"In my Father's house are many mansions." - John 14:2 ... "It is very little worth the while for us to pursue after honor in this world, when the greatest honor is but a bubble, and will soon vanish away. And death will level all. Some have more stately houses than others; some are in higher offices than others; and some are richer than others and have higher seats in the meetinghouse than others. But all graves are upon a level. One rotting, putrefying corpse is as ignoble as another. The worms are as bold with one carcass as another. But the mansions in God's house above are everlasting mansions. Those that have seats allotted them there, whether of greater or lesser dignity, whether nearer or further from the throne, will hold them to all eternity. This is promised.
If it be worth the while to desire and seek high seats in the meetinghouse, where you are one day in a week, and where you shall never come but a few days in all; if it be worth the while to prize one seat before another in the house of worship, only because it is the pew or seat that is reckoned first in number, and to be seen here for a few days; how well it is worth the while to seek a high mansion in God's temple above, and in that glorious palace that is the everlasting habitation of God and all His children. You that are pleased with your seats in this house, because you are seated high; or in a place that is looked upon as honorable by those that sit around about, and because many sit behind you; consider how short a time you will enjoy this pleasure.
And if there be any that be not seated in their seats, because they are too low for them, let them consider that it is but a very little while before it will be all one to you, whether you have sat high or low here. But it will be of infinite and everlasting concern to you, where your seat is in another world. Let your great concern be while in this world, so to improve your opportunity in God's house in that world, whether you sit high or low, as that you may have a glorious and distinguished mansion in God's house in heaven, where you may be fixed in your place in that eternal assembly in everlasting rest. Let the main thing that you prize in God's house be not the outward ornaments of it, or a high seat in it, but the word of Christ, and God's ordinance in it. And spend your time here in seeking Christ, that He may prepare a place for you in His Father's house; that so, when He comes again to this world, He may take you to Him; that where He is, there you may be also." - Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
