IN the Chapter immediatlie going before , the Apostle Paul hath bene speaking of the afflictions that hee suffered in his owne person ▪ and hath declared , that there was two things that helde him vp in those afflictions , the one thing present , the other thing to come . The thing present , the power of God , the life of Iesus , this held him vp in such sort ( saith hee ) that when he was dying vnder affliction in the bodie , yet the life of Iesus was manifest in him , & he was liuing in soule : and the more his bodie was decaying & wearing away , the more the inner-man , that spirituall life that floweth from Christ , grew and was renewed . Woe to that man that dieth altogether ! thou must die , and this bodie and life must bee separated , the ▪ bodie must goe to dust , but looke that soule and bodie goe not together : looke that as thou findest the bodie and life naturall to decay , so thou finde that spirituall life that floweth from the Lord of life , to grow , or else of necessitie thou must haue a woefull departure . This is the thing present that helde him vp . Another thing , and greater , which was not present , but to come , helde him vp vnder a●l the afflictions that were laide vpon him , which hee vttereth in th●se words , The momentanean lightnesse of affliction worketh vnto vs an euerlasting weight of glorie that passeth in excellencie . These are the wordes of the Apostle , wherein hee woulde learne vs , that after all these afflictions are done and ended , there abydeth a glorie after this life , that passeth in infinite degrees aboue all the afflictions that euer came to man in this life .

Will yee looke to the nature of the afflictions , First , they are light , that is one propertie : then they last but for a moment , that is another property : the weight of them is light ▪ the time of their during is but a moment : but the glorie ( marke euerie word of the Apostle ) the glorie ( saith he ) passeth in excellencie . It is not onlie excellent , but i● excelleth in excellencie , excellent aboue excellencie , an heape aboue an help , mounting vp to an infinite heape . Then looke to the weight thereof , it is not light ▪ but it is heauie : the afflictions were as light as a fether , or as the winde , in comparison of this glorie , but the glorie is heauie and weightie , a weight of glorie that passeth in excellencie , this is the first propertie . Then looke to the time , the afflictions were but for a moment . And if thou shouldest liue a thousand yeeres , and bee afflicted as manie yeeres ( for all thy dayes , and thy best dayes , if thou shouldest liue neuer so well , ●re but dayes of affliction ) all the thousand yeeres are but a moment in respect of that eternitie that followeth . Then let your eye be euer vpon eternitie of joy , or eternity of pain , eternity either of torment or of rest . Affliction is but for a moment , this glorie that passeth in excellencie is eternall in time . Loe , how great things are spoken in few words ! A glorie passing in weight & eternitie . And when he hath tould you all that he can , he hath not attained to the thousand part of the greatnesse of that glorie : neuer man thought of it as it is , nor it could neuer enter into the heart of man that excellent glorie that is prepared for them that loue God , 1. Cor. 2. 9. When he hath set down these two points in the end of the chap. preceeding , he goeth forward , a●d hee sheweth what he is doing in the meane time whilst he getteth this excellent glory . Learne to doe as he is doing , hee saith , Mine eyes are not vpon the worlde , my looke is not set vpon these visible things , which men haue so great pleasure into ; but mine eyes are lifted vp , & I am looking to thinges inuisible , that the mortall eye of man cannot see , because al these things visible are but temporall , & wil decay . If it were a kingdom , and thou begin to rest or repose vpon it ▪ it will decay , and thou shalt fall downe together with it , and perish euerlastinglie : But the things inuisible are eternal , and he who leaneth & reposeth thereon , shall get eternitie . Looke to the condition of those thinges whereupon thou reposest in this world : for if they bee thinges heauenlie , spirituall and eternall , thou shalt be heauenlie , spirituall and eternall : And as euer thou wouldest wish to see that glorie , looke that thine eye be set thereon in this earth , looke that thine eye bee mounted vp aboue all these earthlie things , & that thou keepe the heauenly things in thy sight : forget them not , for if thou die and they bee out of thy sight , thou shalt neuer see them : Take ple●sure to looke to that excellent glorie , and thou shalt obtaine it , otherwise not .

