And a Kingdom that cannot be moved Heb. 12.28 The strongest Kingdoms the greatest Cities the most stately Houses in the world have been Subverted Razed and utterly Demolished but this is an Eternal House City and Kingdom 3. This house is commended from the Place and Situation of it it is a house Eternal in the Heavens But you may say Doth this house differ from heaven it self because the Apostle calls it an Eternal house in the Heavens I Answer The house of every particular Saint is a part of heaven and of the blessedness of the invisible World and it is much such a form of speech as if I should say My house is in the City yet it is also a part of it and Oh what an honor is it to possess and inhabit such an house in such a Place Heaven in Scripture is called the Highest and the Holiest place Luke 19.38 Heb. 10.19 Oh what an unspeakable Dignity and Felicity is this for Vile Wretched Abject Creatures to be entertained in the highest and holiest Place David in the 1 Sam. 27.5 speaks as if it were too great an honour for such a Mean servant as he was to dwell in the Royal City with the King Oh how much then are we advanced by being admitted to dwell with an infinite Majesty in his Royal City 4. We may observe the certainty that the Apostle and other Believers had of their Title to Interest and Propriety in this blessed place and glorious state We know saith he that we have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens This was not his or their guess or conjecture 't was not a meer probable opinion a loose and uncertain hope but we know it we are fully perswaded and assured of it and that on good grounds as Saints may know that they are begotten and born of God 1 Joh. 5.19 We know that we are of God So they may know that God will Treat and Portion them as his Children as here We know we have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens According to these four Parts of the Words I shall raise and deliver to you these four Doctrines Doctrine 1. The bodies of Saints even as other mens are but an Earthly house of a Tabernacle Doctrine 2. The Earthly house of this Tabernacle must be dissolved Doctrine 3. When the house of this Tabernacle is dissolved yet Saints have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens Doctrine 4. Saints do or may know that when their Earthly Tabernacle shall be dislolved they have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Of each of these I shall speak with as much brevity as I can Doctrine 1. That the Natural Body of Saints is but an earthly house of a Tabernacle 1. It is an Earthly house Prov. 8.26 God is said to make the highest Part of the Dust of the World Rabbi Kimchi by Gods making the highest Part of the Dust of the World understands the Creation of the first Adam and the interpretation is exceeding probable It is a very humbling expression of Proud Man to call him but the higher part of the dust of the World Mans body was but one remove from dust it was but well colour'd warm'd and animated Dust 2. The Natural body is a Tabernacle as it comes from the first Adam it is exceeding weak and frail and but of a short and Temporary use to the Soul and is not yet fitted to be the everlasting abode and habitation of it This word Tabernacle is Metaphorical and the Metaphor is borrowed from Travellers and Soldiers 1. Travellers had their Tents especially in Countries where there were not such conveniences as Inns Gen. 31.25 Travelling Jacob pitches his Tents in a Mountain Saints are in their bodies as Travellers through this Wilderness to the heavenly Canaan they are strangers in this World and as Pilgrims journeying on towards the invisible and future World as Jacob they are passing on towards their Fathers house We have here no abiding City but we seek one to come Heb. 13.14 2. Saints are in their bodies as Soldiers in a Military Tent. Judah and Israel fighting against the Ammonites incamped in their Tents 2 Sam. 11.11 So Saints are in a Warfare the beloved City is also called the Camp of the Saints Rev. 20.9 They are fighting against Sin the World and the Devil Paul saith 1 Cor. 9.26 So fight I not as one that beats the Air. I am not in jest as Fencers but in good earnest as Soldiers I am subduing iniquity mortifying Members on Earth killing of fleshly Lusts Vse 1. Here is matter of Humiliation to us all our bodies are but an Earthly house a weak and frail Tabernacle why should any swell with conceits of their Wealth or be puffed up with Honour or Profperity or glory in their Birth or Breeding They dwell in houses of Clay they are clothed and clogged with vile bodies all their glory and grandeur is but as Tapistry hangings or cloth of gold put on or cast over a base mouldering Mud-wall These bodies that many are so proud of must shortly be breathless colourless Carcasses feeding the Worms and soiling the grass Vse 2. We may draw from hence matter of Caution and Counsel 1. Are our bodies Earthly houses Oh take heed that your hearts be not Earthly too and your Spirits Carnalized also 'T is Comfortable when there is a heavenly Tenant in this Earthly house but how sad is it when body and soul too are counted but Flesh by God Gen. 6.3 My Spirit shall not always strive with