Pilgrim
Puritanboard Commissioner
(Thomas Doolittle, "How we should eye eternity, that it may have its due influence upon us in all we do.")
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen." 2 Corinthians 4:18. The men of the world stand gazing at these temporal things—until their eyes are dazzled with them, and their souls damned for them!
The good things in this world which are seen—such as riches, pleasures, honors—are things of time, and only for time; therefore we Christians are not much concerned whether we win or lose them. And the bad things in this life which are seen—such as poverty, imprisonment, persecution—are at longest but for a short space; and therefore we are not much concerned whether we endure them, or are freed from them.
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
That which adds weight to the things in the other world, which draws our eyes toward them, and keeps them fixed thereon—is the eternity of them. It is the observation which believers make—that all seen things are temporal; while unseen things are eternal; and this influences them in what they do. They realize that all worldly things are but temporary toys and trifles!
We seriously consider and weigh in our minds—the vanity, insufficiency, and short continuance of all visible things, both good and bad, whether profit or poverty, honor or disgrace; and the fullness, excellency, and everlasting nature of things unseen; and therefore prefer these eternal realities.
Believers are lowly in heart; but they look high. The men of this world are of a haughty spirit; but they aim at low things.
Take, then, a summary account of all that wicked, worldly men have—all is "but for a while." See what the richest among them have: their grandeur endures "but a short time;" and then is past and gone, and has no more existence. See what the merriest among them have—pleasures, mirth, carnal delights and joy: and this is "but for a season;" their merry bouts will be quickly over—and then follows weeping and wailing forever! Upon all they have, you may write, "All is temporal!" They had riches—but they are gone. They had honors and pleasures—but they are gone. They had many good things in time—but, at the end of time, all have an end! And then, when their endless misery comes, this will be their doleful tune, "All our good is past and gone!"
It would make a man to tremble, to think what a sight these sinners shall have, after death has closed their eyes; when their soul shall see an angry God, a condemning Judge, the gates of heaven shut against it, and itself in everlasting misery!
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen." 2 Corinthians 4:18. The men of the world stand gazing at these temporal things—until their eyes are dazzled with them, and their souls damned for them!
The good things in this world which are seen—such as riches, pleasures, honors—are things of time, and only for time; therefore we Christians are not much concerned whether we win or lose them. And the bad things in this life which are seen—such as poverty, imprisonment, persecution—are at longest but for a short space; and therefore we are not much concerned whether we endure them, or are freed from them.
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
That which adds weight to the things in the other world, which draws our eyes toward them, and keeps them fixed thereon—is the eternity of them. It is the observation which believers make—that all seen things are temporal; while unseen things are eternal; and this influences them in what they do. They realize that all worldly things are but temporary toys and trifles!
We seriously consider and weigh in our minds—the vanity, insufficiency, and short continuance of all visible things, both good and bad, whether profit or poverty, honor or disgrace; and the fullness, excellency, and everlasting nature of things unseen; and therefore prefer these eternal realities.
Believers are lowly in heart; but they look high. The men of this world are of a haughty spirit; but they aim at low things.
Take, then, a summary account of all that wicked, worldly men have—all is "but for a while." See what the richest among them have: their grandeur endures "but a short time;" and then is past and gone, and has no more existence. See what the merriest among them have—pleasures, mirth, carnal delights and joy: and this is "but for a season;" their merry bouts will be quickly over—and then follows weeping and wailing forever! Upon all they have, you may write, "All is temporal!" They had riches—but they are gone. They had honors and pleasures—but they are gone. They had many good things in time—but, at the end of time, all have an end! And then, when their endless misery comes, this will be their doleful tune, "All our good is past and gone!"
It would make a man to tremble, to think what a sight these sinners shall have, after death has closed their eyes; when their soul shall see an angry God, a condemning Judge, the gates of heaven shut against it, and itself in everlasting misery!
