r o8 Good Men Strangers and Vol. I try from whence they came out, they might have had an opportunity of return- ing thither. And therefore he concludes, that the Country which they fought was a better Country than any in this World. V. t6. But now they defzre a better Country ; that is, an Heavenly. Therefore God is not afhamed to be called their God ; for be bath preparedfor them a City. This plainly refers to that fa- mous Declaration or Promife of God to the Patriarchsof being their God ; I am the God of Abraham, the God of Ifaac, and the God ofJacob. Now certainly this Promife of God did fignifie fome very great Blefling and Advantage to thofe faithful Servants of God above others. This was not madegood to them in this World ; for They con feted-that they were Pilgrims and Strangers in the Earth. Where then is the Bleffing fpoken of and fignified by the great Words of that Pro- mife that God was their God ? They met with no:fuch Condition in this World, as was anfwerable to the greatnefs of the Promife. From hence the Apoftle argues, that they had a firm Perfwafion of a future Happinefs ; For they that fay fuch things declare plainly, that they feeka better Country; that is, an Heavenly. Wherefòre Godis not afhamed to be called their God, fince he bath prepared for them e City. And tho' the Promife of God to Abraham did immediately deuign the Land of Canaan, and the earthly yerufalem ; vet the Apoflle extends it to that which was typified by it ; viz. an Heavenly Country, the 7erufalem which is above, which, at the loth Verfe of this Chapter, is called .a City which bath Foundations, whofe Builder and Maker is God. And now, feeing God hath defigned and prepared fo great a Happinefs for them in another World, well might he be called their God, notwithftanding that they.were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth ; that is, Tho' the full Meaning and Importance of this Promife was not made good to them in this World, yet it was accomplifh'd to the full in the Hap- pinefs which was defigned for them in another Life. And God need not he afha- med to be called their God ; implying, that if nothing had been meant by it be- yond this World, this Promife, of God's being their God, would have fallen fhamefully Ihort of what it feerned to import. And this I conceive to be the true Reafon why our Saviour lays fo much Weight upon this Promife, as to pitch upon it for the Proof of the Refurreflion ; that is, ofa future State of Happinefi in another World. There are manyConfederations apt to perfwade Good Men of another Life after this; as, That Mankind is generally poffefs'd with this Hope and Perfwafion; and that the more wife and virtuous Men have been, the more plainlyhave they apprehended the Hopes of Imortality, and the better have they been contented to leave this World, as if; teeing farther than other Men, they had a clearer Profpelt of the Happinefs they were entring upon : But above all, that God bath made our Condition in this World fo troubiefom and unfettled, as if he had defigned on purpofe to makeus feek for Happinefs elfewhere, and to elevate and raifeour Minds to the Hopes and Expecation of a Condition better and more durable, than any is to be met with in this World ; which, confidering the Goodnefs ofGod, and his Gracious Providence and Care of Good Men, is a thing of it felf extremely credible. Having thus, as briefly as I could, difpatched the Two Particulars which .I propounded to fpeak to for the Explication of the Text, I Ihould now fhew what Influence thefe Confederationsought to have upon our Lives and Pra&ice. And if this be our Condition in this World, and thefe our Hopes and ExpeÉfa- tions as to another Life ; if we be Pilgrims and Strangers in the Earth ; and look for a better Country, that is, an Heavenly ; this ought to have a great Influence upon us in thefe following refpeds, which I fhall at prefent, but very briefly mention. a. Let us intangle and incúmber our felves as little as we can in this our Pil- grimage ; let us not ingage our Affe&ions too far in the Pleafures and Advantages of this World; for we are not to continue and fettle in it, but to pafs through it. A little will ferve for our Paffage and Accommodation in this Journey; and beyond that, why fhould we fo earneffly covet and feek more ? a. If
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