By the Cro faofChrifii. .z17 not this elevating power, and could not fee further then fenfecan do, we might talk longenoughofGod, before we had any Paving knowledgeof him, or relifhof his Goodnefs. And doubtlefs, if we muff get by faith into Heaven , ïf we will have the reviving fight of God then we mull needs away from earth For our hearts cannot at once converfe in both. Believe it Sirs,Godufeth to give his heavenly Cordials, upon anempty flomack ; and not to drown them in the mud and dirt of fenfuality. When you are emptyell of creature -delightsand love , you are moll- capable of God. And falling from the world, doch bell prepare you for this heavenlyFea{l. Let Abflinence and Temperance be impofed up- on your fentes; but command a totali Fall to your Affeftions And try then whether your fouls be not fitter to afcend, and whether Godwill not reveal himfelf more clearly then before. It may feem a paradox that the vallies fhould be nearer Heaven then the Hills; But doubtliéfs Stephen Pawmore of it, then the high Prielts : And Lazarus had a fairer profpe@ thither , from among the dogsat the Rich mans gate , then the Mafter of the houfehad at his plentiful table. And who would not rather have Lazarus's fores with a fore-fight of Heaven, then theRich mans fulnefs without it ; yeawith the fears of after mifery ? A Heaven- ly life is proper to the mortified. Benefit a i. Oreover, thole that are Crucified to the world, are mejifruitfullunto others, andblef- fzngs toallwithin their reach. Theycan part with any thing to do good with. They are rich to God and their Brethren if they be rich, and not to themfelves. If a mortified man have hundreds or thoufands by theyear, he hach no moreof it for himfelf then if he had a meaner ellate. He takes but neceffary food and ray. ment; he fhunneth intemperance and excefs: Nay heoften pinch. all his body , if needful!, that hemay tame it,-and bring it into fubjeftion to the Spirit : and the re{l he layes out for the fervice of God fo far as he is acquainted withhis will. Yea his necef- fary food and rayment which he receiveth himfelf is ultimately not for himfelf, but for God Even that he may be fuhained by his daily bread for his daily- duty, and fitted to pleafe his M Per that maintaineth him. If they beve much they give p!enreocfiy
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