A sermon preach'd at the funeral of Capt. John Briggs at Dunstable, March 23, 1694/5 by Thomas Harrison.
         Harrison, Thomas.
      
       
         
           1695
        
      
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             A sermon preach'd at the funeral of Capt. John Briggs at Dunstable, March 23, 1694/5 by Thomas Harrison.
             Harrison, Thomas.
          
           iv, 27 p.
           
             Printed by J.D. for the author,
             London :
             MDCXCV [1695]
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Briggs, John.
           Bible. -- N.T. -- Corinthians, 2nd, V, 1 -- Sermons.
           Funeral sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           SERMON
           Preach'd
           at
           the
           FUNERAL
           OF
           
             Capt.
             John
             Briggs
          
           ,
           At
           Dunstable
           ,
           March
           23
           ,
           1694
           /
           5.
           
        
         
           By
           THOMAS
           HARRISON
           .
        
         
           
             
               ISAIAH
               LVII
               .
               1.
            
             
          
           
             The
             Righteous
             perisheth
             ,
             and
             no
             Man
             layeth
             it
             to
             Heart
             ;
             and
             merciful
             Men
             are
             taken
             away
             ,
             none
             considering
             that
             the
             Righteous
             is
             taken
             away
             from
             the
             Evil
             to
             come
             .
          
        
         
           London
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             J.
             D.
          
           for
           the
           Author
           .
           MDCXCV
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           The
           Epistle
           Dedicatory
           ,
           To
           Mrs.
           
             ELIZABETH
             BRIGGS
          
           ,
           Widow
           of
           the
           Deceased
           Capt.
           JOHN
           BRIGGS
           .
        
         
           
             MADAM
             ,
          
        
         
           THE
           Meanness
           of
           the
           following
           Discourse
           would
           have
           been
           an
           effectual
           Bar
           to
           its
           Publication
           ,
           had
           not
           your
           Desire
           usher'd
           it
           into
           the
           World.
           The
           first
           thing
           of
           mine
           that
           came
           forth
           from
           the
           Press
           was
           a
           Sermon
           ,
           occasioned
           by
           the
           Decease
           of
           your
           beloved
           Daughter
           ;
           and
           I
           concluded
           you
           would
           not
           take
           it
           well
           ,
           if
           I
           denied
           you
           the
           liberty
           of
           reading
           that
           Discourse
           which
           was
           preached
           at
           your
           Husband's
           Funeral
           ,
           in
           a
           fairer
           Character
           than
           mine
           own
           Hand-writing
           .
           Besides
           ,
           that
           Divine
           Blessing
           which
           I
           hope
           attended
           the
           Publication
           of
           the
           former
           ,
           gave
           me
           the
           greater
           Encouragement
           to
           expose
           the
           latter
           to
           publick
           View
           .
           I
           
           am
           not
           so
           vain
           as
           to
           think
           printing
           this
           Sermon
           will
           advance
           my
           Reputation
           among
           Learned
           and
           Judicious
           Readers
           ,
           it
           is
           more
           likely
           to
           produce
           a
           contrary
           Effect
           ;
           but
           if
           God
           should
           bless
           it
           to
           the
           Conversion
           of
           one
           Sinner
           ,
           or
           the
           building
           up
           of
           one
           Saint
           ,
           I
           hope
           I
           shall
           rejoice
           more
           than
           if
           I
           gained
           the
           greatest
           Applause
           thereby
           .
           Tho
           it
           be
           not
           Meat
           for
           strong
           Men
           ,
           yet
           I
           hope
           it
           may
           be
           Milk
           for
           Babes
           .
           To
           conclude
           ,
           That
           he
           who
           hath
           promised
           to
           be
           an
           Husband
           to
           the
           Widow
           ,
           and
           a
           Father
           to
           the
           Fatherless
           ,
           would
           put
           his
           Everlasting
           Arms
           under
           you
           ,
           and
           sanctify
           all
           the
           Dispensations
           of
           his
           Providence
           to
           you
           ;
           that
           he
           would
           shower
           down
           the
           choicest
           of
           his
           Blessings
           upon
           you
           and
           the
           Fruit
           of
           your
           Womb
           ;
           that
           your
           Children
           may
           tread
           in
           the
           steps
           of
           their
           deceased
           Father
           ,
           and
           their
           living
           Mother
           ,
           is
           the
           sincere
           Desire
           of
           your
           Friend
           and
           Servant
           ,
        
         
           
             THO.
             HARRISON
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           preach'd
           at
           the
           Funeral
           of
           Capt.
           
             JOHN
             BRIGGS
          
           .
        
         
           
             
               
                 2
                 COR.
                 v.
                 1.
              
               
            
             
               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
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             MAN
             is
             born
             to
             Trouble
             as
             the
             Sparks
             fly
             upward
             .
          
           Various
           are
           the
           Miseries
           and
           Calamities
           which
           attend
           the
           Human
           Race
           during
           their
           Continuance
           in
           ,
           and
           Pilgrimage
           through
           the
           waste
           and
           howling
           Wilderness
           of
           this
           World.
           And
           sincere
           Christians
           are
           so
           far
           from
           obtaining
           an
           Immunity
           and
           Freedom
           from
           Temporal
           Evils
           while
           in
           a
           Mortal
           State
           ,
           that
           they
           generally
           have
           the
           greatest
           share
           of
           them
           :
           But
           they
           have
           those
           Cordials
           to
           support
           and
           revive
           their
           Spirits
           under
           the
           Pressure
           of
           Afflictive
           Providences
           ,
           whereof
           others
           are
           wholly
           destitute
           .
           We
           need
           look
           no
           further
           for
           an
           Instance
           of
           this
           ,
           than
           the
           Chapter
           preceding
           that
           which
           my
           Text
           begins
           ;
           wherein
           the
           Apostle
           having
           mentioned
           those
           Sufferings
           
           which
           himself
           and
           his
           Brethren
           underwent
           ,
           for
           their
           stedfast
           Adherence
           to
           ,
           and
           Endeavours
           to
           propagate
           the
           ever-blessed
           Gospel
           ,
           he
           gives
           an
           Account
           of
           those
           things
           which
           afforded
           them
           Comfort
           and
           Support
           under
           such
           deplorable
           Circumstances
           ,
           whereof
           the
           hope
           of
           future
           Glory
           was
           not
           the
           least
           ,
           which
           he
           proposes
           in
           the
           close
           of
           that
           Chapter
           ,
           and
           farther
           prosecutes
           in
           the
           words
           of
           my
           Text
           ,
           
             For
             we
             know
             ,
             that
             if
             our
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           The
           Method
           that
           I
           shall
           take
           in
           speaking
           to
           these
           Words
           shall
           be
           ,
           
             
               I.
               To
               explain
               them
               .
            
             
               II.
               To
               apply
               them
               .
            
          
        
         
           I.
           I
           shall
           explain
           them
           :
           And
           in
           order
           to
           a
           regular
           and
           distinct
           Explication
           of
           them
           ,
           I
           shall
           take
           notice
           of
           these
           four
           following
           things
           contain'd
           in
           them
           .
        
         
           First
           ;
           A
           Description
           of
           the
           State
           and
           Condition
           of
           the
           Human
           Body
           in
           this
           Life
           ;
           
             Our
             Earthly
             House
             of
             this
             Tabernacle
             .
          
        
         
           Secondly
           ;
           An
           implicit
           Assertion
           of
           its
           Dissolution
           ;
           
             If
             it
             were
             dissolved
          
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ;
           A
           Description
           of
           the
           blessed
           State
           and
           Habitation
           of
           the
           Saints
           after
           the
           Dissolution
           of
           their
           Bodies
           :
           
             We
             have
             a
             Building
             of
             God
             ,
             an
             House
             not
             made
             with
             Hands
             ,
             eternal
             in
             the
             Heavens
             .
          
        
         
           Fourthly
           ;
           The
           comfortable
           Knowledg
           and
           Assurance
           which
           the
           Apostle
           and
           other
           Christians
           had
           concerning
           their
           present
           Right
           to
           ,
           and
           future
           Fruition
           of
           this
           Blessedness
           ,
           
             We
             know
          
           .
        
         
         
           First
           ;
           A
           Description
           of
           the
           State
           and
           Condition
           of
           the
           Human
           Body
           in
           this
           Life
           ;
           
             Our
             Earthly
             House
             of
             this
             Tabernacle
             .
          
        
         
           That
           this
           is
           a
           Description
           of
           the
           Body
           in
           its
           Mortal
           State
           ,
           is
           evident
           both
           from
           the
           Text
           and
           Context
           .
           Tho
           the
           Apostle
           here
           speaks
           particularly
           of
           Believers
           ,
           yet
           what
           is
           said
           concerning
           the
           present
           Frame
           and
           Condition
           of
           their
           Bodies
           ,
           is
           applicable
           to
           the
           Corporeal
           Part
           of
           all
           Mankind
           .
           The
           Earthly
           House
           of
           this
           Tabernacle
           ,
           or
           ,
           this
           Earthly
           House
           or
           Tabernacle
           :
           For
           when
           two
           synonymous
           Words
           are
           made
           use
           of
           in
           the
           Description
           of
           the
           same
           thing
           ,
           the
           latter
           is
           sometimes
           put
           in
           the
           Genitive
           Case
           ,
           instead
           of
           their
           being
           joined
           together
           by
           the
           Conjunction
           or
           ;
           thus
           Numb
           .
           19.2
           .
           
             This
             is
             the
             Ordinance
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
          
           i.
           e.
           this
           is
           the
           Ordinance
           or
           Law
           ,
           and
           in
           several
           other
           places
           .
           More
           particularly
           ,
           there
           are
           two
           things
           observable
           in
           this
           part
           of
           the
           Text.
           
        
         
           1st
           .
           The
           things
           to
           which
           he
           compares
           Man's
           Body
           ,
           viz.
           an
           House
           and
           a
           Tabernacle
           .
        
         
           2dly
           .
           The
           Epithet
           which
           he
           gives
           it
           ,
           Earthly
           .
        
         
           1st
           .
           The
           things
           to
           which
           he
           compares
           Man's
           Body
           ,
           viz.
           an
           House
           or
           a
           Tabernacle
           ;
           for
           these
           words
           must
           not
           be
           taken
           in
           a
           Proper
           and
           Literal
           ,
           but
           in
           a
           Figurative
           and
           Metaphorical
           Sense
           .
        
         
           First
           ;
           He
           compares
           it
           to
           an
           House
           .
           This
           Denomination
           is
           given
           to
           Human
           Bodies
           ,
           Job
           4.19
           .
           they
           are
           called
           Houses
           of
           Clay
           .
           The
           Body
           may
           be
           compared
           to
           an
           House
           for
           two
           Reasons
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Because
           of
           the
           Curiosity
           of
           its
           Structure
           .
           Some
           Art
           and
           Skill
           must
           be
           exercised
           in
           building
           an
           House
           ,
           that
           
           all
           its
           Parts
           may
           be
           commodious
           ,
           and
           bear
           a
           due
           and
           comely
           Proportion
           to
           each
           other
           .
           The
           Divine
           Architect
           hath
           displayed
           his
           Wisdom
           as
           well
           as
           his
           Power
           in
           the
           Formation
           of
           the
           Human
           Body
           :
           We
           are
           fearfully
           and
           wonderfully
           made
           ,
           and
           our
           Substance
           was
           curiously
           wrought
           ,
           Psal
           .
           139.14
           ,
           15.
           