Now I come to the text : I shall let you see the disposition of the Apostle , and what he esteemeth of this life present , whereof we account so much , and whereupon our hearts & mindes are so set to keepe it : All our terrour is for the parting of the soule from the body : looke to Paul what he doth , and behold his disposition , either in life or death : Brethren , wee haue the more neede to take heede to these things , because wee shall all be put to the proofe , happie is hee that can bee prepared ! The Apostle hauing spoken this , that his eye was set on that heauenlie glorie ; it might haue beene saide , thou settest thine eye vpon a life aboue : but take heed Paul , thou shalt die in the meane time , is not life and death two contraries ? thou must die , and that bodie of thine must bee dissolued : lookest thou euer to rise agine ? thinkest thou anie other thing but to be disappointed of life ? lookest thou that that bodie of thine , beeing dissolued in dust , shall rise againe to glorie ? This is a sore temptation , and sundrie thinketh after this maner . The Apostle answereth , We know that if our earthlie house of this tabernacle be dissolued , we haue a building giuen of God , an house not made with handes , but eternall in the heauens . Learne a lesson here : Ye see while a man is looking to heauen , he will not be without temptation , no not Paul himselfe , nor none other man nor woman , that haue their conuersation in heauen : And the special temptation of him who wold faine haue life , is death , and the dreadfull sight of death , and death is euer in his eye : Hee was neuer borne but death will tempt him , death wil be terrible to flesh and blood , and when hee is looking vp to that light and glorie in heauen , it will come in betwixt his eye and the sight of heauen , as it were a terrible blacke cloude , and sometime will sunder him and that sight of Heauen . As when a man is looking vp to the Sunne , a cloude will come , euen suddenlie , and take the sight of the Sunne from him : Euen so , when a man is looking vp to the Sunne of righteousnes , CHRIST IESVS , that cloude of death will come in ▪ and catch the sight of CHRIST from him . This is our estate here , & there is none acquainted with Heauenlie things , but hee will find this in experience , as PAVL did . But what is the remedie ? In the first word of the Text that we haue read he s●ieth , Wee knowe , and wee are assured , for the worde importeth a full assurance , and faith , and a full perswasion . Then the remedie against this temptation of death is onelie Faith , a full perswasion , and light in the minde of the knowledge of the glorie of GOD in the face of CHRIST , with a gryping and apprehension thereof : this is the onelie remedie . The man that lyeth in ignorance , and hath not this knowledge , hee is oppressed by death . So euer seeke , and seeke earnestlie for light , CHRIST is light : and let your pleasure bee in light , for death is darkenesse , and smoothe●●th the soule , except it bee lightned with this light that comme●h from the face of IESVS . But to bee more speciall , what light and knowledge must this bee ? what assurance must this be ? Thou must knowe and bee assured , not that thou wilt bee free from death : naye , beguile not thy selfe , die thou must , and therefore resolue thy selfe to die : so it must not be such an assurance as to be perswaded that thou shalt not die , opponing thy self to death , saying , I wil not die , & I shal not die . Then what assurance & knowledge must this be ? Euer this , that after I am dead I shall rise againe to life . It is true , O death , thou shalt cease vpon my bodie , and thou shalt not leaue it till it bee dissolued into dust , but when thou hast gotten this body dissolued , I shall recouer a new glorious bodie . There is the meeting of this temptation , assure thy selfe of life after death . Seeke this assurance , and labour to pierce , with the eye of Faith thorow the clouds of temptation , to see that life in Christ , which is hid vp aboue those cloudes . Seeke that eye of Faith , to pierce in through those cloudes , to shew thee that life and the Sunne of righteousnes , Christ Iesus . Nowe , the wordes would be weighed particularly : and first , marke a description of this death , and of the temptations that woulde separate thee from that life eternall . The