6:10 Spiritual PerfeUion. tra~fport the Soul to their diftant ObjeEtt, and transform rh.cm in.ro their likenefs . The ObJeCt is Spiritua l and Divine, and ~he frequencconcemplaur)n of 1t has a \\arm IoAuence into the A ff~..aions, purifies and .ratfes them from the Earth. When our Thoughts are ofrcn convcrfam upon thc::: Sratc of future Glory, we feel its attraB:ive force more li ron [T ly worl(ing in us: ~s ma Chafe, if there be a cold Seem, 'tis but coldly purfued ;' but when the Gamt: is in Vtcw, 'cis eagerly profecuted. When Heaven is ~ddorn thought of our defires and endeavours are cool 'd rowards it; but when 'tis in the \'tcw of our Underriand.. ings, and near lts, our inclinations aod endeavours are more fervent and zealous. The A po!lle faith, Ott~ Converflltio_n iJ in Heavm, from whence 1t•elook for the Lord .fefm. 4· The h ope of Heaven punfies us, from a Principle of Thankfulncfs to God, who is Donor of rr. ~ r. John breaks mto an extafie of wonder, hehold1vhat manner of love the Farim IJ4Ih beflowtd upon ru, rhar we /hould bt "lfdthtSom of God! The Angels, thofe cam. prehl nfivc Sptrits, are aftonifh'd, that worthlefs Rebels fhould be taken into a Relati~'l iO high and nea r ro God, w~o deffrve to be_ irrevoca~ly bani!h'd ti·om his Kingdom. Th~ Ap0ftlc obferves the vanous degrees of tlus Happinefs: /Vow 1r~ are the.Som of God, b11t tl dot .s not ap e8r what we {ball be: Now we are adopted, but the he1ghth ot our Felicity when we fhall_becrown 'd, tsa fecrer; but we are affured, we {ball be like ~he Son ofGo/ the glorious ~nginal of a_II Perfe8ion. Now the confirm,d Hope of thts t ranfcenden~ Happi nefS , Inflames a Believer with fincere and fupreme Lo\·e to God, that will make us zealous to pleafc him, by entire Obedience to Ius l'~ecepts, and a likenefs to his Na. ture. 3· The Purity of a Chriflian confifls in a conformity to Chrilt The Son of God in. carnate is both the Author of our Holinefs, and the Pauern of ir. As th"e Sun is the firll: Fountain of Light, and a Cryflal Globe fill'd with Light, may be a fecondary Fountain, tranfmitting the Beams unto us: So tbe Deiry is the original caufe of all created Holinefs; but 'tiS traofinitted through the Mediator. In his Life on Earth there was a Globe of Precepts, a Perfect Model of Holinefs. All the active and fuffering Gracesappear'din their exaltation in his pra8ice. Our Relati on tO him infers our likenefs' For whom ht did foreknow . he did prtdeflinAit to be con{orrmd to the tmagt of ht.s Son, that he mij!,ht he the firjl-born among many Brnhrtn. The Image in Ncbn<hadntzz•r's Dream, had the Head of fine Gold, the Breafl and the Arms of Silver, the Belly and Thighs of Brafs, the Legs of Iron, the Feet part of Iron, part of Clay : HutChrifi unitedtohisChurchare notfuch an irregular compofition: As the Head is holy, fo are all the vital Members. From hence we are inform'd how to judge of our Hopes, whether they are Caving, and will attend us to the Gates of Heaven. If they purifie us, they will certainly be accom· pli01'd in Heavenly Blcffednefs: If we be like our Saviour in Grace, we !hall be like him in Glory: But carnal and Ioofe Hopes will ilfue in difappointment. Our Saviour tells us, that every vifible Chritlian, in a fpiritual fenfe, is a builder, and raifes a fabrick of Hope, that may appear fair to the Eye : bur there is a time of rryal a coming, that will di!Cover how firm it is. 'Tis our Wifdom to defcend to the foundation of our Hope, that we may underlland whether it be a Rock rhat cannot be lhaken, orrhe Q.uick·Sand that cannot heart he weight of it. Thofe who hur the Words of Chrift, at>ddo tbem, build upon a Foundation more liable than theCentre; the perfect Veracity of God is engaged in his Promifes: But thole who l1ear wnhout dowg, bmld upon the finkmg Sand. Carnal Men will pretend they hope for Sa lvation, only for the infinite Mercies of God, and Merits of Chrill : 'Tis true, thcfe are Elernal Foundaricns; bqt to fecure a Building, the Supcrfiructure mull be flrongly fallen'd to the Foundation, er it cannot refill a Storm. If we are not united to Chrill by the fanctifying Spirit, and a purifying Faith, our Hopes will deceive us. When Sin has dominion, which is certainly difcovered by rhe habitual courfe of Mens Li\'Cs, when there is a remanent affeCtion to it io Mens Hearts, which is known by their reAechons upon p•ll Sins with pleafure, and the profpcEl of future Sins wi1h defire, their Hope is like a Spider's \Veb, that can bear no ll~cfs. Hope is fubordinate to Faith, and Faith is regulated by the Promifc. Some believe wuh· out Hope: they are convinc'd of the reality of the Future State, of the Eternal Judgment, and the coofequents of it, but are carelefs and defperate in their wickcdnefs: O<hers hope to be well hereafter without the belief of the Gofpcl. Indeed, t~crc is none can bear up undcrdefpairing Thoughts; when they are raging in the Brcall. He. that is abfolutely and with confidcration hdpelefS, falls upon his own Sword. The Tempter deals wuh Sinncrsaccordingto th~irconditions: If they arc fwimmin(\ in Profpenry~he ftup1fies Con· \fcience, and induces them to be fecure; if they are (i~Jong m dc.ep DJ!lrds, he ts fo sl{~Jful \jn all the arts of aggravation, that he plunges them 1nt? Defpatr: and both Tcmprauons arc fatal; but the moft perilb by fallacious hopes. 'T IS llrange , that the greatdl m;';
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