           Tho
           it
           is
           made
           of
           a
           vile
           Material
           ,
           yet
           it
           hath
           a
           noble
           and
           excellent
           Form
           ,
           yea
           the
           Matter
           it self
           is
           sublimated
           and
           refined
           :
           There
           is
           nothing
           wanting
           that
           is
           necessary
           for
           use
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           nothing
           superfluous
           or
           un-useful
           .
           But
           I
           shall
           not
           now
           anatomize
           the
           Human
           Body
           ,
           lead
           you
           into
           all
           the
           Rooms
           of
           this
           stately
           and
           compact
           Fabrick
           ,
           or
           shew
           you
           the
           Curiosity
           of
           every
           Part.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           Because
           it
           is
           an
           Habitation
           for
           the
           Soul.
           Man
           is
           said
           to
           dwell
           in
           this
           House
           of
           Clay
           ,
           Job
           4.19
           .
           I
           conceive
           Man
           is
           here
           by
           a
           Synecdoche
           put
           for
           the
           Soul
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           superiour
           Part
           of
           Man.
           The
           Soul
           dwells
           in
           the
           Body
           as
           an
           Inhabitant
           in
           an
           House
           ,
           only
           with
           this
           difference
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           formal
           Union
           between
           the
           Soul
           and
           Body
           ,
           which
           there
           is
           not
           between
           a
           Man
           and
           the
           House
           wherein
           he
           dwells
           .
           And
           the
           Body
           in
           this
           respect
           bears
           a
           Resemblance
           to
           an
           House
           in
           three
           things
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           In
           its
           Inferiority
           to
           the
           Soul
           in
           Worth
           and
           Excellence
           .
           As
           a
           Man
           is
           of
           more
           Worth
           than
           the
           most
           stately
           and
           costly
           Palace
           that
           can
           be
           inhabited
           by
           him
           ;
           so
           is
           the
           Soul
           of
           more
           Value
           than
           the
           Body
           wherein
           it
           resides
           ,
           and
           which
           is
           inform'd
           by
           it
           .
           In
           the
           Body
           there
           are
           visible
           Footsteps
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           the
           Divine
           Image
           is
           stampt
           and
           pourtray'd
           upon
           the
           Soul.
           The
           Image
           of
           God
           in
           Man
           consists
           not
           in
           what
           is
           seen
           ,
           but
           in
           what
           is
           not
           seen
           :
           God
           expresly
           saith
           ,
           that
           none
           saw
           a
           Similitude
           of
           him
           ,
           Deut.
           4.15
           .
           which
           had
           not
           been
           true
           ,
           if
           Man
           in
           regard
           of
           his
           Body
           had
           been
           the
           Image
           and
           Similitude
           of
           God
           ;
           for
           then
           a
           Figure
           of
           God
           had
           been
           seen
           every
           day
           ,
           as
           often
           as
           we
           saw
           a
           
           Man
           ,
           or
           beheld
           our selves
           .
           Tho
           many
           of
           the
           Children
           of
           Men
           are
           destitute
           of
           God's
           Moral
           Image
           ,
           consisting
           in
           Knowledg
           ,
           Righteousness
           and
           true
           Holiness
           ,
           yet
           every
           Human
           Soul
           bears
           his
           Natural
           Image
           in
           its
           spiritual
           Nature
           and
           Properties
           .
           Surely
           the
           more
           remote
           from
           Matter
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           like
           to
           the
           supream
           Spirit
           any
           Being
           is
           ,
           the
           greater
           is
           its
           Excellency
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           In
           its
           Usefulness
           and
           Subserviency
           to
           the
           Soul.
           As
           the
           House
           is
           erected
           for
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Inhabitant
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           Rooms
           thereof
           are
           prepared
           for
           his
           Service
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Affairs
           therein
           are
           managed
           and
           conducted
           by
           him
           ;
           so
           the
           Body
           was
           framed
           for
           the
           Service
           of
           the
           Soul
           ,
           tho
           Sin
           often
           renders
           it
           injurious
           to
           its
           noble
           Inhabitant
           .
           The
           Motions
           of
           the
           Bodily
           Members
           are
           all
           directed
           and
           guided
           by
           that
           Intelligent
           Spirit
           which
           is
           seated
           in
           it
           .
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           In
           the
           Independence
           of
           the
           Soul
           upon
           the
           Body
           ,
           as
           to
           its
           Operations
           and
           Existence
           .
           An
           Inhabitant
           can
           act
           without
           ,
           and
           may
           exist
           separate
           from
           his
           Habitation
           .
           There
           are
           many
           Operations
           of
           the
           Soul
           while
           it
           lodges
           in
           the
           Body
           ,
           which
           it
           puts
           forth
           independently
           from
           the
           Body
           ,
           and
           whereto
           the
           Corporeal
           Part
           doth
           not
           at
           all
           concur
           .
           And
           when
           the
           Soul
           shall
           be
           dislodged
           from
           this
           Dwelling-place
           ,
           it
           will
           still
           have
           an
           Existence
           .
           This
           noble
           Inhabitant
           shall
           not
           be
           buried
           in
           the
           Ruines
           of
           that
           Earthly
           Tabernacle
           .
           Tho
           the
           Life
           of
           the
           Man
           is
           destroy'd
           by
           the
           Separation
           of
           the
           Soul
           from
           the
           Body
           ,
           because
           it
           consists
           in
           their
           Union
           ;
           yet
           the
           Life
           of
           the
           Soul
           ,
           which
           hath
           no
           Dependence
           on
           such
           an
           Union
           ,
           is
           not
           destroy'd
           thereby
           .
           The
           Soul
           animates
           the
           Body
           ,
           but
           the
           Body
           conveys
           no
           Life
           to
           the
           Soul.
           
        
         
           Secondly
           ;
           The
           Body
           is
           compared
           to
           a
           Tabernacle
           .
        
         
           The
           Apostle
           Peter
           gives
           the
           same
           Denomination
           to
           his
           Body
           ,
           2
           Pet.
           1.13
           ,
           14.
           
           
             Yea
             ,
             I
             think
             it
             meet
             ,
             as
             long
             as
             I
             
             am
             in
             this
             Tabernacle
             ,
             to
             stir
             you
             up
             ,
             by
             putting
             you
             in
             Remembrance
             :
             Knowing
             that
             shortly
             I
             must
             put
             off
             this
             my
             Tabernacle
             .
          
        
         
           And
           the
           Body
           may
           be
           compared
           to
           a
           Tabernacle
           for
           two
           Reasons
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Because
           of
           the
           short
           continuance
           of
           the
           Soul
           in
           it
           .
           A
           Tabernacle
           is
           opposed
           to
           a
           fix'd
           Habitation
           ,
           Heb.
           11.9
           .
           They
           who
           only
           sojourned
           in
           a
           place
           ,
           and
           were
           speedily
           to
           remove
           from
           it
           ,
           did
           in
           former
           times
           erect
           Tabernacles
           for
           themselves
           .
           Indeed
           our
           Bodies
           are
           rather
           Tabernacles
           wherein
           we
           sojourn
           for
           a
           little
           time
           ,
           than
           Houses
           wherein
           we
           have
           a
           fix'd
           Habitation
           :
           We
           are
           Pilgrims
           and
           Strangers
           in
           the
           Earth
           ;
           our
           immortal
           Souls
           will
           soon
           take
           their
           flight
           from
           our
           Bodies
           .
           We
           often
           read
           of
           the
           Brevity
           of
           Man's
           Life
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           .
           
             Man
             that
             is
             born
             of
             a
             Woman
             ,
             is
             of
             few
             Days
             ,
             and
             full
             of
             Trouble
             .
             He
             cometh
             forth
             like
             a
             Flower
             ,
             and
             is
             cut
             down
             :
             he
             fleeth
             also
             as
             a
             Shadow
             ,
             and
             continueth
             not
          
           ;
           Job
           14.1
           ,
           2.
           
           Man's
           Life
           is
           compared
           to
           a
           Vapour
           ,
           which
           soon
           vanisheth
           ,
           James
           4.14
           .
           to
           Smoke
           which
           quickly
           disappears
           ,
           Psal
           .
           102.3
           .
           to
           the
           Grass
           which
           is
           withered
           by
           the
           Summer
           Sun
           ,
           or
           cut
           down
           by
           the
           sharp
           Scythe
           ,
           Isa
           .
           40.6
           ,
           7.
           it
           is
           said
           to
           be
           swifter
           than
           a
           Weaver's
           Shuttle
           ,
           which
           quickly
           runneth
           from
           one
           side
           of
           the
           Web
           to
           the
           other
           ;
           its
           Motion
           is
           represented
           by
           the
           telling
           of
           a
           Tale
           ,
           the
           sailing
           of
           a
           Ship
           in
           the
           mighty
           Ocean
           ,
           and
           the
           flight
           of
           an
           Eagle
           towards
           its
           Prey
           :
           It
           is
           compared
           to
           an
           Hand
           's
           breadth
           ,
           yea
           to
           nothing
           ,
           Psal
           .
           39.5
           .
           How
           short
           is
           the
           Life
           of
           Man
           in
           this
           World
           if
           compared
           with
           the
           eternal
           Duration
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           with
           the
           Life
           which
           we
           shall
           live
           in
           the
           other
           World
           !
           Yea
           ,
           the
           life
           of
           Man
           in
           our
           days
           is
           exceeding
           short
           ,
           if
           compared
           with
           the
           Lives
           of
           the
           Antediluvian
           Fathers
           .
           There
           are
           but
           a
           few
           steps
           between
           our
           Cradles
           and
           our
           Graves
           :
           They
           who
           live
           longest
           in
           the
           
