〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY Building Opened in a SERMON ON 2d Corinthians Chap. v. Verse 1. AT THE FUNERAL OF THE Late Reverend Minister of Jesus Christ Henry Hurst M. A. Sometime Fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxon. Preached and published at the earnest Desires of his Relatives and People By Richard Adams M. A. sometimes Fellow of Brazen-Nose Colledge in Oxon LONDON Printed for John Weld at the Crown between the Temple-Gates in Fleet Street MDCIC ERRATA PAge 2 line 21. r. Mutable p. 3. l. 2. after as r. in l. 6. in Marg. r. ◠p. 9. l. 24. after of r. a. p. 12. l. 24. r. may p. 13. l. 12. after Disciples r. with this in my Fathers House saith he there are many p. 14 l. 24. r. preserv'd p. 16. Marg. r scibilis p. 17. Marg. r. Emanare To the much respected Mrs. DOROTHY HVRST the sorrowful Widow of Mr. HENRY HVRST late Minister of the Gospel together with his People who desired the Preaching and publishing of this ensuing Sermon THO I am sensible of several Failures in this Discourse which Second Thoughts might have somewhat amended by expunging altering or adding somewhat which came to the Ear Yet that I might not incur more Censures by varying much from what was preached I have altered added or omitted nothing material further than what is requisite betwixt the Pulpit and the Press That what you have made current by your Approbation and Desires may hopefully pass with fewer censorious Remarks To you the disconsolate Relict of the Deceased I heartily wish for the allay of your Grief and composure of your Spirit That you would seriously deliberate upon what that excellent young Gentlewoman in her Day Mrs. Katherine Stubbs said to her Husband on her Death-bed desiring him not to mourn for her upon this strong Reason That she was not in a Case to be mourned for but rather to be rejoiced of for that she should pass from Earth to Heaven from Men to holy Angels Cherubims and Seraphims to holy Saints Patriarchs and Fathers yea to God himself Changing Persons I doubt not but upon the departure of your most pious Son Arthur you have heard your own dear Husband that Righteous Abel as I may allude comforting of you his Wife from the same unanswerable Reason And being Dead he yet speaketh a Heb. 11.4 I pray you hear his Voice Now is the time you should hear his Voice from God As you know the Day before he was summoned hence in his last Sermon He was pressing the People to Day to hear God's Voice If you now stop your Ears and do not mind it his surviving Son and Daughter your dear Children who will yet a while be more led by their Mothers Example than by her Directions will heardly believe their Fathers present Joys I question not but their Father said to You at your last great Mourning as Elkanah said to his Wife Hannah b 2 Sam. 1.8 Dorothy Why weepest thou Why eatest thou not And why is thy Heart grieved Am not I better to thee than Sons Thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Host is his Name c Is 54.5 Doth not he say unto you now Am not I better than Ten Husbands Let these dearest young ones know that you really believe it by your cheerful Carriage that when Nature hath had its Course with decencie and they begin to consider what it is to want such an earthly Father as they had they may begin to hope and say Our Heavenly Father will be better to us than Ten earthly Fathers Add not therefore to your sweet Childrens Loss by casting your self into their Father's Grave which you are likely to do if you immoderately mourn over it You know what your excellent Husband's last Lecture at High-gare was as if it sounded his own Knell from Luke 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation To you that were of his Congregation and special Charge having in the close of the Sermon urged a steddy Practice of what your worthy Pastor did deliver and recommend to you I shall add little more Yet I would be your Remembrancer of what he recorded in his Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Cawton as his Words spoken to his People viz. Prize a Guide that will be faithful to your Souls keep the Unity of the Spirit into which you are called by the Gospel and seek God earnestly for both I shall add no more but heartily begg of God That he would take care of the mournful Widow and hers and of the Widowed People And supply all your Wants upon the departure of so obliging a Relative through Jesus Christ the best Husband and chief Shepheard In his Hands He leaves you who looking to Jesus doth commend you all to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and give you an Inheritance among all them which are Sanctified d Act 20.30 Your Souls Friend and Servant in our dear Lord Christ Richard Adams April 24. 1690. 2. Cor. Chap. v. Verse the 1st For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a Building of God an House not made with Hands eternal in the Heavens THE very First Particle in my Text doth introduce it as a Confirmation of that the Apostle had last asserted in the precedent Chapter wherein he shews how far the Reward of the sincere Ministers and Members of Christ doth surpass their Suffering Having premis'd a distinction of the inward and outward Man which last when adorn'd with a Saints Eye aims not at the things which are seen they are but temporarie and so lye under a disparagement but at the things which are not seen they are eternal and so most desirable as may by a due comparing of Circumstances further appear from that Two-fold Prospect which the quick sighted Apostle doth present to our View in the Words read Wherein we have The STATE ACT of a Believer Cognitum Cognitio 1. The State or Thing known of a true Believer who hath a double Residence one at Present another Future one here another hereafter one above another below One visible which is the Object of the bodily Eye and seen by it the other invisible which is the Object of the spiritual Eye not seen by the Eye of Sense but only by the Eye of Faith And therefore by a Metaphor drawn from Architecture the believing Soul comes under our Consideration As in her LOWER and VPPER Habitation In the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Former is called an House of the same Nature and Structure with that of Unbeleevers The Latter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Building of another nature a more stately Structure proper to the Saints The First is no other than the organized Body unto which the Soul is at present united As e're while the Corps of our deceased Friend
