624 DEATH A.1LES$ING _T.O -THE SAINTS. of indwelling corruption sincere ? Are thy roans for deliver- ance honest and hearty ? Why then art thou afraid to let this tabernacle be dissolved, and to gain a blessed release from these inbred and restless enemies ? Has not the lustre of perfect holiness attraction and force enough in it, to awaken thy longings, and stretch thy wings for a flight toheaven. " Remember also whilst thou art here, and art often'sin- ning, many of the threatenings of "God in his word stand bent against thee, his arrows sometimes stick in thy flesh, and pierce thy very soul. I confess these are nót the sword of his vindictive justice, thy afflictions are but the correctionsof his rod : But is it not better to dwell in that world 'where thou shalt feel no such correcting strokes, and deserve chastisement no more, where the Lord thy God shall lay aside everyfrown, and remove his anger for ever ? "' " Thy best life now is to live upon the promises ; but does not all the excellency of a promise consist in the hope of perfor- mance? And is not the performance then so much better than the promise itself? Is not possession better than hope ? Is not an as- sured andan unchangeable possession better than this state of doubts and fears? Is it not much more agreeable to dwell in the houseof God for ever; Ps. xxiii. 6. than only to make a visit to it now and then ? Is it not infinitely better to be fixed in a state of perfect felicity, without the least fear or apprehensionof losing it ? To be as a pillar in the temple of God, thy God, and to go no more out; Rev. iii. 13. " Think again, Hast thou not sustained sufficient pains and sorrows both of flesh and mind in this lower world ? Death shall put an end to them ill ; and art thou unwilling to have a full re- lease from sorrow and pain ? Has this flesh of thine been com- plained of so often as thyclog and thy painful prison, andart thou more afraid to have thy fetters knocked off? Has not thy body given thee smart and anguish enough ? And has it nottempted theeenough away from thy God, and thy truest happiness ? Fias thy sinful sickly flesh been so charming a companion that thou art not yet willing to part with it ? Dost thou not desire to have all thydiseases healed at once? Wouldst thou not be glad to have all thy torments of bodyand mind for ever eased,and all the un easinesses of flesh and spirit removed for ever ? ec It is true, the mere desire of ease should not be the chief reason why thou shouldest desire death, nor shouldest thou 'seek it with animpatient spirit : It is thy duty to bear sufferings and sorrows with holy patience, as a good soldier of Christ; it is thy duty to abide in thy post during his pleasure, tb fill up the hours with service, and to sustain the fatigues and burdens of the 'mor- tal state to the gloryof God thy Saviour: Buy he floes not re-
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