450 DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS heaven and then fear no loss, nor want, nor sorrow. If you count not all the world as dung, for the win - ning of Christ, that you may be found in him, pos- sessed of his righteousness, it is because you know neither the world nor Christ. Yea, the delight also will answer the commodity : for in the presence of God is fulness of joy, and at his right hand are plea- sures for evermore. And the fore - thoughts of them may well make glad our hearts, and cause our glory to rejoice. For goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord fbr ever. He shall guide us with his counsel, and afterwards receive us into glory. And lest you yet should suspect any lack of comfort, he tells you, you shall enter into the joy of your Lord ; and that you shall be with him where he is, to behold his glory. 4. And yet if all this might be had with a wet finger ; if heaven were the portion of worldlings and sluggards, that trouble not their thoughts much about it ; then you might have some excuse for your incon- siderateness. But it is not so; there are difficulties in your way ; and there are many and great. What a dark understanding have you to inform : What a dull and backward nature to spur on ! What an unreasonable appetite ! What raging passions ! What violent re- bellious senses to contend with, to master and to rule ! Abundance of adversaries on every hand : a subtle devil, and as malicious as subtle, and as furious and able to do you a mischief, if God restrain him not. A world of wicked men about you; each one more stiff in error than you in the truth ; and more fast to the devil than you are to God, if his grace do not hold you faster than you will hold yourselves : and therefore they are more able to deceive you, than you are to undeceive them : many of them are crafty, and can puzzle such ignorant beginners as you, and put a face of reverence and truth upon damnable errors, and pernicious ways : and those that have not wit, have foolish violence, and scorn, and passion, and can
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