544 The Parable tf the Vol. I. Eery and want in this World which Lazarus did, provided he might have been comforted as he was, and carried by Angels into Abraham's Bofom. We lhould va- .lue this world, and look upon it, as this Rich Man did, not when he enjoyed it but when he was taken from it ; and we should efleem it, and ufe it while we may, as he wifht he had done when it was too late. 3. We fhould not be exceffively troubled if we meet with hardfhip and afidi_ .on here in this World ; becaufe thole whom God defigns for the greaten happi_ nefs hereafter, may receive evil things here. Thus our Bleffed Saviour, theCap- tain of our Salvation, was made perfeëë through Sufferings : this was the method which God ufed towards his own Son, firft he fuffered, and thenentred into glory. He fuflered more than any of us can bear ; and yet he fupported himfelf under all his Sufferings by the conuderation of the Glory that would follow ; for the yáv that was let before him, he endured the Crofs, and defpifed the /name. The fame Confideration fhould arm us with Patience and Conftancy under the greateft Evils of this Life. The Evils that we lie under are patting and goingoff; but the happinefs is to come. And if the Happinefs of the next World were no greater, nor of longer continuance, than the Miferies of this World ; or if they did equally anfwer one another ; yet a wife Man would chufe to have Mifery hrlt, and his Happinefs laft. For if his Happinefs were firft, all the Pleafure and Comfort of it would be eaten out, by difinal Apprehenfions of what was to fol- low : but his Sufferings, if they were firft, would be fweetned by the confide- ration of his future Happinefs ; and the bitternefs of his Sufferings would give a quicker Reli(h to his Happinefs when it fhould come, and make it greater. But a good Man under the Sufferings of this Life, bath not only this Comfort, that his Happinefs is to come, but likewife that it fhall be infinitely greater than his Sufferings ; that there are but fhort, but that {hall never have an end. And this was that which fortified the firft Chriftians againft all that the Malice and Cruelty of the - World could do againft, them. They thought themfelves well paid, if through many Tribulations they might at lafi ester,into the Kingdom of God ; becaufe they believed that the Joys of the next life would abundantly recom- pence all their Labours and. Sufferings in this ,World. They expee`ted a mighty Reward, far beyond all their Sufferings"; they were firmly perfwaded that they fhould be vafl,.Gainers at the laft. So the A.poftle tells us of himfelf, Rom. 8. a 8. I reckon that the Sufferings of thisprefent torne arenaworthy to be comparedwith the Glory that (hall be revealed. And to the fame purpofe, a Cor. 4. 17, r 8. Our light Af}liliions, which are but for a moment, work for us an eternal weight of Glory, whil/1 we look not at the things which are feen, but at the things which are not feen ; for the things which are feen are temporal, but the things which are not feen are eter- nal. If we would confider all things together, and fix our Eyes as much upon the Happinefs and Glory of the next World, as upon the Pomp and Splendor of this, if we would look as much at the things which are not' feen, as the. things which are feen, we fhould eally perceive, that he who fuf ers in this world does not renounce his Happinefs, only puts it out to Intereft, upon terms of the great- eft Advantage. 4. We fhould do all things with a Regard to our future and eternal State. It matters not much what our Condition is in this world, becaufe that's to continue but for a little while : but we ought to have a great and ferious Regard to that State that never shall have an end. Therefore whenever we are doing any thing, we fhould confider what Influence fuck an Adion will have upon the Happinefs or Milèry of the next Life. We Ihoulci meafure every A Lion, and every Con- dition of our Lives by the reference of them to Eternity. To be rich and great in this world will contribute nothing to our future Happinefs ; all thefe things which we fo much dote upon, and purfùe with fo much eagernefs, will not com- mend any Man to God ; they will liignifie nothing when we come to appear be- fore our Judge. Death will ftrip us of thefe things, and in the other world, the Soul of the poorelt Man that ever lived Ihall be upon equal Terms with the rich- elf. Nothing but Holinefs and Virtue will then avail us ; and it is but a little while and we 1ha11 all certainly be of this Mind, that thebelt thing Men can do _iu,this world, is to provide for the other. I proceed to a Fi tth
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