Heaven Collection BV4831 .B4 1765

10 HOW TO DISCERN OUR TITLE 'another world, as to draw thy heart after it, and set thee a labouring heartily for it. The little pains thou bestowest that way, is but in the second. place, God bath but the world's leavings, only that time and labour which thou canst spare from the world, or those ,few, cold, and careless thoughts, which follow thy constant, earnest, and delightful thoughts of earthly things. Neither wouldst thou do any thing at all for heaven, if thou knewest how to keep the world. But lest thou shouldst be turned into hell, when thou canst keep the world no longer, therefore thou wilt do something. For the same reason, thou. thinkest the way of God too strict, and wilt not be persuaded to the constant labour of walking accord- ing to the gospel rule ; and when it comes to the trial, that thou must forsake Christ, or thy worldly happiness, then thou wilt venture heaven rather than earth, and so wilfully deny thy obedience to God. And certainly if God would but give thee leave to live in health and wealth for ever on earth, thou wouldst think it a better state than rest. Let them seek for heaven that would; thou wouldst think this thy chief happiness. This is thy case, if thou art yet an unregenerate person, and hast no title to the , saint's rest. § 15. And as thou takest God for thy chief good, so thou dost heartily accept of Christ for thy only Saviour. and Lord, to bring thee to this rest. The former mark was the sum of the first and great com- mand of the law, " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." The second mark is the sum of the command of the gospel, " Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." And the per- formance of these two is the whole of godliness and Christianity. This mark is but the definition of faith. Dost thou heartily consent that Christ alone shall be thy Saviour? and no farther trust to thy duties and works, than as means appointed in subordination to him? and looking at them as not in the least mea- sure able to satisfy the curse of the law, or as a legal

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