in their groſs bodies, yet they are daily ſending up ſome thinner part of themſelves, ſome vapours, as it were ſome breathings toward Heaven. Naturaliſts ſpeak of ſeveral ſtones, in which there is ſome repreſentation of the heavenly bodies; ſo that in the ſeveral orders of nature, there is ſomething that might mind us of this duty of converſing in Heaven, and looking to things Eternal: there is ſcarce any thing we look on, but might ſome way or other put us in mind of this; the beſt and choiceſt things the earth affords, are hid from our eyes, ſhut up in darkneſs; ſo as if we look downward we ſee only the ſurface of the earth, and there our ſight is bounded; whereas upward toward Heaven, all things are open and tranſparent; to note how vaſt our affections ſhould be toward Heaven: if we ſtand upon ſome high ſteeple, and look downward to the earth, we cannot look long without dizzineſs and fear; whereas, when we look upward toward Heaven, though a thouſand times greater diſtance, we can continue looking without either, as if nature would hereby mind us, that our eyes were given us to look to Heaven, not to the earth. Having then ſo many Monitors, we ſhall ſhew our ſelves ill ſcholars, if we do not learn this leſſon.
(2.) If from other things we look to other men, I mean the people of God, they teach it by their example: the Apoſtle ſpeaking of himſelf, and the reſt of the Saints, ſaith, Our converſation is in Heaven; the word (c)Phil. 3.20. foreign, civitas aut vita civilis., though it hath ſeveral ſignifications, yet chiefly theſe two: it ſignifies our City, whereof we are Citizens, and to which we belong, Heaven: ſo Zanchy, we are Citizens of Heaven, not of earth; and therefore ought to ſeek the things that are in Heaven. Or it ſignifieth carriage, or deportment, or converſe (d)Phil. 1.27. Acts. 23.1.: ſo the word rendered in other places: And ſo moſt Interpreters, and our tranſlation render it, Our converſation is in Heaven; this is the inſeparable property of every true Believer, he converſeth in Heaven: The way of life is above to the wiſe (e)Prov. 15.24., This world is the place of his abode, but not of his delight, his body is here, but his ſoul, his better part above; his commoration is on earth, but his converſation in Heaven; he liveth here, but loveth there; as Merchants who live in this Kingdom, yet are called Spaniſh or Turky Merchants, becauſe their trading is in thoſe places: In like manner, the Believer he is in the world, but not of the world; this world is but his Inn, Heaven is his home, his Country; he is in Heaven while he is on earth, he converſeth with God, while he ſojourneth in the world, his trading is for Heaven, his love, deſire, delight, is placed upon heavenly things: this is not obſcurely held forth in Scripture by thoſe ſeveral things to which Believers are compared; ſometimes to the Palm-tree, The righteous ſhall flouriſh like a Palm-tree; the Palm-tree groweth ſtreight and upright, They are upright as the Palm-tree (f)Pſal. 92.12. and 10.5., and ſo repreſents the heavenly minded Chriſtian, whoſe motions toward heaven are direct and ſtreight, without thoſe obliquities, and turnings aſide, which appear in the carriage of other men: the Palm-tree is ſmall in the body, or trunk, and biggeſt at the top; cloſe and ſhut up in that part toward earth, but broad and open in that part toward Heaven; and ſo further reſembleth the Heavenly Chriſtian, whoſe heart is cloſed toward the world, but is open and enlarged toward Heaven: the Palm-tree hath no boughs or branches upon the ſides or body, but all the boughs grow together at the top; to which perhaps that alludes, I will go up to the Palm-tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof (f); and ſo is a further emblem of a Chriſtian, all whoſe branches and out-goings are exalted above the earth; and without any ſtraggling and dividing; aſpire toward Heaven. Again, Gregory Nyſſen ſaith of this Tree, That it riſeth out of the earth with its perfect bigneſs and thickneſs at the top; (g)Cant. 7.8.ſo that though it groweth in height or bigneſs in the other parts of it, yet it never groweth any greater or bigger at the top: if this be true, In this likewiſe it reſembles the true Believer, who, though in regard of other graces he be like the Crocodile that groweth till the very time of his death, yet at his firſt converſion hath the frame and bent of his heart upon Heaven. Yet once more, Philo ſaith, that whereas all other trees have their ſap in the root, which from thence aſcends, only the ſap and heart of the Palm tree is at the top, toward the top of the middlemoſt bough, which is ſurrounded by other boughs, as a General is by his Life-guard; if ſo, it hath yet a further reſemblance to Believers, whoſe hearts are in Heaven, for there their treaſure is, and there is their heart alſo: In the ſame place the Pſalmiſt compareth the righteous man to the Cedar: The righteous ſhall flouriſh like the Palm-tree, and ſpread abroad like the Cedar in Lebanon: The Cedar, it is a ſtately Tree, it is called the goodly Cedar (h)Pſal. 80.10. with Ezek. 17.22., the high Cedar, it doth, ſaith Jerom, grow up faſt toward. Heaven, and ſo reſembles thoſe Believers who are, as he expreſſeth it, aſpiring toward Heaven. Again, they are ſometimes compared to mountains, They that truſt in the Lord ſhall be as Mount Sion, that cannot be removed (k)Pſal. 125.1.. Chryſoſtome obſerveth there are three things more remarkable in mountains(l)foreign., their firmneſs and ſtability, their invincible ſtrength, and their inacceſſible height; in all theſe reſpects the Saints are like Mountains, but the laſt is only proper to the preſent purpoſe: of all parts of the earth, the mountains are neareſt unto Heaven: the Mythology of that Poetical fiction of Atlas bearing up the Heavens, was to repreſent the high mountains, which ſome of them call the pillars and ſupporters of Heaven; and ſome think they are meant by, The pillars of Heaven tremble, and are aſtoniſhed at thy rebuke (m)Job 26.11.: Therefore to them are Believers fitly likened: I ſhall name but one more, they are compared to clouds, Being compaſſed about with ſo great a cloud of witneſſes; and Iſa. 60.8. Who are theſe that fly like a cloud (n)Heb. 12.1.? the clouds are originally a thick exhalation riſing out of the earth, but are by the heat of the Sun rarified and drawn up toward Heaven, therefore are called, the clouds of Heaven (o)Mat. 26.64.. In like manner, though the righteous man ſojourneth here upon earth, yet he converſeth in Heaven, and ſitteth together with Chriſt in heavenly places (p)Eph. 2.6.. Thus we find it hath been with the Saints. Scipio was not the firſt, ſaith Ambroſe, that was never leſs alone, than when he was alone: it was ſo with the Saints long before; Enoch and Noah are ſaid to walk with God; they ſeemed to live no other life, but that of God, of the knowledge of God, the love of God, delight in God; all their thoughts, all their affections were placed upon God, and Heaven; their whole life was nothing elſe but an acquainting with God, a converſing in Heaven: Moſes in all he did had an eye to the recompenſe of the reward. David ſaith, He was as a Pelican in the wilderneſs, and an Owl in the deſart; that he watched, and was as a Sparrow alone upon the houſe top (q)Heb. 11.26.; which though ſome underſtand of Chriſt, who in his birth was as an Owl in the deſart, ſhut out from the company of men, and born amongſt brute beaſts; at his death, like the Pelican, feeding his Church with his own blood; in his reſurrection and aſcenſion, like the Sparrow, flying to Heaven, like the Sparrow to her hill; yet it ſeemeth more properly to refer to David, himſelf; and though I apprehend it is plainly meant of a forced ſolitude, by reaſon of Saul's perſecution, yet there are who underſtand it of a voluntary retirement, that David, like theſe ſolitary creatures, frequently withdrew himſelf from other company, and other occaſions, that he might with more freedom be taken up with the contemplation of God, and heavenly things: but though this be not the meaning of that place, yet it is but what is conſonant to David's practice, whoſe affections were taken up with Heaven, his ſoul fainted for Gods ſalvation, his eyes failed for it, he hoped for it, he longed after it(r)Pſal. 119.81, 123, 166, 174., with this he comforts himſelf, In thy preſence is fulneſs of joy, at thy right hand are pleaſures for evermore (s)Pſal. 16.11.: And, As for me, I ſhall behold thy face in righteouſneſs, I ſhall be ſatisfied when I awake, with thy likeneſs (t)Pſal. 17.15.. Thoſe Worthies mentioned, Heb. 11. are ſaid to look for a City that hath foundations, v. 10. to live as Pilgrims and ſtrangers on earth, v, 13. to deſire a better Country, that is, a heavenly, v. 16. The primitive Chriſtians lived like men of another world. …egory Nyſſen ſaith, that they ſtood tiptoes, upon the earth (u)foreign., they hung upon the earth but by the ſlender threed, of natural neceſſity, deſiring to have as little to do here as might be: Nay, if poſſible, to have nothing to do below; it was their cuſtom in their Congregations, when they had finiſhed their ſervices to raiſe up their feet from the earth towar… Heaven, we lift up our feet, ſaith Clem. Alexa… drinus, they were ſo much in Heaven, that they deſired, if poſſible, to have their bodies there befor… their time, they were, as the ſame Father expreſset… it, divorced, and ſequeſtred from all earthly intereſts (w)foreign.They were like the Cart-wheel; (it is Hilaries compar… ſon,) that ſtands upon the earth but by a little poin… the far greater part being above the earth, like tha… bird, which for her beauty, and nobleneſs, they c… the Bird of Paradiſe, that never comes on the earth but liveth wholly in the air, upon which ſhe feedeth when ſhe is forced to light to un-weary her ſelf, ſh… lights upon the tops of the higheſt trees, where ſh… is ſtill in the air, the place of her delight. I migh… to theſe add Paul the Hermit, Anthony, Arſenius, an… others, who withdrew themſelves from the world devoted themſelves to a ſolitary life, that they migh… better converſe in Heaven: Wherefore ſeeing we are co… paſſed about with ſo great a cloud of witneſſes, let us follow their example; let the ſame mind be in us that … in them: let us with our Apoſtle look not to things ſee… but things not ſeen, the things ſeen being temporal, but th… things not ſeen Eternal.
