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I. 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 (Psalm 139:14, 15).

2. I remark, concerning the believer's present lodging, that, however curious its structure be, yet it is but a house of earth. And it is so, especially in a threefold respect.

(1) In respect of its original; it is made of earth.

(2) It is a house of clay in respect of the means that support it; for the corn, wine, and oil wherewith the body of man is maintained do all spring out of the earth.

(3) It is a house of earth in respect of its end; it returns thither at its dissolution (Genesis 3:19).

3. I remark, concerning the believer's present lodging, that it is but at best a tabernacle. Tents are for soldiers and pilgrims.

4. Another thing that I remark concerning the believer's lodging is that it is but a tottering house. "The earthly house of this tabernacle is to be dissolved."

II. The second thing proposed was TO SPEAK OF THE BELIEVER'S BURDENS WHILE IN THIS TABERNACLE. This earthly house, it lies under many servitudes, and the believer 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 makes it lie like a dead weight upon the soul, whereby its vivacity and activity is exceedingly marred.

2. Not only is he burdened with a burden of clay, but also with a burden of sin — I mean indwelling corruption, enmity, unbelief, ignorance, pride, hypocrisy, and other abominations of his heart.

3. He is burdened many times with a sense of much actual guilt which he has contracted through the untenderness of his way and walk.

4. He is sometimes sadly burdened with the temptations of Satan.

5. Sometimes the believer is burdened with the burden of ill company.

6. Sometimes the believer is sadly burdened, not only with his own sins, but with the abounding sins and abominations of the day and place wherein he lives.

7. The believer is many times while in this tabernacle burdened with the public concerns of Christ. He is a person of a very grateful and public spirit.

8. The poor believer has many times the burden of great crosses and afflictions lying upon him, and these both of a bodily and spiritual nature.

III. The third thing in the method was TO SPEAK OF THE BELIEVER'S GROANING UNDER HIS BURDEN. "We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened." Upon this head I shall only suggest two or three considerations.

1. Consider that the working of the believer's heart under the pressures of these burdens vents itself variously. Sometimes he is said to be in heaviness (1 Peter 1:6). Sometimes he is said to sigh under his burdens, and to sigh to the breaking of his loins: "My fighting cometh before I eat," says Job. Sometimes his burdens make him to cry. Sometimes he cries to his God (Psalm 130:1).

2. For clearing this ye would know that there are three sorts of groans that we read of in Scripture.

(1) I say we read of groans of nature (Romans 8:22).

(2) We read of groans of reason, or of the reasonable creatures under their affliction (Exodus 6:5).

(3) We read of groans of grace, or of spiritual groans (Romans 8:26).

3. A third remark I offer is this, that these groans of the gracious soul here spoken of seem to imply —

(1) A great deal of grief and sorrow of spirit on the account of sin, and melancholy effects of it on the believer, while in this embodied state.

(2) It implies a displeasure, or dissatisfaction, in the believer with his present burdened estate; he finds that this is not his resting-place. And —

(3) It implies a panting of soul after a better state, even the immediate enjoyment of God in glory. Ver. 1: He groans with an "earnest desire to be clothed upon with his house which is from heaven."

IV. But I proceed to the fourth thing in the method, which was THE APPLICATION OF THE DOCTRINE. And the first use shall be of information.

1. Hence we may see the vast difference between heaven and earth. In a word, there is nothing but matter of groaning for the most part here, but all ground of groaning ceaseth for ever there.

2. See, hence, a consideration that may contribute to allay our griefs and groans for the death of godly relations; for while in this tabernacle they groan, being burdened, but now their groans are turned into songs, and their mourning into hallelujahs.

3. See, hence, that they are not the happiest folk that have the merriest life of it in the world.

4. See, hence, that death need not be a terror to the believer. Why? Because, by taking down this tabernacle, it takes off all his burdens, and puts a final period to all his groans. The second use of the doctrine may be of reproof unto two sorts of persons. It reproves these who are at home while in this tabernacle. A third use shall be of lamentation and humiliation.Let us lament that the Lord's people should have so much matter of groaning at this day and time wherein we live.

1. The abounding profanity and immorality of all sorts that are to be found among us.

2. The universal barrenness that is to be found among us at this day is matter of groaning unto the Lord's people.

3. The lamentable divisions that are in our Reuben occasion great thoughts of heart and heaviness to the Lord's people at this day.

4. The innumerable defections and backslidings of our day are a great burden to the Lord's people, and make their hearts to groan within them.

(R. Erskine, D. D.)

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KJV: For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

WEB: For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.