PREFACE. 41 love, and holy life, and sutferings, and trace him in his temptations, tears, and blood, in the work of your salvation. You may see death conquered, and heaven opened, and your resurrection and glorification provided for in the resurrection and glorification of the Lord. ' If you look on the saints, you may say, They are my brethren and companions. If on the unsanctified, -you may rejoice to think that you are saved from that state. If you look upon the heavens, the sun, and moon, and stars innumerable, you ' may think and say, My Father's face is infinitely more glorious; it is higher matters that He hath prepared for his saints; yonder is but the outward court of heaven. The blessedness that He hath promised me is so much higher that flesh and blood cannot behold it. If you think of the grave, you may remember that the glorified Spirit, a living Head, and a loving Father, have all so near a relation to your dust, that it cannot be forgotten or neglected, but will more certainly revive than the plants and flowers in the spring: because that the soul is sti111 alive that is the root of the body; and Christ is alive, that is the root of both. Even death, which is the king of fears, may be remembered and entertained with fear, as being the day of.your deliverance from the remnant of sin and sorrow, and the day which you believed, and hoped, and waited for, when you shall see the blessed things which you had heard of, and shall find by present joyful experience what it was to choose the better part, and to be a sincere believing saint. What say you, sir'! Is not this a more delightful life, to be assured of salvation, and ready to die, than to live as the ungodly, that have their hearts pvercharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day comes upon them unawares1 Luke xxi. 34, 36. Might you not live a comfortable life, if once you were made the heirs of heaven, and sure to be saved' when you leave the world1 0 look about you then, and think what you do, and cast not away such hopes as these for very nothing. The flesh and world can give you no such hopes or comforts. And besides all the misery that you bring upon yourselves, you are the troublers of others as long as you are unconverted. You trouble magistrates to rule you by their laws; you trouble ministers by resisting the light and guidance which they offer you. Your sin and misery are the greatest grief and trouble to them in the world. You trouble -the commonwealth, and draw the judgments of God upon you. It is you that most disturb the holy peace and order of the churches, and hinder our union and reformation, and are the shame and trouble of the churches where you intrude, and of the places where you are. Ah, Lord! how heavy and 4
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