(3.) A third conſideration to provoke to this, may b… taken from our ſelves: the frame of our bodies minds … of this: whereas other creatures have their bodie bowed towards earth, man is made with a body erected toward heaven; as in the order of Creation God hath placed heaven above us, and the earth under us, ſo he hath placed our heart, and head abou… to be fixed upon Heaven, our feet below, by them to trample upon the earth: if we view the ſeveral parts of the body, they ſeem to teach us this: To begi… with the feet; Ambroſe well obſerveth, that God hath not given us four feet: as to the beaſts that are wholly converſant on earth, but only two, as the Birds which are often ſoaring toward heaven. Paſs we on to the knees.
The great commerce a Chriſtian hath with heaven, is the duty of Prayer; and the knees by reaſon of their bowing poſture, ſeem to be intended for this chiefly; I bow my knees to the father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſaith the Apoſtle(x)Phil. 3.14..
We read of the Apoſtle James, Thraſilla Gorgonia, and ſome others, whoſe knees were like Camels knees, hard, and bereft of feeling, through their long, and often kneeling in prayer. Some of the Ancients ſpeak highly of this bowing of the knee (y)foreign?, Euſebius calleth it a poſture proper to the Chriſtians (z)foreign,.
If we look from the knees to the Hands, they are not only of ſpecial ſervice to the body, but to the ſoul likewiſe: for which cauſe ſome have called them the Hand-maids of the ſoul: I will ſaith the Apoſtle, that …men pray every where, lifting up holy hands (a)1 Tim. 2.8., Solomon in that excellent, prayer, ſpread forth his hands towards Heaven (b)1 Kings 8.22., Conſtantine had his Image engraven on his Coyn, with his hands joyned together, and lift up towards Heaven: and upon ſeveral Gates of his Palace: he was drawn in an upright poſture, praying, and lifting up his hands towards Heaven(c)Os homini ſublime dedit, coelum que tueri juſſit..
If we go upwards to the face; God hath made the face to look upward to Heaven; Solomon finds the Sun, Moon, and Stars, in the Head of man(d)Eccleſ. 12.2., at leaſt according to the Chaldee paraphraſe, which refers it to the face and eyes: Before the Beauty and glory of thy face be changed, and the light of thine eyes be darkened, and the apples of thine eyes, the ſtars of thy countenance, be extinguiſhed; for as the whole face, ſo the eyes are given us for this end. Anatomiſts obſerv… that whereas other creatures have only four muſc… to their eyes; whereby they look forward, and dow… ward, and on both ſides, man only hath a fifth, b… which he is able to look up to Heaven.
Look inward to the Heart, that is an inverted P… ramid, or like a Vial, that is narrow, and contract… in that part toward Heaven; but above all, the ſ… was purpoſely given us for this end: we can no wa… think that God hath given us theſe immortal ſouls, be only converſant about periſhing things: theſe ſpir… tual ſouls to be taken up with ſecular affairs, the ſouls which are heavenly ſubſtances to be wholly e… ployed about earthly objects. How abſurd is it … think that God ſhould ſo curiouſly faſhion a body, i… the lower parts of the earth, and breathe into it a… immortal ſoul, created after his own Image, made i… the ſame mould with the bleſſed Angels, capable … eternal happineſs, and then ſhould ſend into th… world this Epitome of the whole Creation, only t… eat, drink, and ſleep, (or only to buy, and ſell, an… traffique in the world?) the beaſts that have h… ſenſitive ſouls can do all this, and much more, as we… as we: they know when they are ill what herbs t… have recourſe to for the recovery of their health; an… ſome think the practice of Phyſick hath been muc… improved by obſervations taken from the creatures they know how to dig their holes, and make thei… neſts to ſecure themſelves againſt the injuries of th… weather; when the place of their abode groweth incommodious, they can ſhift into a warmer Climate. The Stork in the Heaven knoweth her appointe… time, and the Turtle, and Crane, and Swallow, (f)Jer. 8.7.they know how to provide againſt a time of want; The An… provideth her meat in ſummer (g)Prov. 6.8., they are ſo wiſe as t… prevent a danger before them: ſurely, in vain is the ſnare laid in the ſight of any Bird (h)Prov. 1.17., they have skill …o provide a ſhelter againſt a time of danger; the wild Beaſts have their Dens, the Stags their Thicket, …he Hares their Covert, the Waſps their Cells, the Bees …heir Hives, the Doves their Windows, the Foxes their Holes, the Birds of the air their Neſts, the Conies their Burrows, the Goats their Hills: in a word, thoſe things that moſt men buſie themſelves about, the crea…ures can do as well, if not better than we: ſome are ſtronger, ſome ſwifter, ſome quicker ſighted, ſome …etter ſcented, in all theſe one creature or other excel…eth man, and can we think, that God hath given us theſe intellectual immortal ſoules, only to do what brute creatures can do, as well, if not in a better manner than we? Can we Imagine that theſe Heaven-born ſouls, ſhould be beſtowed upon us for no higher end? Certainly there is nothing ſhort of Heaven, and things eternal, that will bear any proportion with the excellency of theſe ſouls wherewith God hath entruſted us, ſaith Seneca; What a contemp…ible thing is man, if he doth not look higher than theſe …emporal things? Chryſoſtome will ſcarce allow ſuch to be reaſonable Creatures, whoſe ſouls ſo far forget their heavenly extraction; it is infinitely below the dignity of the ſoul to eſpouſe earthly intereſts; A ſpirit hath not fleſh and bones, ſaith our Saviour: neither ſhould it debaſe it ſelf to ſuch things, as are only ſuitable to bodies of fleſh; What Father is there, who if his Son ask bread, will he give him a ſtone? We ſhould much leſs deal thus with our ſouls, to put them off with a ſtone, with things temporal, when only the bread of Heaven, things eternal, can ſatisfie them.