           Body
           live
           but
           a
           little
           time
           ;
           but
           how
           short
           is
           the
           Continuance
           of
           some
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           who
           are
           cut
           off
           in
           their
           flourishing
           Age
           ,
           in
           the
           Morning
           of
           their
           Days
           !
           We
           are
           all
           hastily
           marching
           to
           Eternity
           ,
           and
           shall
           shortly
           come
           to
           our
           Journey
           's
           end
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Because
           of
           its
           Weakness
           and
           Frailty
           .
           Tabernacles
           were
           but
           slightly
           built
           ,
           very
           weak
           and
           infirm
           Structures
           ;
           they
           were
           not
           made
           of
           durable
           Matter
           ,
           nor
           fix'd
           upon
           strong
           Foundations
           .
           Our
           Bodies
           ,
           those
           Houses
           of
           Clay
           wherein
           our
           Souls
           reside
           ,
           are
           said
           to
           have
           their
           Foundation
           in
           the
           Dust
           ,
           Job
           4.19
           .
           The
           Strength
           of
           a
           Building
           lies
           very
           much
           in
           its
           Foundation
           ;
           and
           that
           Edifice
           which
           hath
           but
           weak
           Walls
           ,
           being
           strongly
           founded
           ,
           may
           last
           long
           ;
           but
           when
           the
           Building
           is
           weak
           ,
           and
           the
           Foundation
           weak
           also
           ,
           in
           how
           tottering
           a
           Condition
           is
           such
           a
           Fabrick
           ?
           The
           Foundation
           of
           Man's
           Body
           is
           Sand
           or
           Dust
           ,
           and
           the
           word
           signifies
           unstable
           moveable
           Dust
           ,
           such
           as
           lies
           upon
           the
           Surface
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           and
           is
           carried
           away
           with
           every
           puff
           of
           Wind.
           Man
           in
           his
           best
           Estate
           is
           altogether
           Vanity
           on
           the
           account
           of
           his
           Corporal
           Frailty
           and
           Weakness
           ;
           his
           Strength
           is
           not
           as
           the
           Strength
           of
           Brass
           or
           of
           Stones
           ,
           but
           he
           is
           like
           a
           Reed
           shaken
           with
           the
           Wind.
           How
           small
           a
           matter
           will
           make
           a
           Change
           and
           Alteration
           in
           the
           Body
           !
           How
           soon
           will
           the
           Gust
           of
           a
           violent
           Distemper
           ,
           like
           a
           furious
           Wind
           ,
           blow
           it
           down
           to
           the
           Ground
           !
           So
           weak
           is
           the
           Body
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           more
           cause
           to
           wonder
           at
           its
           standing
           so
           long
           ,
           than
           at
           its
           falling
           so
           soon
           .
        
         
           2dly
           .
           We
           may
           observe
           the
           Epithet
           which
           the
           Apostle
           gives
           to
           the
           Body
           ,
           Earthly
           ;
           it
           is
           an
           Earthly
           House
           or
           Tabernacle
           .
           This
           Epithet
           may
           be
           given
           it
           upon
           a
           fourfold
           Account
           .
        
         
         
           1.
           
           Upon
           the
           account
           of
           the
           Matter
           whereof
           it
           is
           formed
           .
           It
           is
           made
           of
           Earth
           ,
           Clay
           or
           Dust
           .
           The
           sacred
           Historian
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           
             the
             Lord
             God
             formed
             Man
             of
             the
             Dust
             of
             the
             Ground
             ,
          
           Gen.
           2.7
           .
           and
           that
           the
           Woman
           was
           formed
           of
           a
           Rib
           taken
           out
           of
           the
           Man's
           Body
           ,
           ver
           .
           22.
           
           When
           the
           great
           Jehovah
           came
           to
           pass
           Sentence
           upon
           Man
           for
           the
           Breach
           of
           his
           Law
           ,
           he
           put
           him
           in
           mind
           of
           his
           Original
           and
           Frame
           ,
           as
           to
           his
           Corporeal
           Part
           ;
           
             Dust
             thou
             art
             ,
             out
             of
             it
             wast
             thou
             taken
          
           ;
           Gen.
           3.19
           .
           And
           if
           our
           first
           Parents
           were
           formed
           of
           the
           Dust
           ,
           we
           who
           are
           their
           Off-spring
           were
           formed
           of
           their
           Substance
           ,
           and
           proceeded
           from
           their
           Loins
           ,
           must
           be
           also
           formed
           of
           the
           same
           Matter
           .
           Elihu
           acknowledges
           that
           he
           was
           formed
           out
           of
           the
           Clay
           ,
           Job
           33.6
           .
           The
           Psalmist
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           
             God
             knoweth
             our
             Frame
             ,
             he
             remembreth
             that
             we
             are
             Dust
             ,
          
           Psal
           .
           103.14
           .
           our
           Bodies
           are
           breathing
           Clay
           ,
           animated
           Earth
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Upon
           the
           account
           of
           its
           Situation
           ,
           or
           the
           Place
           wherein
           it
           is
           pitched
           :
           It
           dwells
           in
           ,
           it
           is
           erected
           upon
           the
           Earth
           .
           Tho
           Angelick
           Spirits
           were
           originally
           placed
           in
           the
           superiour
           World
           ,
           Heaven
           was
           their
           first
           Habitation
           ;
           yet
           the
           Human
           Body
           was
           lodged
           in
           the
           Earth
           at
           its
           first
           Formation
           ,
           this
           is
           the
           place
           of
           its
           Residence
           ,
           and
           must
           be
           while
           in
           its
           present
           State
           and
           Condition
           .
           
             Flesh
             and
             Blood
             cannot
             inherit
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
          
           ;
           1
           Cor.
           15.50
           .
           Heaven
           is
           too
           pure
           an
           Air
           for
           our
           Animal
           Bodies
           to
           breath
           in
           ,
           till
           they
           shall
           be
           purified
           and
           refined
           ,
           and
           endued
           with
           those
           excellent
           Qualities
           which
           will
           fit
           them
           for
           such
           a
           noble
           Region
           .
           Therefore
           so
           long
           as
           our
           Souls
           continue
           in
           our
           Bodies
           ,
           they
           have
           but
           an
           Earthly
           Lodging
           ;
           tho
           their
           Motions
           and
           Operations
           may
           reach
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           yet
           their
           Essential
           Residence
           is
           in
           the
           Earth
           :
           on
           this
           account
           
             while
             we
             are
             present
             in
             the
             Body
             ,
             we
             are
             absent
             from
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           2
           Cor.
           5.16
           .
           While
           we
           dwell
           in
           this
           Tabernacle
           ,
           we
           sojourn
           in
           a
           polluted
           and
           
           troublesome
           World
           ,
           a
           place
           to
           which
           Sin
           hath
           introduced
           the
           greatest
           Disorder
           and
           Confusion
           ,
           where
           Iniquity
           abounds
           ,
           and
           where
           many
           Occasions
           of
           Grief
           are
           continually
           ministred
           to
           us
           ;
           a
           Vale
           of
           Tears
           ,
           a
           Field
           of
           War
           ,
           a
           Stage
           of
           Contention
           ,
           and
           a
           waste
           and
           howling
           Wilderness
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Upon
           the
           account
           of
           those
           Means
           whereby
           it
           is
           supported
           and
           refreshed
           .
           Our
           Bodies
           in
           their
           present
           State
           would
           immediately
           fall
           if
           they
           were
           not
           propp'd
           up
           and
           repair'd
           by
           Earthly
           Comforts
           ,
           viz.
           Meat
           ,
           Drink
           ,
           Physick
           and
           Raiment
           .
           All
           the
           Conveniences
           of
           Life
           which
           we
           value
           and
           prize
           ,
           which
           we
           industriously
           labour
           for
           ,
           and
           after
           which
           our
           Affections
           do
           often
           run
           in
           an
           immoderate
           degree
           ,
           are
           nothing
           better
           than
           Earth
           .
           An
           Earthly
           Body
           is
           only
           capable
           of
           Earthly
           Enjoyments
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Upon
           the
           account
           of
           its
           Disposure
           and
           Resolution
           .
           When
           Death
           rends
           the
           Soul
           from
           the
           Embraces
           of
           the
           Body
           ,
           then
           the
           Dust
           returns
           to
           the
           Earth
           as
           it
           was
           ,
           Eccles
           .
           12.7
           .
           it
           is
           turned
           into
           common
           Earth
           ,
           and
           laid
           in
           a
           Bed
           of
           Dust
           .
           Thus
           much
           for
           the
           Description
           of
           the
           State
           and
           Condition
           of
           the
           Human
           Body
           in
           this
           Life
           .
           I
           proceed
           ,
        
         
           Secondly
           ;
           To
           the
           second
           thing
           contain'd
           in
           the
           words
           ,
           viz.
           An
           implicite
           Assertion
           of
           its
           Dissolution
           ;
           
             If
             it
             were
             dissolved
          
           .
        
         
           Tho
           the
           conditional
           Conjunction
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           if
           ,
           is
           here
           made
           use
           of
           ,
           yet
           it
           doth
           not
           import
           any
           Hesitation
           or
           Doubt
           in
           the
           Apostle's
           Mind
           concerning
           the
           Dissolution
           of
           his
           Body
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           uncertain
           ,
           whether
           it
           should
           be
           dissolved
           or
           not
           ;
           but
           that
           Conjunction
           hath
           the
           same
           Signification
           here
           with
           the
           Adverb
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           when
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           words
           may
           be
           render'd
           thus
           ,
           
             When
             our
             Earthly
             House
             of
             this
             Tabernacle
             shall
             be
             dissolved
             .
          
           We
           find
           that
           this
           Particle
           hath
           the
           same
           Signification
           ,
           
           Joh.
           16.7
           .
           1
           Joh.
           3.2
           .
           so
           that
           these
           words
           do
           amount
           to
           an
           Assertion
           of
           the
           Body's
           Dissolution
           :
           For
           what
           Comfort
           could
           arise
           to
           the
           Apostle
           and
           his
           Fellow-Sufferers
           from
           the
           Thoughts
           of
           their
           Entrance
           into
           an
           Heavenly
           Habitation
           after
           the
           Dissolution
           of
           their
           Bodies
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           not
           assured
           that
           some
           time
           or
           other
           they
           should
           be
           dissolved
           ?
           We
           read
           of
           a
           twofold
           Dissolution
           made
           by
           Death
           in
           Sacred
           Writ
           ,
           viz.
           a
           Dissolution
           of
           the
           Person
           or
           the
           Man
           ,
           Phil.
           1.23
           .
           
