40 PREFACE. when· you seek fi)r nothing higher than this world. They are busily laying up for an endless life, where they shall be equal with the angels, (Luke xx. 36.) when you are taken up with a shadow and a transitory thing of nought. How low and base is your earthly, fleshly, sinful life, in comparison of the noble spiritual life of true believers1 Many a time have I looked on such men with grief and pity, to see them trudge about the world, and spend their lives , and care, and labour, for nothing but a little· food and raiment, or a little fading pelf, or fleshly pleasures, or empty honours, as if they had no higher things to mind. What difference is there between the lives of these men and of the beasts that perish, that spend their time in working and eating, and living, but that they may live? They taste not of the inward heavenly pleasures upon which believers taste and live. I had rather have a little of their comfort, which the forethoughts of their heavenly inheritance afford them, though I had all their scorns and sufrerings with it, than to have all your pleasures and treacherous prosperity. I would not have one of your secret pangs of conscience, and dark and dreadful thoughts of death and the life to come, for all that ever the world bath done for you, or all that you can reasonably hope that it should do. If I were in your unconverted carnal state, and knew but what I know, and believe but what I now believe, methinks mv life would be a foretaste of hell: How oft should I be thinking of the terrors of the Lord, and of the dismal day that is hastening on! Sure death and hell would be still before me. I should think of them by day, and dream of them by night; I should lie down in fear, and rise in fear, and live in fear, lest death should come before I were converted. I should haYe small felicity in any thing that I possessed, and little pleasure in any company, and little joy in any thing in the world, as long as I knew myself to be under the curse and wrath of God. I should be still afraid of hearing that voice, Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee. Luke, xii. 20. And that fearful sentence would be written upon my conscience, There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Isaiah, xlviii. 22. lvii. 21. 0 poor sinners! It is a more joyful life than this, that you might live, if you were but willing, but truly willing to hearken to Christ, and come home to God. You might then draw near to God with boldness, and call him your Father, and comfortably trust him with your souls and bodies. If you look upon the promises, you may say, They are all mine. If upon the curse, you may say, From this I am delivered. When you read the Jaw, you may see what you are saved from. 'Vhen you read the Gospel, you may see him that redeemed you, and see the course of his
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