226 AUXILIARIES OF [Chap. 14. do all things through him that strengthens meV Was he ever foiled by an enemy? He hath indeed been assaulted, but was he ever conquered ? Why, then, doth my flesh urge me with the difficulties of the work ? Is any thing too hard for Omnipotence ? May not Peter boldly walk on the sea, if Christ give the word of command ? If he begin to sink, is it from the weakness of Christ, or the smallness of his faith'? Do I not well deserve to be turned into hell, if mortal threats can drive me thither ? Do I not well deserve to be shut out of heaven, if I will be frightened from thence with the reproach of tongues ? What if it were father, or mother, or husband, or wife, or the nearest friend I have in theworld, if they may be called friends, that would drawme to dam- nation, should I not forsake all that would keep me from Christ? Will their friendship countervail the enmity of God, or be any comfort to my condemned soul ? Shall I be yield- ing to the desires of men, and only harden myself against the Lord ? Let them beseech me upon their knees, I will scorn to stop my course to behold them, I will shut my ears to their cries : let them flatter or frown, let them draw out tongues and swords against me ; I am resolved in the strength of Christ to break through, and look upon them as dust. If they would entice me 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." 5. The last affection to be exercised in heavenly contem- plation, 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, 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 believest the truth of it; thou art convinced of its excellencies ; thou art fallen
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