and Brother which we have now brought to be shortly deposed in the Lap of our common Mother the Earth was the House wherein his great Soul did for a time reside even as ours do whilst we live in these Bodies we bear about and this House of ours or State of Life is presented to our View more distinctly in its Corruptible Foundation Immutable Station Inevitable Dissolution 1. Corruptible Foundation The material Principle is but of a terrene Quality 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 earthly in its Original and Composition The first Man is of the Earth earthly a 1. Cor. 15.47 so frail be sure since the Fall that there is no soundness in it whose Foundation is in the Dust crushed before the Moth b Job 4.19 more easily mouldering away when God doth but lay his Hand on it than a Moth is bruised betwixt a Mans Fingers yet that little Animal weaker than a Worm may when disposed of at the Pleasure of the Almighty overthrew this Foundation Neither is the Foundation frail but also it hath 2. A mutable Station The State of the Soul in this Life is not fixed but in a perpetual Motion and therefore the Apostle appositely compares this earthly Body wherein we sojourn a little as an Inn unto a Tabernacle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hypallage Earthly House of this Tabernacle or as Beza would render it by a Figure the Tabernacle of our earthly House it being as moveable an Habitation as it 's a frail Foundation Some would derive the Word from an Hebrew Root which signifies he dwelt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Others from a Greek signifying a Shadow Sith a Tabernacle at the first was composed of Boughs and Leaves for the shading of Persons from the Heat and Wet But not to be curious about the Name our Body may be aptly enough compared to the thing called a Tabernacle or Tent which was very obvious to St. Paul who had exercised himself in Tent-making c Act. 18.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For 1. The very erecting of a Tent or Tabernacle whether we consider it under a Civil or Military Notion doth import the brevity of the Inhabitants stay in it When the Apostle Peter writes d 2 Pet. 1.13 I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by puting you in remembrance He intimates That he had not long to live and was willing to live to the best purpose by doing the most good during his short stay As when the Israelites built themselves Tents being in a travelling Posture not having any certain Habitations And as they were upon the way Sojourners and Strangers so are all of us in the Body for here have we no continuing City e Heb. 13 14. Though alas we may see some such Fools in their own practical Judgments feathering their Nests with the silly Birds that think not how soon it may be removed Yet even an Heathen * Gorgias Leonâ—ih in Stobaeus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who neither considered the Cause nor knew the Remedy could by the Eye of a natural Understanding call it A rotten fleeting little Cottage of short duration wherein the Soul must not stay long before the bodily frame of Nature will soon be taken in pieces by Death 2. The carrying of Tents and Tabernacles about doth further note the state of Pilgrims and Travellers that pass from place to place as we do move without rest whilst in the Body So the Prophet elegantly makes use of the Comparison f Isay 38.12 Mine Age is departed and is removed from me as a Shepherds Tent Which is set up a little while for Shelter and removed to another Pasture at pleasure As it is reported of the Nomades in Scythia as well as Numidia that they always remove their Tents with their Cattle which plainly sets forth our State here to be no less Transitory than Temporary and therefore the Apostle might well liken it to a Tabernacle especially if we consider further what he opens to our View and that is 3. The inevitable Dissclution of this earthly Tabernacle which is so temporary and transitory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if it were dissolved Which Supposition with reference to the Consequent doth evince that without all dispute it will be dissolved or taken down as a Tent that is loosed and laid up when the Siege is raised the City obtained and the War ceased It may be as a Tent is sometimes cut asunder and trod underfoot or burnt up So the Body by some violent Death may be sooner demolished than otherwise in the ordinary course of Nature it would be But tho it escape that Violence it cannot be long before it fall in pieces of its own accord For dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return g Gen. 3.19 Though thy Constitution thy Care and Labour with timely Advice of Physitians may help a little yet here is no stay long for the Life of thy hand to allude to that Expression of the Prophet h Is 57.10 It is appointed unto all Men once to die and then this Tabernacle will unavoidably give way for true