526 Of HEAVE N. Chap. XLV. on? How ju ltly 01all they be for ever deprived of it? Behold, ye defpi{ers, andn•onder and perifb. . . . 2, Confider, tlus glonous llleJTednefs 0Jal! be the PortiOn of all that unfeignedly choofe it, and ear~efily feek lt.. ·~~his motiv~ wa~ inclofed in the firfl, but deferves a feparate Confiderauon: And o( tlus we_have mfalhble aJTurance from the Word of God, who can· not Ire. Godlmejs lw the Promifeof the Life to.come. T~ts 11 • faithfulfa;ing, and wor. th] of ~I! Jtcceptatton. The hope ot a Chniban IS fo certam, that 'tts compar'd to •n Anc~or jajlemd in Heaven. And befidesthe Fidelity of his Word, God has given us Secunty ol the Reward, the Life of his Son. This methinks fhould t~rn the Current of our D<fires and Endea,•ours to Heave~. For ootwithfranding all o~r toil and fweat, t11e labour of the Day and the watchm,gs of the Night for the obtammg Ea!·thly things, yet we many umes fall 01ort of our aims and hopes. Twas the obfervatiOn of the wifeft Man, I retttrned and j4tv under the Sun, that the Race is not to the fwift, nor the Battel to the Strong, neither .Jef ~read to t~Je Wife, nor yet Riches to Mm of Vnder(landmg, nor yet F.tVO!Ir to Men oj Sktll ; b11t Ttme and Chance happeneth to all. Indeed fuch is tl1e order of Divine Providence in the World, there mufl be different conditions of Men here: fome Rich, others Poor; fome Noble, others Mean; fome in Command, others in Subjecrion. And from hence it is alfo evident, that neither Dignity, nor Richl>l, nor Pleafures are the Happinefs of Man. For 'tis not becoming the Wifdom and Goodnefs of God 10 '£~~~~e~1~:: ~~~~~;db~r;~~:i~:X~n~~1~r~~~i~~\.~~~~~ ~~~ ~~;~~n7e~tt\;i~!~6e~~ privcd . But Civil diflinCiions and qualities are ofno value and confideration with refpetl to the obtaining or excluding fi·om Heaven. The rich and honourable that are in an ex. alted State, have not a moreeafy afcentand entrance into the Kingdom of God thanthofe who are in the lowefl degree. The Stars appear with the fame bignefsto him that.llal)ds in the deepeft Valley as on the higheft Hill. Is there any difference between the Souls of therichandgr~atintheWorld, and the Souls of the poor and defpifed? A_re theynqt equally the Olf-fpnng of God, and equally ranfomed by the moll precious Blood of his Son? Are they not equally capable of Eternal Rewards? Are not the promifes of the Heavenly Kingdom, equally addrell. to every one that has an immortal So~!, that is faith· ful to his Duty and Covenant with God? This fhould infpire all with flaming Defires, and draw fort!Ttheir utmolllndullry, And m•ke them jledfafl and unmovub!e, always to 11hotmd in the U1ork of the Lord, knowing our iabou.r fha!f not bt in vain fn the Lord. . I know the Carnal V,: ill is impetuous and impatient of delay; and' earneil for what-is prcfent, with the negle8: of the future Glory. But the.unrcafonablenefs of this is evident to all : for ' tis not a new and frrange thing to fow in hopes of reaping a Harvell, for Men to be indullrious and aaive on Land and Sea for future Advantage. Nay, 'tis the conftant praaice of the World: The Merchant, the Husbandman, the Student, the Souldier, and every Man in the Circle of his Calling are vifible Inllances of this; and tho ~o~n;~~~~r~!l~r~~~d~Ir,i~~n!b~~fe~~~ ~~~~:fui i~Z~~~rsn~~t~~~:id;~; in~~~~~~~~ vice of the World, to carry it fo lightly as if they had Wings, and all for a poor and uncertain Recompence, and to be llow and languid in their Endeavours for a Reward as great and as fure as God is glorious and true? How many ambitioully frrive to pleafo a Prince, and wait long in his Servicct who is but aMan, and therefore variable in lusT em~ per and State, fometimes is not willing to do what he can, and fometirnes cannot do what he would to reward his Servants? And is there not infinitely more reafon we ihould labour to pleafe God, who is the moll: liberal, and rich, and certain Rewarder of all that jeekhim? ~· Confider how gracious the Terms are upon which Heaven is promifed in the Gofpel. Our Saviour's ~ws are fo holy, juft~ and in their own Nature fo good w Men, even in their prefent performance, that their own Excellence, and Equity, and Sweetnefs, is fuf· licient to recommend them without a refpe£1: to the glorious Reward of Obedience. For what can be moredefirablethan conformity to the Nature of the bleJTed God? What Pleafure is comparable to tbat which fprings from a pure Confcience, from a godly, righteous and fober Converfation? How Joyful is the performance of that Service which more immediately is dire8:ed to the honour of the Divine Majelly ? In Prayer, and otber facred A_Etions, we draw. near to the Fountain of Felicity, and receivefi·om his Fulnefs. In the aRCaionate Praifes of God, we are Companions of the Angels. And is not Integrity and Honelly in our dealings with Men more eafie and comfortable than Fraud and Opprellion? Is it not troublefome robe always under a Mask, ' to ufe arts and difgudes to avoid the reproach and revenge that attends unJull A8:10ns when difcovered? Are Temperance
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