Chap. IX. Of HEAVEN The Qualities of this Choice are three: 1 . It mu!t be fincereand cordial. 2. Early, in our fir!t and bell: Days. 3· Firm and conftant. r. It mull: be fincere and 'cordial. The [110ft effential and aElive Defire in human~ Nature is to Happinefs ; bur there being two kinds of good Things prefented to the Will that folicit the AfleElions, the Pleafures of Senfe, and fpiritual Joys, from hence it is that that which makes Men happy is the ObjeEl of Elet:lion. And altho there is nothing more uniform and inviolable than the natural inclination to Happinefs, yet the great diftmElron of Mankind arifes from this fource, the regular or perverfe ufe of this Inclination, the wife or miflaken choice of Happinefs. Now the fincerity of our Choice is difc0\1ercd, when 'tis clear and entire, arifing from a tranfcendent efieem of the Favour and Enjoyment of God as our chief Good, and abfolutely requifite for us. And from hence it is evident that the Choice of true Happinefs, ncceffarily includes the defpifing and rejeEling of the falfe Happinefs that fiands in competition with it. There cannot be two reigning Principles in the Soul: for it canno~ vigoroufly apply it felf w two ObjeCls ~t th_e fame time. Our Sav10ur has dectded It, No Man &lln [erve two Majlers; for either he wzll hate thepneandlovethe otber, or h~!d to tke one and dej}if! the other: Je&annot ferve God and Mammon. The Mafters are meconCilable, and thCJr Commands are direaJy oppofite. It was as poffible to place upon the fame Altar the Ark of God, and the Idol of the Philif/im, as t.hat Heaven and the :World lhouldcompound and take equal lhares in our AffeElions. Indeed, rf the Conceptrons m the Mmd are but fault and floatmg of the univerfal fatisfying Goodnefs of the ObJeEl propofed to make us bappy, theW ill remains in fufpence ; but wh~n 'tis clearly and fir:ongly reprefented, the Heart is drawn entirely to embrace it. Drvme Gr~ce by the rllummauon of the Underfiandmg, purrfies and changes the depraved Will, and heals the diltempered AfleClions. The \Vife Merchant, !/a~~~~.att[~~~~~ga~aec;;~~/e~ron,~n~~~J~~a~fw~~~~~~.th~~~ n~~~Jt~a~~~7:r~ehl; refolute contempt of the concurrence of all the Preroga tives either the Law or the World could afford him, that he might have an inrerefl in Chrifl, the Reconciler and Refiorer of Man to the Favour and Fellowlhip of God. But .vhat things '"" gain to me, thofe 1 <oanted lo(s for Chrift; J'" doubtle{s, I <Ount all things but lojs for the E:xce/lenry of the IJ:::~tfm0Gt~2:t. 71m7;;},[;~ ck:~. I ~h= {t:i~~:~e:ttt{ a::,:h~;~ht:Qda~ moll pleafant Light that ever lhone upcn the World, a Revelation of the deepefi wif. dom and mofi admirable Love, wherein the Combination of God's holy and wonderful ~o~nJ:aJ~~.o~;t;f;~:~~?s ~a~~:~t'i~, ; a~~db~c~~~f~~~~~~~ ~rif~in~~~;~:~~~~:e~ej~~~ all things in corhpanfon of it. 2. The Sincerity of the Heavenly Choice, is difcovered by a zealous obtervance of the Means requifi te in order to it. Ina,nimate things incline to reft in their Centre, the Ratio~ nal intend and purfue it. The bleffed End, when valued and refpeEled according to its worth, excites and diretls the AffeCtions and Endeavours in that order and meafure as is proportionable to its Excellency, and the Difficulties of obtaining it. There may be a , naked e!timat ion, and fame defircs of Eternal f:lapprnefs fimply confidercd, yet the Will remains incompleat and undetermined in its choice: for the End in conJunction with the Means is propounded to us, and the carnal Man will n_ot co nf~ nt to tl1e Means . He di'nikes the Holinefs of Religion, and will rather forfeit Heaven than fubmit to fuch firiEl:terms. Tho with Balaam, in a fi[ ofDcvQ[ion, he fays, 0 that I miglitdiethedeatb of the Righteous, and that Tll) lajl End might be like his; yet from Indulgence to his fenfu. a! lnclmations, he will not live as the Righteous. All his Wi01es of tr Ue Happrne!S :h~f~:(fo$;~J:~1;~.!(an~1~a~~~d~fal~~~~.1~~~ ~~/~bf~l~:~~ltr~ it'Tei~. r;~~ ~; \~~: ft:'/1::~ of all Lands abounding with thmgs for the fupport and delrght of Man; bur conlidenng irsd1ft~ncc , aWilderncfs wafic and wild interpofing. and the EnemieS to becncountredJ they d1d not think it worthy of undergoing fu<;h Hazards and Difficulties. The Land of CAnaan was a Type of Heaven, both with refi."'Cl: to its pleafanrnefs, and the manner of the Ijraelues obtaining . it. Their Tide to it was derived from the rich Bounty of God, therefore 'tis called rhe L•nd of Promije ; but it was to be poffefs'd by Conquelt. Thus Vvv ~
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