words are these , If our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolued . Then what is death ? a dissolution and loosing of a thing that was joyned together , a dissoluing and scattering of the partes of it : it is not an vtter destruction of it , the thing that it dissolueth , it destroyeth not vtterlie : It lyeth not in the handes of death to destroye the thing it dissolueth , it may well loose it and cast it asunder , but it cannot destroye it . Then death is a dissolution , and not a destruction : a dissoluing , whereof ? not of the soule , it lieth not in the power of death to loose thy soule or sunder the parts thereof , thou hast that aduantage : Death will dissolue and loose thine house the lodging that thou dwellest in , that is , this bodie which clotheth thy soule : Thou art termed by thy soule , and the soule properlie maketh a man to be a man , it is the chiefe part of man , and the bodie is called the lodging of the soule , and the soule dwelleth in it as in an house : So death is the dissolution of the bodie , of the house ▪ which it looseth into powder : yea , it wil loose all the members and parts of the house . O! but marke , when it commeth to powder and asshes , it lieth not in the handes of death to destroy the powder and ashes of the bodie , but that powder and ashes in despite of death will be gathered and set together in a more glorious forme of bodie than euer it was before . Yet looke howe the Apostle describeth this house : First from the matter , secondlie from the forme thereof : As for the matter , he calleth it our earthlie house . This bodie is but claye , euen a lumpe of that claye and earth whereupon thou goest , esteeme of it as thou wilt : yee see the matter of this bodie is vile and contemptible : as for the forme thereof , it is an house , not an house that hath a foundation , or builded on a ground-stone , but a tabernacle and flitting tent : it is set down here to day , tomorrow taken vp , and set downe in another place : thy body is a pauilion , that men transport hither and thither as they please . Then thou seest that thy bodie is a thing litle worth , whether thou looke to the matter whereof it is made ( of the earth ) or to the form thereof , an vnstable tent or pauilion . Now marke this well , brethren , who speaketh this ? it is Paul : how speaketh he it ? by faith : speaketh the bodie this ? no : what then ? the soule that dwelleth in the bodie , as in a lodging speaketh it . The soule is speaking of the bodie , the faithfull soule of Paul is speaking of his fraile bodie . Then learne how little faith counteth of death : Learne also how little the faithfull soule counteth of the body , yea ▪ euen then when it is dwelling in the bodie , it will lightlie the lodging thereof : it will call it a lumpe of claye , a tabernacle , a tent , a fraile house : it will count no more thereof , than a glorious king will count of a cottage , he hauing manie faire palaces . We 'l , brethren , it is faith that doth this , it is not the soule alone that can count so lightlie of death , or of the fraile body : if thou hast onely the soule in the bodie , and want this faith , the soule will thinke the bodie sweet to dwell in : It is faith , and the faithfull soule that doeth the turne : and there is not a better argument than this , to see if thy soule bee faithfull or not . Looke what estimation thou hast of thy bodie and carcasse , what account thou makest thereof , I saye to thee , if thou hast thy chiefe pleasure in esteeming of thy body , decking and feeding it , following thine appetite , wallowing in the lust thereof , if thou liuest in such estimation of thy body , I say , thou hast a faithlesse soule remaining within thy bodie . Woe to that faithlesse man , that hath none other pleasure , not can gripe nor seek to none other thing but to the pleasing of that fleshly body , without regarde of the precious soule : alas ! in pleasuring thy bodie , thou losest thy soule , thou makest thy bodie thy Heauen , and thou testifiest plainly that thou wantest that light and sense of that Heauenly bodie , which shall be after this life . Thus farre for the description of the death of the body , which is the house of the soule , learning vs to esteeme of the soule and body , as they are indeed , and that not with a fleshly sense , but with the Spirituall eyes of Faith .