(4.) The fourth Motive, to look to things eternal, may be taken from the unſpeakable benefits flowing from it:
[1] It is an excellent preſervative from ſin; Some School-men ſay that the ſight of God in Heaven, maketh the Saints impeccable: if ſo, it will follow, the more men enjoy God, and converſe in Heaven while they are here, the more free they are from ſin; the times Noah lived in, were times of great defection: when all fleſh had corrupted their ways, and the whole earth was filled with violence (k)Gen. 6.9., and it is much for one ſpark of fire to keep alive in the midſt of a Sea of water: yet God giveth this teſtimony of Noah, Noah was a juſt man, and perfect in his Generation; if you would know what kept him upright in the midſt of that wicked and froward Generation, it followeth, Noah walked with God; he that walketh with God, and hath his converſation in Heaven, feareth nothing but ſin, and this he feareth more than Hell; they ſay, the Ermin is ſo neat a creature, that if ſhe ſeeth a puddle of dirt on the one hand, and a company of dogs on the other, ſhe will rather expoſe her ſelf to be torn in pieces by the dogs, than to defile her ſelf by going through the puddle: it is ſo with him that is truly heavenly, he had rather endure the worſt affliction, than willingly defile himſelf with the leaſt ſin; nay, if he ſaw Hell on the one hand, and ſin on the other, he would with Chryſoſtome and Anſelme, chuſe rather Hell, than ſin: he looketh upon ſin as the greateſt evil, and therefore trembles at the firſt motions of ſin, dareth not give himſelf allowance in the leaſt ſin, bate him thoſe ſins of daily incurſion, which the beſt cannot avoid, he cometh neareſt the ſtate of glorified Saints, who cannot ſin.
[2.] It is a good ſecurity againſt temptations: while the Bird is ſoaring in the air, ſhe is out of peril of Gun-ſhot, and free from thoſe ſnares and Lime-twigs which ſhe is liable to be taken in, when ſhe is upon the earth; he that looketh to things eternal, is not ignorant of Satans devices: and ſurely in vain is the ſnare laid in the ſight of any Bird: as an enemy whoſe plots are diſcovered, is more than half overcome, ſo it is here: whereas in the Sea, little Fiſhes are de…oured of greater, and greater fiſhes daſh themſelves …gainſt the Rocks, the fiſh they call the Beholder of …eaven (m)foreign., that hath but one eye, which they ſay is …lways open and watchful, doth hereby diſcover and …event the many dangers that are in the Sea: this …ſh according to the name given to it, is a fit Emblem …f the heavenly-minded Chriſtian, who eſcapeth thoſe …emptations which prevail upon other men: It was …o ſtrange thing that Archimedes ſhould be knocked …n the head, …hile he was drawing his Mathematick …nes: and Thales fall into the ditch, when he was …azing on the ſtars: but there is no ſuch danger in … ſpiritual looking to things Eternal, it is rather a pre…ervative from dangers and temptations; there are …wo ſorts of temptations the Devil maketh Uſe of: …mptations on the right hand, when by things proſpe…ous, and pleaſing to us, as the honours, profits, and …leaſures of the world, he ſeeks to draw us to what … evil: and temptations on the left hand, when by the …ear of ſuffering and perſecution, he laboureth to de…er us from what is good; whereas he who hath things …ernal in his eye, is little moved with either of theſe, …e is not ſo much taken with the firſt, as for gain of …hem to loſe a good conſcience. When Baſil was …empted with preferment, he bad them offer ſuch …ings to Children: it was not for a Chriſtian Biſhop …o be taken with them. Luther, when he received …y Tauhenheimus a hundred pieces of gold ſent him, …nd fifty by Scartus, ſaid, I begin to fear, God will …ve me my reward here; but I have earneſtly proteſted, I …ould not be put off with theſe things: and this his con…empt to the world was not unknown to his enemies: When the Pope would have taken him off by gifts, …he ſaid, That German beaſt doth not care for Gold, and …or troubles and ſufferings, he doth not ſo much fear …hem, as to commit ſin to avoid ſuffering. When Baſil was threatned with baniſhments, torments, and death: he anſwered, I fear not baniſhment, I have no home but Heaven, no native place but Paradiſe; and the whole world I look upon as the common baniſhment of mankind: for torments, I defie them; for what can they do to me, whoſe body is ſo worn out, that there is nothing but bones without fleſh for them to work on? and for death I fear it not, which can but reſtore me ſooner to my Creator; He that hath his eye upon Heaven, is neither moved with the frowns, nor flatteries of the world, as he ſaid, He equally contemned the favour and fury of Rome; neither the deſire of the one, nor the fear of the other, is able to remove him from his ſtedfaſtneſs The like is to be ſaid of other ſorts of temptations, which are happily reſiſted by converſing in Heaven▪ Bonaventure, when the Devil told him that he was a Reprobate, and therefore perſwaded him to enjoy a… much of the pleaſures of the world here as he might becauſe he was excluded from the pleaſures with God in Heaven: anſwered, Not ſo Satan, If I muſt not enjoy God after this life, let me enjoy as much as I can of hi… here: whatſoever temptations Satan ſuggeſts, the… are more eaſily overcome by him who maketh it hi… buſineſs to converſe with God, and Heaven.
[3.] It is a good help againſt thoſe roving, wandring thoughts which ſo often haunt us in the performance of duties, and caſt ſo great a blemiſh upon our bet… performances. When Abraham offered ſacrifice, the fowls of the air lighted upon the ſacrifice (o)Gen. 15.11., Theſ… fowls reſemble vain thoughts which much trouble the beſt of men in their Approaches to God. Jero… complained of himſelf, when he was at prayer, he wa… in his thoughts walking in ſome Gallery, or telling o… ſome ſumme of money: in like manner Bernard confeſſeth that troops of unruly thoughts were wont to flock into his heart, like people, when ſome ſpectacle is to be ſeen; complaining, when my body is i… the Church, my mind is about the world; I ſing one thing, but think another; I utter words, but regard not the ſenſe and matter; and concludes, woe is me, I ſin then, when I ſhould get victory againſt my ſins; and truely there is ſcarce any one thing that a Chriſtian doth ſo much groan under, as the frequent a volations he is ſubject to in Gods ſervice; and it is not without juſt cauſe that he ſhould ſo ſadly reſent them. When Pharaoh's Baker dreamed that the birds of the air took out of his Basket the baked meats he prepared for Pharaoh, Joſeph told him, that this was a ſignification of his enſuing death. When we come to preſent our ſervices to God, as he his baked meats to Pharaoh, if the birds of the air, idle thoughts intrude into our minds; though it doth not abſolutely preſage the death of the ſoul, yet it prognoſticateth the death of that ſervice, that it is no better than a dead ſervice, unpleaſing to him who is a living God: Now there is no better way to ſuppreſs theſe thoughts than having our minds taken up with heavenly things; the mind cannot be at the ſame time intent upon different objects; as when a Dictator was created at Rome, there was a ſuſpenſion for that time of all other offices; ſo when the mind is taken up with the thoughts of ſome remarkable thing, it giveth a ſuperſedeas to other thoughts: If thou wouldeſt forget other things (ſaith Seneca) think upon Caeſar; ſerious thoughts upon our Eternal condition, would be like thoſe Por…ers Jehojada ſet at the doors of the Temple, would ſecure us from the intruſion of other objects.
[4.] It would work in us a holy indifferency toward …ll temporal things; it would moderate our eſteem of …hem, our deſire after them, our delight in them, our grief for the want or loſs of them. I ſhall inſtance in …heſe ſeveral particulars.
