§ 17. Moreover, our house and home is above. _For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens._ Why do we then look no oftener towards it, and _groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven_?[311] If our home were far meaner, sure we should remember it, because it is our home. If you were but banished into a strange land, how frequently would your thoughts be at home. And why is it not thus with us in respect of heaven? Is not that more truly and properly our home, where we must take up our everlasting abode, than this, which we are every hour expecting to be separated from, and to see no more? We are strangers, and that is our country. We are heirs, and that is our inheritance; even _an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us_.[312] We are here in continual distress and want, and there lies our substance; even _a better and an enduring substance_.[313] Yea, the very hope of our souls is there; all our hope of relief from our distresses; all our hope of happiness, when here we are miserable; all this _hope is laid up for us in heaven_.[314] Why, beloved Christians, have we so much interest, and so few thoughts there? So near relation, and so little affection! Doth it become us to be delighted in the company of strangers, so as to forget our Father, and our Lord! Or to be so well pleased with those that hate and grieve us, as to forget our best and dearest friends? Or to be so fond of borrowed trifles, as to forget our own possession and treasure? Or to be so much impressed with tears and wants, as to forget our eternal joy and rest? God usually pleads his propriety in us; and thence concludes he will do us good, even because we are his own people whom he hath chosen out of all the world: Why then do we not plead our interest in him, and so raise our hearts above; even because he is our own God, and because the place is our own possession? Men commonly over-love and over-value their own things, and mind them too much. O that we could mind our own inheritance, and value it half as much as it deserves! [Footnote 311] 2 Corinthians v, 1, 2. [Footnote 312] 1 Peter i, 4. [Footnote 313] Hebrews x, 34. [Footnote 314] Colossians i, 5.