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IN the words of my Text you have a Position, and an Opposition, or a Po∣sition, and a Conclusion.
1. The Position is; Here we have no continuing City.
2. The Opposition or Conclusion is, But [or therefore] we seek one to come: for the present we have no abi∣ding City, but there is an abiding Ci∣ty to come which we seek. This earth∣ly Jerusalem is no abiding City for
you Hebrews: this world is no abiding City for you Christians. But Jerusa∣lem that is above, the heavenly City, the City of the King of Kings, that is an abiding City, that let us diligently seek after. This world is to believers, as the Wilderness was to the Israelites, they were Pilgrims in it: So are be∣lievers in the world, strangers and Pil∣grims; they abode not long in the Wilderness, but passed through it to Canaan, there they made their abode: so this world is not a place for believers to abide in, but must pass thorow it to an heavenly Canaan, that is an abi∣ding Country, an abiding City, and there all believers shall abide to eterni∣ty.
The general point of instruction to be drawn from hence is; That the con∣sideration that there is no abiding place in this world, should forcibly move us to seek out for heaven. This was that which moved Abraham, Isaac and Ja∣cob, those renowned Candidates of E∣ternity, to be as Pilgrims in the world, wandring from place to place, now so∣journing here, then sojourning there, but abode no where; and wheresoever they went, they dwelt not in Palaces or
Fortresses strongly built, but in Taber∣nacles, which they could pitch down, and take up, and carry them whether they pleased: and so they used to do, to mind them that there was no abiding for them here, but they must look af∣ter a City, wherein they should abide for ever. Heb. 11.9, 10, 14, 16. By faith Abraham sojourned in the Land of Promise, as in a strange Country, dwelling in Tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the Heirs with him of the same Promise: for he looked for a City which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God. They confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth; for they that say such things, declare plainly that they seek a Country. But now they desire a better Country (than that from whence they came out) that is, an heavenly. Here ye have a full proof of the point; the Holy Ghost calling believers sojourners, pilgrims, strangers, what is it but to convince them, that there is no abiding for them in this world? this world is not their Country, their City, their home, their habitation; here they are not to place their hopes, to set their affections, to seek a lasting happiness; but heaven is
their City, their Country, their home, their habitation: there all our hopes should be placed, thither should all our desires aspire, there we are to seek e∣verlasting happiness, there we shall be sure to find it, and to abide in the pos∣session of it to eternity.
Observ.