Nowe wee come to the life that is contrarie to death . There is two partes of man , his soule and bodie : this glorie , of the which wee speake , is not the glorie of the soule onely , but the glorie of the bodie likewise , a glorie belonging both to soule and bodie . Wee ( saieth hee ) shall get a building , not a sillie house , as this earthly body was , but a faire building . Hee calleth the body , which wee haue presently , an house : but the body which we shall get , hee termeth it a building : Thou gottest this bodie from nature , that other is aboue nature : nature cannot giue thee that other bodie , GOD shall giue thee it aboue nature , and against nature . What building is this ? It is an house , not builded with the hands of men , it is builded with GODS owne hand : the LORD immediatelie with his owne hand builded vp this building . The former house of this body was vnstable , and had no abiding , for this body passeth away : but this second building is an house that shall neuer fall nor slit , but shall be eternall : When thou shalt get this building , thou shalt not need to be afraid for the dissolution thereof , it shall neuer be dissolued . Where shall this building be builded ? men regard much situation in building : this house in the which we dwel here , it is builded in the earth , and it is a tabernacle pitched somtimes in this place , & somtimes in that place , but the situation of this building shall bee in the Heauen : for I assure thee , when a man is once glorified , & entereth into that glorie , hee shall no more returne to the earth . The earth cannot beare a glorified person . Christ beeing glorified , coulde not abide in the earth , but He went to that glorious mansion in the Heauens . Thou shalt no sooner bee glorified , but thou shalt mount vp to Heauen as CHRIST did . Well then , there is the glorie , and there is no worde heere , but it aggregeth that passing glorie . Euerie worde l●tteth vs see the greatnesse of that glorie , and yet it is not all tolde . Nay , Paul cannot tell thee all the glorie that shall bee in the glorified bodie , he hath giuen but a little inckling of it . It is but a building whereof hee telleth thee : Yet marke , Who is this that speaketh this ? It is Paul . How speaketh he it ? by faith . Is it his mouth that speaketh it ? no : it is the soule that lodgeth in the bodie , that falleth out in the extolling of that building that it shall dwell in . As a sillie man , in a cottage , appointed to glorye shoulde saye , I am nowe sitting in a sillie house , but I shall once sit in a glorious Palace . So marke , Faith will cause the soule mount vp aboue the bodie , and whilst the soule is in the bodie , Faith and Hope will lift it vp , and put it ( in a maner ) into Heauen . Therefore this same Paul saith in the third Chapt. to the Phillip . & the 30 vers . By Faith and Hope hee had his conuersation in Heauen , while hee was yet dwelling on the earth . Get therefore Faith and Hope , that entereth thee into the possession of that glorie , and before the soule bee seuered from the bodie , they will ( in a maner ) put thee in possession thereof . It is the too-looke to heauen that maketh the soule of Paul to rejoyce in this glorie . The cottager that hath not a too-looke to a better house , is a foole to despise his cottage , but hee that hath a too-looke to a better , who can blame him to despise this cottage ? I will tell thee my counsell , before thou dislodge out of this bodie , for as fraile as it is , be assured of a better , goe not out of the house doore , except thou knowe that thou shalt enter into a glorious house . I assure thee if thou bee not prouided for a better house , and haue not Faith and Hope of a better than that which thou lodgest in , thou shalt enter in a worse , thou shalt get that bodie againe which was euill before , but then it shall bee a thousande times worse : for the soule shall bee shot into that bodie againe , and then thou shalt be shot both soule and bodie into that foule dungeon of Hell . So , brethren , looke for a glorious building , & thou that esteemest not of this bodie , bee carefull for a better . A vaine prodigall man will cast his soule out of this bodie , and in the meane time will not bee prouided for a better lodging thereto . Hee is not esteemed a man in these dayes , that wil not hazard and cast out his life for an euill cause and quarell . Trustest thou that that soule of thine shall get any better lodging hereafter , and thou not prouided thereof by Faith and Hope here ? nay , nay . O blessed is that man that dieth in a good cause ! And what better cause can be than Christes cause , who is the God of life ? Assure thee , thou that wilt die for Christs cause , thou shalt get a building in Heauen : thou that takest no care of this life for Christs cause , death shall be aduantage to thee . The Lord graunt vs a too-looking to that Heauenlie building , & an assurance of that Heauenlie life . Thus much for the assurance that Paule hath , that hee shall dwell in Heauen .

