[2.] An earthen vessel is but a weak frame ; a httle dirt concocted with the fire. And we are a more exquisite frame, knit together by a more singular art, of God, being made in a wonderful manner ; and yet God compares his frame * of us to our frame * of earthen vessels, since the fall, Jer. xviii. 4.
Beloved, it is matter of experience which needeth no proof. I would we could make good use of it, rather than stand to prove it. Nothing is * That is, ' framing.'— Ed.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. IV, VER. 7. 355
more apparent than the frailty of man, and yet nothing less made use of. ' The Lord rememhcrs we are but dust,' Ps. ciii. 14, but we forget it. If we could remember wc were dust, it were well, to make us less proud, and less presumptuous. The Lord knows we are but dust, to pity us, but we remember not that we are dust, to humble us. And therefore as God knows we are dust and earthen vessels, we should often think of it too, to make us humble and sober, and to take off our high thoughts from any excellency here.
And take heed lest b}' intemperance we break ourselves sooner than we should do. Many break themselves by intemperate courses, as candles that have thieves in them (j), as we say, that consume them before their ordinary time. So many by intemperate lusts and courses, they break the thread of their lives.
Indeed, let an earthen vessel be preserved never so, it will moulder to pieces, though it may be kept an hundred years, if preserved from knocks ; so man will moulder of himself to an end ; all the art and skill in the world cannot prevent it.
Yet notwithstanding there may be, and ought to be, care that viC shorten not our own days, as many intemperate persons do, and that in sinful courses, which is more to be lamented.
Therefore let us often think of our condition, Jer. xviii. 2, 3, 4. God bids the prophet go to the potter's house and see his making of pots, and there he sees how he makes one to one use and another to another ; and so we are but vessels of earth for several uses ; and let us learn the use the prophet there was taught, to I'esigu ourselves to God's dispensation. If he will make us longer or shorter, of this use or that use, let God have his will, and not quarrel with God ; as the vessels never quarrel with the potter, who makes what vessels he pleaseth, and for what end he pleaseth, as the apostle makes use of it in the great point of predestination, Rom. ix. 23.
Use 1. And since the best ministers, magistrates, and all are but earthen vessels, make u-hat use ive can of them ivliiJe we have them.. Let us not rely on them. They be but * earthen vessels ;' but though we must not depend on them for our comfort, j^et make use of them while we have them, for they may be knocked in pieces, we know not how soon, and then all the use we might have had is gone.
Use. 2. And to rise to a higher use, which concerneth us all, since ministers, kings, subjects, and all are but ' earthen vessels ' in regard of the manner,* and seeing they may be golden vessels in regard of grace and glory, as the apostle saith, * in a great house are vessels of gold and silver,' 2 Tim. ii. 20, let us labour to have another manner of beuiff than this, labour to be born again of * the immortal seed of the word,' 1 Peter i. 23, and then in death we shall live, then these ' earthen vessels ' shall be made golden vessels for ever ; for God's second work is a great deal better than his first. Now we be in the first creation ' earthen vessels,' but when God reneweth us out of dust again, if we get into Christ we shall be golden vessels in heaven for ever, born and begotten of the seed of the word ; as the apostle Peter saith, ' All flesh is grass,' he compares us not only to earthen vessels, but to grass, of less substance than earthen vessels, ' but the word of the Lord endureth for ever,' 1 Peter i. 25.
Labour that we may be golden vessels under a golden head. If we be Christians we have a golden head, though earthen vessels ; and having a golden head, he will make all conformable to him ere long. We shall have * Qu. ' matter ' ?— En.
35 G COMMENTARY ON
bodies conformable to bim, as PbiL iii. 21. lie will make our oartben bodies, vile bodies, base bodies, like bis {glorious body, by tbc power wbcreby bo is able to subject all tbiuf,'R to bimself.
And tbis comes by bcarin<5 tbe word of tbe Lord. Tbat word is tbe seed of tbe new birtb. * 0 eartb, eartb, cartb, bear tbe word of tbe Lord,' Jcr. xxii. 29, and consider wc be cartb, eartb, notbinjf but cartb ; for be repeats it tbrice togetbcr, ' Hear tbe word of tbe Lord,' tbat we of cartben vessels may bo made vessels of everlasting continuance.