Beleevers to go into that Receptacle which is nextly described in my Text viz. II. A Building of a more noble Structure peculiar to the Saints who do immediately pass into it upon the Dissolution of their earthly Tabernacles even a State of Glory provided by God for the separate Souls to enter into and abide in immediately after Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have a Building of God an House not made with Hands eternal in the Heavens When a Period is put unto the Scene of this Life much the same Word radically with this that signifys a Tabernacle then the Saints Souls who have acted their parts therein shall forthwith pass into those Mansions which our Saviour went before to make ready for the Reception and Entertainment of his Followers i John 14.2 I know some do expound this Building to be only the glorified Body But if we well consider this description in my Text which I shall presently open with reference to the 7th and 8th Verses in this Chapter noting the Souls immediate Passage out of the Body into this Building we may nextly and most fitly take it for the Glory with which the sanctified Soul upon its departure is forthwith cloathed and afterwards wherewith the Body shall be adorn'd at the Resurrection The Building we see is set forth to our View from Four Circumstances 1. The Architect the Founder and Builder 'T is a Building of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Mansion Seat of Glory is no other than the Paradise of God k Rev. 2.7 a rare Work where all due Proportions are observed and all Ornaments rightly chosen and placed ravishing the Eye of the Beholder Not only is it in a general Way the Paradise of God as he is the Author of the whole Creation
Earthly Tabernacle 3 How He doth not only dissintangle it from all bodily infirmities but free it from all Clouds of Errors and misshapprehensions And then 4 How He doth actually possess it of that Mansion where there is the absence of all Evil and the presence of all good the Cessation of Misery and the Collation of Felicity a Glorious Harmony of Proportions which take all that see it and enter into it Then 5 How He doth lead and conjoyn the Soul to the Blessed Society of an Innumerble Company of Holy Angels and the Spirits of just Men made perfect b Heb. 12.22 23. And then 6 How He doth with that Glorious Society in this most bright and beautiful Posession give it the enjoyment of the Beatificat Vision And lastly which is the compleating Glory of these Glories How He will reunite it again to its own Body Spiritualiz'd and Glorify'd and own it as a King at the great Coronation Day before all the World But I must content my self only to name things that thereby I may quicken your Souls when you retire into your Closets this Evening to contemplate upon them Believe it This is a most sutable Exercise after a Discourse at a Funeral And if you neglect Meditation upon such things as these when you have been bringing your beloved Friend to his long Home I fear the next day if God should call you to a Reckoning you will be able to give but a poor account of the Lesson that God reads to you from the Spectacle before your Eyes nor from the Sermon that comes to your Ears tho it should have been preached to you by an Angel For the Confirmation of the Point Confirm That the believing Soul passeth out of the Body into Glory I might produce several Arguments yet I shall but briefly suggest these Three From the Verity of the Promise Dignity of the Purchase Excellency of the Preparation and Provision 1. From the Verity of the Promise made by God who cannot lye This is the Promise that he hath promised us even eternal Life c 1 John 2.25 Tit. 1.2 He assureth his Servants who sincerely follow him That they shall be no losers by their Change An eternal weight of Glory will infinitely overweigh all their Afflictions and that they must be sure of upon his Word Verily saith he d Matt. 19.28 29. every one of you who have followed me in the regeneration that have forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my Name Sake shall receive an hundred Fold and shall inherit eternal Life When they have parted with all they had then they shall be received to him to possess all things Again 2. From the Dignity of the Purchase This heavenly Edifice was paid for with a Price of no less worth than the Blood of God This Inheritance of the Saints in light is incorruptible and that fadeth not away being it is a purchased Possession e Eph. 1.14 1 Pet. 1.4 19. procured by the pretious Blood of Christ that 's the most valuable Consideration who being God-Man in one Person because no other Creature was able undertook to be Mediator of the New Testament that by means of his Death for the Redemption of Transgression they which are called might receive the Inheritance promised f Heb. 9.15 which is presently forthwith upon their dissolution g Rev. 14.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. From the excellency of the preparation and provision which Christ makes ready against our Dissolution He orders his Purchase so that People may enjoy the benefit both by preparing It for them and Them for it 1. By preparing this Building in the New Jerusalem for his Servants He chears up his Disciples Mansions or abiding rooms of rest If it were not so I would have told you and not have drawn you on with vain Hopes had not this been certain thither I go to prepare a place for you h John 14.2 3. Mahomet gulls his silly Followers who give Credit to him that they shall enjoy a Paradise of sensual Pleasures but Christ is a true Prophet and no Imposter The way the truth and the life And he is now making this stately upper Room ready He is our Advocate with the Father putting in his Plea for Possession