man for that he also is flesh How debasing to man is this expression though the Soul in its own Nature be a Spirit yet it is so debaucht and degenerate it is so sunk immersed into and swallowed up in the concerns of the body that by reason of its disposition and inclination it may well be called Flesh Take heed that your Souls be not thus drenched and soaked in bodily Pleasures and sensual delights that you do not invassal and inslave your Spirits to be Stewards and Caterers to your Flesh that Reason be not hired out to the service of a sensual Appetite Unregenerate Persons are called Men of this Earth Ps 10.18 Ps 17.14 and Men of this World their minds fix and dwell on this Earth their Affections cleave and are glued to it They are as Plants flourishing in their Native soil and as Free Denizens and Citizens of this present World Ps 37.35 Oh therefore seek that you may be recovered from this Degeneracy and be rescued from this Bondage by the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 Joh. 3.6 1 Cor. 15.48 49. As that which is born of the Flesh is Flesh so that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit The heavenly Adam begets a heavenly Seed and Posterity if your Souls do now become Spiritual and
all yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 2. Christians come to know this by inspection into themselves and spiritual Experience of a saving work wrought on themselves Heb. 10.34 they knew within themselves that they had in Heaven a more induring Substance By looking into themselves they might espy such a Divine Nature such a supernatural Life sprung up in them as did evidence they were intituled to and designed for the Heavenly Inheritance As Mark 29.33 the Poor Woman healed by Christ felt it in her Body and verse 33. She knew what was done in her viz. that she was healed of that Plague So Christs spiritual Patients may know within themselves what excellent cures this Heavenly Physician hath wrought in and on them and thereby fitted them to Converse in the True land of the Living The very senses that an infant hath do shew that it was designed for an higher life and larger Place than still to be imprisoned and penned up in the Womb its Eyes Ears Smelling and Tasting were to be exercised on Objects in this large World so the Spiritual Senses of the Souls of Saints do speak them to be designed for the invisible and Eternal World They can see things invisible they can taste spiritual dainties they can smell the Odours that come from the Mountain of Myrrh and the Hill of Frankincense they can scent the spices of the Heavenly Canaan Moses his Parents did observe his rare and admirable Beauty and seem from thence to conclude that surely he was chosen and designed by God for some extraordinary service Heb. 11.23 And is not the Church of Believers the fairest among Women Cant. 1.8 and doth not this wonderful and rare beauty evince that Christ hath set his love on her and that she is called to the Marriage Feast and designed for the Bride-chamber of the Son of God Ignatius one of the most Ancient Fathers in his Epistle to the Romans saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The living water that did spring up in him did say to him within Come home to thy Father Christ hath written a living Epistle in their Minds and Wills The Life and Law of God as a byass on their Hearts inclines them to another Country and World They have the first Fruits of their Inheritance the earnest of the bargain the beginnings of Everlasting Life abiding in them already Job 14.23 1 Cor. 3.16 that glorious Company that they shall converse with for ever are now come down to sojourn in their hearts here below The Father and Son dwelled in them by the spirit and surely such Royal guests will in due time remove the Souls that entertain them to their own glorious Habitation 3. There is the Mysterious Testimony of the Holy Spirit Rom. 8.16 17. The Spirit himself beareth witness with or to our Spirits that we are the Sons of God and if Sons then Heirs c. Surely some very high Evidence and Assurance is intended by these words whether mediate or immediate I shall not now determine The spirit himself beareth witness this phrase imports that the Spirit himself excellently appears in this Testimony and will it Testifie and can it not make Souls to understand its voice to perceive its meaning to embrace its Testimony and acquiesce in its Evidence Shall any question or doubt whether men may know themselves to be the Sons of God when it is one Office and great work of the Holy Spirit to make them understand it and to assure their Souls of it Is the Testimony of the Spirit Dark Intricate and Ambiguous doth it leave Souls in hovering suspence and wavering uncertainty when it comes to give its evidence can it not decide and determine the Controversie and make an end of strife in an unbelieving Heart And if the Spirit doth clear up our Sonship may we not know we are Heirs All Gods Children are Heirs every Son hath the Rights Priviledges and Inheritance of a first born Vse 1. Oh be Exhorted Stirred up and Quickned to seek and obtain the sweet and comfortable knowledge of what is provided for you in Heaven Strive to assure to your selves