[1.] It would moderate our eſteem of them; wordly …hen think all their happineſs is bound up in theſe crea…ure-enjoyments; they judge them the only happy men, who have the largeſt confluence of theſe outward comforts; whereas, he that hath his eye upon eternal things, hath a low Eſteem of theſe things; when a man ſtands upon the top of a high mountain, things below in the valley ſeem ſmall, and inconſiderable in his ſight; they ſay to them that ſtand upon the top of the Alps, the great Cities of Campania ſeem but as ſmall Villages; or as a man who hath for a time gazed upon the Sun, when he looketh downward upon darker objects, is ſcarce able to ſee any thing: In like manner, he that hath his eye fixed upon heavenly things, counts theſe things as dung and droſs; he eſteemeth all theſe riches in the world not worth one daies converſing in Heaven; he valueth Heaven, though but in reverſion, before the world in preſent poſſeſſion; prefers his intereſt in Heaven, to the gaining of the whole world; if God pleaſe to ſecure heavenly things to him, he hath a holy ind…fferency towards other things; if God caſts Them in, he is thankful; if not, patient; if he hath them, he knoweth how to uſe them; if not, he hath learned to be without them; he is like the deep running River, which glideth ſilently by thoſe green Meadows, and flowry banks, thoſe goodly things that other men admire; and keepeth within his own banks of moderation, and content, till at laſt he falls into that deep Sea of divine Sweetneſs, to which he is haſting: Moſes having an eye to the recompence of reward, ſlighted the greateſt honour it Egypt, he refuſed to be called the ſon of Pharaoh's Daughter (o)Heb. 11.24.25, 26., He maketh as little of the pleaſures; He choſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the People of God, that to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon; neither could the riches tempt him; he eſteemed the reproach of Chriſt greater riches than the treaſures of Egypt: ſuch a low eſteem would we have of the beſt things this world affordeth, if we looked, as we ſhould, to things Eternal; we have ſeen them, we have taſted them, we have loathed them, ſaith Bernard, ſpeaking of wordly things; the Dagon of all ſublunary excellencies would fall to the ground before the thoughts of Eternal happineſs.
[2.] It would moderate our deſires after theſe things; they are for a Seaſon, for a Short time (q)foreign.; and there …s nothing of any great importance that is but of ſhort …ontinuance; whether we have more or leſs, it is not much material; the great thing is, What ſhall be our E…ernal condition? We read of ſome Hermites, who were very careful of their Sepulchres, but took little care of their houſes; being demanded the Reaſon, they ſaid, they ſhould dwell but a little while in their houſes, but ſhould lye a long time in their Sepulchres: our abode here is but for a ſhort time; if we have bread …o eat, and apparel to put on, enough to ſerve us to our journeys end, what ſhould we do with more? When a man cometh to an Inn, where he is to ſtay …ut a night or two, though he hath not accommoda…ions according to his mind, you would think it were … great weakneſs, if he ſhould ſend for an Ʋpholſter …o alter his bed, a Glaſier to mend the window, a …arpenter and a Maſon to rectifie what he thinks amiſs; …f he be but one degree above a fool, he will for ſo …hort a time be content with ſuch things as he find…th. Mariners, who intend for a near Haven, will not …hake ſo large proviſion as thoſe who take a long voy…ge; and if our ſtay here be ſo ſhort, as Conſtantine told Ablavius, why ſo much ſweat and travel? what mean …ur fooliſh hearts to be ſo ſolicitous about thoſe things …o which ere long we muſt bid an everlaſting farewell? Were our minds intent upon our Eternal condition, …e would for theſe things referr our ſelves to God, …s willing to have what God ſeeth beſt for us. A …ighteous woman being ſick, was asked by her friends, …hether ſhe were more willing to live or dye, ſhe …nſwered, what God pleaſeth; but, ſaith one, if God ſhould refer it to you, which would you chuſe? truly ſaith ſhe, If God ſhould refer it to me, I would refer it to him again; what ſhe did in regard of life, we would do in regard of all the enjoyments of this life; we would leave them to be ſcrambled for by thoſe who ſo much admire them, and think it enough that we have Heaven for our portion.
(3.) It would moderate our delight in them, he who breaths after things Eternal, will be little delighted with things tranſitory. Some ſay, after Lazarus was raiſed from the dead, he was never ſeen to ſmile, or to take any content here. After Paul was wrapt up into the third Heaven, he lived like a man of another world; the world was crucified to him, and he to the world; the world and he lay like two dead bodies one by another; as Chryſoſtome deſcants upon it, having little affection one to another. It is ſaid of the Siſters of Theodoſius, that when other Ladies were at their re reations, they retired themſelves, that they might converſe with God and Heaven: and Theodoret teſtifieth, that the thoughts of Heavenly things was the greateſt pleaſure and recreation to them; delight in theſe will extinguiſh all other delights; as the light of th… Sun doth the light of the fire.
(4.) It would moderate our grief both in the wa… and loſs of them. Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory maketh mention of Anthony and Didimus meeting together▪ Didimus was a man of excellent parts, and eminent graces, but he wanted his ſight; Anthony asked him, if he were not troubled for his want of ſight; he confeſſed he was; why, ſaith the other, ſhould you be troubled for want of that which Dogs and Flies have, and not rather be Thankful that you have that which the Angels count their Happineſs, meaning Grace? for a Believer who hath God for his portion, and Heaven for his Inheritance, to be troubled for want of that which a Dog, a Reprobate, a Devil may have is as if a favourite fed with viands from the Kings own table, ſhould be troubled he had no part of thoſe ſcraps given to the Dogs; or as if a man who were owner of a Mine of Gold, ſhould complain he were poor, becauſe his money is not in pence, and twopences. It was a poor thing in Alexander, who was Lord of the goodlieſt part of the world, to be vexed becauſe Ivy would not grow in his Garden at Babylon. It is much more unbeſeeming a Chriſtian who hath Title to Eternal bleſſedneſs, to be afflicted for the want of theſe poor inconſiderable things; if we reflect our thoughts upon thoſe glorious things laid up in Heaven, we would conclude with David, That our Lot is fallen to us in a fair ground, and be little troubled for the want of other things: and as not for the want, ſo neither for the loſs of them. The Jews have a ſaying, When a Pagan or Idolater loſeth his Father, he hath cauſe to mourn, becauſe he hath no Father left; but when a Believer loſeth his Father, he hath cauſe to be comforted; becauſe, though his earthly Father be dead, he hath a Father in Heaven: worldly men, vvhen they loſe their Eſtates, cry out, they are undone; and truly you cannot blame them, it is all they have: as Micah ſaid, You have taken away my gods, and my Prieſt, and what have I more? The loſs of twenty or thirty pound is a great loſs to a man that hath no more in the World; but it is nothing to him that is worth many Thouſands: Worldly men have their portion in this life; if they loſe that, it is all they have; whereas a godly man, when theſe things are taken from him, hath reaſon to comfort himſelf, becauſe he hath treaſure laid up in Heaven, vvhichwhich no injury of times, no malice of men or Devils can deprive him of. The believing Hebrews took joyfully the ſpoyling of their goods, knowing that in Heaven they had a better and more enduring ſubſtance [t], Paulinus, vvhen the Goths invading the City of Nola, plundered his Houſe, and took all he had from him, cryed out: Lord let not the loſs of theſe things diſquiet me, thou knoweſt where I have laid up my treaſure.
(5.) It would much Sweeten thoſe troubles, end ſufferings we here meet with: this we have laid down in the Text. In the former verſes, we read of the great ſufferings of the Apoſtles, and that that kept them from fainting under theſe is partly laid down verſe 17. Theſe light afflictions cauſe for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory! And partly in this verſe, while we look not at things which are ſeen, but at things not ſeen, for the things which are ſeen, are temporal, but the things which are not ſeen, are eternal. No ſuffering ſeemeth great to him, who hath his mind taken up with the greatneſs of Eternity.
