October 8

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.—Hebrews 11:10.

IN these words we have an intimation of the stability and security of that blessed place which we call heaven. The apostle is here speaking of the patriarchs who were in an unsettled condition, travelling into a strange country. It is said concerning Abraham, the father of them, He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. He dwelt in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Tabernacles were moving tents, that had no foundations, that might easily be carried from one place to another: but heaven is a city which hath foundations. This lower world, and the upper world that is visible to us, shall either be refined or consumed by fire, notwithstanding all that exquisite order and beauty that we see in them. The apostle tells us they are reserved for fire; now whether that fire shall be consumptive, or whether it shall be merely a reforming, purifying fire, we are not certain. Though there are some probable reasons that may induce us to a belief of it, that it shall only be a reforming and refining one. For the apostle tells us, We know the whole creation groaneth, and travaileth in pain together until now: and in the foregoing verse it is said, Because the creature also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The apostle speaks concerning this world, which you know hath been defiled and stained by the sin of man. And St. Peter saith, We look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. This visible form of the heavens, which is subjected to our eye, shall be destroyed: for thus the psalmist speaks: Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they shall perish, but thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old as a garment, as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.

In the elementary world all things are in a perpetual change. Those things that are so much admired and loved, all those vain idols that men set their hearts upon, they are all changing and perishing every day. But now for the heavens and the earth themselves, observe what the prophet saith, Thou shalt change them. We see no cause that would be sufficient to change this heaven and this earth; the Divine power only can do it: but he that made them, will and can easily change them. But for the heaven of glory, where the saints shall be, that is a city that hath foundations, there shall be no change there. In the history of the creation, it is observable, Moses speaks not one word concerning the making of the supreme heavens, though they may be included in the visible heavens. He only speaks expressly of this visible world, which shall be changed. Observe what our Saviour tells us: In my Father's house are many mansions. Our habitations in this lower world are like an inn, or house of progress, that one lies at for a little time. But heaven is called a mansion, the place of the saints' residence; there shall be no change, no shadow of change there, but it shall be always kept by the power of God, as a prepared habitation for the rest of God's people. Now, by the way, this shows how vain it is for us to expect rest here, in a house that is but propped up for a while. Therefore we can not expect rest here. It is spoken of as one of the prodigies of nature, concerning the king-fisher, that she builds her nest in the sea, one of the most movable elements; but that little bird is instructed by nature to build her nest there when there is a perfect calm, for the security of its young. But there is no calm in this world, all things are in a perpetual flow, in a rapid motion. The heavens that are over us shall be confounded and destroyed, and the stars shall fall like leaves in autumn, and the fire shall pass upon them all. But the heavenly kingdom is unshaken, a place that is fit for rest.

"Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings; Thy better portion trace; Rise from transitory things, Tow'rd heaven, thy native place: Sun, and moon, and stars decay; Time shall soon this earth remove; Rise, my soul, and haste away To seats prepared above."