How Should We Eye Eternity That It May Have It's Due Influence Upon Us? by Thomas Doolittle
How does "The Eye Of Faith" view eternal realities? "Faith so looks at things that are far off, that they have a kind of mental intellectual existence; though absent, as if they were present; being promised. As sure as if they were already possessed."
A principle that Thomas Doolittle gives us is, "Let unseen, eternal things be the first that you look at." Thus "unseen things" should have the priority of our thoughts, care, and diligent endeavors. . . ." If we are wise, we will be determined to prioritize "seeking the Kingdom of God."
The great error that many make is that—"men spend their days in getting a visible estate, while the unseen, Eternal God and Glorious Savior and Heaven's Happiness are neglected by them." That neglect will result in their eternal ruin.
What gives weight, meaning, and gravity to all of our thoughts, words and actions are that we have an eternal existence. If we ceased to exist at any time in the future, our former actions would be inconsequential to us once that happened. Pastor Doolittle asks this rhetorical question, "Is anything more folly and plainly asserted in the Scripture, than that the things in the other world, now unseen, are eternal things?"
One of the great benefits of reflecting soberly upon eternal unseen things is that they are a preservative against sin: "If they were sure there were no torments of hell to be adjudged to, nor glory of heaven to be rewarded by; they would run with greater greediness to the commission of the worst of sins that the devil should tempt them, or their wicked hearts incline them, too." Setting such thoughts before our minds, reflecting soberly on them, will help us to guard our hearts against taking sin lightly.
The author contrasts "the gathering of riches in time" with "the getting of grace and interest in Christ." How carefully we should walk in the light of eternal truths which are revealed in the Word Of God. ". . . when everyone is a step to everlasting happiness or eternal misery."
Thomas Doolittle is not as well known as some of his contemporaries—Thomas Watson, Jeremiah Burroughs, and John Owen—but I believe he should be. A couple of his other outstanding works are "Love To Christ Necessary To Escape The Curse" and "A Call To Delaying Sinners."