188 TUC WORLD TO COME. It is for such souls that he has prepared a heaven, and when ht has prepared such souls for the heavenly world, he will surely bring them to the possession of it. Of how great moment and importance is it then for each of us to examine ourselves with watchful diligence and sincerity, whether we are in any measure fitted for the blessedness above : And to this end we may run over in our enquiries all the former steps of preparation. Let us enquire of our souls then, am I so fully persuaded of this state of future happiness, as to resolve, this shall be my aim, this my everlasting pursuit ? Have we seen this blessedness in the various representations of it in the word of God, as the most amiable and desirable thing, and have we set our faces to travel thither with an holy purpose and determination through grace, never to tire or grow weary till we arrive at the enjoyment of it ? Have we fixed our hope and, expectation upon the blessed pro- mises in the word, and are we by these promises endeavouring daily to cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and spirit,, and to perfect holiness in the fear of God ? Do we obtain any victories over our spiritual enemies, and maintain our pious con- flicts against all the oppositions which we meet with in our way ? Do we labour to suppress every rising ferment of envy, pride, wrath, sensuality, and those corrupt appetites and passions which render us unfit for that holy and heavenly world ? Are our hearts daily more mortified to the things of this world, the en- joyments of flesh and sense, which are not to be found in hea- ven? Are our hearts more weaned from the sensual satisfac- tions and intemperate delights of the animal life? Are we death to the temptations of gold and silver, the grandeurs and the gaieties, and splendors of this present low life of flesh and blood, which are no part nor portion of the heavenly felicity? Do we view the tempting thingaof this world with a holy indifference, and possess and use them with affections so calm and so cool, as becomes a rank of beings that have a nobler, a richer, and a more exalted hope ? Have we found the labours and burdens, the sorrows and afflictions of the present state, happy instru- ments to prepare us for the blessedness above, by curing all our vain and carnal desires ? Are we in any measure imitators of those who have gone before us through faith and patience, and are made possessors of the promised joy ? Heb. v. 12. Are we followers of God as dear children? Eph. v. 1. Have we the . image of our heavenly Father created anew in us, and do we walk as our Lord Jesus Christ also walked,, while he was in this wilderness travelling to his Father's house ? Are our earnest desires towards this sort of felicity excited and raised high? Have we a strong tendency of soul to the holy enjoyments of the upper world ? Do we sigh and groan after a complete freedom
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