Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v11

Chap. 37. an cxpofition upon the Book, "of I° B. Verf. 18.- we (hould be. The purity of the Heavens tells us we fhould be pure, they tell us we fhould be heavenly- minded, that is, fet our minds chiefly upon heavenlythings e yea, that our minds fhould be like the Heavens, pure and fpotlefs. It is faid of the Church ( Cart. 6. Io.) who is this that looltethforth as the noorning, fair as the Moon,clear as the Sun ? Such,in a qualified fenfe,are all the parrs and true membersof the Church. Shall a man fay, he hopes for an inheritance in the Heavens, when his mind is earthly, or when he minds only earthly things? Worldly men are not only earthly-minded, but their minds are earth, and themfelves are ca'fed earth (fer.a2. 29. and Rem. i a. i6.) Surely then they are earthly, On the o hetahand, godly ,men'lhould not only mind heavenly things, hut be a Heaven before they come to Heaven. The Church on Earth is called Heaven ( Pleb. la. z6. )Yet once toore I fha -e ráot the Earth only; hot a1fû Heaven ; that is , the Church fíate. St 'fobs faith ( Rev. 12', 7. ) There was war in Heap, en : But is there wear in Heaven? is it not all peace and joy there ? How then faith that. ScFìl tuee; There wás war in Kea-" ven ? By Heaven there he paeans the Church, on earth, which is calked Heaven ; Visa, becaufe there is not a more lively repte fenration or resemblance of the highea Heavens (which is the habitation of Gods holinefs, and of his glory ) than the Church here beloN, which is a company of Saints and faithful' ones. Se- condly, becaufe the Church, while on Earth, bath more to do in Heaven, and for Heaven, then in or for the Earth ; and that in three refpes. Fief} , Her birth is from Heaven, beingborn ofGod; ' Secondly, Her traffick is in and for Heaven. The Apoüle faith of himfelf,and ofall fuch as are truly theChurch of God (Phil. 3. zo. ) Our converfation it in Heaven ; our trade is in Heaven Though we have bufinefs on Earth, yet that which is our buiinefs indeed is in Heaven. The Church bath more to do in Heaven than on Earth ; her paines and labours, her cares and endeavours are more for heavenly than for earthly things. They that bellow mold of their labour capon earthly things, are earthly. In all thins weought tobe heavenly, and in every thing we do,we ought to be doing for Heaven. Th rci y , Becaufe her Head and her Inheritance is in Heaven.. Here- 573"

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