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THE
PRIVILEGE
OF
THE
[BERM.
XL.
felicities
of
the
future
world, which
are
infinitely
superior
to
all things
we
can enjoy
in
this
life.
But
while
we con
-
tinue here
on
earth,
under
the
difficulties
and
hardships
of
the
present
state,
"
we
have
need
of
patience, that
when
we
have
done the
will
of God,
we
may receive the
promises
;"
Heb.
x.
36.
And
we
have
need
of
all those
peculiar
advantages to
be
set before
us,
which can belong
to
our
stations here
on
earth,
on
purpose
to
support
our
patience,
to
bear
us
up
under
present
burdens, and
make
us
active
in
present duties
:
Although
it
must
be
still confessed,
that
all those
advantages
of
this
life,
joined
with
our present
sins
and
sorrows,
are
much infe-
rior
to
the
actual taste
and
fruition
of
the
joys
of
heaven,
where
sin
and sorrow
are
known
no more.
This thought
very
naturally
leads
me to
the improve-
ment
and conclusion
of
my
discourse, which
I
shall
wind
up
briefly in
these
foùr practical
inferences
:
Inference I.
Since
there are
many
virtues
and
duties
which
belong only to this
present
life,
"let
us lose no
op-
portunity
for the
practice
of
them,
for
the
next
day,
or
the next
hour, may
put
it
for
ever
out
of
our
power to
practise
them,"
Eternity
is
a
long
duration
indeed,
but
it
will
never
afford
us
one season
for
visiting
the
sick,
for
feeding the
hungry, or
for charity and
meekness towards
those
who
injure
us
:
Eternity itself
will
never
give us
one
opportunity
for
the pious
labours
of
love
toward
the
conversion
of
sinful
acquaintance
and relatives. O let
us not
suffer this
precious lamp
of
life
to
burn
in vain,
Or
weeks,
and
days,
and hours
to
slide away
unemployed
and
useless.
Let
us
remember,
that
while
we
are
here,
We
work
for a long
hereafter; that
we
think,
and
speak,
and
act
with
regard
to an
eternal
state, and
that
in
time
we live
for eternity.
Let
us call
up
all
our
powers to
action
and
diligence,
that not
a
day
of
our short
lives
may pass
away,
but what
may
turn
to
our account
in
the
years
of eternity.
While
God
is
pleased to delay our
heaven, let our continuance
on
earth
be
filled
up
with
the various exercise
of
such graces
as
are suited
to our
present
stations.
Let
this
he
a
new
spring
and
motive
to
our
zeal,
that
we
are doing
such
honours
to
God
and our
Saviour here
on
earth,
of
which
none
of
the saints
above
are
capable, and for
which
this
life
is
the
only season
:
And
let it appear
in
the day
of
retribution, that
the