Of HEAVEN. Chap. IX. the Ce)efiial Canaan is the pure Gift of God, but the aCl:ual enjoyment of it is obtained by vrB:orious refillance agamft the Enemres of our Salvation. And Carnal Men defpife this pleafant Land, the Prom1fe bemg mfeparably JOmed w1th Precepts of Duty and Obe910nce, from whrch they are averfe. But l1e that chufes fincerely, 1s JO~ful and vigorous m the ufe of means for acqmnng h!S moft d7fired Good. Ardent AffeC1:10ns, like Elijah's Chanot of Fife, ravtfll the Soul above tillS fenfible World, to the place where God dwells in Glory. Zeal animates his Endeavours, as the Motion of the Heart diffufesthe Spirits into the Arteries, to convey Life to all parts of the Body. One thing (faith the inflamed Pfalmill) have I deftred of the Lord, that wtll I /iek after, that I may dweU in the Hor1i of the Lord all the days of my Life, to behold the Beauty of the Lord, and to mr•ire in his Temple. The fenfual Man is ranging abroad for fatisfaCl:ion, and fhoots all the Game that crolfes his Eye ; but the Soul that has a difcovering Light, and feeling heat of :~: ~~j~;~~~:~fhi~~re:n~1t~~ ~~~~:sJ~u~s~;e ai~df:~~1 ;~;~~~io~0 :~ ~~~7rlr~~~gs6~; Saviour tells us, That from the days of John the Baptift rmtilnow, tbe /(jngdom of Heaven ji1fers vrolence, and the violent take If by force. Some previous Rays .of the Sun of Righteo)lfnefs appeared in his Minillry, and produc'd fuch a holy Ardency in thofe Converts, that with all refolunon, drhgence and earneftnefs, they fought to be partakers of theBielfednefs re,•ealed. Lazy Defires, eafy Profecurions, lluggifh Attempts, drfcover that the Heart is not throughly engaged for the fpiritua! Eternal Good. When the End is truly deftgned, it will give Law to the Actions. This is vifible in carnal worldly Men, how fagacious, how folhotous are they to accornpliOl their Ends and bafG Dcfigns? They try all ways, either by. fine diffimulation, or toilfom indullry, to obtain their IJe. fires. No time ~s too much mtheir gainful Atfairs, or _voluptuous ~nJoyments. They transform the Nrght to length'n out the Day for therr Profit, they veil the Day to lengthen our the Night for their Eafe and Pleafure. But, alas, Heaven is only regarded by the by; as if the rntelle&ual Soul were only given to dwell with tl1e Body on Earth, the place of ItS Bamfhmcnt, ~nd d1reB: Affatrs here below, and not to lead in the way to Heaven, the place of itsNatrvity, and prepare for another World. The Work of Salvation is followed with that remifs degree of AflCEI:ion, as if it were a flight matter whether performed 01: negleCted. Thefe Perfons carry their ConviCl:ion in their Bofoms; forthey are ardent and aC.tivero obtain interior and infinitely lefs concerning Ends, but with that cold application mind the fuperior nobler End of Man, that it is wholly fruftrate, 'which plainly fhews it was never feriou'Oy intended by them. The fight of \Vorldly Men fo active and vigilant to profecute their low Defigns, fhould quicken us to feel< wrth grearer diligence and alacrity the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Righteoufnefs thereof. A Carnal Wretch, urged by the llmg of a brunfh De- ~~'a:~~~i~~Pte~%~:~~~~~~e\~h~~ ~~ i~~~~;:::r~f~~~h~so1P~~o~~o::il:~~fr:ra ~~:{::r ~ A covetous Man, how greedily does he purfue the Advantages of the prejint World th:r paj[esarvay, and the Lujls thereof. Ah! how do they upbraid our indifferent De(ites, our dull Delays and cold Endeavours, when fuch a lugh Pnze IS fer before us? Who IS able to conceive the ravifhiog P!eafureof the Soul when it firft enters through the beautiful Gate of the Celeftial Temple, and fees the Glory of the Place, and he.rs a Voice from the Throne, Enter into thy Majler's 1oy,. to be hapry with him for ever? The ferious belief of this will draw forth aJJ our aC:bve Powers 111 the Servtceof God. l· The fincerity of onr Heavenly Choice declares it felf in the temper and frame of our Hearts, with refpeCl: to all temporal Things in this World. F01·our main and happy End being eftablifl1ed, that it confifts not in fecular Riches and Honours, and ' the Pleafures of Senfe, but in the clear Vifion of God, the blelfednefs of the Spirit; it follows that all preferrt things are in our ufe fo far Goed or Evil, and to be defired or not, as they arc profirahle or prejudicial to our obtaining Salvation, as they condu8 or diver~ us from Heaven. A wife Chrillian looks on temporal things not through the Glafsof drfordered Paffions, that are impewous and impatient for what is grateful to them, but With refe. rence to his future Happinefs. He confiders the train of Temptations that attend an exalted Condition, and defires fuch a portion of thefe things, as may redound to the Glory of the Giver, and be improved for his own Salvation. This Purity of AffeCl:rons our Savrour teaches us: For in his Divine Form of Prayer, the true Dtretloryof our Defires, are fet down inanadmirab!eorderall things we are to pray for. And they refpeCl:theEnd, or the Means. The End is the primary ObjeCl: of our Defires; accoudingly the two fir£! Petitions concern our blelfecl End, as itrefpeCl:s God and our felves: We pray, Ha/towed be thy Name, that is, by the reverence and adoration of all Jus SubJeCts: and, Thy Kingdom
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