54.2 The Parable f the Vol. I. prepares them for a Kingdom. This courfe God took more efpecially in the firft planting of Chriftianity the.poor chiefly were thofe that received the Gofpel Not many mighty, normany noble; but the safe things of the world, and the things that were defpifed did God chufe. Hearken, my beloved brethren, faith St. lames eh. s. ;. Hath not God chafen the poor in this world, rich in Faith, and Heirs of the ,Xingdom, which he bath prornrfed to them that love him? Now this Confideration fhould perfuade to Patience under the greateft Suffer- ings and Afflidions in this world. God may be our Father, and chaftenus feverely; nay this very thing is rather an Argument that he is fo. God may loveus tho' the world hate us. 'Tis but exercifing a little Patience, and thefe Storms will blow over and we (hall be removed into a calmer Region, where all 'tears _Pad bewiped fromour eyes ; and death and farrow (hall beno more.' This was the Portion of the Son of godhere ; but it is afaithfulPaying, that ifwe be dead withhim, wejhall alfa live with him, ifwe Puffer with him, we jhall alfa reign with him. Therefore thofe who fuffer in this world ought not to be moved, as tho' fame orange thing hap'ned unto them ; but/ouldrather rejoyce, in as much as they are partakers ofChrijl'sfuffer- ings, that when hisglory /hall be revealed, they alfo may be glad with exceeding joy, I Pet. 4. ia, t;. i proceed to a Third Obfervation, which is the different Eftate of good and bad men after this life ; Lazarus died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's bofom : the rich man died, and went to hell. This the Juftice of the Divine Providence feems to require ; fo that if there had been ro Revelation of God to this purpofe, it is a thing very credible to Natural Reafon, whether we confider God or our felves. If we confider God ; our Reafon tells us, that he is theholy and righteous Go- vernor of the World, and confequently, that he loves Goodnefs and hates Sin, and therefore is concern'd to countenance the one, and difcountenance the other, in fuch a folemn and publick manner, as may vindicate his Holinefs and Juftice to the whole World. Now the Difpenfations of his Providence are promifcuous in this world ; and therefore it feems very reafonable, that there fhouid hea ge- neral Affize, a fair and open Trial ; when God will render to every Man according to his works. And if we confider our felves, this will appear very credible ; for this bath been-the confant Opinion, not only of the common People, but of the wifet Perlons, who had only the light of Nature to guide them. Nay if we do but fearch our own Confciences, we (hall find an inward and fecret acknowledgment of this, in that inward peace and fatisfadion we find in any good Aétion, and in that fhame and fear and horror that haunts a Man after the commiffion of any, tho' never fo fecret a Sin. And as Reafon and Scripture together do allureus of a future Judgment; fo likewife, that Men, when they pats -out of this world, Mall meet with the pro- per Confequences -and Rewards of their Aóiions in the other. And rho' the Hap- pinefs or Mifery of Men be not fo compleat as it ¡hall be after thepublick Judg- ment ; yet it is unfpeakably -great. Lazarus is reprefented as very happy imme- diately after his palling out of this world, he is faid to be carried into Abraham's bofom; by which the Yews exprefsthe !Hapfiinefs ofthe future State. And theRich Man is reprefented, as in great Anguibh and Torment. But what the Happinefs ofgood Men, and the Mifery of wicked Men (hall be in the other State, we can Serm. on !but now imperfeétlyand unskilfully defcribe. Each of thefe I have in another Rom. 6. Difcourfe fpokenfomething to. I proceed toa 21, 22° Fourth Obfervation, the'vaft difference between Men's Conditions in this -world, and the other. The Rich Man profpered here, and was afterward tor- ,mented Lazarus was poor and miferable in this world, and happy in the other; 'o. z3. ;Remember-that thou in thy life-time receivedfl thy good things, and Lazaras evil things ; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And it is very agreeable tothe wifdomof God, to make fuCh a difference between Mens Condi- tions in.this World and the other ; and that for thefe twoRealces. aß. For the trying of mens Virtue. zdly, In order to theRecómpencing of it. a. For
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