Nowe in the verse following , learne howe hee groundeth this assurance , and what warrande hee hath for him : Faith is not a word , as to say , ( I belieue ) and Hope is not a word , as to say , ( I hope ) Nay , but thou must haue a warrand of thy saluation in this life or else I assure thee , in the Name of GOD , thou shalt neuer get Heauen : It is a straite way to come to Heauen , and it is wondrous hard to get the assurance of it : It is no small matter to get an assurance of life euerlasting after death . Then looke what warrandes this man PAVLE had , that thou mayest preasse to haue the like . The first grounde of his assurance is in this seconde verse , For this cause ( saieth hee ) wee sigh , desiring to bee clothed , to put on , as it were , a garment : Wherewith ? With our house which is from Heaven . These are his wordes . Then his first warrande and ground of his assurance is a desire of that same glory . What sort of desire ? An earrest desire , with sighing and sobbing : not a colde desire , but day and night crying and sobbing for life . Thinkest thou so easily to get Heauen , that canst neuer say earnestly in thine heart , GOD giue mee that Heauenly life : no , thou wilt bee disappointed : It is the violent that entreth into Heauen , Matth. 11. 12. as yee will see a man violentlie thrust in at a doore . Thou that wouldest goe to Heauen , make thee for thronging thorowe till all thy gut●es bee almoste thrust out . Paule , in the eight chapter to the Romanes . and the 22. and 23. verses , vseth these argumentes against those wicked men that cannot sigh for Heauen : First , hee taketh his argument from the elementes , the senselesse and dumbe reatures , which sobbe and grone for the reuelation of the sonnes of GOD , and trauell for that time , as a woman in her birt● ▪ O miserable man ! The earth shall condemne thee , the ●loore thou sittest on is sighing , and woulde faine haue that carcasse of thine to Heauen : The waters , the aire , the heauens , all sighing for that last deliuerance : the glorie appertaineth to thee , and yet thou art laughing : Alas ! what shall betide thee ? The other argument hee taketh from the sighing of men , who haue gotten the Spirit of GOD : We also ( saith he ) who haue the first fruites of the Spirit , euen wee doe sigh in our selues , waiting for the adoption , euen the redemption of our bodie . Thou that hast not gotten the Spirit shalt neuer sigh for Heauen : flesh and blood will neuer shed one teare for Heauen . It must onely bee the Spirite of IESVS , that must fetch vp the sigh out of the heart , and the teare in the eye , Roman. 8. 26. So hee taketh his argument from them who haue gotten a sense of the Spirit of GOD , and redemption of the body to prooue the certainty of that Heauenly Kingdome and glory . Nowe , there cannot bee a surer argument to vs that euer wee shall obtaine glory , than this sighing in heart for it , and this earnest desire thereof . If thou find thine heart desirous of glory , a sure argument thou shalt bee partaker of glory . It is saide , Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnes , for they shall be filled , Matth. 5. 6. Seekest thou for CHRISTES righteousnesse and thy glorie , assure thee thou shalt get a sweete filling . Marke it , I saye to thee , thou hast not onlie through this earnest desire of glorie , an assurance that thou shalt reigne in glorie , but ( looke to your experience ) that desire is not so soone begun of that life and glorie , but so soone also the soule of the faithfull beginneth to rise with joye . Who euer yet was hee that gaue a sigh from his heart , raised vp by the Spirite of Christ , that felt not with that sigh a joye in his heart ? Learne it by your experience . This letteth vs see , that the desire and thirst of glory putteth vs in present possession of a part of glorie . Ere thou come to it desire it earnestly , and I promise thee , in the Name of the Father , thou shalt be presently put in possession of a part of that Heauenly inheritance . It is true thou shalt not get it al here , yet there is none other Heauen after this life , but that Heauen which thou gettest begunne in thee in this life . Alwayes , looke euer for that joye that is by sight : There are two ioyes , the one by sight , the other by faith , 2. Cor. 5. 6. The ioye by faith is in our pilgrimage in this life : The ioy by sight is after this life , when with our eyes wee shall see Christ : The ioy by faith is to looke to Christ a far of , and yet wee reioyce , and loue Him that is farre absent , 1. Pet. 1. 8. Faith hath a ioye that it enioyeth , by speaking and thinking : Sight hath the ioye that it enioyeth by presence : The ioye of the eye great in quantitie , and the fulnesse of ioye : The ioye of faith not so great , for it is the ioye of a pilgrime , not as yet come to his home . The ioye of the sight is when wee shall see our glorious Lord , face to face , whom we see only now by faith . 