according to the purchase for all those whose Names are put into the Bill of Sale so that when they are warn'd out of these clayie Houses or Mud-wall Cottages wherein they sojourn as Tenants at Will they may enter into the Joy of their Lord who is also providing it for them 2. By preparing them for this dwelling in his Heavenly Court. For we find the Apostle Blessing God that he made those to whom he had designed to give a Kingdom meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in light i Colos 1.12 Christ doth not only procure them a Title but trim them up and make them ready with suitable Ornaments of Holiness for such an heavenly Habitation He takes care that they should believe who are ordain'd to eternal Life k Act. 13.48 and that there be real Grace wrought within their Hearts to fit them for this Glory in Heaven For as the learned Davenant * in Colos 1.12 hath well observ'd from Parisiensis The Soul of Man how compleatly soever enabled with natural Endowments till it be sanctifyed with Grace is not capable of being received into Glory But because Christ suits the Soul by Sanctification thereof 't is evident that the prepared Spirit shall enter into Glory prepared for it Thus for Confirmation Aplicat I shall only add Two Words for Application The One of Sharpness Other of Mildness 1. Of Sharpness and indeed sadness to those who practically slight this heavenly Building prepared for the believing Soul Oh! foolish People and unwise How many are there even in the Church Roll who never think of or make preparation for the fruition of this Blessed State They do so much employ their Souls about other Matters whilst in their Earthly Tabernacles that they regard not those Mansions of Bliss wherein they may abide comfortably in their State of Separation Oh! How few do as they should consider their future State when their Bodies must be Meat for the Worms they can sit plodding how they may keep this Shell of the Body whole but alas when this is broken and becomes useless to their Souls for a time they regard not how the pretious Pearl the Soul may be safely laid up how the Jewel may be preferr'd when the Carkess of the Body is broken in pieces and trod under foot They are much like that Great Lord of whom likely on such an occasion we have more than once been put in mind who us'd to go yearly to several Houses he had but on a time falling Sick one of his Servants whom belike he had accounted none of the wisest said to him Sir How do you The Lord answered
Woe is me Woe is me I must go hence Pray Sir Said the Servant Whether go you his Lord said Into another W rld And will you return Said the Servant will you stay there any long time Ah! said the Lord I shall never return again Said the Servant have not you sent your Harbingers before you to provide you of things necessary against the time you come there Then his Lord was silent whereupon the Servant said You have not done wisely For when you went but a short time to any of your Country Houses you us'd to send before to provide things meet for your Entertainment Wherefore 't is an unwise part in you not to make preparation for that place where you must abide always Oh! How many lye under the same guilt that this great Lord did in laying aside thoughts of this Heavenly Building till they come to lye upon their Death Beds But I beseech you now we have warning let none of us be found negligent of an Habitation for our Souls eternal in the Heavens which will be worthy our greatest diligence to take care of hence 2. A word of Mildness Comfort Sweetness and Encouragement unto true Believers who are making ready Both in regard of their own Souls and the Souls of their Christian Friends 1. In regard of themselves they need not fear but they shall better their state by death When the worser part is in the Grave the better the Soul will be there where it cannot but delight to dwell The Spirit shall return to God that gave it As the Historian * I. Florus ut consanguinea civitas c. said of Alba that the Walls of the City were Demolish'd but the Inhabitants carryed to Rome that a City of the same Blood might not be altogether extinguish'd but be reimbodyed into that State from which it had its Original So we may say of the Saints though their Tabernacles be dissolved Yet their Souls shall be enstated in Glory that they may not be extinct but received unto Christ by whose Spirit they are begotten to this lively hope Upon which consideration it was that Jubentius and Maximinus called Death the laying off the Garments of their Flesh but a kind of undressing them for sleep 2. In regard of their Christian Friends Believers when they see any of their near Relatives depart from this Tabernacle wherein they serv'd their Generation according to the Will of God they have no reason to sorrow as those without hope for their Souls are only gone to dwell with Jesus in the Building of God not made with hands Death doth but carry the Souls of your Friends who are espoused here by faith unto their Bridgroom Christ into the Bride Chamber in Heaven Where the Nuptial Feast is solemniz'd And therefore Bishop Ridley when he was to dye by suffering of Martyrdoom said to some of his Friends that he would have them come to see him the next day to rejoyce with him for he was going to his Wedding Be not dejected then that any of your godly Friends have left you since their Souls are gone into the embraces of Christ But rather make you sure of an interest there where they are for Observ 3 A 3d. Observation arising from the Text which I crave your leave to touch upon is this That a Believer may be assur'd his Soul shall go to Heaven when he departeth hence He may know when his Soul and Body are dissolved his Soul shall dwell with Christ in a Mansion of Glory We know faith beleving Paul that we have a Building c. He and other Believers with him were certain of it I did clear this in the Explication to be the meaning of the Expressions we know we have Many Proofs might be alledg'd I shall only name one and that is in the Epistle to the Hebrews l Heb. 10.34 Believers are there brought in yeilding to suffering upon this very Ground they are in my Text strengthened to bear the Cross viz. Knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance i. e. Having assurance of fulness of joy at Gods right hand they joyfully parted with all that did appertain to their Earthly House of this Tabernacle They know that as Persecution did bring Death in one hand so it did bring Life in the other The Doctrine is naturally deducible from my Text and others parallel to it by an Argument Ab Esse ad Posse Many Believers have been assured of their Souls welfare in Heaven in a state of seperation upon their dissolution upon their absence from the Body that they should be present with the Lord. And therefore Believers may come to know certainly they shall be saved Certitudo scribilis scientis And that not only with the certainty of the Object but of the Subject By a reflex Act of the Soul the Believer may attain to such a full persuasion that his Soul in particular shall undoubtedly pass out of the Body into this Building of God not made with hands eternal in the Heavens The very Reasons of the former Doctrine drawn from Christs promise his purchase and preparation of Heaven for Believers may also be a Ground of this So that a Believer may by the Testimony of the holy Spirit and internal Sense be able to assume that he is a Believer And so to infer that he hath a sure Title and evidence to the eternal inheritance he shall be possessed of at death I might produce other Arguments from the comforts of the Spirit especially in sealing Ordinances as also from the Prayer of Christ that Believers may be where he is And from the precepts to examine our selves and to give all diligence to get assurance as also from the nature of truly Christian hope which lyes in the expectation of a certain good For in that it doth transcend all the hope meer Moralists do talk of the imutability of Gods promise as confirm'd by his Oath that we might heave strong consolation who have fled for Refuge unto the Hope-set before us which hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the Vail m Heb. 6.18 19. But your patience I fear already wearyed forbids me the Enlargement of these particulars more fully to confirm this point Whence Applic. by way of Improvement I might take occasion to refute the Opposers of this Doctrine And also infer some Corollaries but I shall conclude only with A short Information and Exhortation 1. For Information of the judgment to prevent practical mistakes give me leave in two Words 1. Though a sincere Believer may know his future happy state Yet we must not thence conclude the formal nature of saving faith abstrastly considered lyes in Assurance Faith indeed requires Consent as well as Assent Yet Assurance is not the first vital Act of the Believing Soul But that as a judicious Writer Notes * Dr. Ames exfide Emanaâ—e
but as he hath appointed it for his more peculiar Pallace to be more glorious than the rest for his more especial Residence This he hath ordained for the chief Seat of his Kingdom which no Soul enslaved to Satan shall ever see or enter into until he be regenerated by the Holy Spirit Into this Holy of Holies which the glorious God did design for his own Chamber of Presence no unclean thing can be admitted Again as it is described from the Author so from 2. The Nature and Composure of the Fabrick which is not made with Hands of no humane Artifice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but of a transcendent spiritual Nature infinitely surpassing in the framing of it the rarest Mysteries that all the most skillful handi-crafts Men in the World can devise being like that other Work of Gods immediate Power for Christ Tabernacling here below l Heb. 9.11 As the Subject which is made fit for it is to be circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands m Coll. 2.11 i. e. spiritual and not seen so was this goodly Fabrick framed and modell'd by God himself in a most spiritual and glorious way far above the reach of our finite Apprehensions according to the Counsel of Gods own Will Again it is described from 3. The duration or strength and lastingness of it The stability and firmness of a building doth exceedingly commend the excellency of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now this is a Building made to last for ever 'T is without end as well as without hand It was prepared from the Foundation of the World n Matt. 25.34 and it will last when this World is ended 'T will never go to decay or ruine when all tears are wiped away from our Eyes we shall see this Prospect will never grow less Glorious throughout the days of Eternity which may more easily be conceived if we consider how it is describ'd from 4. It s Scituation aloft far above the narrow sight of any mortal Eye in the Heavens which do much surmount 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in dignity the Skie ennamel'd with the Stars that we cast our Eye upon even there where the Empyrean seat of glory the Chair of State and Throne of the most high God is Thus having view'd the Twofold State of a Believing Soul so far as the Text makes a discovery which was The thing Known of a Believer I am now breifly to unfold Secondly The Knowing act of a Believer we know St. Paul was not dubious about his future blessed State 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he and other believers excercising of their Faith on sure grounds were fully perswaded of possessing that building they had an interest in Here 's a prospect excells all other here 's the Royalty of sight He doth not say our Opinion is we shall have but noting the certainty considering the Principles of Faith on which He did proceed taking in others with himself saith He as confidently as if it had been a thing known by a Mathematical demonstration we know we have which is as certain as if we were in posession of an Heavenly habitation Our Apostle also hath the same word Originaly refering to future retribution concerning Servants as well as Masters o Col. 3.