that you have a house built a City prepared for you above Oh how uncomfortable is it to be at uncertainties whither we shall go how we shall be disposed of and where we shall be fixed for Ever We know we must remove from hence but how will this damp our spirits when we know not whither we shall remove We know what we must part with but how will it Chill and Deject us when we know not what we shall possess in another World Our love cannot be so Fervent our Joy so Strong our Praises so Hearty and Affectionate if we know not that God is our Father that he will divide a Rich Portion to us and settle a glorious Inheritance on us The knowledge of what is reserved for us in Heaven will have great influence on our Holy Calling and will both Quicken us in doing and support us in Suffering the Will of God Use therefore all diligence to attain the full assurance of Understanding of Faith and of Hope all which are mentioned in these following Scriptures Col. 2.2 Heb. 10.22 Heb. 6.11 These three do make an excellent and comfortable Syllogism the full Assurance of Understanding as to the Terms and Tenders of the Gospel maketh the Major the full Assurance of Faith believing and applying this Doctrine to our selves makes the Minor and the full assurance of Hope is the sweet Conclusion that results from these excellent Promises O Christians why are you contented to live at so low a Rate why are you so held in doubts and suspence about your Everlasting state why are you so lost in an intricate Wilderness and entangled in such uncomfortable Labyrinths why is there yet so dark a Vail on your minds that hinders you from looking with Joy and Comfort into another World Doth not the Gospel dispensation under which you live afford grounds for high Faith and strong Consolation Are we not told that God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their Trespasses to them 2 Cor. 5.19 that Christ hath made an end of sin destroyed Satan overcome the World abolished death and brought Life and Immortality to Light Dan. 9.24 Heb. 2.15 Joh. 16. last 2 Tim. 1.10 Is not Heaven purchased and Possessed for and bequeathed in Christs Testament to the Heirs of Promise Are not all that fly for Refuge to take hold of the hope set before them accepted and allowed to be Heirs of this glorious inheritance Heb. 6.18 Is not this sentence not exceeding full and comprehensive God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life Joh. 3.16 and is not this Testimony clear and express that God hath given to us Eternal Life and this Eternal Life is in his Son and he that hath the Son hath Life 1 Joh. 5.11 12. This Life
The FAITH of the SAINTS As to a Future HOUSE and HAPPINESS in the other WORLD Set forth in A SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL of that Worthy Servant of CHRIST Mr. WALTER MARSHAL By S. TOMLYNS M.A. LONDON Printed by John Richardson for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1680. To the Honourable the Lady Anne Constantine and to the truly Religious Mrs. Mary Fiennes the Author wisheth increase of Grace and the enjoyment of Glory through Jesus Christ Madam Mistress IT hath pleased the Lord to afflict and exercise you both with Bodily Distempers and every Fit of a Disease every Paroxism of Pain is a blow that contributes to the Felling of the Tree these Van-curriers of Death do undermine the Vigor and strength of Nature and help forward the Ruin of a frail Tabernacle As there are Flowers that blow and wither in the Spring as well as others that flourish and fade in the Summer and Autumn so many of Mankind do fade and die in the Spring of Youth as well as in the Summer of Riper Years and in the Autumn of Old Age. God can make our Night and Deaths Harvest to come whenever he pleaseth our Sun may set when we think it is not yet Noon Deaths Harvest may come when our Spring seems not yet to be past Our Breath is in our Nostrils and may soon pass out the Judge stands at the door and may quickly enter in It concerns us therefore always to be ready for the coming of our Lord that he may not surprize us as a Thief in the Night but may Visit us as a Bridegroom that we have long looked and waited for It is or should be the work of our whole Week-day to prepare for the Everlasting Sabbath As by your Bodily Distempers the great Landlord warns you out of your Earthly Tabernacle so the Text I insist on teaches you whither Saints must Remove and what a House God hath built to entertain the separated Souls of Believers I have therefore thought fit to Tender this small Treatise to you as a Testimony of my Respect and Observance towards you if it may in any degree prove a Light to your Feet a Lamp to your Paths a Staff to your Faith and a Cordial to your Souls it will be very acceptable to him who is Your Obliged and Humble Servant S. T. To my Well-beloved Friends the Inhabitants of Gosport in the County of Southampton the Author wisheth Grace and Peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ Christian Friends IT hath seemed good to the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth to make a Breach upon you by snatching away from you a faithful and laborious Servant of Christ who fed you with his Doctrine and edified you