             I
             desire
             to
             depart
          
           ,
           or
           ,
           as
           the
           original
           word
           may
           properly
           be
           render'd
           ,
           
             to
             be
             dissolved
          
           ;
           this
           consists
           in
           the
           Separation
           of
           the
           Soul
           from
           the
           Body
           :
           and
           a
           Dissolution
           of
           the
           Body
           ,
           in
           my
           Text.
           This
           is
           a
           Metaphor
           taken
           from
           the
           Destruction
           of
           Buildings
           ,
           the
           Overthrow
           of
           Earthly
           Fabricks
           :
           When
           a
           Structure
           is
           demolished
           ,
           it
           is
           said
           to
           be
           dissolved
           ;
           for
           so
           the
           Original
           Word
           whereby
           the
           Ruine
           of
           the
           Temple
           is
           exprest
           ,
           Mat.
           24.2
           .
           Mark
           13.2
           .
           most
           properly
           signifies
           .
           In
           Allusion
           hereunto
           the
           Death
           of
           the
           Body
           is
           called
           its
           Dissolution
           .
           Now
           pursuant
           to
           the
           Metaphor
           several
           things
           are
           imply'd
           in
           the
           Body's
           Dissolution
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Continuance
           of
           its
           Matter
           after
           Death
           .
           When
           an
           House
           is
           demolished
           ,
           tho
           it
           loseth
           its
           Form
           ,
           yet
           the
           Matter
           still
           remains
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           annihilated
           .
           The
           Matter
           of
           the
           Human
           Body
           passeth
           through
           various
           Changes
           after
           Death
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           not
           reduced
           to
           nothing
           ;
           for
           if
           it
           were
           ,
           at
           the
           great
           Day
           there
           could
           not
           be
           a
           Resurrection
           ,
           but
           a
           new
           Creation
           of
           Human
           Bodies
           :
           Whereas
           the
           Scripture
           assures
           us
           that
           the
           same
           Body
           which
           dies
           shall
           live
           and
           rise
           again
           :
           Tho
           it
           may
           be
           accidentally
           and
           with
           respect
           to
           its
           Qualities
           another
           Body
           ,
           yet
           it
           will
           be
           essentially
           ,
           and
           with
           respect
           to
           its
           Substance
           ,
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Destruction
           of
           its
           Form.
           When
           a
           Building
           falls
           ,
           its
           Form
           is
           lost
           ,
           tho
           its
           Matter
           remains
           ;
           the
           same
           
           Effect
           doth
           Death
           produce
           in
           the
           Body
           .
           Herein
           these
           two
           things
           may
           be
           comprehended
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           The
           loss
           of
           its
           Beauty
           and
           Comeliness
           .
           What
           Beauty
           is
           there
           in
           the
           Rubbish
           of
           the
           most
           splendid
           and
           stately
           Palace
           ?
           Surely
           there
           is
           nothing
           in
           it
           that
           can
           attract
           the
           Admiration
           and
           Esteem
           of
           those
           who
           behold
           it
           .
           They
           who
           delighted
           to
           view
           and
           walk
           in
           a
           House
           while
           standing
           ,
           will
           turn
           their
           Eyes
           from
           its
           Ruines
           .
           The
           Beauty
           of
           the
           most
           amiable
           Body
           becomes
           a
           Prey
           to
           Death
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           seized
           by
           this
           mighty
           Conqueror
           .
           Death
           draws
           a
           dismal
           Vail
           over
           all
           its
           Glory
           ,
           and
           makes
           very
           unlovely
           and
           deforming
           Impressions
           on
           it
           .
           The
           Bodies
           of
           our
           deceased
           Relatives
           which
           we
           formerly
           beheld
           with
           great
           Delight
           ,
           would
           be
           now
           very
           unpleasant
           Spectacles
           to
           us
           ;
           we
           cannot
           without
           Regret
           turn
           our
           Eyes
           towards
           the
           Corps
           of
           our
           dearest
           Friend
           ,
           but
           are
           willing
           soon
           to
           bury
           it
           out
           of
           our
           Sight
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           The
           loss
           of
           its
           Excellency
           and
           Usefulness
           .
           What
           Value
           is
           there
           in
           the
           Rubbish
           of
           a
           fallen
           Sructure
           ,
           which
           while
           standing
           was
           worth
           many
           thousands
           ,
           or
           what
           use
           can
           it
           serve
           for
           ?
           Tho
           a
           living
           Body
           is
           exceeding
           valuable
           ,
           yet
           a
           dead
           Body
           is
           of
           no
           more
           Worth
           than
           common
           Earth
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           as
           useless
           and
           unprofitable
           .
           The
           Eyes
           ,
           Tongue
           ,
           Hands
           and
           Feet
           ,
           which
           were
           all
           active
           Members
           ,
           and
           perform'd
           many
           Operations
           ,
           when
           seized
           by
           Death
           become
           wholly
           unactive
           ,
           they
           lose
           their
           Motion
           and
           Activity
           when
           bound
           with
           its
           Adamantine
           Chains
           and
           Fetters
           .
           Those
           Bodies
           of
           our
           Relations
           which
           were
           very
           serviceable
           to
           us
           while
           in
           the
           Land
           of
           the
           living
           ,
           can
           do
           us
           no
           good
           when
           numbred
           among
           the
           Dead
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           In
           the
           Dissolution
           of
           the
           Body
           may
           be
           imply'd
           its
           entrance
           into
           the
           Grave
           ,
           and
           corrupting
           there
           .
           A
           standing
           House
           is
           raised
           above
           the
           Ground
           ,
           but
           a
           fallen
           House
           
           lies
           level
           with
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           Materials
           thereof
           are
           separated
           and
           divided
           .
           When
           Mens
           Bodies
           die
           ,
           they
           are
           laid
           in
           the
           Grave
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           House
           appointed
           for
           all
           living
           :
           They
           enter
           into
           the
           place
           of
           Silence
           and
           of
           Darkness
           ,
           and
           there
           they
           moulder
           away
           ,
           and
           crumble
           to
           Dust
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Herein
           may
           be
           implied
           the
           various
           ways
           whereby
           the
           Structure
           of
           the
           Human
           Body
           decays
           ,
           and
           is
           destroyed
           .
           Some
           Buildings
           fall
           down
           of
           themselves
           ,
           Time
           ,
           the
           Consumer
           of
           all
           material
           Things
           upon
           the
           Earth
           ,
           destroys
           them
           ;
           other
           Fabricks
           are
           blown
           down
           by
           violent
           Winds
           ,
           others
           fall
           by
           the
           force
           of
           devouring
           Flames
           ,
           and
           others
           are
           demolish'd
           by
           Men.
           In
           like
           manner
           some
           Mens
           Bodies
           may
           be
           said
           even
           to
           fall
           of
           themselves
           ,
           because
           no
           internal
           Distemper
           ,
           nor
           external
           Violence
           is
           the
           Cause
           of
           their
           Dissolution
           ;
           old
           Age
           hath
           dried
           up
           their
           natural
           Moisture
           ,
           exhausted
           their
           Strength
           ,
           and
           brought
           them
           down
           to
           the
           Dust
           ;
           their
           Life
           was
           like
           a
           Lamp
           that
           goes
           out
           when
           there
           is
           no
           more
           Oil
           to
           feed
           it
           .
           The
           Bodies
           of
           others
           are
           destroyed
           by
           the
           immediate
           Stroke
           of
           God's
           Hand
           ,
           some
           Bodies
           are
           burnt
           up
           by
           the
           Heat
           ,
           or
           blown
           down
           by
           the
           Blast
           of
           violent
           Distempers
           ,
           others
           fall
           by
           Human
           Force
           and
           Violence
           .
        
         
           That
           our
           Bodies
           must
           be
           dissolved
           we
           have
           a
           sacred
           Assurance
           from
           the
           God
           that
           made
           them
           :
           He
           hath
           told
           us
           that
           the
           Body
           must
           return
           to
           the
           Earth
           from
           whence
           it
           came
           ,
           that
           he
           will
           bring
           us
           to
           Death
           and
           to
           the
           Grave
           ,
           which
           is
           appointed
           for
           all
           living
           .
           
             It
             is
             appointed
             for
             all
             Men
             once
             to
             die
             ,
          
           Heb.
           9.27
           .
           This
           Appointment
           is
           accomplished
           upon
           our
           Fellow-Creatures
           every
           day
           ;
           
             Man
             goes
             to
             his
             long
             Home
             ,
             and
             the
             Mourners
             continually
             walk
             about
             the
             Streets
             :
          
           Yea
           many
           of
           our
           dear
           Relatives
           have
           been
           rent
           from
           our
           Embraces
           ,
           and
           hurried
           into
           the
           gloomy
           Territories
           of
           the
           King
           of
           Terrors
           ;
           some
           whose
           Bodies
           were
           stronger
           than
           
           ours
           ,
           and
           seem'd
           more
           able
           to
           hold
           out
           against
           a
           besieging
           Enemy
           .
           Do
           not
           the
           continual
           totterings
           and
           shakings
           of
           our
           Earthly
           Tabernacles
           ,
           and
           the
           frequent
           Repairs
           which
           they
           stand
           in
           need
           of
           ,
           portend
           their
           Downfal
           ?
           So
           that
           the
           living
           may
           many
           ways
           know
           that
           they
           must
           die
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ;
           I
           proceed
           to
           that
           Description
           which
           the
           Apostle
           gives
           of
           the
           blessed
           State
           and
           Habitation
           of
           the
           Saints
           after
           Death
           .
           
             We
             have
             a
             Building
             of
             God
             ,
             an
             House
             not
             made
             with
             Hands
             ,
             eternal
             in
             the
             Heavens
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Apostle
           carries
           on
           the
           same
           Metaphor
           in
           the
           latter
           part
           ,
           which
           he
           made
           use
           of
           in
           the
           former
           part
           of
           the
           Verse
           .
           As
           he
           compares
           the
           Soul's
           Residence
           in
           the
           Body
           to
           that
           of
           an
           Inhabitant
           in
           an
           House
           ,
           so
           he
           represents
           the
           Glory
           and
           Felicity
           of
           the
           Soul
           ,
           after
           the
           Dissolution
           of
           the
           Body
           ,
           by
           its
           Entrance
           into
           and
           Abode
           in
           a
           more
           glorious
           Habitation
           .
           But
           what
           this
           House
           is
           whereof
           the
           Apostle
           speaks
           ,
           is
           not
           yet
           agreed
           among
           Expositors
           :
           Some
           do
           thereby
           understand
           the
           same
           Body
           ,
           which
           the
           Soul
           now
           dwells
           in
           ,
           and
           must
           be
           dislodged
           from
           ;
           when
           raised
           again
           at
           the
           last
           day
           .
           Others
           think
           the
           Apostle
           intends
           that
           Glory
           and
           Blessedness
           into
           which
           the
           Souls
           of
           Believers
           enter
           immediately
           after
           their
           Separation
           from
           their
           Bodies
           .
           It
           is
           certainly
           true
           that
           the
           Earthly
           Tabernacles
           of
           the
           Saints
           shall
           not
           always
           lie
           in
           the
           Dust
           ,
           that
           the
           Divorce
           between
           their
           Souls
           and
           them
           will
           not
           be
           perpetual
           ,
           but
           they
           shall
           be
           raised
           from
           their
           Graves
           ,
           and
           reassumed
           by
           their
           antient
           Possessors
           ;
           and
           then
           the
           Soul
           will
           have
           a
           more
           noble
           Habitation
           than
           now
           it
           hath
           ,
           the
           Body
           will
           be
           much
           more
           excellent
           and
           glorious
           than
           it
           is
           in
           its
           Mortal
           State
           :
           And
           it
           is
           as
           certain
           that
           the
           Soul
           will
           not
           be
           without
           an
           Habitation
           when
           it
           is
           by
           its
           great
           Landlord
           turned
           out
           of
           its
           Earthly
           House
           ,
           but
           will
           enter
           into
           the
           blissful
           Regions
           above
           .
           I
           conceive
           the
           latter
           
           to
           be
           principally
           intended
           :
           for
           the
           Apostle
           comforts
           himself
           with
           the
           well-grounded
           Hopes
           of
           that
           Glory
           to
           which
           Death
           would
           introduce
           him
           ;
           
             When
             our
             Earthly
             House
             of
             this
             Tabernacle
             is
             dissolved
             ,
             we
             have
             a
             Building
             of
             God
             ,
             an
             House
             ,
          
           &c.
           
             i.
             e.
          
           we
           shall
           enter
           into
           it
           and
           become
           Possessors
           of
           it
           :
           And
           in
           the
           following
           Verses
           he
           expresseth
           a
           vehement
           Desire
           to
           be
           discharged
           from
           his
           Body
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           enter
           into
           this
           House
           ;
           now
           he
           would
           partake
           of
           the
           Glory
           of
           the
           Resurrection
           never
           the
           sooner
           for
           his
           speedy
           Dissolution
           ,
           the
           Bodies
           of
           all
           the
           Saints
           will
           be
           raised
           and
           glorified
           at
           the
           same
           time
           .
           However
           I
           shall
           not
           exclude
           but
           include
           the
           former
           Sense
           in
           my
           farther
           Discourse
           of
           these
           words
           ,
           wherein
           we
           have
           a
           twofold
           Account
           of
           this
           Building
           or
           House
           ,
           viz.
           Negative
           and
           Affirmative
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Negative
           :
           It
           is
           
             a
             Building
             ,
             an
             House
             not
             made
             with
             Hands
             .
          
