V E R . 6. 8phefianf,Chap.z. 229 that which I amnot, nor cannot be willing with. We fee inour out. wardaffaires anoutlandifh man, a forrainer, cannot have inheritance in our land, umill he be naturalized. The fonne of a traytor whole landes are confifcate,cannot inheritthem,as before, until! his blood be reftored ; fo it is withus, wee are all orangers by nature to God , and heaven where he dwelleth,we are a tainted blood , rebells from the wombe, and fo till God reflore us, and make us fit, we cannot have part in this heavenly inheritance. This one Prerogative ( that we are madetofit inheavenly places) du- ly confidered reproveth the mifdemeanour of the wicked in regard oftheir poore brethren: Forcome in place where they are, like og kingof Bafbian,they fet up their briftles againfl them, and efleem them as the bafeoff=fcourings oftheearth, and refufe ofthe people. For what fay they t I fcorne thee that thou fhouldefl control! me, a chiefe man ofthe towne where I dwell,and (hall I be taken upwith every begger? Alaff ! thou artthe turfed begger in the richmans weede ; this man whom thou thus difdaineft is theright heire, thou haftgotten hisright, and that thou !halt know when the Lord of thewhole earth (hall call thee out of his ground, throwing thybody intothe earth as a (finking carrión, andthy foul into hell: Then (halt thou know the (late of all things turned upfidedowne, and then thou which before waft a Lord on earth and feared among Princes, !halt now be a flave in hell,and the poore creature which feared the Lord, proving-his-title before the throne ofthe Lamb,and (howing his evidence it!'Chrift, (hall be made heire of all,and fit downe with Abraham, ifaac, and laceb, in the king- domeof heaven. A ftrong comfort agáinft all crolfes and tribulations : to thinke one slay we (hall to the utter flitting ofall incredulity, and unbeleefe, and cheeringofour languifhing fpirits, fee God face to face, and behold his living fpoufe toour everla(lingcomfort. Nowwhile we are in thefe bodiesof clay, we are likerhe moone beingeclipfed ; but when once wee !hall put off this mortality, as the livery which Adam giveth to all his children,then (hall we be as gloriousas the funne in his ftrength. Poverty, di(honor, deformitie,and all the outcries of this hofpitall of thebody (hall be left behind, like unto Elijahs Cleake when hee was caught up into heaven ; and in ftead thereof all regali and Kingly excel- lency put upon us. Nay the (lately Majefly ofa Prince is as farre diffe- ring from the eftateofthe worfi of GodsSaimts,as the flareofabridge begger is inferiour unto thegreateftMona-ch in the world: How doeth this crofl'e the opinionof the world touching the bafenes of the Saints This mayferve then to expell all feares. Feare not little flocke,it is your Fathers pleafure to giveyou akingdome. We are already feized on it, we have made entranceupon it. Oh that we did but know our ownehappines,we wouldnot fo hang the head as dire= ftedperfons, but lookeup to that incomparable weight of glory,runneour race and finifh our courfe with joy, yea and abide all the miferies of this life X 3 with Wicked mens difdaineofthe godly,fenf leffe. vfB :ï Comfort a. gain& prefent bafenelfe and contempt. ` a Kings r..13. P. Helpagainik festes. Luk. az.3z.
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