DISC. VIII.]' PA SOUL PREPARED FOR HEAVEN. 487 not any longer neglect your preparation for this hap- piness,. which consists in the enjoyment of God, lest you should be cut off before you are prepared. 2. Consider again what Jesus the Son of God has done and suffered; and consider what he is yet doing towards the preparation of souls for heaven : He came down to our world to undertake the glorious and dread- ful work of the redemption of sinners from the curseof the law and the terrors of hell, and to procure a heaven for every rebellious creature that would return to God his Father. Think of the agonies of his deathwithwhich he purchased mansions of glory for those that receive his grace in his own appointed methods, those that are will- ing tohave their hearts and minds formed into a suitable frame to receive this-felicity. Remember that he is risen from the dead, he is ascended to prepare a place in glory for those that are willing to follow him through the paths of holiness. Hearken to the many kind invitations and allurements of, his gospel, which calls to the worst of sinners to return and live, and entreats and exhorts, those who are in the ends of the earth, and upon the borders of hell, " to look unto him that they may be saved," Is. xlv. e2. Take heed that you suffer not these seasons of his inviting love to slide away and vanish unimproved; take heed how you rebel against the 'an. guage of the grace of his gospel, and thereby prepare yourselves for double and everlasting destruction. 3. Think again, what blessed assistance he has pro- posed to those who are desirous to be trained, up for heaven; how many thousand souls, as carnal, as sensual, and as criminal, as yours are, have been recovered by the,word of his gospel, and the influences ofhis Spirit, to a new nature and life of holiness? How many are there, who from children of wrath, have become the sons and daughters of the most high God, heirs of this blessedness, and prepared for the enjoyment of it? O take heed that you resist not his grace, -nor rebel against the kind and sacred motions of the blessed Spirit withinyou, when his very office and business is to change your sinful natures, and to prepare you for the regions of eternal holiness and peace, 4. Think, yet further, what advantages you have had from the weeicly ministrations of the word of glace, fromn, 14
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