BY RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS. 267 with preferment, even with the kingdoms of the world, I will no more regard them than the dung of the earth. O blessed rest ! O glorious state ! Who would sell thee for dreams and shadows ? Who would be enticed or affrighted from thee? -Who would not strive, and fight, and watch, and run, and that with violence, even to the last breath, in order to obtain thee ? Surely none, but those that know thee not, and believe not thy glory." § 16. (5) The last affection to be exercised in hea- venly contemplation, is joy. Love, desire, hope, and courage, all tend to raise our joy. This is so desirable to every man by nature, and so essentially necessary to constitute our happiness, that, I hope, I need not say much to persuade you to any thing that would make your life delightful. Supposing you therefore already convinced, that the pleasures of the flesh are brutish and perishing, and that your solid and lasting joy must be from heaven, instead of persuading, I shall proceed in directing, Reader, if thou hast managed well the former work, thou art got within sight of thy rest ; thou be- lievest the truth of it ; thou art convinced of its ex- cellencies ; thou art fallen in love with it ; thou longest after it ; thou hopest for it ; and thou art resolved to venture courageously for obtaining it, But is here any work for joy in this ? We delight in the good we possess: it is present good that is the object of joy; and thou wilt say, «Alas ! I am yet without it." But think a little farther with thyself. Is it nothing to have a deed of gift from God ? Are his infallible pro- mises no ground of joy ? Is it nothing to live in daily expectation of entering into the kingdom ? Is not my assurance of being hereafter glorified a sufficient ground for inexpressible joy? Is it not a delight to the heir of a kingdom to think of what he must soon possess, though at present he little differ from a ser- vant? Have we not both command and example, for "rejoicing in hope of the glory of God ? "(c) § 17. Here then, Reader, take thy heart once more, and carry it to the top of the highest mount; show it the kingdom of Christ, and the glory of it, and say to (c) Rom. v. 2. xii. 12.
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