by his Example He wooed for Christ in his Preaching and allured you to Christ by his Walking Though the Seedsman be dead yet the Doctrine he preached is Incorruptible Seed the Word of God that lives and abides for ever And though his service by vocal preaching among you is past yet your Account for your profiting by and growth under his Ministry is to come Look therefore diligently to it that the Word of God dwell richly and root deeply in your souls that it be the sword of the Spirit to slay your lusts a spiritual Mould to fashion your hearts aright and Bread to feed and nourish you up to everlasting Life Walk while you have the light and work the works of him that sent you into the World while it is day build up your selves on your most holy Faith and walk in love towards each other as Christ hath loved you Your souls came into this World on a Trading Voyage to buy Gold tried in the Fire white Rayment and Eye-salve Neglect not your spiritual Traffick the longer the Merchants ship stayes out the richer Lading should it bring home Lade your selves with Treasures that Death shall not spoil you of Adorn your souls with Ornaments that it shall not strip off It will be sad if any of you should go out of the World and carry nothing away with you but the guilt of Sin and the fear of punishment a bitter remembrance of past iniquity and a dreadful expectation of Wrath to come Death is called the way of all the Earth 1 Kings 2.2 and in this way you must shortly tread and by it depart from all Friends and Enjoyments below O look up to and take fast hold of Christ that is the Ladder that reaches up to Heaven and so is the way to the best Country and Inheritance You cannot decline the way that will carry you off from all Earthly Relations Pleasures Possessions O be sure that you enter into and walk â—n in that way that will carry you to an invisible World of Happiness and Glory Time hastens days post away and will you stand idle You are carried a-pace down the River of Time towards the Ocean of Eternity and will you not as spiritual Racers press forward towards the Mark for the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus Let not by business divert you from your principal and most noble work Mary chose the one thing necessary David desired one thing Paul saith this one thing I do Read those three Scriptures Luk. 10.42 Psal 27.4 Phil. 3.13 14. This argues sincerity and fervency iâ—deed when you choose desire and do one thing as Necessary and are Conversant about other matters but as indifferent things Be watchful against the old man that stoops you towards this Earth beware of Satan that wrestles with you to throw your minds and â—earts down to this World Lay not those snowy-creatures in your bosomes that will not only melt away themselves but also chill your Hearts to better and more Noble Objects Be not guilty of such folly to magnifie what you are but Stewards of and to despise what you may be Heirs of Take hold of the Hope set before you and then when others shall be put away as dross you shall be made up as Jewels and shine for ever in the kingdom of your Father This Sermon as it was Preached at your desire so now it is Printed with some enlargement at the Request of some of you the Lord accompany it with the teaching of his Spirit and the efficacy of his Grace that it may conduce to your spiritual Good which is the carnest desine and Prayer of Aug. 23. 1680. Your affectionate Friend and Servant for Jesus sake S. T. The Faith of the SAINTS 2 COR. 5.1 For we know that if our Earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens THE Words of the Text are a reason of somewhat discoursed and asserted by the Apostle in the foregoing Chapter in the 2 Cor. 4.16 he saith we faint not And in the 2 Cor. 4.18 We look not at the things that are seen but at
Heavenly your bodies in due time shall be rendred Spiritual and Heavenly also 2. If your Bodies be an Earthly house a Frail and Temporary Tabernacle then do not put your happiness on the Tabernacle state of the body Will you confine your Comforts to Minutes and Moments and not extend your hopes to Eternity Take heed that you live not by sense walk not after your Eyes indulge not your Flesh give not the Reins to Corrupt Affections You have Members on Earth Col. 3.5 and these are to be mortified and not gratified Oh do not as Esau Heb. 12.16 for one morsel of Meat sell your Birth-right do not for short and momentary Pleasures betray your Souls to Eternal Torments and Misery Forbear to give satisfaction to sensual desires put restraints on your Lusts 1 Pet. 2.11 Gen. 3.23 24. curb your Appetites and Carnal Inclinations abstain from fleshly Affections that war against your Souls God banished our first Parents out of Paradise into the Earth and World at large and shall we choose our Heaven and seek our Happiness in the place of our Exile and Confinement should we not seek after a higher state and better place for the body than this earth God hath made our dayes here as an hands breadth would not that man be counted to have a dim sight that could see no further than a hands-breadth and shall we look no further Shall all our Thoughts and Desires be confined to and all our endeavours be