The Importance of leading a heavenly Life upon Earth.
§ 1. The reasonableness of delighting in the thoughts of the saint's rest. § 2. Christians exhorted to it, by considering; § 3. (1.) It will evidence their sincere piety; § 4. (2.) It is the highest excellence of the Christian temper; § 5. (3.) It leads to the most comfortable life; § 6-9 (4.) It will be the best preservative from temptations to sin; § 10. (5.) It will invigorate their graces and duties; § 11. (6.) It will be their best cordial in all afflictions; § 12. (7.) It will render them most profitable to others; § 13. (8.) It will honor God; § 14. (9.) Without it, we disobey the commands and lose the most gracious and delightful discoveries of the word of God; § 15. (10.) It is the more reasonable to have our hearts with God, as his is so much on us; § 16, 17. and (11.) In heaven, where we have so much interest and relation; § 18. (12.) Besides, there is nothing but heaven worth setting our hearts upon. § 19. Transition to the subject of the next chapter.
§ 1. Is there such a rest remaining for us? Why then are our thoughts no more upon it? Why are not our hearts continually there? Why dwell we not there in constant contemplation? What is the cause of this neglect? Are we reasonable in this, or are we not? Hath the eternal God provided us such a glory, and promised to take us up to dwell with himself, and is not this worth thinking of? Should not the strongest desires of our hearts be after it? Do we believe this, and yet forget and neglect it? If God will not give us leave to approach this light, what mean all his earnest invitations? Why doth he so condemn our earthly-mindedness, and command us to set our affections on things above? Ah vile hearts! If God were against it, we were likelier to be for it; but when he commands our hearts to heaven, then they will not stir one inch: Like our predecessors, the sinful Israelites; when God would have them march for Canaan, then they mutiny, and will not stir; but when God bids them not go, then they will be presently marching. If God say, _Love not the world, nor the things of the world_; we dote upon it. How freely, how frequently can we think of our pleasures, our friends, our labors, our flesh and its lusts, yea, our wrongs and miseries, our fears and sufferings? But where is the Christian, whose heart is on his rest? What is the matter? Are we so full of joy, that we need no more? Or is there nothing in heaven for our joyous thoughts? Or rather, are not our hearts carnal and stupid? Let us humble these sensual hearts that have in them no more of Christ and glory. If this world was the only subject of our discourse, all would count us ungodly; why then may we not call our hearts ungodly, that have so little delight in Christ and heaven?