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about him, while passing through this valley of Baca, which make him to go many times with a boweddown back. What these weights and burdens are, ye may hear more fully afterward.

The observation I offer from the words, is this, That believers are many times burdened, even unto groaning, while in the clay-tabernacle of the body; we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being bur

dened.

The method I shall observe in handling this doctrine, is, 1. To give you some account of the believer's present lodging; he is in a tabernacle. 2. Of the believer's burdens in this tabernacle. 3. Of his groans under these burdens. 4. Conclude with some improvement of the whole.

1. The first thing is, To give you some account of the believer's present lodging while in the body; and there are these two or three things that I remark about it, which I find in the text and context.

1. Then, I find it is called a house in the first verse of this chapter; and it is fitly so called, because of its rare and curious structure and workmanship, Pfal. cxxxix. 14, 15. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works, and that my foul knoweth right well. My fubStance was not bid from thee, when I was made in fecret, and curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth. The body of man is a wonderful piece of architecture, the skill and wisdom of the great Creator is wonderfully discovered therein; it is set up, as it were, by line and rule, in such exact order, that the most curious piles and edifices in the world are but a chaos or mass of confufion, when compared therewith. Take a clod of dust, and compare it with the flesh of man, unless we were VOL. II.

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instructed of it before hand, we would not imagine it to be one and the same matter, confidering the beauty and excellency of the one above the other; which evidently proclaims the being, power, and wisdom of the great Creator, who made us and not we ourselves, and who can fublimate matter above its first original.

2. I remark, concerning the believer's present lodging, that however curious its structure be, yet it is but a house of earth; therefore called in the first verse, an earthly house: And it is so, especially in a threefold respect; 1. In respect of its original, it is made of earth. It is true, all the elements meet in the body of man, fire, earth, water and air; but earth is the predominant: And therefore, from thence he is faid to have his rife, Job iv. 19. He dwells in houses of clay, and his foundation is in the duft. Whatever be the beauty, strength, structure, or high pedigree of men; yet as to their bodies, they claim no higher extract than the dust of the earth. 2. It is a house of clay, in respect of the means that support it; it stands upon pillars of dust: For the corn, wine and oil, wherewith the body of man is maintained, do all spring out of the earth, Hof. ii. 21, 22. God is faid to hear the heavens, the heavens to hear the earth, the earth to bear the corn, wine and oil, and these to bear Jezreel. And, if these props be withdrawn, how foon will the clay-tabernacle fall to the ground, and return to its original! 3. It is a house of earth in respect of its end; it returns thither at its diffolution: Accordingly, fee that of God to Adam, Gen. iii. 17. Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return. Perhaps there may be some allusion unto these three, in that paffionate excla

mation of the prophet Jeremiah to the rebellious Jews,

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Jews, Jer. xxii. 29. O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. They were earth in their original, they were earth as to their support, and they would return unto earth in the end.

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3. I remark, concerning the believer's present lodging, that it is but at best a tabernacle; so it is called, verse first, If the earthly house of this tabernacle were diffolved; and again here, We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened. Now, a tabernacle or a tent is a moveable or portable kind of habitation, and is peculiar especially to two forts of men: 1. Unto travellers or wayfaring men. To foldiers or wayfaring men. 1st. I say tabernacles or tents, they are peculiar to strangers or wayfaring men. Strangers, especially in the eastern countries, ufed to carry these portable houses about with them, because of the inconveniencies which they were exposed to: Hence, Heb. xi. 9. it is faid of Abraham, that by faith be fojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles, with Ifaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise. They dwelt in tabernacles, because they had no present inheritance; they were but strangers and passengers in the country. To this the apostle probably alludes here; and so this intimates to us, that the saints of God, while in the body, are pilgrims and strangers, not as yet arrived at their own country, I am a Stranger in the earth, says the Pfalmist, Pfal. cxix. 19. And it is faid of the scripture-worthies, Heb. xi. 13. that they confeffed that they were ftrangers on earth; they desired a better country, that is an heavenly. O believer, thou art not a refidenter, but only a pafssenger through this valley of Baca; and therefore study a disposition of foul suitable to thy present condition. 2. Tabernacles, as they

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they were used by strangers and wayfaring men, so by foldiers and wayfaring men, who are obliged frequently to move their camps from one place to another: Believers, while they are in the tabernacle of the body, must act the part of foldiers, and fight their way to the promised land, through the very armies of hell. We wrestle not (says the apostle) with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world, with spiritual wickednesses in high places, Eph. vi. 12. And therefore, as the apostle exhorts, it concerns us to put on the whole armour of God, the shield of faith, the belmet of falvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the girdle of truth, and to be frequently accustoming ourselves to a holy dexterity in weilding and managing the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, that so we may be able to make a couragious stand in the day of battle, and at last come off the field in a victorious manner, when Christ the captain of falvation shall found the retreat at death. Thus the believer's lodging in a tabernacle, shews him to be both a traveller and a foldier.

4. Another thing that I remark concerning the believer's lodging, is, that it is but a tottering and crazy houfe, that is shortly to be taken down; for, says the apostle, ver. 1. The earthly house of this tabernacle is to be dissolved. What man is he (says the Pfalmift) that liveth, and shall not fee death? Shall he deliver his foul from the band of the grave? Pfal. Ixxxix. 49. This king of terrors has erected his trophies of victory over all that ever sprung of Adam; the greatest Cefars and Alexanders, who made the world to tremble with their sword, were alt forced at laft to yield themselves captives unto this grim messenger of the Lord of hofts: There is no difcharge

difcharge of this warfare; the tabernacle of the body must dissolve. However, it may be ground of encouragement to the believer, that death is not a destruction or annihilation; no, as the apostle tells, it is only a diffolving, or taking down of the tent or tabernacle; for God designs to set up this tabernacle again at the refurrection, more glorious than ever: it was the faith of this that comforted and encouraged Job under his affliction, Job xix. 25, 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall fiand at the latter day upon the earth. And the worms destroy this body, and tho' my reins be confumed within me (says he) yet in my flesh shall 1 fee God. So much for the first thing in the method.

The fecond thing proposed was, to speak a little of the believer's burdens while in this tabernacle. This earthly house lies under many fervitudes, and the believer (as one says) pays a dear rent for his quarters. For,

1. The clay-tabernacle itself is many times a very heavy burden to him; the crazy cottage of the body is liable to innumerable pains and distempers, which make it lie like a dead weight upon the foul, where-.. by its vivacity and activity is exceedingly marred. When the poor foul would mount up, as upon eagles wings, the body will not bear part with it: So that the believer feels the truth of Christ's apology verified in his sad experience, The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

2 Not only is he burdened with a burden of clay, but also with a burden of fin; I mean, indwelling corruption, the secret atheism, enmity, unbelief, ignorance, pride, hypocrisy, and other abominations of his heart. O but this be a heavy burden, which many times is like to dispirit the poor

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