imployed about a life of a Hands-breadth Will you not look out of a vile Tabernacle into a World of Glory and be raised above a momentary to an Everlasting Life But I shall not stay on this but pass on to the second Doctrine Doctrine 2. That the Earthly house of this Tabernacle must be dissolved The whole Fabrick of man must be taken to pieces the Soul must part with its dear and intimate friend the Body and put off that garment of Flesh that cleaves so close unto it Thou changest his Countenance saith Job and sendest him away Job 14.20 As in the fourth of Numbers we read of the taking down of the Tabernacle after it had been set up in the Wilderness so this Earthly Tabernacle must be taken down And Ainsworth makes a Parallel between the taking down of the Mosaical Tabernacle and the dissolving of this Earthly Tabernacle In the pulling down of the Tabernacle first the Holy things were removed Numb 4.5 6 7 8 9 10. and then the Curtains Numb 4.25 and then the Boards were loosed and unpinned Numb 4.31 So in the dissolving of this Earthly Tabernacle first the Soul that is the most Holy thing dislodges and removes and then the Curtains of our Skin and Flesh are eaten and consumed by Worms and then the bones that are as the Boards and Timber-work of our Earthly house and Tabernacle are separated from each other This Tabernacle must be dissolved Death will soon Plant its batteries against this weak house the King of Terrors will storm it with Troops of Pains and Diseases and entring as a Conquerour will dispossess and eject the Soul from its house This is not a by-law that binds some few but an Universal Royal Statute that stands in forde against the whole World It is appointed for all men once to die Heb. 9.27 This Road to the grave is called the way of all the Earth 1 Kings 2.2 And the grave itself is styled The house appointed for all living Job 30.23 Here the Travellers must lodge yea here the Pilgrims must for a great while dwell and therefore it is called their long home Eccl. 12.5 The dissolution of this Tabernacle especially in the People of God is very remarkable if we consider these three things following 1. That though their bodies are such a curious Piece of Divine Needle-work and Architecture Psal 139.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acupictus artificiosè confectus so embellished with Veins Sinews and Arteries so drawn out into beautiful Limbs so adorned with excellent Features and Comeliness yet he that hath Raised this excellent structure will Raze it he that hath Cast and Fashioned this Beautiful Vessel will dash it to pieces he that hath laid out so much Art and Skill on this Choice Piece will unravel and undo yea spoil and mar his own Workmanship We may say as Job Chap. 10.8 Gods hands have made and fashioned us round about It is an allusion to an excellent piece of work that the hand of the Artist hath often gone round polishing and perfecting of it to the highest degree yet saith he thou dost destroy me Oh how wonderful is this that God should be so displeased with and severely turn against his own work 2. The bodies of the Saints have been the Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.19 Know you not that your bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost Yet though they have entertained and harboured so glorious a Guest though the Divine Majesty hath resided and dwelt in them by a special Presence yet this will not ward off the blow or guard them from the fatal stroke of Death God dwells Christ lives in this Tabernacle by his Spirit yet it must be dissolved 3. Though the Members and Bodies of Saints have been put to a Holy Use and have been imployed as Vessels of the Sanctuary yet this will not secure them from death Though their Life hath been spent in service though their Bodies have been worn out in Labour and wasted in sufferings for God yet they must be dissolved That Tongue must be struck dumb that hath praised God those Eyes must be closed that have been spectators of the glory of God in the Frame of Heaven and Earth and have read the wisdom power and goodness of God in the Pages of this great Book Those Members that have served God and ministred to his Saints must yet be bound with the fatal bonds of Death and be given up to rot and putrify in the dust this seems hard and harsh in the eye of Sence and Carnal Reason that the Sacred Lamps of the Sanctuary should be put out and those that have been most devoted to God should be delivered over to Worms and Corruption and the sheep of Christ be pen'd in Deaths Fold Quest But what is the Cause of this Severity why is the Creator so displeased with his Creatures why doth his Anger smoak against the very sheep of his Pasture Answer I Answer All Men have sinned in Adam and therefore die in him Rom. 5.12 1 Cor. 15.22 in him we contracted guilt in him we became liable to Penalties and Punishment We descend from a Traytor and Rebel against God and have derived from him a Corrupt and Rebellious Nature It is but Righteous that they should be broken to pieces that broke off themselves from God Mans Soul by its Fall was divided from God its Life and thereby deserved to be turned out of the Body as its Habitation Sin is the Worm