           This
           Character
           agrees
           to
           the
           glorious
           Habitation
           of
           the
           Saints
           above
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           all
           Terrene
           Structures
           .
           The
           splendid
           Palaces
           wherein
           Earthly
           Monarchs
           dwell
           ,
           were
           contrived
           by
           Human
           Skill
           ,
           and
           fram'd
           by
           the
           Hands
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           consequently
           all
           their
           Excellency
           and
           Glory
           is
           of
           a
           carnal
           and
           sensible
           Nature
           .
           The
           Tabernacle
           in
           the
           Wilderness
           was
           contriv'd
           by
           God
           himself
           ,
           and
           yet
           because
           Man
           had
           an
           Hand
           in
           the
           Erection
           thereof
           ,
           it
           is
           said
           to
           be
           made
           with
           Hands
           ,
           Heb.
           9.11
           ,
           24.
           
           But
           that
           glorious
           House
           in
           which
           the
           Saints
           shall
           dwell
           when
           they
           leave
           their
           Bodies
           ,
           was
           neither
           contriv'd
           by
           Human
           Art
           ,
           nor
           fram'd
           by
           Human
           Strength
           ;
           no
           Creatute
           was
           instrumental
           to
           the
           Erection
           of
           that
           stately
           Fabrick
           ,
           and
           the
           Glory
           thereof
           is
           not
           of
           a
           carnal
           and
           sensible
           Nature
           :
           And
           the
           Saints
           Bodies
           at
           the
           Resurrection
           may
           in
           some
           sense
           be
           said
           to
           be
           made
           without
           Hands
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           those
           Bodies
           which
           they
           now
           carry
           about
           with
           them
           ;
           because
           ,
           tho
           these
           Structures
           
           will
           be
           materially
           the
           same
           that
           now
           they
           are
           ,
           yet
           there
           will
           be
           an
           accidental
           Alteration
           in
           them
           ;
           and
           whereas
           Man
           was
           instrumental
           to
           their
           first
           Production
           ,
           (
           tho
           God
           only
           was
           their
           principal
           Efficient
           )
           yet
           they
           shall
           be
           raised
           again
           by
           the
           immediate
           Operation
           of
           God.
           It
           is
           observable
           ,
           that
           the
           Human
           Body
           of
           our
           blessed
           Lord
           is
           called
           a
           Tabernacle
           not
           made
           with
           Hands
           ,
           Heb.
           9.11
           .
           not
           only
           in
           contra-distinction
           from
           the
           Jewish
           Tabernacle
           ,
           but
           also
           from
           all
           other
           Human
           Bodies
           ,
           because
           no
           active
           Principle
           but
           Divine
           Power
           produced
           it
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           This
           Building
           or
           House
           is
           described
           Affirmatively
           ,
           and
           that
           from
           three
           things
           :
           It
           s
           Efficient
           ,
           its
           Situation
           ,
           and
           its
           Duration
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           It
           is
           described
           from
           its
           Efficient
           ,
           God
           ;
           it
           is
           a
           
             Building
             of
             God
          
           :
           The
           Preposition
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           to
           which
           God
           is
           subjoined
           ,
           denotes
           the
           Efficient
           Cause
           .
           The
           Excellency
           of
           any
           Building
           is
           sutable
           to
           its
           Contriver
           and
           Builder
           .
           Seeing
           Divine
           Wisdom
           and
           Power
           infinitely
           surpass
           Human
           ,
           surely
           the
           Works
           of
           God's
           Hands
           must
           transcend
           the
           Works
           of
           Mens
           Hands
           .
           The
           glorious
           Place
           above
           is
           called
           a
           City
           
             whose
             Builder
             and
             Maker
             is
             God
          
           ;
           Heb.
           11.10
           .
           Now
           this
           World
           which
           is
           the
           Saints
           present
           Habitation
           ,
           being
           made
           by
           God
           ,
           surely
           something
           more
           must
           be
           intended
           by
           his
           Erection
           of
           this
           House
           ,
           than
           the
           immediate
           Creation
           thereof
           by
           him
           .
           It
           can
           import
           nothing
           less
           ,
           than
           that
           the
           Divine
           Being
           hath
           exerted
           more
           of
           his
           Power
           ,
           Wisdom
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           in
           this
           than
           in
           any
           other
           Fabrick
           which
           he
           hath
           erected
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Blessedness
           of
           the
           Triumphant
           Saints
           is
           more
           immediately
           derived
           from
           God
           ,
           than
           any
           thing
           that
           is
           enjoyed
           in
           a
           Mortal
           State.
           And
           there
           will
           be
           a
           more
           admirable
           display
           of
           the
           Divine
           Glory
           in
           the
           Resurrection
           of
           the
           Saints
           Bodies
           ,
           than
           there
           was
           in
           their
           Creation
           ,
           they
           will
           become
           as
           glorious
           and
           perfect
           as
           Human
           Bodies
           can
           be
           .
        
         
         
           (
           2.
           )
           From
           its
           Situation
           ,
           
             in
             the
             Heavens
          
           .
           It
           is
           observable
           ,
           that
           some
           words
           are
           in
           the
           New
           Testament
           put
           in
           the
           Plural
           instead
           of
           the
           Singular
           Number
           ,
           particularly
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           Heavens
           ,
           for
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           Heaven
           ,
           Mat.
           12.25
           .
           in
           my
           Text
           ,
           and
           several
           other
           places
           ,
           with
           a
           Design
           (
           as
           I
           conceive
           )
           emphatically
           to
           denote
           the
           Excellency
           and
           Glory
           of
           that
           lofty
           Region
           .
           Not
           the
           Aerial
           or
           Aetherial
           ,
           but
           the
           Imperial
           Heaven
           is
           here
           intended
           .
           This
           is
           a
           place
           far
           superior
           to
           the
           Earth
           ,
           and
           therefore
           an
           Entrance
           into
           and
           Abode
           in
           it
           ,
           is
           sometimes
           mentioned
           as
           comprehensive
           of
           all
           that
           Felicity
           which
           is
           possest
           by
           those
           that
           inhabit
           it
           .
           When
           the
           Soul
           of
           a
           Believer
           quits
           its
           Earthly
           Tabernacle
           ,
           it
           mounts
           up
           as
           on
           Eagle's
           Wings
           to
           the
           Heavenly
           Temple
           .
           This
           is
           the
           Habitation
           of
           God's
           Holiness
           ,
           there
           the
           great
           Jehovah
           in
           a
           special
           manner
           dwells
           ,
           there
           are
           the
           brightest
           Discoveries
           of
           the
           Divine
           Splendor
           ,
           and
           the
           highest
           Adorations
           given
           to
           his
           most
           Excellent
           Majesty
           :
           There
           the
           glorified
           Courtiers
           do
           not
           behold
           him
           through
           a
           Glass
           darkly
           ,
           but
           see
           him
           face
           to
           face
           .
           In
           that
           Building
           dwells
           and
           reigns
           the
           Lord
           Jesus
           ,
           the
           Mediator
           of
           the
           New
           Covenant
           :
           When
           we
           shall
           
             be
             absent
             from
             the
             Body
             ,
             we
             shall
             be
             present
             with
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           2
           Cor.
           5.8
           .
           The
           Heaven
           must
           receive
           him
           until
           the
           times
           of
           restitution
           of
           all
           things
           .
           There
           dwell
           an
           innumerable
           company
           of
           glorious
           Angels
           ,
           far
           more
           glorious
           than
           any
           of
           the
           Princes
           of
           this
           World
           ;
           and
           all
           the
           Spirits
           of
           Just
           Men
           that
           are
           made
           perfect
           .
           This
           is
           not
           an
           Habitation
           of
           Violence
           and
           Oppression
           ,
           for
           no
           unclean
           thing
           can
           enter
           there
           .
           The
           Inhabitants
           of
           this
           House
           are
           out
           of
           the
           reach
           of
           Satan
           and
           his
           malicious
           Off-spring
           ;
           they
           are
           not
           expos'd
           to
           the
           Hostile
           Attempts
           of
           the
           roaring
           Lion
           of
           Hell
           ,
           or
           his
           Whelps
           upon
           Earth
           :
           They
           are
           liable
           to
           no
           troublesome
           Changes
           ,
           Heart-breaking
           Exercises
           ,
           perplexing
           Disappointments
           ,
           corroding
           Cares
           ,
           or
           sinful
           Infirmities
           .
           This
           
           is
           a
           delectable
           and
           secure
           Habitation
           ,
           here
           is
           fulness
           of
           Joy
           ,
           here
           are
           Rivers
           of
           Pleasures
           which
           constantly
           refresh
           the
           glorified
           Soul.
           In
           this
           House
           is
           Light
           without
           Darkness
           ,
           Day
           without
           Night
           ,
           Joy
           without
           Sorrow
           ,
           and
           Singing
           without
           Weeping
           .
           The
           Soul
           that
           enters
           into
           this
           House
           hath
           the
           most
           intimate
           Fellowship
           with
           God
           the
           Master
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           a
           refreshing
           Communion
           with
           the
           blessed
           Angels
           and
           Saints
           who
           cohabit
           with
           it
           therein
           :
           All
           things
           in
           this
           House
           are
           sutable
           to
           the
           Grandure
           and
           Magnificence
           of
           the
           Structure
           .
           And
           when
           the
           Saints
           Bodies
           shall
           come
           forth
           from
           their
           Houses
           of
           Silence
           and
           Darkness
           ,
           and
           be
           reunited
           to
           their
           Souls
           ,
           they
           shall
           be
           received
           together
           with
           them
           into
           the
           Heavenly
           Jerusalem
           ,
           and
           shall
           share
           with
           them
           in
           the
           Felicity
           of
           that
           blessed
           Seat.
           
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           It
           is
           described
           from
           its
           Duration
           ,
           Eternal
           .
        
