HEAVENLY LIFE UPON EARTH. 203 when thou hast conversed with God, and talked with the inhabitants of the higher world, and viewed their mansions, and filled thy soul with the fore- thoughts of glory ? If thou knowest by experience what this prac- tice is, I dare say thou knowest what spiritual joy is. If, as David professes, the light of God's countenance more gladdens the heart than corn and wine, then surely they that draw nearest, and most behold it, must be fullest of these joys. Whom should we blame then, that we are so void of consolation, but our own negligent hearts ? God bath provided us a crown of glory, and promised to set it shortly on our heads, and we will not so much as think of it, He bids us behold and rejoice, and we will not so much as look at it; and yet we complain for want of comfort. It is by believing we are filled with ,joy and peace, and no longer than we continue believing. It is in hope the saints rejoice, and no longer than they continue- hoping. God's Spirit worketh our comforts, by setting our own spirits on work upon the promises, and raising our_thóughts to the place of our comforts. As you would delight a covetous man by showing him gold ; so God delights his people by leading them, as it were, into heaven, and showing them himself, and their rest with him. He does not cast in our he while we are -idle, or taken up with other things. H gives the fruits of the earth while we plow, and sow, and weed, and water, and dung, and dress, and with patience expect his bless- ing; so doth he give the joys of the soul. I entreat thee, Reader, in the name of the Lord, and a4 thou va- luest the life of constant joy, and that good conscience which is a continual, feast, to set upon this work se- riously, and learn the art of heavenly-mindedness, and thou shalt find the increase a hundred fold, and the benefit abundantly exceed thy labour. But this is the misery of man's nature ; though every man naturally hates sorrow, and loves the most merry and joyful life, yet few love the way to joy, or will endure the pains by which it is obtained ; they will take the next that comes to hand, and content them-
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