Chap. '7.] THE SAINTS' REST. t 101 iing on earth can comprehend them. What is so excellent, so important, or so necessary, as the glorifying of God, the salvation of our own and other men's souls, by escaping the torments of hell, and possessing the glory of heaven ? And can a man be too much affected with things of such rno- meat? Can he desire them too earnestly, or love them to strongly, or laborfor them too diligently? Donot we know, that ifour prayers prevail not, and our labor succeeds not, we are undone for ever? The work of a Christian here is very great and various. The soul must be renewed ; corruptions must be mortified; customs, temptations, and worldly interests, roust be conquered; flesh must he sub- dued;, life, friends, and credit, must be slighted; conscience, on good grounds, be quieted; and assurance of pardon and 'salvation attained.. Though God must give us these with- out our merit, yet he will not give them without our earnest seeking and :labor Besides, there is much knowledge to be got, many ordinances to be used, and duties to be per- formed; every age, year, and day, every place we come to, every person we deal with, every change of our con- dition, still require the renewing of our labor; wives, chil- dren, servants, neighbors, friends, enemies, all of them call for duty from us. Judge, then, whether men that have so much business lying upon their hands, should not exert themselves; and whether it be their wisdom either to de- lay or loiter. Time passeth on. Yet a few days, and we shall be here no more. Manydiseases are ready to assault us. We, that are now preaching, and hearing, and talking, and walking, must very shortly be carried and laid in the dust, and there left to the worms, in darkness and corrup- tion ; we are almost there already; we know not whether we shall have another sermon, or Sabbath, or hour. How active should they be, who know they have so short a space for so great a work ! And we have .en ni es that are always plotting and laboringfor our destruction. How dili- gent is Satan in all kind of temptations! Thetefore " be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may de- vour; whom resist steadfast in the faith." How diligent are all the " ministers of Satan! false teachers, scoffers, persecutors," and our inbred corruptions, the most busy and diligent of all ! Will a feeble resistance serve our turn ?
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