         
           This
           I
           conceive
           is
           predicated
           of
           this
           Heavenly
           Habitation
           in
           opposition
           to
           the
           Frailty
           of
           our
           Earthly
           Tabernacles
           ,
           which
           must
           be
           dissolved
           ,
           and
           then
           all
           our
           Temporal
           Comforts
           and
           Delights
           will
           vanish
           ,
           we
           shall
           no
           longer
           enjoy
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           Celestial
           City
           hath
           immoveable
           Foundations
           ,
           it
           is
           subject
           to
           no
           Decay
           or
           Dissolution
           ,
           its
           Duration
           will
           run
           parallel
           with
           the
           Ages
           of
           Eternity
           :
           And
           the
           Glory
           of
           that
           Place
           will
           last
           as
           long
           as
           the
           Place
           it self
           ;
           it
           is
           called
           a
           never-fading
           Crown
           ,
           an
           Incorruptible
           Inheritance
           ,
           and
           an
           Everlasting
           Kingdom
           .
           The
           Divine
           Being
           ,
           in
           the
           Vision
           and
           Fruition
           of
           whom
           the
           Happiness
           of
           glorified
           Saints
           principally
           consists
           ,
           is
           to
           everlasting
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           their
           Abode
           in
           this
           House
           will
           be
           as
           lasting
           as
           the
           Building
           ,
           they
           shall
           never
           be
           dispossest
           of
           ,
           or
           expell'd
           from
           it
           .
           Tho
           the
           first
           Adam
           was
           driven
           out
           of
           an
           Earthly
           Paradise
           ,
           yet
           the
           spiritual
           Seed
           and
           Off-spring
           of
           the
           second
           Adam
           shall
           never
           be
           expell'd
           the
           Heavenly
           One
           :
           And
           when
           their
           Bodies
           
           shall
           rise
           from
           their
           Beds
           of
           Dust
           ,
           they
           will
           live
           to
           die
           no
           more
           ;
           Death
           will
           have
           no
           Power
           to
           demolish
           these
           curious
           Fabricks
           ,
           for
           it
           shall
           be
           swallowed
           up
           in
           Victory
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           15.54
           .
           
             This
             Mortal
             shall
             then
             put
             on
             Immortality
             .
          
           Tho
           a
           little
           time
           wastes
           and
           consumes
           our
           Bodies
           in
           their
           present
           State
           ,
           yet
           there
           shall
           be
           no
           Diminution
           of
           their
           Excellency
           and
           Beauty
           in
           an
           endless
           Eternity
           ,
           when
           we
           become
           the
           Children
           of
           the
           Resurrection
           :
           These
           Buildings
           will
           be
           always
           kept
           in
           their
           Vigor
           and
           Glory
           ,
           by
           the
           immediate
           Power
           of
           the
           supream
           Architect
           .
           I
           proceed
           ,
        
         
           Fourthly
           ;
           To
           the
           comfortable
           Knowledg
           and
           Assurance
           which
           the
           Apostle
           and
           other
           Christians
           had
           concerning
           their
           present
           Right
           to
           ,
           and
           future
           Fruition
           of
           this
           Blessedness
           ;
           
             We
             know
          
           .
        
         
           Herein
           we
           may
           consider
           the
           Subject
           We
           ,
           and
           the
           Predicate
           know
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Subject
           ,
           We.
           The
           Apostle
           here
           speaks
           only
           of
           those
           that
           were
           real
           Christians
           ,
           who
           had
           sincerely
           closed
           with
           ,
           and
           were
           united
           to
           the
           blessed
           Jesus
           ,
           they
           only
           have
           a
           Right
           and
           Title
           to
           ,
           and
           therefore
           they
           only
           have
           ground
           to
           expect
           and
           hope
           for
           ,
           this
           glorious
           Habitation
           .
           They
           who
           come
           not
           under
           such
           a
           Character
           ,
           have
           reason
           to
           fear
           that
           when
           their
           Earthly
           Tabernacles
           shall
           be
           dissolved
           ,
           their
           Souls
           will
           enter
           into
           a
           different
           Habitation
           .
           An
           House
           indeed
           contrived
           by
           infinite
           Wisdom
           ,
           and
           framed
           by
           Almighty
           Power
           ,
           and
           an
           eternal
           House
           ,
           but
           not
           in
           Heaven
           ,
           but
           in
           Hell
           ;
           an
           House
           where
           there
           is
           Blackness
           of
           Darkness
           ,
           inconceiveable
           Grief
           ,
           and
           intolerable
           Torment
           ;
           an
           House
           prepared
           for
           the
           Devil
           and
           his
           Angels
           ,
           wherein
           the
           Wicked
           must
           cohabit
           with
           and
           be
           tormented
           by
           those
           Apostate
           Spirits
           who
           left
           their
           Primitive
           Habitation
           ,
           for
           evermore
           :
           An
           House
           wherein
           they
           shall
           be
           Exiles
           from
           God's
           
           comfortable
           Presence
           ,
           and
           every
           thing
           that
           is
           either
           really
           good
           ,
           or
           esteemed
           so
           by
           them
           .
           But
           I
           conceive
           the
           Apostle
           speaks
           not
           here
           of
           all
           Saints
           ;
           for
           tho
           they
           may
           know
           and
           have
           ground
           to
           hope
           that
           when
           their
           Souls
           are
           dislodged
           from
           their
           Bodies
           ,
           they
           shall
           enter
           into
           this
           blissful
           Habitation
           ,
           yet
           all
           Believers
           have
           not
           attained
           to
           this
           Knowledg
           and
           Assurance
           thereof
           ;
           Clouds
           and
           Darkness
           do
           overspread
           some
           gracious
           Souls
           ,
           and
           they
           are
           filled
           with
           many
           Doubts
           and
           Fears
           concerning
           their
           spiritual
           and
           eternal
           State.
           But
           he
           speaks
           concerning
           himself
           and
           some
           other
           Christians
           ,
           who
           had
           attained
           to
           ,
           and
           were
           in
           the
           Exercise
           of
           this
           Knowledg
           .
           This
           leads
           me
           to
           the
           second
           thing
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Predicate
           ,
           know
           .
           This
           Knowledg
           here
           spoken
           of
           ,
           is
           a
           certain
           Knowledg
           ,
           a
           firm
           and
           full
           Perswasion
           that
           when
           their
           Bodies
           should
           be
           dissolved
           ,
           their
           Souls
           should
           be
           received
           into
           Heaven
           .
           There
           are
           several
           things
           included
           in
           this
           Knowledg
           ,
           viz.
           a
           firm
           Belief
           of
           a
           future
           State
           of
           Blessedness
           provided
           for
           the
           Saints
           ,
           and
           into
           which
           they
           shall
           enter
           after
           Death
           .
           This
           might
           be
           known
           from
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           wherein
           we
           have
           a
           sufficient
           Confirmation
           of
           this
           sacred
           Truth
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           a
           firm
           Perswasion
           that
           they
           were
           interested
           in
           Christ
           ,
           and
           made
           meet
           for
           the
           Inheritance
           of
           the
           Saints
           in
           Light.
           This
           they
           might
           know
           by
           comparing
           themselves
           with
           those
           Marks
           and
           Characters
           of
           the
           Heirs
           of
           Salvation
           which
           were
           laid
           down
           in
           sacred
           Writ
           ,
           by
           the
           lively
           exercise
           of
           their
           Faith
           upon
           Christ
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Testimony
           of
           the
           holy
           Spirit
           ,
           bearing
           witness
           with
           their
           Spirits
           that
           they
           were
           the
           Children
           of
           God.
           Lastly
           ,
           an
           Assurance
           of
           their
           Preservation
           in
           a
           State
           of
           Grace
           to
           a
           State
           of
           Glory
           .
           This
           they
           might
           fairly
           collect
           from
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           wherein
           there
           is
           a
           full
           account
           of
           the
           Everlastingness
           of
           the
           Covenant
           of
           Grace
           ,
           the
           Immutability
           of
           Divine
           Love
           ,
           
           the
           Efficacy
           of
           Christ's
           Death
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           Constancy
           and
           Prevalence
           of
           his
           Intercession
           ,
           and
           the
           perpetual
           Residence
           of
           the
           holy
           Spirit
           (
           the
           Earnest
           of
           the
           Heavenly
           Inheritance
           )
           in
           his
           Royal
           Palaces
           ,
           and
           holy
           Temples
           .
           Our
           Apostle
           expresseth
           the
           like
           Assurance
           ,
           2
           Tim.
           4.8
           .
           
             Henceforth
             there
             is
             laid
             up
             for
             me
             a
             Crown
             of
             Righteousness
             ,
             which
             the
             Lord
             the
             righteous
             Judg
             shall
             give
             me
             at
             that
             day
             .
          
           Holy
           Job
           also
           exprest
           his
           Assurance
           of
           future
           Glory
           in
           his
           adverse
           State
           ,
           Job
           .
           19.25
           ,
           26
           ,
           27.
           
           
             I
             know
             that
             my
             Redeemer
             liveth
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             shall
             stand
             at
             the
             latter
             day
             upon
             the
             Earth
             .
             And
             tho
             after
             my
             Skin
             ,
             Worms
             destroy
             this
             Body
             ,
             yet
             in
             my
             Flesh
             shall
             I
             see
             God
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           Tho
           all
           who
           have
           a
           Faith
           of
           Affiance
           do
           not
           attain
           to
           a
           Faith
           of
           Assurance
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           attainable
           in
           a
           Mortal
           State.
           Thus
           much
           by
           way
           of
           Explication
           .
        
         
           II.
           I
           shall
           present
           you
           with
           some
           Inferences
           from
           the
           Words
           .
        
