[2.] Let us cease our immoderate care for outward things, which are in themselves of short continuance, and from which we may be taken we know not how soon : Luke xii. 20, ' Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee, and then whose shall these things be which thou hast provided ? ' He was a fool, because his barns were full and his soul empty ; a fool in providing but for 'half, and the worser part, for a short time, how short he knew not. When bees swarm and leave the hive, dust cast among them maketh them quiet, and pitch again. Oh, remember your dusty tabernacle I
[3.] Let us endeavour to make sure a state of continuance, a life that is hidden with Christ in God, a better part that shall never be taken from us, Luke x. 42. So Ps. cxix. 96, ' I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy commandment is exceeding broad,' — no end of it ; the commandment in the effect is not so much subjective as effective.
[4.] Let us forbear any dependence upon man, or fear of man, who cannot long continue to do us either good or evil : Ps. cxlvi. 3, 4, 'Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help ; his breatli goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, and that very day his thoughts perish.' When a bough is stripped off from the stock and root, all the unripe grapes wither and come to nothing, 1 Kings i. 21. If we trust or fear any, let us trust and fear God, who liveth for ever, Heb. x. 31.
I come now to the second consideration. ,
Secondly, That there is a much happier condition than this world is capable of, even an abiding state of blessedness which God haih provided for his people, ' A building of God, an house not made with hands,' &c. First, this is called an house ; secondly, and there are
428 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHUNS V. [SeR. I.
divers epitliets to show the eternity of this state. It is described, (1.) By the efficient cause, set forth negatively, in that word oUiav a-)(eipo- iroLtjTov, a building not made with hands; positively, oiKoBofi>]v eV 6eov, a building of God. (2.) The adjunct, eternal. (3.) The place where it is situated, in the heavens. There is a state of eternal glory and happiness that remaineth for the people of God. 'A building of God, an house,' &c. Whether by this house is meant the joys of the soul in heaven, or the state of a glorified body, or both, as making up that complete house which the saints desire, 1 will not now dispute.
1. Let it suffice that the state of glory is called an house. Heaven is sometimes compared to a kingdom, for the glory and splendour of that estate, and sometimes to a city, for the beauty and regularity of it, and also sometimes to an house, because of our social and familiar converse with God and one another : John xiv. 2, ' In my Father's house are many mansions.' Heaven is the house of God; wherein he will familiarly converse with his domestics, and they enjoy a full and clear sight of his glory, and live in all happiness, as being ever in the king's palace, glorifying and enjoying him : Ps. Ixxxiv. 4, ' Blessed are they that dwell in thy house ; they will be still praising thee, Selah.' It is a secure and quiet habitation, beyond the reach of enemies : Ps. ii. 3, ' Though the heathen rage, the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying. Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us, he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh,' &c., when there was a great tumult and bustle in the world. Sitting noteth a quiet posture ; those blessed mansions are never disturbed and discomposed. In this life the saints are tossed up and down, but there is a quiet resting-place prepared for them, where the soul reposeth herself with all spiritual dehghts after her labour and travail. Here is our tent, there our house ; our house is where our goods are. In heaven we enjoy the treasures which were laid up there before : Kev. xiv. 13 ; Luke xii. 33, ' A treasure in the heavens that fadeth not : ' there is all our comfort. It is a capacious house : John xiv. 2, ' In my Father's house are many mansions ;' that will hold all the children of God who at last shall be gathered to- gether. There is abundance of room in heaven. It is not carnally to be conceived as if heaven were to be divided into so many cells, but to note that many shall be admitted into that blessed rest, through the love of God and the merits of Christ. Oh ! let us often think of this blessed house. Here we have but a tent, the body is often afflicted ; and after that dissolved, torn, and taken down ; but then, an house that we shall never change, where we shall live sweetly and securely, without trouble of enemies.