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance and that ye also have a Master in Heaven Here He asserts Believers assurance of an interest in that state by the earnest desires after it which are wrought in their Hearts by the Holy Spirit Having with what convenient brevity I could Explained the words I might easily from the Context the Contexture of the words themselves and the Particular Materials merion'd under each part commend unto you very many Observations But I shall only pitch upon Three viz. Two from the Twofold State and one from the Act of St Paul and other Believers Observ 1 1. Our estate in the Body is Corruptable Mutable and Dissolvable Even believers here in this life do stay but a while in an earthly tabernacle which must be pull'd in pieces We see this is evident from the first Prospect that the Apostle gives us of his own and others Condition in this present World being common with all Men David would have it very seriously thought on by us that Verily every Man at his best State is altogether Vanity and therefore He prays for himself as every one of us should do not in impatiency but with piety Lord make me to know mine end and the Measure of my days what it is that I may know how frail I am p Ps◠9. i.e. Practically to Consider the days of our Pilgrimage and our fleeting condition as good old Jacob did and Eliphaz told Job that these houses of Clay are destroyed or beaten to pieces from Morning to Evening and so perish without any regarding q Job 4.19 20 Oh! that we were perswaded now to regard it But I am afraid too many even whiles I am treating upon this Theam are saying in their Hearts this is nothing but an old beaten Subject we have often heard of and slight the benefit they might gain by a Practical Consideration of this necessary point Which is so clearly evident from Experience and the Epithets given to Mans life 1. From most ample Experience for above 5000 years publish'd by all sorts of Men who have Complain'd of their weak Constitution and Helpless Condition And no Contribution of Creatures could free them from Disolution 1. Their meak Constitution we have had Scriptural Experience already attesting and might produce many more insances that in our whole frame and every bodily part ve are Corruptible Variable and Disolvable The Building cannot be stable and durable if all the Materials be roten and perishable and therefore saith Job r Job 6.11 What is my strength that I should hope and what is mine end that I should prolong my Life And elsewhere s 〈…〉 17 1◠I have said to Corruption Thou art my father to the Worm Thou art my mother and my sister And where is now my hope Alas Man is but a piece of brittle Earth nearly made up Terra fri◠bilis that is ready continually to crumble in pieces and moulder away Yea and by reason of the union since the poyson of Sin hath spread it self into every part and faculty even the Soul and Spirit suffers whilst it stays in this House by reason of it's Crasiness and when the Soul hath left this House then the strewing of the most Fragrant Flowers will not long countervail the noisome scent of its Corruption and notwithstanding the sweetest Embalmings the Coffin wherein it is laid is lined with an unsavory Corps 2. Experience further acquaints us with Mens Complaints of their Helpless Condition shewing that they have no strength to support their Tottering House but every little thing doth not only trouble them in it but also
turn them out of it Man that is born of a Woman is of few days and full of Trouble t 〈◊〉 14.1 Every thing disturbs him and dissorders him The Fire the Aire the Wind the Lightning the Water the Smoak the Dust of the Earth a Fly a little Stone generated within our own Bowels our Meat our Drink our Physick our Passions our Griet our Joy our Fear c. May introduce Death and lead us to our Graves as they have done many before they were aware Two fits of an Ague could dissolve Tamerlane when they shak'd him to Death in the midst of his great hopes and greatest Power when he was preparing for the utter rooting out of the Ottoman family and the Conquest of the Graecian Empire The most Jolly and sprightful Commander is soon sent away if God do but change his Countenance u Job 14.20 Again 3. Experience proves that no Contribution of Creatures could free Men from their Dissolution No shift can secure us from Deaths Arrest unto Judgment The Confluence of all those things we are apt so much to desire yield but small comfort nay some times they prove Crosses Alas What can all the Profits Preferments Pleasures Priviledges of this World avail to the support of this Earthly House one day beyond it's appointed time All they who run Toyling Sweating Contriving and wearing out their Life with Labour in their grand Inquest after these things and so making themselves more Miserable out of fear of Misery will one day Subscribe to the truth on the Tomb of Sardanapalus who is said to have one hand in posture of Filliping reaching forth with this Motto Omnia nec tanti All is not worth a Fillip What profit hath a Man of all his Labour which he taketh