We read of ſome Martyrs, that they have endured great ſufferings, without any ſenſible feeling of their ſufferings: as that young Child, in Joſephus, who when his fleſh was pulled in pieces with Pincers, by the command of Antiochus, ſaid, with a ſmiling countenance, Tyrant, Thou loſeſt time; where are thoſe ſmarting Pains with which thou threatnedſt me? make me to ſhrink, and cry out if thou canſt: and Bainam an Engliſh Martyr, when the fire was flaming about him, ſaid, You Papiſts talk of Miracles, behold here a miracle, I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of Down, it is as ſweet to me as a bed of Roſes: Surely their ſtrength was not the ſtrength of ſtones, nor their fleſh as braſs, that they ſhould not be ſenſible of ſo great ſufferings; only they were ſo much in Heaven, now they were going to Heaven, that they endured pains, as it were without pain, and ſufferings without feeling of their ſufferings: Others again, though ſenſible of their torments, yet endured them with unſpeakable courage, and alacrity. Laurence, when his body was roaſted upon a burning Gridiron, cryed out, This ſide is roaſted enough, turn the other: Marcus of Arethuſa, when his body was anointed with honey, and hung up aloft in a Basket to be ſtung by Waſps and Bees, looked down, ſaying, I am advanced, deſpiſing you that are below? And when we ſee weak feeble creatures, defying their torments, conquering in the midſt of ſuffering; when we hear them expreſſing the greateſt joy, in the m…dſt of their greateſt ſuff rings; ſinging in Priſon, as Paul and Silas did; kiſſing the Stake, as Henry Voes did; clapping their hands when they were half conſumed with fire, as Hawkes did; bleſſing God that ever they were born to ſee that day, as John Noyes did; calling their execution-day, Their wedding Day, as Biſhop Ridley did: We cannot but think there was ſomething more than ordinary, that did thus raiſe their Spirits: and queſtionleſs, this was it chiefly, they had an eye to the Recompence of the reward: the conſideration of thoſe eternal joyes, they were now entring on, did ſo raviſh their hearts, and tranſport their thoughts, that all their ſufferings ſeemed light, and eaſie to them. Tertullian, ſaith the foot feeleth nothing on earth, when the mind is in Heaven; and as this ſweetens ſufferings, ſo all other troubles. Jerome thus comforted the Hermite that was ſad with his being alone in the Wilderneſs, Think of Heaven, and ſo long thou wilt not think thy ſelf in a Deſart.
It is reported of Olympius, who lived Cloyſtered up in a Monaſtery near Jordan, that his mind was ſo fixed on Eternity, that he had ſcarce any ſenſe, and feeling of any temporal miſeries.
It hapned on a time, that a certain religious man went to viſit him, and finding him cloyſtered up in a dark Cell, which he thought un-inhabitable by reaſon of heat, and ſwarmes of gnats and flies, and asking him, how he could endure to live in ſuch a place? he anſwered, All this is but a light matter, that I may eſcape eternal Torments: I can endure the ſtinging of Gnats, that I might not endure the ſtinging of Conſcience, and the gnawing of that worm that never dyes: this heat thou thinkeſt grievous, I can eaſily endure, when I think of the eternal fire of Hell, theſe ſufferings are but ſhort, but the ſufferings of Hell are eternal. And as all preſent ſufferings are light in compariſon of everlaſting torments, ſo, if we think further of the eternal joyes of Heaven, this will make them ſeem more light; I reckon, ſaith the Apoſtle, That the ſufferings of this preſent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that ſhall be revealed (y)Rom. 8, 18.; He puts as it were into one ballance the afflictions of this life, and in the other the bleſſedneſs of Heaven, and having weighed both, concludeth, that there is no reckoning to be made of the one in compariſon of the other.
Chryſoſtome writing to Stagirius, to comfort him againſt the troubles he met with, beſpeaketh him in this manner: If thou wert elected King of ſome flouriſhing Kingdom, and wert now going to the Imperial City to be inveſted with the Regal dignity, though as then wert paſſing through the Suburbs, thou ſhouldſt meet with ſome dirty way, or have ſome light affront put upon thee by ſome Paſſenger; wouldſt thou not eaſily paſs by this, and haſten with joy to the Coronation? Our abode in this life is but like paſſing through the Suburbs; if we hope for an immortal Crown in Heaven, we ſhould make light of whatſoever troubles here befall us, imitating that great Captain of our Salvation, who for the joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, and deſpiſed the ſhame (z)Heb. 12, 2.. It was the Counſel an old Monk gave to a young Novice, entring into that Order: If thou wouldſt be perfect, thou muſt be like the Aſs of this Monaſtery, which, when he is laden, repineth not; when beaten, kicketh not; when driven, goeth whither the Driver would have him: ſo, ſaith he, it muſt be with thee; and ſo it would be vvith us, if vve had our minds ſeriouſly fixed upon Eternity. What Chryſoſtome ſpeaketh of wicked men, vvhom he calleth the Devils Hackneys, [a]foreign.vvho go through thick and thin, through fair vveather, and foul vveather, ſtick at nothing the Devil puts them upon, vvould be verified in us; in reference to God; we would be willing both to do and ſuffer what God would have us; no trouble would appear grievous, no ſtate and condition of life ſeem amiſs, in which God diſpoſeth of us.
It is reported of a Jewiſh Rabbin, that whatſoever befell him, he would ſay, It is good, if any croſs accident came, it is good; if any trouble befel him, it is good alſo; if a ſecond, a third croſs, this is good alſo; for which cauſe he was called Rabbi, foreign This alſo I have read of a religious man who being in a great ſtrait, and not knowing what to do, wrote down all the Letters-of the Alphabet in a paper, and ſpread them open before God, ſaying, Lord, here are Letters, and letters make words, and words ſignifie things: do thou put them togeth r, and make of them what thou pleaſeſt; it would be ſo with us in ſome meaſure, if we looked as the Apoſtles did, at things Eternal: we would in theſe temporal things refer our ſelves to God; we would be willing to be what God would have us to be, and have what God would have us to have, and ſuffer what God would have us to ſuffer.
(6.) It would have a powerful influence upon whatſoever we do: every work we do is a ſtep to Eternity: as every ſtep a Traveller taketh, bringeth him nearer to his journies end; ſo every motion, and action done by us, is a ſtep to our eternal condition; every good action ſetteth us nearer an eternity of happineſs, every bad action carrieth us nearer an eternity of miſery: No ſooner is any thing acted, but it is preſented to the All-ſeeing eye of God; and being viewed, and cenſured, is forthwith tranſmited either to eternal reward, or eternal puniſhment; many things in this life which are tranſient in their nature, are yet durable as to their iſſue. A leaſe is written over in three or four hours, yet the concernment of it may be for many years, ſometimes for many lives: in like manner it is with us; our thoughts, words, and actions, do not dye as ſoon as they are paſt, but are as ſeeds which are ſown in time, and come up in Eternity; whether we pray, or ſin, whether we do well, or wickedly, we are ſowing; and theſe ſeveral ſeeds ſown in this world, will certainly come up in the world to come.
We read of ſome Rivers, which after they have run ſome ſpace, fall under-ground and cannot be ſeen, but after many miles running under the earth, break up again into a great ſtream: there are many actions we do, which are no ſooner done, but we as ſoon forget what we have done, they paſs out of our ſight; but every one of theſe will riſe up in eternity, and will make our eternity either more happy, or more miſerable: Caſt thy ſeed upon the waters, ſaith Solomon, for after many days thou ſhalt find it (c)Eccleſ. 11.1.. It is more properly meant of works of Charity, but will hold in all other works; which though at preſent they paſs out of our ſight, yet after many days will come up with a plentiful Increaſe; and if this were well conſidered by us, what manner of perſons would we be? how careful and circumſpect in all our actions? Chroniclers have ſaid, Some Kings, though otherwiſe they would have taken more liberty, yet have been more circumſpect in their actions, knowing what they did would be regiſtred and tranſmitted to poſterity; the like circumſpection would we have, if we did ſeriouſly conſider, that all we do will be cetainly tranſmitted to Eternity.
