The Great Duty of Re)igaation. the H~avcns, are nor.moved as thof~ here belo~v by rhe ,furious agitation of the Winds, bur as if they were of a Celefiial Nature, have the iJme regular Motion Wirh the Heavens. The Angels, whofe Zeal for the Honour ofGod, . and Love to the Souls of Men is incomparable, yet they fee the Rebellion of Ius SubJects, whereby Ius .Glory IS obfCurcd, and the final DcfiruCtion of Rebc~ous S!nners, \~t~hour ~he leaf!: dm1t!Iut10n of their Felicity, becaufe they always acqmefce 111 the Dmne Will,, that orders aU things for the bdl end. And fo fur as our .Wills are complymg With the Divine WiU, we enjoy a Tranqmliry of Mind, which affit<~bvc Acctdents cannot chfqui.et. Sr. Auflm dcfcribes Bleffcdnefs to conlifl in the Accomphfl1mcnt of our Defires, and m having on!y rcgularDefires: Now a Saintwhofe Will is abfolutely refigned to God's Will, has a foretailc of Bleffednefs here; for wharfoever happens to him here , IS from God's Will that approves or permits it, and herein. he finds Satisfa~~on. What a pure undifiurbcd Plcafure fprings from this Confiderarwn, That the W1fdom and Love of God chufcth always what is bell: for us? This ~vtll make us contented m every State ; even when our Condition is nor correfpondcnt wtth our Natural Dcfires, our Dcfircs arc graciouQy accorded with our Condition. What expenfive Induflry has been ufed to procure the fanfied Pbilofopber's Stone, that changes all Metals tnto Gold, wluch if obtai_n'd cannot make us happy? For as the natural Hear of the Body does not proceed from the Cloaths, but from the Body that warms them: We fee Pcrfons in the Fit of an i\guc !hake With Cold, though covered Wtth Furs : So tm~ Fclictry dot~l nor proceed from the outward Condi - tion, bur from the Temper of~he !"Jmd.. The Rrch often \Vant COJ!tenr in the confluence of all d1ings, and arc often dtf{jtuered witl.l the Fc~rs o~ lofing rhetr Polfeliious: Bur Acquiefccnce in the Divine Difpofalalways. bn.ugs f.1_nsfaChon to the Soul. 'Tis an inviolable Trcali1rc rhar cannot by the mofi: vwlcnt Evils be taken froth us. I flulJ annc~ '!\vo Confidcrations more, to ihew how our Felicity is promoted by , our patient SuRcrmgs. Firl1, 'Tis a blcffed Alliirance of our Eleflion by the moll free and unchangeable Love of God. The Apoflle tells afllicted Chril1ians , 7hat whom he didforeknow, he did preddfinote to be conformed to. the image ofhis Son, that he might be the jirjf-6orn among many Rom>8· '9• bretbren. If we fuffer With Ius DIVwc Patience, .With Jus humble and !10ly Affections, 'ris a clear and certain evidence that we are appomrcd to Reign with hun. If we bear the Image of our fitffcring Saviour in our earthly St~tc~ we fltill bear l1is globous Image in the Heavenly. The well-grounded Hope of t!us IS very comfortable in the greateil: Afflictions, and will encourage us to perfevcre in lmmbJe Sufferings. For jf his Sovereign Pleafitre has ordained us ro Eternal Life, how jufr is ;t that we fl10uld with an entire and refigned Submif!lon yield up our felves to the Conduct of his Wifdom, as to the Ways by which we !hall obtain it? Secondly; By a Filia!Submillion to God's Challifemenrs, we have a bleifcd Tcl1imony of our Adoption. 'Tis the Apoille's comfortable Inference, lf ye endure chaflifements, God dealeth wtth you ~s w.tth fins.; rhar IS , rf ~Ithout murmunng or fainting, if with that Rcfpect and SubJectiOn that IS due to the lugh and holy Providence of God, then we may be afTurec:f of his Paternal Relation ro us, and bis Rod comforts us, as the Strokes of it arc a~ Argument of his C~re and Love to us. From hence proceeds inexJlfefflb!c and peculiar Confo!ation to afllicted Chriilians: The fame Aflliction as ro the n~atrer and circumfl:ances, may be upon hurn~l~ meek Sufferers, and refractary fiubborn Sinners, tbat kick againfl thepricks, bur are diilmguilhed by the Intention of God. They arc fentto the Humble, as Corrections from the Wife Love of a Father, who dearly regards their Souls; to the Obdurate, as Vengeance from the nghrcous Severi'y of a Judge. Vp- 'J':o~~~Ho~:'~f,~ ~he~,;:~~sf~~ ~e•Jt,~:?t~~!n::~s 'J;fft~~: ~~~~~~e~1~ri~0H~t J/ery Lal1&, This 'ftiarp Difcipline continues but during our Minority here ; when we arrive at the !late of Perfection we !hail not need it: and this Life is bur a ihorr Tranfition to the next World. What Comparifonis there between a few Years, and the Volume of Eternal_ Ages? 'Tis the Confolatoty of the Apoille, 1'he time is jhort, let tho[e tbat wup 6s as if they wtpt not. Within a little while atllicted Saints !hall afcend to the Region or Bleffednefs; and no Cloud of Sorrow, no Shadow of fear, noDarknefsof Anxiety, can teach fo lllgh to darken and dit1urb therr Felicity: W.eph1g can endure but for a nigbt, ~;~;'>6:;-;::,h·:;~t':;;;~nfi~~n~ft ;;~,;~~~~:;ie/[a;;,,mo;;;:1o;:t ~~~~~~{/~1:011:!l'r •. ' ~~h~~~~:/~~!:li;;g~~dMifery. Be ye a!fo patient, Jla/;lijh your hearts, for the coming Jam. l · Secondly,
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