I have taken that due care that becomes me in my provision for my eternal state, I am certain the case will be mended with me: however my inn be poor, mean, inconvenient, troublesome, it is but for a night, my home will be better; I have learned that I have here no abiding city, but I seek one to come." The benefits of the consideration of this text are many,

1. It will teach a man a very low esteem of this present world, and never to set the heart upon it. "Wilt thou set thy heart upon that which is not?" It is not an abiding city: either like the old feigned enchanted castles, it will vanish and come to little, while we think we have fast hold of it; or else we must leave it we know not how soon. It is full of trouble and vexation when we enjoy it, very unstable and uncertain is our stay in it. But let it be as good as it will, or can be, yet this text tells of a city that is better worth our thoughts, an abiding city, a city that cannot be shaken, where there are no troubles, no thorns, no cares, no fears; but righteousness, and everlasting peace and rest.

and

2. Consequently, it will teach us to seek that which is of most value first and most, and make that our greatest endeavour which is our greatest concern; namely, to seek that city that is to come, peace with God in Christ Jesus, and the hope of eternal life. It is true, while we are in this city that continues not, this inferior world, God Almighty requires a due care for externals, and industry in our employments, and diligence in our callings: it is part of that service we owe to God, to our families, to our relations, to ourselves; and being done in contemplation

of his command, it is an act of obedience and religious duty to him: but this consideration will add this benefit even unto our ordinary employments in our calling, it will be sure to bring a blessing upon it. "Seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added unto you." It shall be given in as an advantage and over-measure. It will add great cheerfulness to the employments of your calling, and to those worldly employments that are requisite for your support and subsistence, when you shall resign up your endeavours therein to the good pleasure of Almighty God. It will remove all vexatious solicitousness and anxiety from you, when you shall have such considerations as these: "Almighty God, it is true, hath placed men in this world, as in a passage to another, and requires of me an honest employment for my support and subsistence; or else hath lent me a reasonable, liberal portion, whereby I may comfortably subsist without much pains or labour. I will use it soberly, cheerfully, thankfully: if he bless me with increase, or greater plenty, I will increase my humility, sobriety, and thankfulness; but if it be not his pleasure to bless me with plenty and increase, his will be done; I have enough in that I have; there is another more abiding city, wherein I shall have supplies without want, or fears, or cares."

3. This consideration will give abundance of quietness, patience, tranquillity of mind, in all conditions. Am I in this world poor, or despised, or disgraced, or in sickness or pain? yet this text gives me two great supports under it. 1. It will be but short: this lower world, the region of these troubles and

storms, is no continuing, no abiding city; and, consequently, the troubles and storms of this inferior city are not abiding or long. 2. After this flitting, perishing city, that thus passeth away, this sour life, which is but the region of death, there succeeds another city that endureth for ever; a city not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, a state of everlasting blessedness, where are neither cares, nor tears, nor fears, nor poverty, nor sorrow, nor want, nor reproach; I will, therefore, with all patience, cheerfulness, and contentedness, bear whatsoever God pleaseth to exercise me withal in this life; for I well know that my light afflictions, which are but for a moment, shall be attended with a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

These considerations will seem but dry and empty to men that do not deeply and considerately weigh matters ordinarily young heads think them, at least, unseasonable for their youth; but they must know, that sickness and death will overtake the youngest in time, and that will undeceive people, and render the best appearances of this world, either bitter, or at least insipid, and without any pleasant relish; and then the hopes and expectations of this city to come will be of more value to us than the best conveniences and delights this lower world can afford. Let us, therefore, in our health, make it our business to secure our interest in it, and it will be our comfort and benefit both in life and death.

OF

AFFLICTIONS.

JOB V. 6, 7.

"Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."

JOB's friends, though, in the particular case of Job, they were mistaken, yet they were certainly very wise, godly, and observing men; and many of their sentences were full of excellent and useful truths, and particularly this speech of Eliphaz, which importeth these two propositions :

1. That the general state of man in this world is a state of trouble and affliction; and it is so common to him, so incident to all degrees and conditions of mankind, that it seems almost as universal, as that natural propension in the sparks to fly upward: no person of whatsoever age, sex, condition, degree, quality, profession, but hath a part in this common state of mankind: and although some seem to have a greater portion of it than others, some seem to have greater and longer vicissitudes, and intermissions, and allays thereof than others, yet

none are totally exempt from it; yea, it is rare to find any man, that hath had the ordinary extent of the age of man, but his troubles, crosses, calamities, and afflictions, have overweighed and exceeded the measures of his comforts and contentments in this life.

2. That yet those afflictions and troubles do neither grow up by a certain regular and constant course of nature, as plants and vegetables do out of the ground; neither are they merely accidental and casual, but they are sent, disposed, directed, and managed by the conduct and guidance of the most wise providence of Almighty God, and this he proveth in the sequel of the chapter. And, as in all things in nature, the most wise God doth nothing at random, or at a venture; so in this part of his providential dispensation towards mankind, he doth exercise the same, with excellent wisdom, and for excellent ends; even for the good, and advantage of mankind in general, and particularly of those very persons that seem most to suffer and be afflicted by them; sometimes to correct, sometimes to prevent, sometimes to heal, sometimes to prepare, sometimes to humble, always to instruct, and teach, and better the children of men.

And, indeed, if there were no other end but these that follow, this seeming sharp providence of Almighty God would be highly justified. Namely, First, To keep men humble and disciplinable. Man is a proud, vain creature; and were that humour constantly fed with prosperity and success, it would strangely puff up this vain humour: afflictions and troubles are the excellent and necessary correctives