(7.) As it would have a mighty influence upon other actions, ſo chiefly upon our duties; our religious performances; in which our Eternal condition is more eſpecially concerned. What Moſes tells the Iſraelites, Set your hearts to all the words which I teſtifie this day, for it is not a vain thing for you, becauſe it is your life (d)Deut. 32.46, 47.; may be ſaid of every duty we do; it is our life, our ſoul, our Salvation, our Eternity depends upon it, and how ſtrong ſhould that cable be that hath ſo great a weight hanging on it? Caeſar ſaid, being in a hot fight, At other times I fought for my honour, now I fight for my life: In many other things we act for our credit, for our profit, but in holy duties we act for our life, our Eternal life is concerned; and therefore, whatſoever we do, we ſhould do it with all our might. It was a boaſting ſpeech of Zeuxes, that he painted for Eternity: time hath long ſince defaced his work, but it is certain, whatſoever we do in Gods ſervice, we do for Eternity; we pray for Eternity, and hear for Eternity; and if he for that reaſon did whatſoever he painted with the greateſt accurateneſs, would not ſo much as draw a line but with all poſſible care; much more ſhould we do it in all the duties we perform: When formality, indifferency, deadneſs, ſleepineſs creeps upon us, we ſhould do well to conſider that our Eternity lies at ſtake; and this would be a good help againſt theſe Diſtempers; we would not then put off God, and content our ſelves with ſuch dull and languid performances; this would be like Oyl to the Jack, or wings to the bird; like ſails to the ſhip, or wind to the ſails, to carry us on with a full plerophory of affection: It is a direction ſome give, that we ſhould do every thing we do, as if it were the laſt time we ſhould do it. Seneca in an Epiſtle to a friend ſaith, That he wrote then to him with that mind and affection, as if he ſhould be called away by death as ſoon as he had written: We ſhould do ſo much rather in our …ddreſſes to God: we ſhould pray and hear, and perform every duty, as if it were the laſt prayer we ſhould make, the laſt Sermon we ſhould hear, the …aſt duty we ſhould perform; as if as ſoon as we had …one, we ſhould be called away by death, and forthwith enter upon our Eternal condition; and this would …ueſtionleſs raiſe up our affections to the higheſt …itch of fervency and intention. When we go to …ear a Sermon, did we conſider that it is our life, that our Eternal welfare depends upon it, we would give …he more earneſt heed, as the Apoſtle exhorteth(e)Heb. 2.1., We would hear as the Bereans did, with all readineſs and greedineſs of mind *foreign.; or as Chriſts hearers, who are ſaid to have their eyes faſtned upon him †Luke 4.20. and 19.48., wholly intent upon him; to hang upon him; ſo the word there uſed doth ſignifie: as catching at every word he ſpake: when we addreſs our ſelves to God in prayer, did we ſet Eternal happineſs before us, and conſider that this depends upon our ſpeeding, or not ſpeeding in prayer, we would with a holy violence wreſtle with Almighty God; we would neither give our ſelves, nor God any reſt, but would lye at the feet of God as ſo many monuments of importunity, reſolving with Jacob, not to let him go, unleſs he bleſs us.
[8.] It would render us more quiet and peaceable in our carriage one toward another: it is ſome wordly intereſt that mainly cauſeth one man to bite and devour, and act the part of a Devil toward another, From whence come wars and figthings among you? come they not hence, even of your luſts (h)James 4.1, 4.? and what luſt it is chiefly, is laid down, Know ye not that the friendſhip of the world is enmity with God? whereas, the wiſdom that is from above is firſt pure, then peaceable, gentle, and eaſie to be intreated *James 3.17.. There is a Fiſh which Aelian calleth the Adonis of the Sea; becauſe it meddleth with no living thing, but preſerveth a ſweet peace with all the off-ſpring of the Sea; for which cauſe it is loved, and courted as the darling of the waters: the heavenly minded Chriſtian liveth on the earth, as that Fiſh doth in the Sea, purſuing the things which make for peace; and as much as in him lyeth, living peaceably with all men. Nazianzen, when there aroſe a contention in the Synod about his Biſhoprick, uſed this ſpeech to thoſe that were aſſembled; It is an unbeſeeming thing for us who preach peace, to nouriſh contention; I therefore entreat you by the ſacred Trinity, that you do all things in peace: if I be the cauſe of this ſehiſm, if I be the Jonah that hath cauſed this ſtorm, caſt me into the Sea, that the tempeſt may ceaſe, put me from my Biſhoprick, baniſh me the City, do what you will with me, ſo you love the truth and peace. Bernard, while ſome brethren were offended with him telleth them, I will be at peace with you, though you will not; when you trouble me, I will be at peace with you; I will give place to wrath, leſt I give place to the Devil: thus, while ſuch as drive on wordly intereſts, imagine deceitful things againſt them that are quiet in the land; thoſe that mind heavenly Eternal things, labour all they can to promote concord, to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
[9.] It would much elevate the mind: Viſion is of an aſſimilating nature: Jacob's Ewes ſeeing the rods with white ſtreaks, brought forth Cattle ring-ſtraked and ſpeckled: the Egyptians worſhipped a pied Bull; and whereas ſome thought it ſtrange, that when one dyed, they ſhould have another of the ſame colour, Auſtin, thinks the Devil, to keep them in Idolatry, might do with their Cows, as Jacob did with the Ewes, preſent to them, when they conceived, the likeneſs of ſuch a Bull. Plutarch telleth of two deformed Perſons, who often looking upon beautiful Pictures, had beautiful children: this vvhichwhich is ſometimes true in naturals, will hold more true in morals; converſing with low objects, maketh low, and degenerate minds: What the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh of Idol-makers, and Worſhippers, they that make them are like unto them; ſo are all they that put their truſt in them; may be ſaid here, earthly objects, make earthly minds; whereas looking to things Eternal, which are the higheſt objects, would raiſe our mind to a ſuitable height and greatneſs. Thoughts are the food of the ſoul; the ſoul feedeth on them, as the body upon meat: Now you know ſuch meat as men eat, ſuch blood and ſpirits they have; and look what the objects are about which the ſoul is converſant, ſuch is the ſoul: low objects debaſe the mind; high objects, ſuch as things Eternal, work in men high minds, and raiſe up to a greatneſs of ſpirit becoming man, ſo noble a creature: I doubt not but you would look upon it as a ſordid thing for men to buſie themſelves about ſuch low things as ſome (and they great ones) have ſometimes done: As Artaxerxes in making hafts of knives; Bias in making Lanthorns; Demitian in ſtabbing Flies with a bodkin; another in ſtabbing Frogs; whereas, if you make any thing your buſineſs below things Eternal, it is exceedingly below that greatneſs of Spirit which ſhould be in men who have reaſonable ſouls; eſpecially Chriſtians, who ſhould have higher aims than other men: If Children, (ſaith one) play for Pins, bigger boys for Points; men for ſhillings, or pounds; there is no great difference, and truly whatſoever you buſie your ſelves about, ſhort of Heaven and things Eternal, it is but a more ſerious trifling, and it is a ſhameful thing to be ſerious about trifles (l)Turpe eſt difficiles habere nugas.: If like Baruch, you ſeek great things, ſeek them which are greateſt and higheſt, things Eternal; and this will be both an argument of a greatneſs of ſpirit becoming Chriſtianity, and a means to raiſe up your minds to a higher pitch of greatneſs.
(10.) It would put the greateſt honour upon us: we count thoſe the moſt famous Mountains that are higheſt; thoſe the goodlieſt Trees that are talleſt; thoſe the ſtatelieſt Buildings whoſe tops reach nearer to Heaven; accordingly they are the choiceſt Chriſtians, whoſe hearts are moſt taken up with heavenly …hings. Remarkable is that which is ſpoken of No…h, Theſe are the Generations of Noah (m)Gen. 6.9.; but before any mention is made of his children, the Scripture firſt ſaith, Noah was a juſt man, and perfect in his Ge…eration; and Noah walked with God; and then fol…oweth, Noah begat three Sons: Sem, Ham, and Japhet: Though it were an honour to Noah to be the Father …f thoſe Sons, out of whoſe loyns came all after Generations, yet it was a greater honour to him to be a juſt-man, and walk with God; and therefore (which Chryſoſtome calleth a ſtrange kind of Genealogy) after the Scripture had ſaid, Theſe are the Generations of Noah: It firſt ſaith, He was a juſt man, and walked with God: and then, Noah begat three Sons; implying, that it is a greater honour to be a good man, and converſe with God, than to be a Father of the moſt numerous and illuſtrious progeny. It is ſaid, That Jabez was more honourable than his Brethren: then followeth, And Jabez called on the God of Iſrael, ſaying, Oh that thou wouldeſt bleſs me indeed, and enlarge my Coaſt, and that thine hand might be with me (n)1 Chron. 4.9, 10.; letting us underſtand, that it was his piety, and converſing with God in prayer, that made him more honourable than his Brethren. Let the blind beſotted world count it a diſhonour to walk with God, and converſe in Heaven; yet this is it that will make men truly honourable in the eſteem of God, and Angels, and all good men; and will at laſt make them honourable in the eyes of them who now vilifie them. When Michal ſcorned David for dancing before the Ark: How glorious was the King of Iſrael, who uncovered himſelf in the eyes of the Handmaids his ſervants! David tells her, It was before the Lord, and if this be to be vile, I will be more vile; and of the Hand-maids thou haſt ſpoken of, of them ſhall I be had in honour (o)2 Sam. 6.. The like I ſay here, thoſe which now deſpiſe them, even of them ſhall they be had in honour; they will at laſt ſay with thoſe in the Book of Wiſdom, Theſe are thoſe whom we had in deriſion, &c. but now are they numbered amongſt the Saints, and their portion is amongſt the righteous.