1 Cor 13 12. This is the fulnes of ioy . The ioy of Faith , which induring our pilgrimage , is not so full . O how great shal be the ioy at the perfect seeing of Christ ! Thinke never to have the ioy by sight after this life , except in this life thou have the ioy by faith , as the earnest-penny of the other , & except by Faith thou once get a ioy before thou depart from this life , thou shalt never see the face of Christ , nor have ioy in him . So brethren , it is a good thing to have that desire of Heaven : Sigh and sob , and desire with Paul for Heaven : for it is a Charter & Evidence of thine everlasting inheritance : & never earthly lord had a surer charter of his land , than thou that hast a desire of heaven , hast of thine inheritance in heaven : for these earthly evidences of land are without them in their kists but this evidence of thine is written & ingraffed in thine hart . Now , when extremity is threatned , it is time to seek thy warrands of this heavenly in heritance : this present country is good for thee , & the best country that ever thou shalt see , except thou find this warrand of sighing , and desire for that heavenly inheritance . And therfore let scorners & mockers scorn as they wil , the children of God must powre forth tears : And this is it that the Lord hath bene desiring these many days past , he hath benegently drawing out of us this sense , but now He beginneth to presse it out of us , that our eyes might burst out in teares : and thou that canst not sob , and desire in these miserable dayes to bee dissolved , thou hast no true matter of ioy . Woe bee to them that have none heart to sigh for the troubles of Christs Church , but are ever ready to execute iudgement against Gods servants when the Lord is visiting them . Well , the Lord shall wring out teares out of them in His wrath , that will not sob in the time of the danger and trouble of His Church . Then what is it that Pavle sigheth for ? And what desireth he ? Hee desireth a new cloathing to bee put one above as a cloathing that is , he would keep this same body in substance , and cast off this filthy garment of sinand death , & put on that glorious shape of the body of Christ . The reason is set down , For when the Lord shal cloath us , we shall not be found naked . So this body shall remaine in substance but O the glory and immortality of it ! Mark the natur of the lodging which we shall receive , it shal not be another body in substance , than this body which we have heer in earth . The same body in substance wee shall have in heaven , which we have heer . Heerein onely is the difference , this body is vile , it is mortall , full of sinne and wickednesse , unglorious , ignominious , full of corruption , weak infirm , But when this body shall be changed in heaven , it shall not be changed in substance , but in qualitie Paul . 1 Cor. 15. 42. 43. 44. Saith , The bodie is sawn in corruption , and is raised againe in incorruption , and is raised againe in incorruption : it is sowne in dishonour , and is raised in glorie : it is sowne in weakenesse , and is raised in power : ( The weakest bodie in Heauen , shall be stronger than the strongest man in earth ) Then ( saieth hee ) it is sowne a naturall bodie , and is raised a spirituall bodie . So the change is in qualitie , and therefore he saith to the Philippians , chap. 3. vers . 21. When CHRIST commeth , Hee shall transforme ( not abolish , but transforme ) in qualitie , our vile bodies like to His owne glorious body . Christ keepeth in the Heauen that same very body which he had in the earth , & thou shalt keep the same bodie in Heauen , which thou hast in earth , but it shall be altered in qualitie , as far as the Heauen & earth is different . Brethren , this ministreth comfort : there is none of vs , but naturally we loue this body : then let this comfort thee , that suppose thy soule shall bee for a time without this bodie , yet thou shalt get it again . Another comfort : death cannot destroy it , the graue shall not bee able to swallow vp that body , but the graue shal keep it , & the dust & substance thereof till the comming of Christ , & then it shall be compelled to render it againe . Life shall swallow vp death , but death ( nor the graue ) shall not be able to swallow vp the bodie of God● Elect : But the reprobate shall be swallowed vp of death , both in soule & bodie . In the 8. chap. to the ROMANES , the 10. and 11. verses , Paul ministreth these two consolations against death , Hee saieth , The bodie must die , because of sinne : but hee subjoyneth , The soule in the meane time shall liue : and the Spirit of Iesus shall take it & couer it with that blood : And albeit it was a sinfull soule , yet assoone as the Father blinketh vpon it , wimpled and wrapped , as it were , in the blood of Iesus , immediately hee biddeth it passe to glorie . He goeth forward : And where it might haue bene said , shall we haue no consolation in the body ? He answereth , If the Spirite of