46 The Life ofFaith. fear you afterdeath : much lefs will Chrill be afraid to judge you. Luke 19. 27. As the Kingdoms and glory of the world were contemned by him in the hour of his temptation ; fo are they inconftderable to procure his approbation. 7ruff not there- fore to uncertain riches. Value them but as they will prove at latt. As you Rand on higher ground than othcrs,it is meet that you (hould fee further. Thegreater are your advantages, the wifer and better you thould be : and therefore thould better perceive the difference between things temporal and eternal. It is alwaies dark where thefe glow worms thine, and a rotten poll doth hem a fire. Your difficulties allo thould exciteyou ; You mull go as through a Needles eye to Heaven. To live as in Heaven, in a crowd ofbufinefs, and ftrcam of temptations, from the con- fluence of all worldly things, is fo hard, that few fuch come toHeaven. Withdraw your (elves therefore to the frequent ferious fore-thoughts of eternity, aid liveby faith. Had time allowed, it, I thould have come down to fome particular inflances : As, r. Let the things unfeen be hill at hand, to anfwer every temptation, and thame and repel each motion to fin. 2. Let thembe Hill at hand, to quicken us to duty, when backwardnefs and coldnefs doth furprize us. What, thall we do any thing coldly for eternity 3. .Let it refolve you what company to delight in; and what fociety to be of; even thofe with whom you muff dwell for ever ; Whatftde foever is uppermott onearth, you may fore- fee which /de (hall reign for ever. g. Let the things invifible be your daily folace , and the fatiefasïtion ofyour fouls. Are you flandered by men ? Faith tells you, it is `enough that Chriti will jutfifie you. O happy day, when he will bring forth our righteoufnefs as the light, and let allffrait, which all the fallehillories,or flandeKoas tongues orpens in all the world made crooked. Arc yea frownedon or contemned by men ? Is it not enough that you (hall ever - laffingly be honoured by the Lord ? Are you wronged, oppreffed, or trodden on by pride or malice ? Is not Heaven enough to makeyou reparation? and eternity long enough for your joyes ? O pray for your malicious enemies, left they fuffcc more than 'fate can with them. a. Latlly,
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