(11.) It giveth the greateſt ſatisfaction to the mind: temporal things may fill, but cannot ſatisfie: the belly may be filled, and that with hid treaſures, but the heart cannot de filled with theſe things; the ſoul is an immortal ſubſtance, nothing but things eternal can content it: it firſt came from heaven, nothing below heaven can give it ſatisfaction; as Noahs Dove hovered over the waters, but could find no reſt till ſhe came into the Ark from whence ſhe was ſent; as Quick-ſilver being poured out, creepeth up and down from place to place, and never is at reſt, till it finds Gold with which it may commix; or as little veins of Water wandered from their Fountains, though put into veſſels of Gold or Cryſtal, are never ſo well as in their proper Fountains: ſo it is with the ſoul; The motion of immortal ſouls is, (ſaith one) like that of Celeſtial bodies, purely circular, they reſt not, till they return from whence they came, the boſome of Eternity; It is a Maxim, every thing hath a natural inclination to its original (p)Omne principatum ſequitur naturam principiorum., Rivers come out of the Sea, and unto the place from whence they came, thither they return again (q)Eccleſ. 1.7., Though Fiſhes enjoy the vaſtneſs of the Ocean, yet they more frequently viſit the place of their firſt ſpawning, finding it more commodious; Bees will not be forced to tarry in another Hive, unleſs they voluntarily leave their own in a ſwarme: take them at other times when they lye out, and ſweep them into another Hive, they will at furtheſt the next day return into their own: Some ſay if a Partridge-Egg be taken out of the Neſt, and be hatched under a ſtrange Partridge, yet, upon firſt hearing the call of her own Damme, ſhe will preſently quit the Partridge that hacht her, and render her ſelf into her own Covey; thus the Soul, having its original from Heaven can never be ſatisfied but with heavenly things. One (r)Bellarm. de Aſcen. grad.ſetteth it out by this ſimilitude: As a heavy body cannot reſt in the air, be it never ſo wide, nor in the water, be it never ſo deep, but ſtill ſinketh down till it comes to its center; ſo the ſoul of man can never find any repoſe: either in the airy and flitting honours, or in the earthly, dirty Riches, or in the watery and ſoftning pleaſures of this life, till it cometh to pitch upon God and Heaven. Another thus: As the bubble cannot ſtay it ſelf at the bottom of the water, but aſcendeth higher and higher, till it commeth to the top, and then ſtriveth to aſcend no higher, but breaketh its thin filme, and pours forth it ſelf into the open air (s)Gr. Nyſſ.; ſo the ſoul cannot ſtay it ſelf in any of theſe earthly inferiour things, but aſcendeth up till it cometh to cloſe with its proper object, and there it findeth true repoſe. Satisfaction, which is in vain ſought for in theſe temporal enjoyments, is abundantly found in heavenly things; They ſhall be abundantly ſatisfied with the fatneſs of thy houſe (t)Pſal. 36.8.; he that hath them for his portion hath a goodly Heritage, may ſay to himſelf with Deborah; Thou haſt marched valiantly, oh my ſoul, that haſt got ſuch a booty; Or David, Return unto thy reſt, oh my ſoul, the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee!
(12.) It brings the greateſt meaſure of joy that this life is capable of: If one look to the land, behold darkneſs, and ſorrow (u)Iſa. 5.30., But look up to Heaven, and behold light, and joy; ſuch as converſe in Heaven are (as was before-ſaid) compared to Mountains: high Mountains being above the middle Region, are free from clouds and ſtorms, there is nothing but calmneſs and ſerenity; ſo Olympus is ſaid to be all clear and beautiful (w)foreign.; ſuch a beauty and ſerenity is in the ſoul of the heavenly-minded Chiſtian: he is like Adams Paradiſe, when there was no flaming ſword of terror placed there: like Solomons Temple, where no voice of Axe and Hammer was to be heard; like the fields of Enna in Sicily, where ſome ſay, there is a continual ſpring, and flowers all the year long: whereas wicked men have moſtly their heaven here, and their hell afterward; and moſt Chriſtians have their hell here, and their heaven afterward; the heavenly minded Chriſtian hath a double heaven: one in time, th… other in Eternity▪ one in the way, another in hi… Country: one in labour, the other in reſt: one is working, the other in receiving the reward of his works as he is now in Heaven in regard of his pract…ce and converſe, ſo in regard of his joy, having here the firſt fruits of Heaven, the prelibations of his future happineſs; Larks ſing ſweeteſt, when they fly h…gheſt: the… is the ſoul of the Chriſtian moſt full of joy, when h… is ſoaring toward Heaven in his meditations: Oh, he… ſweet, ſaith Chryſoſtome, is the contemplation of Heaven a man would dwell in this contemplation, and no… come out of it: A man (ſaith Auſtin) might age himſelf in it, and ſconer grow old, than weary; that an… cavil againſt the Religious Life as full of ſadneſs, an… Antipodes to all joy, and cheerfulneſs, is, becauſ… they never experienced it, and it is moſt unreaſonable to cenſure what they never tryed, it is as if … Judge ſhould condemn a man before he examine his cauſe, or heard him ſpeak for himſelf. Whe… Jews went out to war, if any took a beautiful Damſ… captive, he was not forbidden to marry her, onelyonly h… muſt ſhave her head, and pare her nails, and then h… might eſpouſe her; Joy is that beautiful Damſel tha… all the world court; Religion doth not forbid us to marry it, only to pare off the extravagancies of it and then we may enjoy it, (as Ambroſe alluding t… the name Iſaac, which ſignifies laughter or ioy) t… joy is not deſtroyed by Religion, it is only laid upo… the Altar, and made more ſublime; thy Iſaac ſha… not dye, but the Ram; thy joy ſhall not be taken away, onelyonly the extravagancy of it.
Tertullian in his Book de ſpectaculis, proveth a large, that there is no joy like the joy of a Chriſtian and indeed what delight may be compared with th… delight of that Believer, whoſe daily fellowſhip is wi… the Father, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt; whoſe converſ… is in Heaven: who is continually drawing water out of the wells of Salvation, and bathing his ſoul in thoſe Rivers of Everlaſting pleaſures? Some obſerve, that the Graſhopper neither feeds upon graſs as beaſts do, nor upon ſeeds as birds do, nor upon Flowers as Bees do, only feedeth on the dew falling from Heaven, and yet is both a nimble creature, often shipping up and down, and a cheerful creature, frequently ſinging; a true Believer, as he doth not much trouble himſelf about the world; ſo for the moſt part he hath little of it, at leaſt in regard of what the world giveth, but converſing with things heavenly and eternal; this filleth him with more joy, than others have, when their Corn, and Wine encreaſeth.
