5. When the creatures are spoken of as eternal, it must be under- stood ; it is a comnumicated, dependent, half eternity, and so no deroga- tion to this perfection which is proper to God.
[1.] It is communicated to us, for originally God only hath immor- tality, 1 Tim. vi. 16. AVe have it by derivation, God hath it originally in himself and from himself. God dispenseth and measureth out the duration and continuance of all other things, their races and stages, when they shall begin and when they shall end. And that immor- tality which the angels and the souls of men have is ascribed to us by partici})ation ; we have it from God, because he was pleased to give it to us.
[2.] It is a dependent eternity, for every moment we depend upon God ; if he take away his Spirit we are gone, man or angel. We assert the immortality of the soul because it hath not the principles of cor- ruption in it as the body hath ; but yet we cannot, must not cut oft' the dependence upon the first cause and fountain of being. In his hand is the breath of all living, and he is often called ' the God of your life,' and ' the God of the spirits of all flesh.'
[3.] It is but a half eternity : we sometimes were not, God is from everlasting to everlasting; but we are appointed to eternal life, and time was when we lay in the womb of nothing. We are but of yester- day, poor u})starts, that had but an existence and a new being given us of God ; if he will lengthen it out, and continue it to all eternity, it is not such an eternity as he hath, but a half eternity ; not an eternity without beginning, but only without ending.
396 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser, XCIII.
6. This eternity of God is not seriously and suflficiently enough thought of and improved, till it lessen -all other things in our opinion and estimation of them and affection to them. Two things should especially be lessened — the time we spend in the world, and the things that we enjoy in the world.
[1.] The time we spend in the world. Alas ! what is this to God's eternity ! Ps. xxxix. 5, ' Behold, thou hast made my days as an hand- breadth, and mine age Is nothing before thee.' AVhether our days be spent in prosperity or adversity they are but short, a hand-breadth, a mere nothing, compared with God's eternity : Ps. ex. 4, ' A thousand 3'ears in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.' A thousand years, compared to eternity, are but as a drop spilt and left in the ocean, or as time insensibly past over in sleep. Forty, fifty, or seventy years seemeth a great time with us ; yet with God, who is infinite, ten thousand years is no considerable space, but a very short and small duration.
[2.] As time, so the things of the world : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' The things wliich are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' They are short as to continuance and use. As to continu- ance, he calleth the honours and delight of Pharaoh's court, Heb. xi. 25, ' The pleasures of sin for a season.' AVhatsoever is temporal a man may see the end of it. Be it evil : a man in the deep waters is not dis- couraged as long as he can see banks ; but in eternity there are neither banks nor bottom. If good : Ps. cxix. 96, 'I have seen an end of all perfection.' The most shining glory will shortly be burnt out to a snuff ; it wastes every day. Eternity maketh good things infinitely good, and evil things infinitely evil. If it be temporal, whatever paineth us is but a flea-bite to eternal torments. Whatever pleaseth or delights, it is but a may-game to eternal joys. So for use too, it is but for a season, Deut. xxiii. 24 ; the law gave an indulgence to eat of his neighbours' grapes for refreshment ; ' But thou shaft not put any in thy vessel : ' 1 Tim. vi. 7, ' For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.' The manna was useful and refreshing when used in the day, but if kept all night it perished ' and was useless ; it was useful in the wilderness, but ceased when they came to Canaan.
The uses are many.
Use 1. First, Comfort to the godl}', for their own particular. He is an eternal God that ordereth and guideth all things, that he may bring them to their eternal felicity, and will in time admit them into it : Ps. xlviii. 14, ' For this God is our God for ever and ever, and he will be our guide even unto death," After death he will be their God still : death doth not put an end to this relation ; for God is Abraham's God when he is dead, Mat. xxii. 32. God is the same still, both in himself and to those that believe in him : he will constantly guide them all the days of their life, and after death receive us to the ever- lasting enjoyment of himself, and revive our dust. Oh, what a blessed- ness is this, to have an interest in such an eternal God ! Secondly, As to the community and society to Avhich they do belong. God's eternity is the church's stability ; and so it is urged in scripture : Mai. iii. 6, 'For I am the Lord; I chancre not: therefore ve sons of