Him that raised Iesus from the dead , dwell in your mortall body : what then ? He , that is , GOD the Father , that raised vp Christ from the dead , He , by His Spirit , shall raise your bodies : that same body that is dead and laid in graue , that same body , by Gods Spirit ( for the Spirit of Iesus , and the Spirite of the Father is all one ) shall be raised vp Learne then , if this holy Spirit of God once take lodging in you , He shall neuer leaue you in soule nor body , He shal accompanie the body in the graue , and conuoy the soule to Heauen : The Spirit of Iesus shall goe with the soule , & lift it vp : The earth getteth the body , when the soule is separated from it , yet the Holy Spirit shall goe to the graue with the body , and shall remain with it in the graue , and with the least part of the dust thereof : And when Christ shall come , He shall gather it together , and make it a whole body . So , happy are they that haue once lodged this guest in their soules : for , neither fire nor water , nor none other power , euer shall bee able to destroy them , because that Holy Spirit euer remaineth with them . Now in the next verse , because it might haue bene said and objected , Thou wouldst not want the bodie ▪ why sighest thou then ? and what meaneth this desire , if thou wouldst keepe the body ? Wee ( the faithfull ) that are in this tabernacle , we sigh , & are burthened , ( but marke our desire ) because wee would not be vnclothed , ( as some will say , Soule to God , and bones to the dung-hill , in contempt of the body : but thinkest thou to be glorified in Heauen , without a body ? No ) but would be clothed vpon , that mortalitie might bee swallowed vp of Life . As if hee would say , I wold haue this faire cloke of glory put vpon this body , that it might consume and swallow vp all this stinke of sinne that is in the body . Learne then first , the body as it is now is a burthen . Hee saieth , Wee that are in this tabernacle sigh , and are burthened : It is a loade laide vpon the backe of the soule , it is a tabernacle , but a burthenable tabernacle , as an house smoothering him down , and he holding the same vpon his shoulders , that appearantly it would be better for him to bee out of it . Learne secondly the estate of them that dwell in this tabernacle : If the body be a burthen , then the soule must sigh & grone as a man vnder a heauie burthen : And the body is nothing but an house of mourning to the faithfull soule , as long as it dwelleth therein : The wanton light man thinketh this body which he beareth about , to bee no burthen , and will run and leape with it , as though this carcasse were as light as a fether : Alas ! hee feeleth not the burthen , hee is senselesse , and like one in a feuer , and in a rage , that knoweth not what hee doeth , nor what hee suffereth : A mountaine is lying vpon him , and hee feeleth it not . Woe to those men that are so wanton vnder this miserie ! Amend in time or the LORD sh●ll thrust thee downe to Hell . Fye on thee , that dwellest in Bethania , the house of mourning & canst not mourn : Mourne in time , or else I assure thee , thou shalt mourne for euer . This beeing the condition of men who dwell in this tabernacle , sighing and desiring , as a wom●n with childe , to bee relieued , what is the ende of this desire ? The ende of the mourning of the Godlie , is not that they woulde bee quite of the house , as manie desire , that were wrong : for manie will mourne vnder this house desperatelie , and the bodie will bee a burthen to the soule in them , and their life will be vnpleasant to them : they will thinke to get a reliefe of the burthen by the want of this present life , and will put hand in themselues : but then beginneth their euerlasting mourning , for they neuer knew what mourning was till that end come . So then , this is not the way to bee deliuered of the burthen , but the way is , To seeke to put on a cloathing on this bodie , and heere is the ende of our desire . It is clothed with mortalitie , and that is all the matter of thy mourning : It is not the substance of the bodie that causeth thee to mourne , but sinne , that possesseth thy bodie , and corrupteth the marowe of thy bones , death accompanying sinne . Then this mortalitie beeing an accident of sinne , which is the chiefe cause thereof : the remedie is , Seeke to bee cloathed with the life that commeth from Christ : Sucke in , by Faith , a droppe of that life of Christ . This will not destroy thy bodie , but it will destroy the death & sinne that possesseth thy bodie . And the life of Iesus Christ in a moment wil swallowe vp all that death and sinne , and all that miserie that laye on thee : There is the way to dwell with ease in the bodie : Seeke not to destroy the bodie , But seeke the slaughter of that sinne and death that lieth vpon thy bodie , otherwise soule and bodie both shall perish , the house shall fall downe , and the man that lodged in the house shall bee destroyed .