The glorieof thegoplls hereafter. Now in the Gofpe ll of Chilli we have as it VERSE were a map, a topographical! delineationof thole glori. ous rnanfions which are there prepared for the Church, we have a talk and ekription of the manners of that people, we have fome rudimentsof the heavenly ian- guage,inone word, wee have abundantly enough, not onely to prepare us for it, but to enflame all the defire ofour foule unto it, even as exiles or captives defire to returne to their native Countrey. Now then if wee no way regard to (lady it, or acquaint our felves with it, if wee feeme to defire the fight of Chrifl in heaven, and when we may every day have a mofi bleffed view ofhis face in the Glaffe ofhis Gofpel,we turne awayour eyes, and regard it not, we doe asgood as proclaime to all the world, that either our hopes ofheaven are very {lender, or our care thereoflittle or none at all. And this I take fora molt undoubted truth, that there isfo much of the knowledge, grace,and fpirit ofChrifl, and through him of the Father in the holy Scriptures (and thofeonely are the things which make heavento bee the home and the hope ofmen) as that whofoever negle6teth the !lardy 'althea) ' and fuffereth the Scriptures to lye by himas a fealedbooke, would bee every whit as unwilling ifhea- ven gates were wide open unto him, to relinqnifh his portion in the earth,and to fpend his time in the fruition or contemplation of that glorious Countrey. wee honour the Gofpell when in our grearefl diftreffes we make it our Altar of refuge, our doore of efcape, the ground ofall our hope and comfort,the only anchor to flayour forges inany fpiritual tempefl,the on- ly flaffe to !caneupon inour greatefi darkeneffe. What ever other carnal! comfortsmen may for a time rejoyce in, they will all prove but as a fireof fparkes , or as a blaze ofthornes, which can yield` folid or abiding light unto the foule. When fanners in Sion begin once to be affraid, and to be iinprized with the fcarefulnefie of 223
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