under the Sun w Eccles 1.3 Thus we see the evidence of the point from Experience 2. From the Epithets given to Mans Life both in Scripture and Humane Story the point is further evident In Scripture What is your Life but a Vapour that appeareth a little time and Vanisheth away x Jam. 4.4 look in other places and what is it But a Shadow a Flood a Flower a Watch in the Night a Race a Cloud a Tale that is told a Bird flying a Ship sayling a Pilgrimage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Fight a Smoak a Sleep Yea a Dream a Vain-Shew In Humane Story saith Pindar Man is but the dream of Shadow and Ulisses in Sophocles While we live we are but meer Images or a vain inconstant shaddow saith Lipsuis in his own Epitaph shall I deal plainly with you All Humane things not Learning Excepted are meer Smoak shaddows Vanity or in short Nothings I need not add any more for Evidence only a little for Inference Inference 1. Learn To see what mistaken apprehensions they have who look for full Content in the Body Thereby misplacing their affections in suffering them to run out most upon those things which appertain to this tabernacle Alas how many even Professors of Godliness who say they have here no Continuing City yet sith their Conversation is so much below their Profession they shew that it is plain in their Practical judgments they are Terrae filij Sons of the Earth Citizens of the World and Terrae Filiae Daughters of the Earth now raising Puffie Pyramids on their heads after the manner of Aegypt They mind Earthly things They set their affections cheifly if not only upon their house of this Tabernacle They really prefer the Material to the Spiritual Building They indeed with the Sensual Israelites prefer Aegypt to Canaan And in their heart approve that Profane Cardinals saying who affirm'd He would not give his part in Paris for his part in Paradice I may appeal to what is written with legible Characters in many of your own Consciences for the proof of this Inference But let the Heathen Moralist * Seneca Major sum ad majora genitus quam ut mancipium sim corporis mei take us off saying I am greater and born to far greater things than to be a Slave to my Body Let us I beseech you for the Future If we may be here any longer not dote upon this perishing state But remember always whiles we blame Esau for prefering a Mess of Pottag above his Birthright we do Condemn our selves in setting our hearts upon these Earthly Tabernacles and prefering of them to the Heavenly And therefore Learn 2. To deaden our affections to the very best of these Transitorie things Let 's not be discontented and immoderately afflicted when we see any of our Friends Tabernacles are loosed and taken down Lay no claim to an abiding place in this present World Neither we nor our Friends have here any setled Mansions but only fleeting Tabernacles And therefore tho' we ought to be sensible of the departure of our Friends Let 's not think our selves undon when we see them taken in pieces And as we should not place our Contentment in our present state So neither should we be discontented when we find our Friends to be remov'd out of it Let 's therefore change our opinion concerning these outward things which we are apt to over rate see them as indeed they are Empty Unsatissing and Changeable and then we shall not cry and whine like Children without understanding or as Heathens without hopes either when we loose them or when we must leave them If then we be true Believers who pass out of this Changeable into an Vnchangeable state which leads me to A Second Observation Observ 2 That a future State of a Believer is of God Excellent and Eternal in the Heavens When the Soul of a Sincere Servant of God is loosed from this frail Tabernacle it enters into the Pallace of Glory there to remain in that Blessed State for ever Holy Saints leaving the Body they do in a Spiritual sence take the Wings of a Dove sly away and are at rest No sooner uncloath'd but cloath'd upon Mortality being swallowed of Life y Rev. 19.8 with v. 3 4. In the beauties of Holiness the Souls of the Saints departed are Gloriously cloathed with long white Robes which is the righteousness of the Saints here in their Pilgrimage God guides them with his Counsel and afterwards receives them to Glory z Psal 73.24 The time will not permit me so far as the Scripture reveals to give you a Prospect of this fair Building in its several parts otherwise I might in several particulars Illustrate the nature of this Blessed State which is a very large and a pleasant Subject For I might shew 1 How this Building is most Commodiously seated in the Continent of Compleat Hapiness the Kingdom of Heaven which was before the Earth was framed in a City that hath Foundations whose builder and maker is God a Heb. 11.10 2 How the Lord Jesus Christ doth receive the Spirit of the Believer as he did Stephens upon the dissolution of this