         
           First
           ;
           I
           infer
           ,
           The
           prodigious
           Folly
           of
           those
           who
           give
           their
           Bodies
           the
           Preference
           to
           their
           Souls
           .
           It
           is
           the
           part
           of
           a
           wise
           Man
           ,
           to
           value
           things
           in
           proportion
           to
           their
           Worth
           and
           Excellency
           .
           But
           the
           generality
           of
           Mankind
           show
           that
           their
           Corporeal
           Part
           hath
           a
           greater
           share
           of
           their
           Esteem
           than
           their
           Spiritual
           Part
           :
           They
           carefully
           provide
           Food
           and
           Raiment
           for
           the
           former
           ,
           but
           never
           seek
           after
           the
           Bread
           of
           life
           to
           feed
           ,
           and
           the
           Robe
           of
           Christ's
           Righteousness
           to
           array
           the
           latter
           .
           They
           will
           labour
           hard
           to
           erect
           or
           purchase
           a
           comfortable
           Habitation
           for
           their
           Bodies
           ,
           but
           do
           not
           at
           all
           endeavour
           to
           secure
           an
           happy
           Dwelling-place
           for
           their
           Souls
           when
           they
           enter
           into
           an
           invisible
           World
           :
           They
           will
           hazard
           the
           loss
           of
           their
           Souls
           to
           secure
           their
           Bodies
           from
           Temporal
           Evils
           ,
           or
           to
           procure
           those
           things
           
           which
           will
           gratify
           the
           sensitive
           Appetite
           .
           What
           Madness
           is
           it
           to
           prefer
           a
           Clod
           of
           Earth
           to
           a
           Spirit
           ?
           Is
           not
           that
           a
           foolish
           Soul
           that
           values
           its
           sojourning-place
           more
           than
           it self
           ,
           and
           will
           expose
           it self
           to
           eternal
           Ruine
           for
           the
           Preservation
           of
           its
           Earthly
           Tabernacle
           ?
           What
           stupid
           Fools
           are
           they
           who
           esteem
           their
           Bodies
           ,
           which
           are
           continually
           advancing
           towards
           ,
           and
           must
           speedily
           return
           to
           the
           Dust
           ,
           more
           than
           their
           Souls
           which
           shall
           survive
           them
           ,
           and
           live
           for
           evermore
           ?
           Surely
           such
           Persons
           are
           as
           the
           Horse
           ,
           or
           as
           the
           Mule
           ,
           which
           have
           no
           Understanding
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           I
           infer
           ,
           The
           Folly
           of
           those
           who
           are
           proud
           of
           ,
           or
           glory
           in
           their
           Corporeal
           Strength
           or
           Beauty
           .
           As
           Men
           are
           apt
           to
           boast
           of
           the
           exact
           Form
           and
           Strength
           of
           those
           Houses
           wherein
           their
           Bodies
           dwell
           ,
           so
           likewise
           of
           the
           Excellency
           of
           those
           Bodies
           wherein
           their
           Souls
           tabernacle
           .
           But
           this
           will
           appear
           very
           foolish
           to
           us
           ,
           if
           we
           consider
           our
           Frame
           ,
           and
           remember
           that
           we
           are
           Dust
           .
           Our
           Bodies
           were
           formed
           of
           the
           same
           Matter
           for
           kind
           that
           we
           trample
           under
           our
           Feet
           ,
           and
           disdain
           to
           touch
           with
           our
           Fingers
           .
           Tho
           our
           Bodies
           are
           very
           robust
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           but
           Earthen
           Vessels
           ,
           and
           will
           soon
           be
           broken
           to
           pieces
           .
           In
           a
           very
           short
           time
           our
           Bodies
           must
           be
           dissolved
           ,
           and
           then
           all
           their
           Beauty
           and
           Strength
           will
           vanish
           and
           become
           a
           Prey
           to
           the
           King
           of
           Terrors
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           I
           infer
           ,
           The
           Vanity
           of
           placing
           our
           Happiness
           in
           our
           living
           Comforts
           ,
           our
           near
           and
           dear
           Relations
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           exceeding
           prone
           to
           let
           out
           our
           Affections
           immoderately
           towards
           them
           ,
           to
           give
           them
           too
           high
           a
           Place
           ,
           too
           large
           a
           Room
           in
           our
           Hearts
           ,
           to
           think
           our selves
           happy
           in
           an
           Husband
           ,
           Wife
           ,
           or
           Children
           ,
           not
           considering
           they
           are
           frail
           mortal
           Creatures
           .
           They
           can
           be
           no
           longer
           enjoy'd
           by
           us
           than
           while
           their
           Souls
           continue
           in
           their
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           
           those
           curious
           Fabricks
           ,
           which
           we
           behold
           with
           Pleasure
           and
           Delight
           ,
           keep
           their
           Station
           .
           Did
           we
           seriously
           consider
           what
           frail
           brittle
           Houses
           their
           Souls
           inhabit
           ,
           how
           soon
           they
           may
           be
           demolished
           ,
           and
           in
           how
           short
           a
           time
           they
           shall
           be
           dislodged
           from
           them
           ,
           we
           should
           see
           it
           highly
           reasonable
           to
           moderate
           our
           Affections
           towards
           them
           !
           O
           let
           the
           everliving
           ,
           everlasting
           God
           be
           the
           Darling
           of
           our
           Souls
           ,
           and
           the
           Soveraign
           of
           our
           Affections
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           I
           infer
           ,
           How
           necessary
           it
           is
           for
           us
           all
           speedily
           to
           endeavour
           after
           a
           Right
           and
           Title
           to
           an
           Heavenly
           Habitation
           .
           To
           confirm
           this
           Assertion
           ,
           and
           to
           press
           you
           to
           this
           Duty
           ,
           I
           shall
           offer
           these
           things
           that
           follow
           to
           your
           Consideration
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Your
           Souls
           are
           designed
           to
           a
           perpetual
           Residence
           in
           some
           Habitation
           .
           The
           Father
           of
           Spirits
           hath
           resolved
           to
           preserve
           the
           Being
           and
           Life
           of
           your
           Souls
           for
           evermore
           ,
           no
           Period
           shall
           ever
           be
           put
           to
           their
           Existence
           ;
           and
           therefore
           when
           they
           leave
           their
           present
           Habitation
           ,
           they
           must
           enter
           into
           another
           .
           There
           are
           but
           two
           Receptacles
           of
           departed
           Souls
           ,
           viz.
           an
           Heavenly
           Paradise
           ,
           and
           an
           Infernal
           Lake
           :
           when
           your
           immortal
           Spirits
           are
           divorced
           from
           your
           Bodies
           ,
           they
           must
           either
           ascend
           to
           the
           former
           ,
           or
           descend
           to
           the
           latter
           .
           And
           how
           can
           you
           bear
           to
           think
           of
           dwelling
           with
           consuming
           Fire
           ,
           and
           abiding
           with
           everlasting
           Burnings
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           Your
           Bodies
           shall
           enter
           into
           the
           same
           Habitation
           ,
           when
           re-assumed
           by
           your
           Souls
           ,
           into
           which
           your
           Souls
           enter
           when
           divested
           of
           your
           Bodies
           .
           Where-ever
           your
           Souls
           go
           after
           Death
           ,
           there
           will
           your
           Bodies
           be
           disposed
           after
           the
           Resurrection
           .
           If
           the
           noble
           Inhabitant
           dwells
           in
           Heaven
           ,
           the
           House
           that
           it
           dwelt
           in
           upon
           Earth
           when
           rebuilt
           shall
           be
           fixt
           in
           that
           glorious
           Region
           ,
           this
           Earthly
           
           Tabernacle
           shall
           become
           a
           Celestial
           Structure
           ;
           but
           if
           it
           be
           cast
           into
           Hell
           ,
           the
           raised
           Body
           must
           stand
           in
           that
           direful
           Prison
           as
           an
           everlasting
           Monument
           of
           Divine
           Wrath.
           By
           making
           Provision
           for
           your
           Souls
           ,
           you
           will
           also
           secure
           the
           Felicity
           of
           your
           Bodies
           ;
           their
           true
           Interest
           is
           inseparable
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           How
           terrible
           will
           the
           Agonies
           of
           Death
           be
           to
           us
           ,
           if
           we
           see
           our selves
           destitute
           of
           a
           Title
           to
           Eternal
           Life
           ?
           They
           who
           have
           disregarded
           their
           future
           State
           ,
           when
           the
           evil
           day
           of
           Death
           seem'd
           to
           be
           at
           a
           distance
           from
           them
           ,
           have
           had
           very
           aweful
           and
           terrible
           Thoughts
           about
           it
           ,
           when
           it
           hath
           made
           sensible
           Approaches
           to
           them
           .
           With
           what
           Horror
           will
           your
           Souls
           be
           seised
           ,
           when
           Death
           sits
           upon
           your
           quivering
           Lips
           ,
           if
           you
           apprehend
           that
           they
           shall
           be
           speedily
           expelled
           your
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           eternally
           excluded
           the
           Heavenly
           Building
           !
        
         
           4.
           
           This
           Life
           is
           the
           only
           time
           for
           securing
           an
           Interest
           in
           this
           glorious
           Habitation
           .
           As
           the
           Tree
           falls
           ,
           so
           it
           must
           eternally
           lie
           :
           Death
           will
           fix
           us
           in
           an
           unalterable
           and
           unchangeable
           State.
           Those
           Spirits
           that
           are
           now
           in
           Prison
           will
           find
           no
           place
           for
           Repentance
           ,
           tho
           they
           should
           seek
           it
           with
           Tears
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           The
           time
           of
           our
           Souls
           Residence
           in
           our
           Bodies
           is
           very
           uncertain
           .
           Persons
           are
           very
           apt
           to
           defer
           this
           weighty
           and
           important
           Business
           ;
           some
           put
           it
           off
           to
           old
           Age
           ,
           others
           to
           a
           Sick-bed
           ;
           some
           think
           it
           will
           be
           time
           enough
           to
           seek
           after
           another
           Habitation
           when
           the
           Strength
           of
           their
           Earthly
           Tabernacles
           decays
           ,
           and
           they
           feel
           them
           shake
           and
           totter
           :
           Our
           Lives
           will
           be
           but
           short
           at
           longest
           ,
           and
           how
           short
           they
           will
           be
           we
           know
           not
           .
           Some
           are
           cut
           off
           in
           the
           Morning
           of
           their
           Days
           ,
           others
           in
           their
           full
           Strength
           :
           we
           are
           not
           sure
           that
           Age
           will
           snow
           upon
           our
           Heads
           before
           they
           are
           laid
           in
           the
           Dust
           ,
           or
           that
           the
           Structure
           of
           our
           Bodies
           will
           by
           any
           loud
           Crack
           give
           us
           notice
           of
           its
           Downfal
           .
           Some
           Bodies
           
           are
           demolished
           by
           a
           speedy
           and
           sudden
           Stroke
           ,
           their
           Souls
           are
           turn'd
           out
           of
           them
           without
           any
           warning
           .
           Let
           us
           therefore
           speedily
           seek
           that
           City
           which
           is
           above
           .
        
         
           Would
           you
           ,
           O
           Sinners
           ,
           get
           a
           Title
           to
           this
           Habitation
           ?
           then
           come
           to
           Christ
           ,
           and
           sincerely
           close
           with
           him
           :
           It
           is
           not
           to
           be
           purchased
           with
           your
           Money
           ,
           nor
           procured
           by
           your
           Labour
           ;
           if
           you
           accept
           of
           Jesus
           ,
           you
           shall
           freely
           receive
           it
           ;
           if
           you
           persist
           in
           your
           stubborn
           Rejection
           of
           him
           ,
           you
           shall
           never
           obtain
           it
           .
           Heaven
           is
           a
           purchased
           Possession
           ,
           Christ
           hath
           bought
           it
           with
           the
           invaluable
           Price
           of
           his
           precious
           Blood
           ;
           and
           if
           he
           become
           yours
           ,
           that
           shall
           be
           yours
           also
           :
           You
           will
           have
           a
           sure
           Title
           to
           it
           which
           can
           never
           be
           lost
           ,
           but
           will
           issue
           in
           an
           actual
           Possession
           of
           it
           .
           If
           you
           lay
           hold
           of
           Christ
           with
           the
           Hand
           of
           Faith
           while
           you
           live
           ,
           you
           may
           securely
           commit
           your
           Souls
           into
           his
           Hands
           when
           you
           come
           to
           die
           ,
           and
           say
           with
           expiring
           Stephen
           ,
           Acts
           7.59
           .
           