(13.) It conduceth much to the encreaſing of heavenly light and knowledge: the higher men ſtand, the further they ſee; they that are in a Plain cannot ſee far; they that are in a valley ſee but a little way; ſuch as are in a bottom of a well, ſee only that point of the Heavens that is perpendicularly over their heads; whereas, thoſe that ſtand upon the top of an high Mountain, ſee over all the Country round about: queſtionleſs they who are frequently converſing in Heaven, cannot but know more than other men. Origen upon thoſe words of the Apoſtle, Rom. 11. That when the fuln ſs of the Gentiles is come in, all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved; hath this expreſſion, what is meant by all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved; and what by the fulneſs of the Gentiles; only God knoweth, and his only begotten Son; and perhaps ſome of the friends of God, of whom Chriſt ſpeaketh: I call you no more Servants, but friends; for all that I have heard of the Father, I have made known to you: ſuch as are Gods friends, know more of his mind than others: The ſe…ret of the Lord is with them …hat fear him (x)Pſal. 25.14., The Papiſts ſay of Bonaventure, that being asked by Aquinas, out of what Books he had thoſe heavenly expreſſions that were in his writings; he pointed to the Crucifix, ſaying, that is the Book which prompts to me what I write, being proſtrate at the feet of that Image, I receive more light from Heaven, than from all the Books I read; if what they aſcribe to the Crucifex, we transfer to Chriſt himſelf, it will hold for a ſound truth, They looked to him, and were lightened (y)Pſal. 24.5.: We find the bodily ſight is much ſtrengthened by looking upon ſuitable objects: when the eye is dimb, if it be fixed a while upon ſome green Meadow, or flowry bank, it much helpeth the ſight. Artificers, after long poring upon ſome dark work, finding a dimneſs in their eyes, are wont to take ſome Emerald, or ſome other green thing, by the verdure whereof their eyes may be refreſhed, and their ſight ſtrengthened: it will hold as true in ſpiritual ſight, the light of knowledge and underſtanding is much increaſed by looking upon the unſeen Eternal things in Heaven.
(14. It would ſweeten death, and that nothing elſe can. It was an uſual ſpeech among the Heathens, that only Chriſtians were contemners of death: the Philoſophers, eſpecially the Stoicks, made it their work to furniſh themſelves with arguments, and get their hearts into ſuch a frame, that they might be above all paſſions; might not fear any evil that could befall them, no not death it ſelf; and though in other things they went far, even to the ſhame of moſt Chriſtians; yet when it came to death, they fell ſhort of what they propounded to themſelves: Socrates is thought to go as far as any other; whatſoever evil befell him he was yet the ſame man; no alteration appearing in his carriage, inſomuch as another Philoſopher, Antiſthenes, ſaid, If the Gods would grant him what he deſired, he would deſire nothing elſe but to have the ſpirit of Socrates; and this was ſo much the more remarkable, becauſe that equanimity he attained to, was quite contrary to his natural temper. There came, on a time, a fellow to Athens, who pretended great skill in Palmeſtry, that by the ſight of mens hands he would tell what diſpoſition they were of; and having gueſſed ſhrewdly in many, he was at laſt brought to Socrates, looking upon his hand, he affirmed him to be of a froward, peeviſh diſpoſition; the people began to hout him, having had ſo long experience of his meekneſs and moderation; but Socrates ſaid, do not blame the man, for the truth is, ſuch a one I am by nature, only I have cured the intemperance of nature, by the practice of Philoſophy; yet this man, who was ſo far able to maſter himſelf and his paſſions in other things, was not able to maſter the fear of death; though at firſt he ſeemed undaunted, yet when the cup of Poiſon was reached out to him, he looked as pale as aſhes, the like it was with others: Plato diſcourſing highly of the contempt of death, was anſwered by one, he ſpake beyond what he lived. Tully was well verſed in the writings of the Stoicks, and thought himſelf fortified againſt the fear of death; but when death came, complained, I know not how it comes to paſs, but ſo it is, the remedy is too narrow for the diſeaſe: Though while men look upon death at a diſtance, they may hope by the improvement of Philoſophical arguments, to maſter the fear of death; yet when death cometh in good earneſt, when all the ſenſes, the ports of the ſoul are beſet with the ambuſhes of death; when death mounts up all her batteries, and beateth down one hold after another, driving the ſoul from one part of the body to another, till at laſt the ſoul be forced to quit her former habitation? when a man comes to feel what he never felt before, to do what he never did before, nor is ever to do a ſecond time; when he cometh now to have the laſt caſt for an Eternity either of happineſs or miſery, to ceaſe any longer to be what he was before, and to enter upon a new, but never ending condition; when it cometh to this, they muſt be better and higher arguments than can be learned in natures ſchool, that will be able to afford ſupport and comfort to the departing ſoul. As ſoon may a man think to gather Gr…pes of Thorns, and Figs of Thiſtles, as by the ſole improvement of theſe, to grapple with the terrors of death. Lypſius lying upon his death-bed, when a friend that ſtood by, ſaid, It would be in vain to ſuggeſt any arguments of conſolation to him, who was ſo well acquainted with the writings of the Stoicks; he is ſaid to turn himſelf towards Chriſt, ſaying, Lord give me the true Chriſtian patience; whereas, the Believer whoſe mind is taken up with heavenly things, being already dead to the world, findeth it no hard matter to part with it; as that Martyr, Julius Palmar ſaid, to them that have their ſouls linked to the fleſh, like a Rogues foot to a pair of ſtocks, it is indeed hard to dye; but for him who is able to ſeparate ſoul and body, by the help of Gods ſpirit, it is no more maſtery for ſuch an one to dye, than for me to drink this cup of Beer; having before-hand ſent his heart to Heaven, he looketh upon death as a favourable wind to carry him ſooner to his deſired Haven. Moſes converſeth with God, as a man converſeth with his friend; and when God bad him go up to the Mount, and dye there, Moſes maketh no more of it; he went up into the Mount, and died according to the word of the Lord: the Jews ſay that his ſoul was ſucked out of his mouth with a kiſs; he who now converſeth in Heaven, when he dyeth, only changeth his place, but not his company; removeth to a higher form, but continueth at the ſame ſchool: while he liveth, he is like the Bee which converſeth amongſt ſweet flowers; or like the Birds of the fortunate Iſlands, which they ſay, are all their life-time nouriſhed with perfumes; and when he dyeth, he dyeth like the Phoenix in the ſweet odours of an heavenly converſation.
(15.) It would give us, after death, a wide and large entrance into Heaven: They that look here to things Eternal, ſhall after this life have poſſeſſion of them; ſhall ſit down with Abraham and Iſaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven; when others, who …ook no higher than things temporal, ſhall be called the …eaſt in the Kingdom of God: Heaven, like the Hal…ions neſt, will hold nothing but its own bird: the Apoſtle bleſſeth God, becauſe he had made them meet to …e made partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in …ight (c)Col. 1.12.: Men muſt be meet for Heaven, before they …ome there; they who are now ſtrangers to God, …nd Heaven, what ſhould they do in Heaven, where the great happineſs conſiſts in the enjoyment and ſervice of God? whereas, they who make it their buſineſs …o lay up treaſure in Heaven, ſhall have a ready admit…ance into Heaven, a free participation of whatſover …leſſedneſs is there treaſured up; whatſoever happineſs …here is in the ſight and enjoyment of God; whatſoever ſolace in the embraces of a dear Saviour; whatſoever Satisfaction in the ſociety of Angels and Saints; whatſoever joys and pleaſures are in that place of bliſs; all this, and much more than we can …magine, ſhall be the undoubted portion of thoſe who make Eternal things their aim and end. Jerom ſaith, That Saul knew before-hand he ſhould be made King, becauſe in a kind of a viſion he ſaw himſelf placed upon the top of a Palm-tree; the Palm-tree is an Emblem of the heavenly minded Chriſtian, as was before ſhewed in ſeveral reſemblances: Now as Saul …eeing himſelf advanced to the top of a Palm-tree, look…d upon this as a Preſage of his future advancement …o the Throne, ſo he who hath his heart and mind in Heaven while he liveth, may aſſure himſelf of Heaven when he dieth; it is his now by way of election, and ſhall be hereafter his by way of fruition; now he walketh with God, then he goeth to God; while he is …ere, he converſeth in Heaven; when he goeth hence, …e taketh poſſeſſion of it,; having choſen that better …art, it ſhall never be taken away from him. To conclude this vſe, let theſe many advantages ſerve as ſo-many incentives to quicken us to this duty in the Text, o… looking to thoſe things that are Eternal.