which doth flow forth from that faith when the Soul doth by a noble Operation reflect upon it self Faith that 's the root and this certain knowledge as one says * Culverâ— wâ—ll Flos fiâ—eâ— is the Flower the very iustro and eminency of Faith Assurance is the top Branch the flourishing of Faith Faith with a gloss upon it Again 2. Though a true Believer may yet every Believer doth not actually attain a certain knowledge of his Souls safety in a state of glory Some sincere Converts walk in the dark and see no light The Sun of Righteousness is Eclypsed from them They are so far from an undoubted knowledge that as to their own sense they may look upon themselves as lost though God knows all this while that they are his and that he will infallibly bring them to dwell for ever with him in this stately Building in the new Jerusalem however for ends best known to himself he may at present hide the stedfast sight of joy and comfort from them and not let them know their Priviledge till they be possessed of Glory Here for a better understanding of this matter we might distinguish of A double certainty of Adherence Evidence 1. Of Adherence or affiance which is when the Soul doth by a more direct Act of Faith divolve or throw it self on God and by self resignation adventure on him as the only helper able to save to the uttermost Resolving to fix there saying if I perish I perish 2. Of Evidence or undoubted stedfastness arising from a certain Spiritual Sense whereby the Soul in reflecting on it self comes not only to stay it self on God but from sweet Supplies of Peace and Comfort to be fully perswaded of a real Union to Christ We may find Holy Job in both these several degrees at several times one time in the dark yet then he adheres to God with humble Confidence Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Another time he hath Evidence I know my Redeemer lives and with these Eyes I shall see him In the former direct act of Faith he overcomes the Temptation in the latter reflex Act he is more than a Conqueror in the former he was so certain that he resolv'd to trust God in the latter he could Triumph in him So that tho' he was discourag'd yet he saw he was not disinherited but his Title was confirm'd Thus for Information of the Judgment to prevent mistakes 2. For Exhortation to perswade and stir us up first to get a sure Title to the Inheritance of the Saints in Light and then to get it sealed First to get a Fiat or Grant then an Obsignation Oh! Christians adhere to Christ and then give all diligence to get an assurance of his Purchase upon good grounds Alas How many in our Times have built upon crackt Titles in Temporals as if all had been sure that prov'd otherwise But I fear more build upon Sandy Foundations in Spirituals They apply themselves to such keepers of the Seal as the King of Righteousness hath not awarranted taking Presumptions for Evidences And if so when these Tabernacles are dissolved they shall not have their Souls received into the King of Heavens Mansions made without hands No Key will open this Door into this heavenly Building but one of Gods own making It would be proper here to propose some Marks Motives and Means 1. Marks to try our Titles for the Heart is very deceitful But if the Tabernacles of our Bodies be dissolved and we have only pleased our selves with shadows of an imaginary Happiness what will become of us Wherefore to be short and plain with thee who would indeed come to a certainty If thy Gospel Obedience which is not perfect nor can be in this Life be not sincere universal and constant I dare not sav thou hast a good Title to the building of God not made with hands if thou be not dead at least in thy predominant desire to Sin I dare not assure thee how Godly soever thou art reputed to be that thou hast a Life hid with Christ in God It hath been argued amongst some whether Land did belong to England or Ireland by putting Toads and Addors into it If they dyed then it was held to belong to Ireland whose Men be sure are of a more viporous and biting Brood if they lived then to England so if Sin be alive and reign in thy Soul then it is a Native arguing a Child of Wrath but if it be dead then it argues thou art a Child of Light and that thou art an Inhabitant belonging to Heaven 2. For Motives to quicken us up to get evidence of our spiritual Title consider the future good Estate of thy Soul is far to be valued above assurance of an Estate for thy Body and yet thou canst scarce trust part of that at Sea for fear of a Storm without some Evidence for Security seal'd at the Ensurance Office Yet assurance of Heaven would free us as from many distracting worldly Cares so from many Jars and Divisions here It would compose us to a Settlement were our Hearts established with Grace It would sweeten our present Conditions to us secure us from the Worlds Frowns convert our Crosses into Comforts It would work that which the most Artificial Operator in Chymistry cannot do else why should Noy the Martyr say when he kissed the Stake Blessed be the time that ever I was born for this day Then turning to his fellow Martyrs we shall not lose our Lives in this Fire but change them for a better and have Pearls for Coals c. 3. For means or helps to get assurance take a few Directions which I must crowd together and cast amongst you some Memories may catch one Sentence and some another Consider seriously the worth of thine immortal Soul surpassing the whole World Trade first and most for that pretious Jewel with a diligent Enquiry after the safety of it Be frequent in Heart-examination and Self-reflection Review often the Experiences thou hast had of God yet not resting in them but still putting forth direct Acts of Faith Vigorously exert thy Faith in fervent Supplications and Praises Study Self-denial and get a willing resignation of thy self and Concerns to the will God who dispenseth these Royal Favours of Assurance for the most part only to some of his Eminent Servants Observe carefully the Seasons of the Spirits Motions for Sealing and defer not to close with them Keep thy self clean from gross Pollutions Shun the appearance of Evil. And Lastly follow hard after Communion with God in all his Ordinances The careful observance of such Directions as these and the like was the usual Course of our Learned Prudent and Godly Brother deceased Mr. Henry Hurst for whose Funeral Solemnity we are here met at this time I have been importuned to entertain you with a Discourse such an one as I can on this mournful Occasion And you are come I know with greedy Ears as well