             Lord
             Jesus
             ,
             receive
             my
             Spirit
             .
          
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           I
           infer
           ,
           That
           Saints
           should
           diligently
           endeavour
           to
           get
           an
           Assurance
           of
           the
           happy
           Disposure
           of
           their
           Souls
           after
           their
           Separation
           from
           their
           Bodies
           .
           This
           is
           not
           unattainable
           by
           them
           ,
           this
           will
           not
           be
           unprofitable
           to
           them
           .
           It
           is
           their
           Duty
           to
           labour
           after
           it
           ,
           and
           an
           Attainment
           to
           it
           will
           be
           very
           beneficial
           and
           advantagious
           to
           them
           .
           This
           will
           comfort
           them
           under
           all
           the
           Frailties
           and
           Infirmities
           ,
           the
           Perishings
           and
           Decays
           of
           their
           outward
           Man
           ,
           and
           mightily
           sweeten
           all
           the
           Troubles
           and
           Afflictions
           wherewith
           they
           are
           exercised
           during
           their
           continuance
           in
           it
           .
           This
           will
           familiarize
           Death
           ,
           and
           render
           its
           Approach
           welcome
           to
           them
           .
           Death
           is
           terrible
           to
           Nature
           ;
           the
           Soul
           is
           naturally
           unwilling
           to
           leave
           its
           old
           dwelling-place
           ,
           Nature
           cannot
           but
           abhor
           a
           Dissolution
           ,
           besides
           violent
           Pains
           do
           ordinarily
           attend
           the
           taking
           down
           of
           this
           Earthly
           Structure
           .
           But
           
           they
           can
           embrace
           the
           King
           of
           Terrors
           with
           Joy
           and
           holy
           Triumph
           ,
           who
           are
           able
           to
           say
           with
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           2
           Tim.
           1.12
           .
           
             I
             know
             whom
             I
             have
             believed
             ,
             and
             I
             am
             perswaded
             that
             he
             is
             able
             to
             keep
             that
             which
             I
             have
             committed
             unto
             him
             against
             that
             Day
             .
          
           We
           ought
           to
           
             give
             Diligence
             to
             make
             our
             Calling
             and
             Election
             sure
             ;
             for
             so
             an
             Entrance
             shall
             be
             ministred
             unto
             us
             abundantly
             ,
             into
             the
             everlasting
             Kingdom
             of
             our
             Lord
             and
             Saviour
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ;
           2
           Pet.
           1.10
           ,
           11.
           
           But
           if
           we
           want
           this
           Assurance
           ,
           we
           cannot
           comfortably
           walk
           through
           the
           Valley
           of
           the
           Shadow
           of
           Death
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           Trouble
           will
           possess
           our
           Spirits
           ,
           if
           when
           our
           Souls
           are
           going
           to
           be
           unclothed
           of
           their
           Earthly
           House
           ,
           we
           know
           not
           whether
           ever
           they
           shall
           be
           clothed
           upon
           with
           an
           House
           which
           is
           from
           Heaven
           !
           If
           when
           they
           are
           launching
           into
           Eternity
           ,
           we
           know
           not
           whether
           they
           are
           entring
           into
           a
           bright
           or
           a
           black
           Eternity
           !
           In
           order
           to
           our
           obtaining
           this
           Assurance
           ,
           let
           us
           seriously
           and
           diligently
           search
           our
           Hearts
           and
           try
           our
           Ways
           ,
           put
           forth
           direct
           Acts
           of
           Faith
           upon
           Christ
           ,
           and
           beg
           of
           God
           to
           shed
           abroad
           his
           Love
           in
           our
           Hearts
           by
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           .
        
         
           Sixthly
           ,
           I
           infer
           ,
           What
           vast
           Obligations
           Believers
           are
           under
           to
           their
           Blessed
           Lord
           !
           How
           highly
           are
           they
           obliged
           to
           him
           ,
           who
           descended
           from
           his
           Imperial
           Throne
           ,
           tabernacled
           among
           us
           ,
           dwelt
           in
           an
           House
           of
           Clay
           ,
           and
           submitted
           to
           a
           Dissolution
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           procure
           for
           them
           an
           eternal
           Habitation
           with
           himself
           in
           the
           highest
           Heavens
           !
           By
           dying
           he
           conquered
           Death
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           render
           it
           a
           blessed
           Gain
           and
           Advantage
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           give
           them
           cause
           to
           triumph
           over
           it
           in
           their
           sharpest
           Encounter
           with
           it
           .
           How
           should
           we
           love
           and
           live
           to
           that
           blessed
           Jesus
           ,
           through
           whom
           we
           are
           more
           than
           Conquerors
           over
           our
           last
           Enemy
           ,
           who
           is
           gone
           to
           Heaven
           to
           prepare
           a
           Place
           
           for
           us
           ,
           and
           will
           receive
           us
           into
           it
           ,
           that
           where
           he
           is
           there
           we
           may
           be
           also
           !
        
         
           Seventhly
           ,
           I
           infer
           ,
           That
           a
           Believer's
           Conversation
           ought
           to
           be
           in
           Heaven
           .
           Shall
           we
           not
           be
           frequently
           conversant
           in
           that
           glorious
           Place
           ,
           where
           we
           hope
           eternally
           to
           dwell
           ?
           Seeing
           we
           are
           Strangers
           in
           the
           Earth
           ,
           we
           should
           live
           like
           those
           who
           know
           they
           have
           no
           continuing
           City
           here
           .
           Let
           us
           endeavour
           frequently
           to
           mount
           up
           on
           the
           Wings
           of
           our
           Thoughts
           and
           Affections
           to
           the
           excellent
           Glory
           .
        
         
           Lastly
           ,
           I
           infer
           ,
           That
           the
           Saints
           have
           a
           solid
           Ground
           of
           Comfort
           under
           the
           Death
           of
           their
           godly
           Relatives
           .
           We
           cannot
           but
           mourn
           to
           see
           those
           Structures
           wherein
           we
           took
           Pleasure
           laid
           in
           the
           Dust
           ,
           and
           going
           to
           be
           a
           Feast
           for
           Worms
           ;
           to
           think
           that
           we
           shall
           see
           the
           Desire
           of
           our
           Eyes
           no
           more
           in
           this
           World.
           But
           shall
           we
           not
           be
           comforted
           when
           we
           consider
           ,
           that
           their
           Souls
           are
           gone
           into
           a
           far
           better
           Habitation
           than
           they
           dwelt
           in
           while
           they
           cohabited
           with
           us
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           exchanged
           our
           Embraces
           for
           Christ's
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           now
           triumphing
           and
           rejoicing
           in
           the
           Heavenly
           Mansions
           ;
           that
           the
           Loss
           is
           only
           ours
           ;
           they
           are
           Gainers
           by
           their
           Departure
           ,
           and
           e're
           long
           we
           shall
           go
           to
           them
           and
           dwell
           with
           them
           for
           evermore
           ?
           I
           shall
           conclude
           with
           an
           Address
           to
           the
           near
           Relations
           of
           our
           Deceased
           Friend
           .
        
         
           I
           must
           acknowledg
           your
           Loss
           to
           be
           very
           great
           ;
           it
           is
           no
           small
           Affliction
           ,
           to
           be
           depriv'd
           of
           such
           a
           loving
           Husband
           and
           indulgent
           Father
           ,
           yet
           you
           ought
           not
           to
           mourn
           as
           those
           who
           have
           no
           Hope
           .
           They
           who
           observ'd
           his
           Conversation
           ,
           might
           from
           thence
           take
           knowledg
           that
           he
           had
           been
           with
           Jesus
           :
           He
           adorn'd
           the
           Doctrin
           of
           God
           his
           Saviour
           ;
           He
           was
           a
           burning
           and
           shining
           Light
           in
           the
           Place
           where
           Divine
           
           Providence
           fixt
           him
           :
           Therefore
           you
           have
           no
           Ground
           to
           question
           his
           Exchange
           of
           an
           Earthly
           for
           an
           Heavenly
           Habitation
           ,
           and
           the
           Church
           Militant
           for
           the
           Triumphant
           Assembly
           of
           the
           First-born
           .
           Were
           it
           put
           to
           his
           Choice
           ,
           whether
           he
           would
           stay
           where
           he
           is
           ,
           or
           return
           to
           you
           ,
           he
           would
           prefer
           the
           former
           to
           the
           latter
           .
           You
           ought
           humbly
           and
           silently
           to
           acquiesce
           in
           God's
           Sovereign
           Will
           ,
           who
           is
           righteous
           in
           all
           his
           Ways
           ,
           and
           holy
           in
           all
           his
           Works
           ,
           and
           to
           depend
           upon
           him
           who
           hath
           promised
           to
           be
           
             an
             Husband
             to
             the
             Widow
             ,
             and
             a
             Father
             to
             the
             Fatherless
             .
          
           Let
           me
           exhort
           his
           Children
           to
           an
           Imitation
           of
           that
           excellent
           Example
           which
           he
           hath
           set
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           a
           Remembrance
           of
           and
           Compliance
           with
           those
           wholsome
           Instructions
           which
           he
           hath
           given
           them
           .
           These
           Advantages
           you
           are
           now
           deprived
           of
           ,
           but
           a
           serious
           Reflection
           upon
           them
           may
           be
           beneficial
           to
           you
           ;
           if
           not
           ,
           they
           will
           aggravate
           your
           Guilt
           .
           It
           had
           been
           better
           for
           you
           to
           have
           descended
           from
           a
           Turk
           or
           Pagan
           ,
           than
           from
           such
           an
           Eminent
           Christian
           as
           your
           deceased
           Father
           was
           ,
           if
           you
           prove
           degenerate
           Children
           .
           How
           sad
           will
           it
           be
           ,
           if
           he
           who
           put
           up
           so
           many
           Prayers
           for
           your
           Salvation
           before
           the
           Throne
           of
           Grace
           ,
           should
           testify
           against
           you
           to
           the
           Aggravation
           of
           your
           Condemnation
           before
           the
           Tribunal
           of
           Justice
           ?
           He
           is
           gone
           before
           ,
           you
           must
           follow
           after
           ,
           how
           soon
           you
           know
           not
           :
           Death
           hath
           made
           three
           Breaches
           in
           your
           Family
           within
           the
           compass
           of
           a
           few
           Years
           ,
           and
           shall
           not
           these
           frequent
           Warnings
           put
           you
           in
           mind
           of
           your
           own
           Change
           ?
           O
           get
           an
           Interest
           in
           Christ
           !
           that
           will
           be
           more
           valuable
           than
           the
           Estate
           which
           your
           deceased
           Father
           hath
           bequeathed
           to
           you
           ;
           so
           you
           may
           be
           able
           to
           say
           when
           you
           come
           to
           die
           ,
           
             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
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .