,transcriber's ,note3  ,apparent        
typographical errors have been          
corrected4 ,small capitals have been    
converted to full capitals4 ,italic font
 is indicated by underscores4 ,the use  
of hyphens has been rationalised4       
,paragraphs in smaller font have been   
indented4  ,the references to the       
,gospel of ,john1 in footnote #bjj1 are 
unclear4      ,,the  ,,saint',s         
,,everlasting ,,rest2   ,,or1   ,a      
,,treatise ,,of ,,the ,,blessed ,,state 
,,of ,,the ,,saints  ,,in ,,their       
,,enjoyment ,,of   ,,god ,,in ,,heaven4 
,written by the reverend1 learned1 and  
pious  ,,mr4 ,,richard ,,baxter4        
,abridged  ,,by ,,benjamin ,,fawcett4   
,m4 ,a4  ,i think it of great service to
 the souls of men1 to call them to the  
notice and use of such a ,treatise as   
this2 and to bring such old and         
excellent writings out of oblivion and  
the dust4  ,baxter's ,preface to        
,scudder's ,christian's ,daily ,walk4   
,,published ,,by ,,samuel ,t4           

,,armstrong1  ,charlestown1 ,mass4      
#ahaa4      ,,to ,,the  ,,inhabitants   
,,of ,,the  ,,borough ,,and ,,foreign   
,,of ,,kidderminster4  ,,both           
,,magistrates ,,and ,,people4   ,my dear
 ,friends1  ,there are obvious reasons  
for prefixing your names to this ,book4 
,it contains the substance of what was  
first preached in your parish-church1   
and was first published from the press  
with a dedication to your worthy        
ancestors4 ,your trade and manufactures 
can never render your town so famous1 as
 the name and writings of ,mr4 ,baxter  
have already made it1 both in this      
island1 and in many remote parts of the 
,protestant world4 ,his intimate and    
important relation to ,kidderminster1   
and the years he abode in it1 afforded  
him the most delightful reflection as   
long as he lived4  ,long experience has 
enabled me to testify for you1 that1    
notwithstanding your share in those     
common distinctions1 which so unhappily 
divide fellow-protestants1 you possess a

 most unusual degree of candor and      
friendship for each other4 ,thus you    
shew1 that ,kidderminster has not       
totally lost the amiable spirit which it
 imbibed more than a century ago4       
,there are no excellencies personal or  
relative1 no species of domestic or     
public happiness1 no beauties of civil  
or religious life1 but what will be     
naturally promoted by a care to secure  
to ourselves an interest in the rest    
which remaineth to the people of ,god4  
,they are the people for whom alone that
 rest is designed1 both by the promises 
of ,god1 and by the purchase of the ,son
 of ,god4 ,a care to secure that rest to
 ourselves1 is the one thing needful4   
,but neither this people1 nor this care1
 you well know1 are the peculiarities of
 any age1 or of any party4 ,if the      
inhabitants of ,kidderminster formerly  
excelled in this care1 you must allow1  
that it was their greatest glory4 ,and  
this1 more than any improvements of     
trade1 or increasing elegancies of life1

 will be the greatest glory of their    
successors4  ,to excite this care1 is   
the noblest design of all religious     
instruction4 ,this1 and nothing else1   
animates the following pages4 ,here1    
,god and ,christ1 heaven and holiness1  
invite your most attentive and          
affectionate regards4 ,here1 you may    
peruse1 what multitudes in the same town
 have heard and read before you to their
 everlasting joy1 till your blessings   
prevail above the blessings of your     
progenitors4 ,here1 by the help of      
,divine grace1 you may learn the        
heavenly art of walking with ,god below1
 of living in a constant view and       
foretaste of the glories of the ,new    
,jerusalem1 and of making all you say or
 do1 suffer or enjoy1 subservient to the
 brightening your immortal crown4       
,nothing has the compiler of this       
abridgment to wish like such            
consequences as these2 even1 to see the 
same holy and heavenly conversation in  
himself1 and in those around him1 now1  

as ,mr4 ,baxter saw in his day4 ,this   
would be the greatest joy1 and shall be 
the constant and fervent prayer1 of     
,your affectionate friend1  and obedient
 servant1   ,b4 ,,fawcett4              
,kidderminster1 ,jan4 #a1 #agei4        
,,the  ,,preface4  ,by the ,,compiler of
 this ,,abridgment4   ,mr4 ,richard     
,baxter1 the author of the ,saint's     
,rest1 so well known to the world by    
this1 and many other excellent and      
useful writings1 was a learned1         
laborious1 and eminently holy divine of 
the last age4 ,he was born near         
,shrewsbury in #afae1 and died at       
,london in #afia4  ,his ministry1 in an 
unsettled state1 was for many years     
employed with great and extensive       
success1 both in ,london1 and in several
 parts of the country2 but he was no    
where fixed so long1 or with such entire
 satisfaction to himself1 and apparent  
advantage to others1 as at              
,kidderminster4 ,his abode there was    
indeed interrupted1 partly by his bad   

health1 but chiefly by the calamities of
 a civil war1 yet in the whole it       
amounted to sixteen years2 nor was it by
 any means the result of his own choice1
 or that of the inhabitants of          
,kidderminster1 that he never settled   
there again1 after his going from thence
 in #affj4 ,before his coming thither   
the place was overrun with ignorance and
 profaneness2 but1 by a ,divine blessing
 on his wise and faithful cultivation1  
the fruits of righteousness sprung up in
 a rich abundance4 ,he at first found   
but a single instance or two of daily   
family prayer in a whole street1 and at 
his going away1 but one family or two   
could be found in some streets that     
continued to neglect it4 ,and on ,lord's
 day1 instead of the open profanation to
 which they had been so long accustomed1
 a person in passing through the town1  
in the intervals of public worship1     
might overhear hundreds of families     
engaged in singing psalms1 reading the  
,scriptures and other good books1 or    

such sermons as they had wrote down1    
while they heard them from the pulpit4  
,his care of the souls committed to his 
charge1 and the success of his labors   
among them1 were truly remarkable2 for  
the number of his stated communicants   
rose to six hundred1 of whom he himself 
declared1 there were not twelve         
concerning whose sincere piety he had   
not reason to entertain good hopes4     
,blessed be ,god the religious spirit   
which was thus happily introduced1 is   
yet to be traced in the town and        
neighborhood in some degree2 7,o that it
 were in a greater67 and in a proportion
 as that spirit remains1 the name of    
,mr4 ,baxter continues in the most      
honorable and affectionate remembrance4 
,as a writer1 he has the approbation of 
some of his greatest cotemporaries1 who 
best knew him1 and were under no        
temptations to be partial in his        
favor4----,dr4 ,barrow said1 ,his       
practical writings were never mended1   
and his controversial ones seldom       

confuted4----,with a view to his        
casuistical writings1 the honorable     
,robert ,boyle1 ,esq4 declared1 ,he was 
the fittest man of the age for a        
casuist1 because he feared no man's     
displeasure1 nor hoped for any man's    
preferment4----,bishop ,wilkins observed
 of him1 that he had cultivated every   
subject he had handled2 that if he had  
lived in the primitive times1 he would  
have been one of the fathers of the     
church2 and that it was enough for one  
age to produce such a person as ,mr4    
,baxter4 ,archbishop ,usher had such    
high thoughts of him1 that by his       
earnest importunity he put him upon     
writing several of his practical        
discourses1 particularly that celebrated
 piece1 his ,call to the                
unconverted4----,dr4 ,manton1 as he     
freely expressed it1 thought ,mr4       
,baxter came nearer the apostolical     
writings than any man in the age4 ,and  
it is both as a preacher1 and a writer1 
that ,dr4 ,bates considers him1 when1 in

 his funeral sermon for him1 he says1   
,in his sermons there was a rare union  
of arguments and motives1 to convince   
the mind and gain the heart4 ,all the   
fountains of reason and persuasion were 
open to his discerning eye4 ,there was  
no resisting the force of his           
discourses1 without denying reason and  
,divine revelation4 ,he had a marvellous
 facility and copiousness in speaking4  
,there was a noble negligence in his    
style1 for his great mind could not     
stoop to the affected eloquence of      
words2 he despised flashy oratory2 but  
his expressions were clear and powerful1
 so convincing the understanding1 so    
entering into the soul1 so engaging the 
affections1 that those were as deaf as  
adders who were not charmed by so wise a
 charmer4 ,he was animated with the     
,holy ,spirit1 and breathed celestial   
fire1 to inspire heat and life into dead
 sinners1 and to melt the obdurate in   
their frozen tombs4 ,his books1 for     
their number1 7which it seems was more  

than one hundred and twenty17 and       
variety of matter in them1 make a       
library4 ,they contain a treasure of    
controversial1 casuistical1 and         
practical divinity4 ,his books of       
practical divinity have been effectual  
for more numerous conversions of sinners
 to ,god1 than any printed in our time2 
and1 while the church remains on earth1 
will be of continual efficacy to recover
 lost souls4 ,there is a vigorous pulse 
in them1 that keeps the reader awake and
 attentive4 ,to these testimonies may   
not improperly be added that of the     
editors of his practical works in four  
folio volumes2 in the preface to which  
they say1 perhaps there are no writings 
among us that have more of a true       
,christian spirit1 a greater mixture of 
judgment and affection1 or a greater    
tendency to revive pure and undefiled   
religion2 that have been more esteemed  
abroad1 or more blessed at home1 for the
 awakening the secure1 instructing the  
ignorant1 confirming the wavering1      

comforting the dejected1 recovering the 
profane1 or improving such as are truly 
serious1 than the practical works of    
this ,author4 ,such were the            
apprehensions of eminent persons1 who   
were well acquainted with ,mr4 ,baxter  
and his writings4 ,it is therefore the  
less remarkable that ,mr4 ,addison1 from
 an accidental and very imperfect       
acquaintance1 but with his usual        
pleasantness and candor1 should mention 
the following incident2 ,i once met with
 a page of ,mr4 ,baxter4 ,upon the      
perusal of it1 ,i conceived so good an  
idea of the author's piety1 that ,i     
bought the whole book4  ,whatever other 
causes might concur1 it must chiefly be 
ascribed to ,mr4 ,baxter's              
distinguishing reputation as a preacher 
and a writer1 that presently after the  
restoration he was appointed one of the 
chaplains in ordinary to ,king ,charles 
,,ii1 and preached once before him in   
that capacity2 as also1 that he had an  
offer made him by the ,lord ,chancellor 

,clarendon1 of the bishopric of         
,hereford1 which1 in a respectful letter
 to his ,lordship1 he saw proper to     
decline4  ,the ,saint's ,rest is        
deservedly esteemed one of the most     
valuable parts of his practical works4  
,he wrote it when he was far from home1 
without any book to consult but his     
,bible1 and in such an ill state of     
health1 as to be in continual           
expectation of death for many months2   
and therefore1 merely for his own use1  
he fixed his thoughts on this heavenly  
subject1 which 7says he7 hath more      
benefitted me than all the studies of my
 life4 ,at this time he could be little 
more than thirty years old4 ,he         
afterward preached over the subject in  
his weekly lecture at ,kidderminster1   
and in #afej he published it2 and indeed
 it appears to have been the first that 
ever he published of all his practical  
writings4 ,of this book ,dr4 ,bates     
says1 ,it was written by him when       
languishing in the suspense of life and 

death1 but has the signatures of his    
holy and vigorous mind4 ,to allure our  
desires1 he unveils the sanctuary above1
 and discovers the glories and joys of  
the blessed in the ,divine presence1 by 
a light so strong and lively1 that all  
the glittering vanities of this world   
vanish in that comparison1 and a sincere
 believer will despise them1 as one of  
mature age does the toys and baubles of 
children4 ,to excite our fears1 he      
removes the screen1 and makes the       
everlasting fire of hell so visible1 and
 represents the tormenting passions of  
the damned in those dreadful colors1    
that1 if duly considered1 would check   
and control the unbridled licentious    
appetites of the most sensual wretches4 
,heavenly rest is a subject1 in its own 
nature so universally important and     
interesting1 and at the same time so    
truly engaging and delightful1 as       
sufficiently accounts for the great     
acceptance which this book has met with2
 and partly also for the uncommon       

blessing which has attended ,mr4        
,baxter's manner of treating the        
subject1 both from the pulpit1 and the  
press4 ,for where are the operations of 
,divine grace more reasonably to be     
expected1 or where have they in fact    
been more frequently discerned1 than in 
concurrence with the best adapted means8
 ,and should it appear1 that persons of 
distinguishing judgment and piety1 have 
expressly ascribed their first religious
 impressions to the hearing or reading  
the important sentiments contained in   
this book2 or1 after a long series of   
years1 have found it1 both the          
counterpart1 and the improvement1 of    
their own ,divine life1 will not this be
 thought a considerable recommendation  
of the book itself8  ,among the         
instances of persons that dated their   
true conversion from hearing the sermons
 on the ,saint's ,rest1 when ,mr4       
,baxter first preached them1 was the    
,rev4 ,mr4 ,thomas ,doolittle1 ,m4 ,a4  
who was a native of ,kidderminster1 and 

at that time a scholar1 about seventeen 
years old2 whom ,mr4 ,baxter himself    
afterwards sent to ,pembroke-,hall in   
,cambridge1 where he took his degree4   
,before his going to the university1 he 
was upon trial as an attorney's clerk1  
and under that character1 being ordered 
by his master to write something on a   
,lord's day1 he obeyed with great       
reluctance1 and the next day returned   
home1 with an earnest desire that he    
might not apply himself to any thing as 
the employment of life1 but serving     
,christ in the ministry of the gospel4  
,his praise is yet in the churches1 for 
his pious and useful labors1 as a       
minister1 a tutor1 and a writer4  ,in   
the life of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john        
,janeway1 ,fellow of ,king's ,college   
,cambridge1 who died in #afeg1 we are   
told1 that his conversion was1 in a     
great measure1 occasioned by his reading
 several parts of the ,saint's ,rest4   
,and in a letter which he afterwards    
wrote to a near relative1 speaking with 

a more immediate reference to that part 
of the book which treats of ,heavenly   
,contemplation1 he says1 ,there is a    
duty1 which1 if it were exercised1 would
 dispel all cause of melancholy2 ,i     
mean1 heavenly meditation1 and          
contemplation of the things which true  
,christian religion tends to4 ,if we did
 but walk closely with ,god one hour in 
the day in this duty1 oh1 what influence
 would it have upon the whole day       
besides1 and1 duly performed1 upon the  
whole life6 ,this duty1 with its        
usefulness1 manner1 and directions1 ,i  
knew in some measure before1 but had it 
more pressed upon me by ,mr4 ,baxter's  
,saint's ,everlasting ,rest1 7a book7   
that can scarce be overvalued1 for which
 ,i have cause for ever to bless ,god4  
,this excellent young minister's life is
 worth reading1 were it only to see how 
delightfully he was engaged in heavenly 
contemplation1 according to the         
directions in the ,saint's ,rest4  ,it  
was the example of heavenly             

contemplation1 at the close of this     
book1 which the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,joseph      
,alleine1 of ,taunton1 so frequently    
quoted in conversation1 with this solemn
 introduction1 ,most divinely says that 
man of ,god1 holy ,mr4 ,baxter4  ,dr4   
,bates1 in his dedication of his funeral
 sermon for ,mr4 ,baxter to ,sir ,henry 
,ashurst1 ,bart4 tells that religious   
gentleman1 and most distinguished friend
 and executor of ,mr4 ,baxter1 ,he was  
most worthy of your highest esteem and  
love2 for the first impressions of      
heaven upon your soul1 were in reading  
his invaluable book of the ,saint's     
,everlasting ,rest4  ,in the life of the
 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,matthew ,henry1 we have the
 following character given us of ,robert
 ,warburton1 ,esq4 of ,grange1 the son  
of the eminently religious judge        
,warburton1 and the father of ,mr4      
,matthew ,henry's second wife4 ,he was a
 gentleman that greatly affected        
retirement and privacy1 especially in   
the latter part of his life2 the ,bible 

and ,mr4 ,baxter's ,saint's ,everlasting
 ,rest used to lie daily before him on  
the table in his parlor2 he spent the   
greatest part of his time in reading and
 prayer4  ,in the life of that honorable
 and most religious knight1 ,sir        
,nathaniel ,barnardiston1 we are told1  
that he was constant in secret prayer   
and reading the ,scriptures2 afterwards 
he read other choice authors3 ,but not  
long before his death he took singular  
delight to read ,mr4 ,baxter's ,saint's 
,everlasting ,rest1 and preparation     
thereunto2 which was esteemed a gracious
 event of ,divine providence sending it 
as a guide to bring him more speedily   
and directly to that rest4  ,besides    
persons of eminence1 to whom this book  
has been precious and profitable1 we    
have an instance in the ,rev4 ,mr4      
,james ,janeway's ,token for ,children1 
of a little boy1 whose piety was so     
discovered and promoted by reading it1  
as the most delightful book to him next 
the ,bible1 that the thoughts of        

everlasting rest seemed1 even while he  
continued in health1 to swallow up all  
other thoughts2 and he lived in a       
constant preparation for it1 and looked 
more like one that was ripe for glory1  
than an inhabitant of this lower world4 
,and when he was in the sickness of     
which he died1 before he was twelve     
years old1 he said1 ,i pray let me have 
,mr4 ,baxter's book1 that ,i may read a 
little more of eternity before ,i go    
into it4  ,nor is it less observable1   
that ,mr4 ,baxter himself1 taking       
notice1 in a paper found in his study   
after his death1 what numbers of persons
 were converted by reading his ,call to 
the unconverted1 accounts of which he   
had received by letter every week1      
expressly adds1 ,this little book 7the  
,call to the unconverted7 ,god hath     
blessed with unexpected success1 beyond 
all that ,i have written1 except the    
,saint's ,rest4 ,with an evident        
reference to this book1 and even during 
the life of the author1 the pious ,mr4  

,flavell affectionately says1 ,mr4      
,baxter is almost in heaven2 living in  
the daily views1 and cheerful           
expectation of the saint's everlasting  
rest with ,god2 and is left for a little
 while among us1 as a great example of  
the life of faith4 ,and ,mr4 ,baxter    
himself says1 in his preface to his     
,treatise of ,selfdenial1 ,i must say1  
that of all the books which ,i have     
written1 ,i peruse none so often for the
 use of my own soul in its daily work1  
as my ,life of ,faith1 this of          
,selfdenial1 and the last part of the   
,saint's ,rest4 ,on the whole1 it is not
 without good reason that ,dr4 ,calamy  
remarks concerning it1 ,this is a book1 
for which multitudes will have cause to 
bless ,god for ever4  ,this excellent   
and useful book now appears in the form 
of an abridgment2 and therefore1 it is  
presumed1 will be the more likely1 under
 a ,divine blessing1 to diffuse its     
salutary influence among those that     
would otherwise have wanted opportunity 

or inclination to read over the large   
volume4 ,in reducing it to this smaller 
size1 ,i have been very desirous to do  
justice to the author1 and at the same  
time promote the pleasure and profit of 
the serious reader4 ,and1 ,i hope1 those
 ends are1 in some measure answered2    
chiefly by dropping things of a         
digressive1 controversial1 or           
metaphysical nature2 together with the  
prefaces1 dedications1 and various      
allusions to some peculiar circumstances
 of the last age2 and particularly by   
throwing several chapters into one1 that
 the number of them may better          
correspond with the size of the volume2 
and sometimes by altering the form1 but 
not the sense of a period1 for the sake 
of brevity2 and when an obsolete phrase 
occurred1 changing it for one more      
common and intelligible4 ,i should never
 have thought of attempting this work1  
if it had not been suggested and urged  
by others2 and by some very respectable 
names1 of whose learning1 judgment1 and 

piety1 ,i forbear to avail myself4      
,however defective this performance may 
appear1 the labor of it 7if it may be   
called a labor7 has been1 ,i bless ,god1
 one of the most delightful labors of my
 life4  ,certainly the thoughts of      
everlasting rest may be as delightful to
 the souls in the present day1 as they  
have ever been to those of past         
generations4 ,i am sure such thoughts   
are as absolutely necessary now2 nor are
 temptations to neglect them1 either    
fewer1 or weaker now than formerly4 ,the
 worth of everlasting rest is not felt1 
because it is not considered2 it is     
forgotten because a thousand trifles are
 preferred before it4 ,but were the     
,divine reasonings of this book duly    
attended to1 7and oh that the ,spirit   
and grace of a ,redeemer may make them  
so67 then an age of vanity would become 
serious2 minds enervated by sensuality1 
would soon resume the strength of       
reason1 and display the excellence of   
,christianity2 the delusive names of    

pleasure would be blotted out by the    
glorious reality of heavenly joy upon   
earth2 every station and relation in    
life would be filled up with the        
propriety and dignity of serious        
religion2 every member of society would 
then effectually contribute to the      
beauty and happiness of the whole2 and  
every soul would be ready for life or   
death1 for one world or another1 in a   
well grounded and cheerful persuasion of
 having secured a title to that rest    
which remaineth to the people of ,god4  
,b4 ,f4  ,kidderminster1 ,dec4 #be1     
#ageh4     ,,contents4     ,,chap4 ,i4  
,the introduction to the ,work1 with    
some account of the nature of the       
,saint's ,rest4   ,the ,apostle's design
 in the text1                           
#be  ,the ,saint's ,rest defined1       
#bg  ,what this rest presupposes1       
ibid  ,what this rest contains1         
#bi  #a4 ,a ceasing from means of grace1
                                     #cj
  #b4 ,a perfect freedom from all evils1

                                ibid    
#c4 ,the saint's personal perfection in 
body and soul1                ibid  #d4 
,the nearest enjoyment of ,god the chief
 good1                       #ca  #e4   
,all the powers of the body active in   
this enjoyment1               #cd       
,and all the powers of the soul2 as1    
knowledge1                     #ce      
,memory1 love1 and joy1                 
#cf-db     ,,chap4 ,,ii4    ,the great  
,preparatives to the ,saint's ,rest4    
,the happiness of having a way into     
,paradise open1                     #dc 
#a4 ,the glorious appearing of ,christ  
opens the way1                  ibid    
#b4 ,the general resurrection1          
#df  #c4 ,the last judgment1            
#dg  #d4 ,the saint's coronation1       
#ej     ,,chap4 ,,iii4    ,the          
,excellencies of the ,saint's ,rest4    
#a4 ,it is the purchased possession1    
#ec  #b4 ,it is a free gift1            
#ed  #c4 ,it is peculiar to saints1     
#ef  #d4 ,it is an association with     

saints and angels1                      
#eg  #e4 ,it derives its joys           
immediately from ,god himself1          
#eh  #f4 ,it will be seasonable1        
#ei  #g4 ,it will be suitable1          
#fj  #h4 ,it will be perfect1 without   
sin or suffering1                       
#fb  #i4 ,it will be everlasting1       
#fh     ,,chap4 ,,iv4    ,the ,character
 of the ,persons for whom this ,rest is 
designed4   ',tis wonderful it should be
 designed for mortals1                  
#ga  #a4 ,the people of ,god1 who shall 
enjoy it1 are chosen from eternity1     
#gb  #b4 ,they are given to ,christ1    
ibid  #c4 ,they are born again1         
ibid  #d4 ,they are deeply convinced of 
the evil of sin1                        
#gc     their misery by sin1 the vanity 
of the creatures1                  #gd  
and the all-sufficiency of ,christ1     
#ge  #e4 ,their will is proportionably  
changed1                                
#gf  #f4 ,they engage in covenant with  
,christ1                                

#gg  #g4 ,they persevere in their       
engagements1                            
#gh  ,the reader is invited to          
self-examination1                       
ibid  ,that the people of ,god shall    
enjoy this rest1 and                    
#hj     none but they1 is further proved
 by ,scripture2                     #hb 
and that they shall not enjoy it till   
they come to     another world1         
#hc     where their souls shall enjoy it
 while separated     from their bodies4 
#hd     ,,chap4 ,v4    ,the misery of   
those that lose the ,saint's ,rest4     
,the reader1 if unregenerate1 urged to  
consider this loss1             #hi  #a4
 ,they lose the personal perfections of 
the saints2                  #ia  #b4   
,god himself2                           
ibid  #c4 ,all delightful affections    
towards ,god2                           
#ib  #d4 ,the blessed society of angels 
and glorified spirits1             ibid 
,their loss will be greatly aggravated1 
by having  #a4 ,their understanding     

cleared2                                
#id  #b4 ,also enlarged3                
ibid  #c4 ,their consciences brought to 
a true and close application3           
#ie  #d4 ,their affections more lively3 
#if  #e4 ,their memories strengthened4  
ibid     ,,chap4 ,,vi4    ,the misery of
 those1 who1 besides losing the ,saint's
 ,rest1 lose the   enjoyments of time1  
and suffer the torments of hell4   ,the 
enjoyments of time1 which the damned    
lose1                       #ajc  #a4   
,their presumptuous belief of their     
interest in ,god and ,christ2    #ajd   
#b4 ,all their hopes2                   
ibid  #c4 ,all their peace of           
conscience3                             
#ajf  #d4 ,all their carnal mirth3      
#ajg  #e4 ,all their sensual delights1  
ibid  ,the torments of hell which the   
damned suffer1                          
#ajh  #a4 ,the principal author of them 
is ,god himself1                        
#aji  #b4 ,the place or state of        
torment3                                

ibid  #c4 ,these torments are the       
effects of ,divine vengeance1           
#aaj  #d4 ,god will take pleasure in    
executing them2                         
ibid  #e4 ,god's executioners are ,satan
 and sinners themselves1                
#aaa  #f4 ,these torments will be       
universal2                              
ibid  #g4 ,without any mitigation2      
#aab  #h4 ,and eternal1                 
#aac  ,the sinner convinced of his folly
 in venturing on hell1              #aad
  ,and entreated to fly for safety to   
,christ4                           #aae 
,,chap4 ,,vii4    ,the necessity of     
diligently seeking the ,saint's ,rest4  
,this rest is surprisingly neglected1   
#aah     by the worldly minded1         
ibid     the profane multitude1         
#abj     ,formal professors1            
#aba     and by the godly themselves1   
#abb     whether magistrates1 ministers1
                                   #abc 
or people1                              
#abd  ,the author mourns the neglect1   

#abe     and excites the reader to      
diligence by many considerations1       
#abf  ,awakening questions proposed to  
the ungodly1                            
#acc     and also to the godly4         
#acg     ,,chap4 ,,viii4    ,how to     
discern our title to the ,saint's ,rest4
   ,men's folly in not inquiring after a
 title to it1                    #aci   
,their cause for terror while destitute 
of it1                        #ada      
,self-examination is urged2             
#adb  #a4 ,from the possibility of      
arriving at certainty1                  
#adc  #b4 ,from the hinderances to      
self-examination by ,satan1             
ibid     by wicked men1                 
#add     by our own hearts2             
#ade     nor does self-examination soon 
bring assurance2                   #adf 
nor do all true ,christians attain to   
it1                         ibid  #c4   
,from considering how easy1 common1 and 
dangerous it is to be     mistaken2 that
 trying is safer than neglect2 that ,god

 will     try us soon1 and to try       
ourselves will be profitable1           
#aej  ,directions are given how to try1 
#aec  ,marks for trial2 as1 do we make  
,god our chief good8                    
#aee  ,do we heartily accept of ,christ 
for our ,lord and ,savior8              
#aef  ,the great importance of these two
 marks4                             #aeh
     ,,chap4 ,,ix4    ,the duty of the  
people of ,god to excite others to seek 
this ,rest4   ,this duty is lamentably  
neglected3                              
#aei  #a4 ,it consists in pitying the   
misery of men's souls2                  
#afj  #b4 ,in giving religious          
instruction2                            
ibid  #c4 ,in promoting their profit by 
public ordinances1                      
#afe  ,why this duty is so much         
neglected1                              
#aff  ,objections against it answered1  
#afh  ,the discharge of it urged2       
especially1                             
#afi     on men of knowledge1 learning1 

and utterance1                     #agc 
on such as are acquainted with sinners1 
ibid     on physicians that attend dying
 men1                              #agd 
on the wealthy and powerful1            
ibid     on ministers1 and those that   
have children and servants4             
#age     ,,chap4 ,x4    ,the ,saint's   
,rest is not to be expected on earth4   
,the sin and folly of expecting rest    
here1 appears                    #ahj   
,by the reasonableness of present       
afflictions2                        #aha
  #a4 ,they are the way to rest2        
ibid  #b4 ,they keep us from mistaking  
it2                                     
ibid  #c4 ,and from losing our way to   
it2                                     
#ahb  #d4 ,they quicken our pace towards
 it2                                ibid
  #e4 ,they chiefly incommode our flesh2
 and                             #ahc   
#f4 ,under them are often the best      
foretastes of rest1                ibid 
,by the unreasonableness of resting in  

present comforts1              #ahe  #a4
 ',tis idolatry2                        
ibid  #b4 ,it contradicts ,god's end in 
giving them2                            
ibid  #c4 ',tis the way to have them    
refused1 withdrawn1 or embittered2      
#ahf  #d4 ,to be suffered to do this1 is
 the greatest curse2                    
#ahg  #e4 ',tis seeking rest where it is
 not2                               ibid
  #f4 ,the creatures1 without ,god1     
aggravate our misery2                   
#ahi  #g4 ,and all this is confirmed by 
experience1                         ibid
  ,also by the unreasonableness of our  
unwillingness to die     and possess the
 saint's rest4                          
#aij     ,,chap4 ,,xi4    ,the          
importance of leading a heavenly life   
upon earth4   ',tis reasonable to       
delight in thinking of heaven1          
#bja  ,christians exhorted to it1 by    
considering1                            
#bjb  #a4 ,it will evidence their       
sincere piety2                          

#bjc  #b4 ',tis the highest excellence  
of the ,christian temper1               
#bjd  #c4 ,it leads to the most         
comfortable life2                       
#bje  #d4 ',tis the best preservative   
from temptations2                       
#bjf  #e4 ,it will invigorate their     
graces and duties2                      
#bji  #f4 ,it will be their best cordial
 in afflictions2                        
#baa  #g4 ,it will render them most     
useful to others2                       
#bac  #h4 ,it will honor ,god2          
#bae  #i4 ,without it we disobey the    
commands1 and use the most     gracious 
and delightful discoveries of the word  
of ,god2           #baf  #aj4 ,our      
hearts should be with ,god1 as his is so
 much on us2 and      #bag  #aa4 ,in    
heaven where we are so much interested2 
#bah  #ab4 ,nothing but heaven deserves 
our hearts4                             
#bbj     ,,chap4 ,,xii4    ,directions  
how to lead a heavenly life upon earth4 
,i4 ,avoid the hinderances to such a    

life3                             #bbb  
#a4 ,live not in any known sin1         
ibid  #b4 ,be not earthly minded2       
#bbc  #c4 ,beware of the company of the 
ungodly3                                
#bbe  #d4 ,be not satisfied with mere   
notions in religion2                    
#bbf  #e4 ,take heed of a proud spirit1 
#bbg  #f4 and a slothful spirit1        
#bbi  #g4 ,nor rest in the preparatives 
to a heavenly life                      
#bcb  ,,ii4 ,practise the duties which  
will promote this life1                 
#bcc  #a4 ,esteem heaven the only       
treasure and happiness2                 
ibid  #b4 ,labor to know your interest  
in it1                                  
#bcd  #c4 ,and how near it is2          
#bce  #d4 ,frequently and seriously talk
 of it2                                 
#bcf  #e4 ,strive in every duty to raise
 your heart nearer to it2               
#bcg  #f4 ,to the same purpose improve  
every object and event2                 
#bch  #g4 ,be much in the angelical work

 of praise2                             
#bci  #h4 ,maintain believing thoughts  
of ,god's infinite love4                
#bdj  #i4 ,observe and cherish the      
motions of ,god's ,spirit1              
#bda  #aj4 ,take due care of your bodily
 health4                                
#bdb     ,,chap4 ,,xiii4    ,the nature 
of heavenly contemplation1 with the     
time1 place1 and   temper fittest for   
it4   ,the duty itself recommended to   
the reader1                             
#bdd  ,this duty defined and            
illustrated1                            
#bdf  ,the time fittest for this duty   
is--stated1--frequent1                  
#bdh     and seasonable1 every day1     
particularly ,lord's                    
#bej     days2 especially when in a     
devout temper1 or an                    
#bea     afflicted state1 or in the     
views of death1                         
#beb  ,the place1 fittest for this duty 
is the most retired1                #bec
  ,the temper fittest for this duty1 is 

#bee  #a4 ,when our minds are most clear
 of the world1                      ibid
  #b4 ,and most solemn and serious4     
#bef     ,,chap4 ,,xiv4    ,what use    
heavenly contemplation makes of         
consideration1 affections1   soliloquy1 
and prayer4   ,the reader is invited to 
heavenly contemplation1                 
#beh  ,to that end consideration is     
recommended1                            
ibid  ,next1 the exercise of the        
affections1 particularly                
#bfa  #a4 ,love1                        
#bfb  #b4 ,desire1                      
#bfe  #c4 ,hope1                        
#bfg  #d4 ,courage or boldness1         
#bfh  #e4 ,and joy1                     
#bfi  ,these affections need not always 
be exercised in this order1     nor all 
at one time1                            
#bgc  ,soliloquy and prayer are also    
useful in heavenly contemplation4       
ibid     ,,chap4 ,,xv4    ,heavenly     
contemplation assisted by sensible      
objects1 and guarded by a   treacherous 

heart4   ,the difficulty of maintaining 
a lively impression of  heavenly things1
                                        
#bgf  ,sensible objects may assist      
heavenly contemplation2                 
#bgg  #a4 ,if we draw strong            
suppositions from sense2                
ibid  #b4 ,if objects of sense and faith
 are compared1                          
#bgh  ,to guard heavenly contemplation  
against a treacherous heart1            
consider1  #a4 ,the heart's backwardness
 to this duty1                          
#bhi  #b4 ,its trifling in it1          
#bia  #c4 ,its wandering from it1       
#bib  #d4 ,and its too abruptly putting 
an end to it1                       ibid
     ,,chap4 ,,xvi4    ,heavenly        
contemplation exemplified1 and the whole
 work concluded4   ,a ,christian        
prepared for the work1 may contemplate1 
,the excellency of heavenly rest2       
#bid  ,its nearness dreadful to sinners1
 joyful to saints1                  #bie
  ,its dear purchase2                   

#bif  ,and its difference from earth1   
ibid  ,he may plead with his heart1     
#bih  ,may banish unbelief1             
ibid  ,and pity a careless world1       
#bii  ,he may view heavenly rest as the 
object of love1                    ibid 
,and of joy1                            
#cjd  ,he may lament his heart's        
indisposition to such joy1              
ibid  ,he may view heavenly rest1 as the
 object of desire1                 #caj 
,evil consequences of neglecting such   
contemplation1                  #cag    
,saints excited to be constant in it1   
#cah  ,the author's concluding prayer1  
#cai      ,,the  ,,saint',s             
,,everlasting ,,rest4   ,hebrews iv1 #i4
 ,there remaineth therefore a rest to   
the people of ,god4     ,,chap4 ,i4     
,the ,introduction to the ,work1 with   
some account of the nature of the       
,saint's ,rest4    #a4 ,the important   
design of the apostle in the text1 to   
which the  ,author earnestly bespeaks   
the attention of the ,reader4  #b4 ,the 

,saint's  ,rest defined1 with a general 
plan of the ,work4  #c4 ,what this ,rest
  presupposes4  #d4 ,the ,author's      
humble sense of his inability fully to  
shew what this rest contains4  #e4 ,it  
contains1 7#a47 ,a ceasing from  means  
of grace2  #f4 7#b47 ,a perfect freedom 
from all evils2  #g4 7#c47  ,the highest
 degree of the saint's personal         
perfections1 both in body  and soul2    
#h4 7#d47 ,the nearest enjoyment of ,god
 the ,chief ,good2   #i-ad4 7#e47 ,a    
sweet and constant action of all the    
powers of soul and  body in this        
enjoyment of ,god2 as1 for instance1    
bodily senses1  knowledge1 memory1 love1
 joy1 together with a mutual love and   
joy4   #ae4 ,the ,author's humble       
reflection on the deficiency of this    
account4    #a4 ,it was not only our    
interest in ,god1 and actual enjoyment  
of him1 which was lost in ,adam's fall1 
but all spiritual knowledge of him1 and 
true disposition towards such a         
felicity4 ,when the ,son of ,god comes  

with recovering grace1 and discoveries  
of a spiritual and eternal happiness and
 glory1 he finds not faith in man to    
believe it4 ,as the poor man1 that would
 not believe any one had such a sum as  
an hundred pounds1 it was so far above  
what himself possessed3 ,so men will    
hardly now believe there is such a      
happiness as once they had1 much less as
 ,christ hath now procured4 ,when ,god  
would give the ,israelites his ,sabbaths
 of rest1 in a land of rest1 he had more
 ado to make them believe it1 than to   
overcome their enemies1 and procure it  
for them4 ,and when they had it1 only as
 a small intimation and earnest of an   
incomparably more glorious rest through 
,christ1 they yet believe no more than  
they possess1 but say1 with the glutton 
at the feast1 ,sure there is no other   
heaven but this6 ,or1 if they expect    
more by the ,messiah1 it is only the    
increase of their earthly felicity4 ,the
 apostle bestows most of this epistle   
against this distemper1 and clearly and 

largely proves1 that the end of all     
ceremonies and shadows1 is to direct    
them to ,jesus ,christ the substance2   
and that the rest of ,sabbaths1 and     
,canaan1 should teach them to look for a
 farther rest1 which indeed is their    
happiness4 ,my text is his conclusion1  
after divers arguments2 a conclusion1   
which contains the ground of all the    
believer's comfort1 the end of all his  
duty and sufferings1 the life and sum of
 all gospel promises and ,christian     
privileges4 ,what more welcome to men1  
under personal afflictions1 tiring      
duties1 successions of sufferings1 than 
rest8 ,it is not our comfort only1 but  
our stability4 ,our liveliness in all   
duties1 our enduring tribulation1 our   
honoring of ,god1 the vigor of our love1
 thankfulness1 and all our graces2 yea1 
the very being of our religion and      
,christianity1 depend on the believing  
serious thoughts of our rest4 ,and now1 
,reader1 whatever thou art1 young or    
old1 rich or poor1 ,i intreat thee1 and 

charge thee1 in the name of thy ,lord1  
who will shortly call thee to a         
reckoning1 and judge thee to thy        
everlasting unchangeable state1 that    
thou give not these things the reading  
only1 and so dismiss them with a bare   
approbation2 but that thou set upon this
 work1 and take ,god in ,christ for thy 
only rest1 and fix thy heart upon him   
above all4 ,may the living ,god1 who is 
the portion and rest of his saints1 make
 these our carnal minds so spiritual1   
and our earthly hearts so heavenly1 that
 loving him1 and delighting in him1 may 
be the work of our lives2 and that      
neither ,i that write1 nor you that     
read1 this book1 may ever be turned from
 this path of life2 lest a promise being
 left us of entering into his rest1 we  
should come short of it1 through our own
 unbelief or negligence6#a  ,footnote #a
 ,hebrews iv1 #a4   #b4 ,the ,saint's   
rest is1 'the most happy state of a     
,christian2' or it is1 'the perfect     
endless enjoyment of ,god by the        

perfected saints1 according to the      
measure of their capacity1 to which     
their souls arrive at death1 and both   
soul and body most fully after the      
resurrection and final judgment4'       
,according to this definition of the    
saint's rest1 a larger account of its   
nature will be given in this chapter2 of
 its preparatives1 chap4 ii2 its        
excellencies1 chap4 iii2 and chap4 iv1  
the persons for whom it is designed4    
,farther to illustrate the subject1 some
 description will be given1 chap4 v1 of 
their misery who lose this rest2 and1   
chap4 vi1 who also lose the enjoyments  
of time1 and suffer the torments of     
hell4 ,next will be shewed1 chap4 vii1  
the necessity of diligently seeking this
 rest2 chap4 viii1 how our title to it  
may be discerned2 chap4 ix1 that they   
who discern their title to it should    
help those that cannot2 and1 chap4 x1   
that this rest is not to be expected on 
earth4 ,it will then be proper to       
consider1 chap4 xi1 the importance of a 

heavenly life upon earth2 chap4 xii1 how
 to live a heavenly life upon earth2    
chap4 xiii1 the nature of heavenly      
contemplation1 with the time1 place1 and
 temper fittest for it2 chap4 xiv1 what 
use heavenly contemplation makes of     
consideration1 affections1 soliloquy1   
and prayer2 and likewise1 chap4 xv1 how 
heavenly contemplation may be assisted  
by sensible objects1 and guarded against
 a treacherous heart4 ,heavenly         
contemplation will be exemplified1 chap4
 xvi1 and the whole work concluded4     
#c4 ,there are some things necessarily  
presupposed in the nature of this rest2 
as1 for instance1--that mortal men are  
the persons seeking it4 ,for angels and 
glorified spirits have it already1 and  
the devils and damned are past          
hope4--,that they choose ,god only for  
their end and happiness4 ,he that takes 
any thing else for his happiness1 is out
 of the way the first step4--,that they 
are distant from this end4 ,this is the 
woeful case of all mankind since the    

fall4 ,when ,christ comes with          
regenerating grace1 he finds no man     
sitting still1 but all posting to       
eternal ruin1 and making haste towards  
hell2 till1 by conviction1 he first     
brings them to a stand1 and then by     
conversion1 turns their hearts and lives
 sincerely to himself4--,this end1 and  
its excellency1 is supposed to be known1
 and seriously intended4 ,an unknown    
good moves not to desire or endeavor4   
,and not only a distance from this rest1
 but the true knowledge of this         
distance1 is also supposed4 ,they that  
never yet knew they were without ,god1  
and in the way to hell1 did never yet   
know the way to heaven4 ,can a man find 
he hath lost his ,god1 and his soul1 and
 not cry out1 ,i am undone8 ,the reason 
why so few obtain this rest1 is1 they   
will not be convinced1 that they are1 in
 point of title1 distant from it2 and1  
in point of practice1 contrary to it4   
,who ever sought for that1 which he knew
 not he had lost8 ,they that be whole   

need not a physician1 but they that are 
sick4#b--,the influence of a superior   
moving cause is also supposed2 else we  
shall all stand still1 and not move     
toward our rest4 ,if ,god move us not1  
we cannot move4 ,it is a most necessary 
part of our ,christian wisdom1 to keep  
our subordination to ,god and dependence
 on him4 ,we are not sufficient of      
ourselves to think any thing as of      
ourselves1 but our sufficiency is of    
,god4#c ,without me1 says ,christ1 ye   
can do nothing4#d--;,it is next         
supposed1 that they who seek this rest1 
have an inward principle of spiritual   
life4 ,god does not move men like       
stones1 but he endows them with life1   
not to enable them to move without him1 
but in subordination to himself the     
first mover4 ,and farther1 this rest    
supposes such an actual tendency of soul
 towards it1 as is regular and constant1
 earnest and laborious4 ,he that hides  
his talent shall receive the wages of a 
slothful servant4 ,christ is the door1  

the only way to this rest4 ,but strait  
is the gate1 and narrow is the way2#e   
and we must strive1 if we will enter1   
for many will seek to enter in1 and     
shall not be able2#f which implies that 
the kingdom of heaven suffereth         
violence4#g ,nor will it bring us to the
 end of the saints1 if we begin in the  
spirit1 and end in the flesh4#h ,he only
 that endureth to the end shall be      
saved4#i ,and never did a soul obtain   
rest with ,god1 whose desire was not set
 upon him above all things else in the  
world4 ,where your treasure is1 there   
will your heart be also4#aj ,the        
remainder of our old nature will much   
weaken and interrupt these desires1 but 
never overcome them4 ,and considering   
the opposition to our desires1 from the 
contrary principles in our nature1 and  
from the weakness of our graces1        
together with our continued distance    
from the end1 our tendency to that end  
must be laborious1 and with all our     
might4--,all these things are           

presupposed1 in order to a ,christian's 
obtaining an interest in heavenly rest4 
,footnote #b ,matthew ix1 #ab4          
,footnote #c #b ,corinthians iii1 #e4   
,footnote #d ,john xv1 #e4  ,footnote #e
 ,matthew vii1 #ac4  ,footnote #f ,luke 
xiii1 #bd4  ,footnote #g ,matthew xi1   
#ab4  ,footnote #h ,galatians iii1 #c4  
,footnote #i ,matthew xxiv1 #ac4        
,footnote #aj ,matthew vi1 #ba4   #d4   
,now we have ascended these steps into  
the outward court1 may we look within   
the vail8 ,may we shew what this rest   
contains1 as well as what it            
presupposes8 ,alas1 how little know ,i  
of that glory6 ,the glimpse which ,paul 
had1 contained what could not1 or must  
not1 be uttered4 ,had he spoke the      
things of heaven in the language of     
heaven1 and none understood that        
language1 what the better8 ,the ,lord   
reveal to me what ,i may reveal to you6 
,the ,lord open some light1 and shew    
both you and me our inheritance6 ,not as
 to ,balaam only1 whose eyes were opened

 to see the goodliness of ,jacob's      
tents1 and ,israel's tabernacles1 where 
he had no portion1 and from whence must 
come his own destruction6 ,not as to    
,moses1 who had only a discovery1       
instead of possession1 and saw the land 
which he never entered6 ,but as the     
pearl was revealed to the merchant in   
the gospel1 who rested not till he had  
sold all he had1 and bought it6 ,and as 
heaven was opened to blessed ,stephen1  
which he was shortly to enter1 and the  
glory shewed him which should be his own
 possession6--,the things contained in  
heavenly rest are such as these2--a     
ceasing from means of grace2--a perfect 
freedom from all evils2--the highest    
degree of the saint's personal          
perfection1 both of body and soul2--the 
nearest enjoyment of ,god the chief     
good2 and a sweet and constant action of
 all the powers of body and soul in this
 enjoyment of ,god4   #e4 7#a47 ,one    
thing contained in heavenly rest is1 the
 ceasing from means of grace4 ,when we  

have obtained the haven1 we have done   
sailing4 ,when the workman receives his 
wages1 it is implied he has done his    
work4 ,when we are at our journey's end1
 we have done with the way4 ,whether    
prophecies1 they shall fail2 whether    
tongues1 they shall cease2 whether      
knowledge it also1 so far as it had the 
nature of means1 shall vanish away4#aa  
,there shall be no more prayer1 because 
no more necessity1 but the full         
enjoyment of what we prayed for4        
,neither shall we need to fast and weep1
 and watch any more1 being out of the   
reach of sin and temptations4 ,preaching
 is done2 the ministry of man ceaseth2  
sacraments become useless2 the laborers 
are called in1 because the harvest is   
gathered1 the tares burned1 and the work
 finished2 the unregenerate past hope1  
and the saints past fear1 for ever4     
,footnote #aa #a ,corinthians xiii1 #h4 
#f4 7#b47 ,there is in heavenly rest a  
perfect freedom from all evils4 ,all the
 evils that accompanied us through our  

course1 and which necessarily follow our
 absence from the chief good3 ,besides  
our freedom from those eternal flames1  
and restless miseries1 which the        
neglecters of ,christ and grace must    
remedilessly endure2 a woeful           
inheritance1 which1 both by birth and   
actual merit1 was due to us1 as well as 
to them6 ,in heaven there is nothing    
that defileth1 or is unclean3 ,all that 
remains without4#ab ,and doubtless there
 is not such a thing as grief and sorrow
 known there3 ,nor is there such a thing
 as a pale face1 a languid body1 feeble 
joints1 unable infancy1 decrepit age1   
peccant humors1 painful or pining       
sickness1 griping fears1 consuming      
cares1 nor whatsoever deserves the name 
of evil4 ,we did ,weep and lament1 when 
the world did rejoice2 but our sorrow is
 turned into joy1 and our joy shall no  
man take from us4#ac  ,footnote #ab     
,revelation xxi1 #bg1 xxii1 #ae4        
,footnote #ac ,john xvi1 #bj1 #bb4   #g4
 7#c47 ,another ingredient of this rest 

is1 the highest degree of the saint's   
personal perfection1 both of body and   
soul4 ,were the glory ever so great1 and
 themselves not made capable of it1 by a
 personal perfection suitable thereto1  
it would be little to them4 ,eye hath   
not seen1 nor ear heard1 neither have   
entered into the heart of man1 the      
things which ,god hath prepared for them
 that love him4#ad ,for the eye of flesh
 is not capable of seeing them1 nor this
 ear of hearing them1 nor this heart of 
understanding them3 but there the eye1  
and ear1 and heart1 are made capable2   
else how do they enjoy them8 ,the more  
perfect the sight is1 the more          
delightful the beautiful object4 ,the   
more perfect the appetite1 the sweeter  
the food4 ,the more musical the ear1 the
 more pleasant the melody4 ,the more    
perfect the soul1 the more joyous those 
joys1 and the more glorious to us is    
that glory4  ,footnote #ad #a           
,corinthians ii1 #i4   #h4 7#d47 ,the   
principal part of this rest1 is our     

nearest enjoyment of ,god the chief     
good4 ,and here1 reader1 wonder not if  
,i be at a loss2 and if my apprehensions
 receive but little of that which is in 
my expressions4 ,if it did not appear1  
to the beloved disciple1 what we shall  
be1 but only in general1 that when      
,christ shall appear1 we shall be like  
him1#ae no wonder if ,i know little4    
,when ,i know so little of ,god1 ,i     
cannot much know what it is to enjoy    
him4 ,if ,i know so little of spirits1  
how little of the ,father of spirits1 or
 the state of my own soul1 when advanced
 to the enjoyment of him8 ,i stand and  
look upon an heap of ants1 and see them 
all with one view2 they know not me1 my 
being1 nature1 or thoughts1 though ,i am
 their fellow-creature2 how little then 
must we know of the great ,creator1     
though he with one view clearly beholds 
us all8 ,a glimpse the saints behold as 
in a glass2#af which makes us capable of
 some poor1 dark apprehensions of what  
we shall behold in glory4 ,if ,i should 

tell a worldling what the holiness and  
spiritual joys of the saints on earth   
are1 he cannot know2 for grace cannot be
 clearly known without grace2 how much  
less could he conceive it1 should ,i    
tell him of this glory8 ,but to the     
saints ,i may be somewhat more          
encouraged to speak2 for grace gives    
them a dark knowledge and slight taste  
of glory4 ,if men and angels should     
study to speak the blessedness of that  
state in one word1 what could they say  
beyond this1 that it is the nearest     
enjoyment of ,god8 ,o the full joys     
offered to a believer in that one       
sentence of ,christ1 ,father1 ,i will   
that those whom thou hast given me be   
with me where ,i am1 that they may      
behold my glory which thou hast given   
me4#ag ,every word full of life and joy4
 ,if the queen of ,sheba had cause to   
say of ,solomon's glory1 ,happy are thy 
men1 happy are thy servants1 which stand
 continually before thee1 and that hear 
thy wisdom2#ah then sure they that stand

 continually before ,god1 and see his   
glory1 and the glory of the ,lamb1 are  
more than happy4 ,to them will ,christ  
give to eat of the tree of life2 and to 
eat of the hidden manna3 yea1 he will   
make them pillars in the temple of ,god1
 and they shall go no more out2 and he  
will write upon them the name of his    
,god1 and the name of the city of his   
,god1 which is ,new ,jerusalem1 which   
cometh down out of heaven from his ,god1
 and he will write upon them his new    
name2 yea1 more1 if more may be1 he will
 grant them to sit with him in his      
throne4 ,these are they who came out of 
great tribulation1 and have washed their
 robes1 and made them white in the blood
 of the ,lamb3 ,therefore are they      
before the throne of ,god1 and serve him
 day and night in his temple1 and he    
that sitteth on the throne shall dwell  
among them3 ,the ,lamb which is in the  
midst of the throne shall feed them1 and
 shall lead them unto living fountains  
of water2 and ,god shall wipe away all  

tears from their eyes4#ai ,o blind1     
deceived world6 ,can you shew us such a 
glory8 ,this is the city of our ,god1   
where the tabernacle of ,god is with    
men1 and he will dwell with them1 and   
they shall be his people1 and ,god      
himself shall be with them1 and be their
 ,god4 ,the glory of ,god shall lighten 
it1 and the ,lamb is the light thereof4 
,and there shall be no more curse2 but  
the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb     
shall be in it2 and his servants shall  
serve him1 and they shall see his face1 
and his name shall be in their          
foreheads4 ,these sayings are faithful  
and true1 and the things which must     
shortly be done4#bj ,and now we say1 as 
,mephibosheth1 let the world take all1  
forasmuch as our ,lord will come in     
peace4#ba ,rejoice therefore in the     
,lord1 ,o ye righteous1 and say with his
 servant ,david1 the ,lord is the       
portion of mine inheritance3 ,the lines 
are fallen unto me in pleasant places2  
yea1 ,i have a goodly heritage4 ,i have 

set the ,lord always before me1 because 
he is at my right hand ,i shall not be  
moved4 ,therefore my heart is glad1 and 
my glory rejoiceth3 my flesh also shall 
rest in hope4 ,for thou wilt not leave  
my soul in hell1 neither wilt thou      
suffer thine ,holy ,one to see          
corruption4 ,thou wilt shew me the path 
of life2 in thy presence is fulness of  
joy1 at thy right hand there are        
pleasures for evermore4#bb ,what        
presumption would it have been1 once to 
have thought or spoke of such a thing1  
if ,god had not spoken it before us8 ,i 
durst not have thought of the saint's   
preferment in this life1 as scripture   
sets it forth1 had it not been the      
express truth of ,god4 ,how indecent to 
talk of being ,sons of ,god--speaking to
 him--having fellowship with            
him--dwelling in him and he in us2#bc if
 this had not been ,god's own language8 
,how much less durst we have once       
thought of shining forth as the sun--of 
being joint heirs with ,christ--of      

judging the world--of sitting on        
,christ's throne--of being one in him   
and the ,father2#bd if we had not all   
this from the mouth1 and under the hand1
 of ,god8 ,but hath he said1 and shall  
he not do it8 ,hath he spoken1 and shall
 he not make it good8#be ,yes1 as the   
,lord ,god is true1 thus shall it be    
done to the man whom ,christ delighteth 
to honor4#bf ,be of good cheer1         
,christian1 the time is near1 when ,god 
and thou shalt be near1 and as near as  
thou canst well desire4 ,thou shalt     
dwell in his family4 ,is that enough8   
,it is better to be a door-keeper in the
 house of ,god1 than to dwell in the    
tents of wickedness4#bg ,thou shalt ever
 stand before him1 about his throne1 in 
the room with him1 in his               
presence-chamber4 ,wouldst thou yet be  
nearer8 ,thou shalt be his child1 and he
 thy ,father2 thou shalt be an heir of  
his kingdom2 yea more1 the spouse of his
 ,son4 ,and what more canst thou desire8
 ,thou shalt be a member of the body of 

his ,son2 he shall be thy head2 thou    
shalt be one with him1 who is one with  
the ,father1 as he himself hath desired 
for thee of his ,father1 that they all  
may be one1 as thou1 ,father1 art in me1
 and ,i in thee1 that they also may be  
one in us2 and the glory which thou     
gavest me ,i have given them1 that they 
may be one1 even as we are one2 ,i in   
them and thou in me1 that they may be   
made perfect in one1 and that the world 
may know that thou hast sent me1 and    
hast loved them as thou hast loved      
me4#bh  ,footnote #ae #a ,john iii1 #b4 
,footnote #af #b ,corinthians iii1 #ah4 
,footnote #ag ,john xvii1 #bd4          
,footnote #ah ,kings x1 #h4  ,footnote  
#ai ,revelation ii1 #g1 #ag4 iii1 #ab1  
#ba4 vii1 #ad1 #ae1 #ag4  ,footnote #bj 
,revelation xxi1 #bd4 xxii1 #c1 #d1 #f4 
,footnote #ba #b ,samuel xix1 #cj4      
,footnote #bb ,psalm xxxi1 #a4 xvi1 #e1 
#f1 #h1 #aa4  ,footnote #bc #a ,john    
iii1 #a4 ,genesis xviii1 #bg4 #a ,john  
i1 #c4 iv1 #af4  ,footnote #bd ,matthew 

xiii1 #dc4 ,romans viii1 #ag4 #a        
,corinthians vi1 #b4 ,revelation iii1   
#ba4 ,john xvii1 #ba4  ,footnote #be    
,numbers xxiii1 #ai4  ,footnote #bf     
,esther vi1 #aa4  ,footnote #bg ,psalm  
lxxxvi1 #aj4  ,footnote #bh ,john xvii1 
#ba-bc4   #i4 7#e47 ,we must add that   
this rest contains a sweet and constant 
action of all the powers of the soul and
 body in this enjoyment of ,god4 ,it is 
not the rest of a stone1 which ceaseth  
from all motion when it attains the     
centre4--,this body shall be so changed1
 that it shall no more be flesh and     
blood1 which cannot inherit the kingdom 
of ,god2 but a spiritual body4 ,we sow  
not that body that shall be1 but ,god   
giveth it a body as it hath pleased him1
 and to every seed his own body4#bi ,if 
grace makes a ,christian differ so much 
from what he was1 as to say1 ,i am not  
the man ,i was2 how much more will glory
 make us differ8 ,as much as a body     
spiritual1 above the sun in glory1      
exceeds these frail1 noisome1 diseased  

lumps of flesh1 so far shall our senses 
exceed those we now possess4 ,doubtless 
as ,god advanceth our senses1 and       
enlargeth our capacity1 so will he      
advance the happiness of those senses1  
and fill up with himself all that       
capacity4 ,certainly the body should not
 be raised up and continued1 if it      
should not share in the glory4 ,as it   
hath shared in the obedience and        
sufferings1 so shall it also in the     
blessedness4 ,as ,christ bought the     
whole man1 so shall the whole partake of
 the everlasting benefits of the        
purchase4 ,o blessed employment of a    
glorified body6 ,to stand before the    
throne of ,god and the ,lamb1 and to    
sound forth for ever1 ,thou art worthy1 
,o ,lord1 to receive glory1 and honor1  
and power4 ,worthy is the ,lamb that was
 slain1 to receive power1 and riches1   
and wisdom1 and strength1 and honor1 and
 glory1 and blessing2 for thou hast     
redeemed us to ,god by thy blood1 out of
 every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 

and nation1 and hast made us unto our   
,god kings and priests4 ,alleluia2      
salvation1 and glory1 and honor1 and    
power1 unto the ,lord our ,god4         
,alleluia1 for the ,lord ,god omnipotent
 reigneth4 ,o ,christians6 this is the  
blessed rest2 a rest1 as it were1       
without rest2 for they rest not day and 
night1 saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy ,lord  
,god ,almighty1 who was1 and is1 and is 
to come4#cj--;,and if the body shall be 
thus employed1 oh1 how shall the soul be
 taken up6 ,as its powers and capacities
 are greatest1 so its actions are       
strongest1 and its enjoyments sweetest4 
,as the bodily senses have their proper 
action1 whereby they receive and enjoy  
their objects1 so does the soul in its  
own action enjoy its own object1 by     
knowing1 remembering1 loving1 and       
delightful joying4 ,this is the soul's  
employment4 ,by these eyes it sees1 and 
by these arms it embraces4  ,footnote   
#bi #a ,corinthians xv1 #ej1 #dd1 #cg1  
#ch4  ,footnote #cj ,revelation iv1 #aa4

 v1 #ab1 #i1 #aj4 xix1 #a1 #f4 iv1 #h4  
#aj4 ,knowledge of itself is very       
desirable4 ,as far as the rational soul 
exceeds the sensitive1 so far the       
delights of a philosopher1 in           
discovering the secrets of nature1 and  
knowing the mystery of sciences1 exceed 
the delights of the glutton1 the        
drunkard1 the unclean1 and of all the   
voluptuous sensualists whatsoever4 ,so  
excellent is all truth4 ,what then is   
their delight who know the ,god of      
truth8 ,how noble a faculty of the soul 
is the understanding8 ,it can compass   
the earth2 it can measure the sun1 moon1
 stars1 and heaven2 it can foreknow each
 eclipse to a minute1 many years before4
 ,but this is the top of all its        
excellency1 that it can know ,god1 who  
is infinite1 who made all these2 a      
little here1 and more1 much more        
hereafter4 ,o the wisdom and goodness of
 our blessed ,lord6 ,he hath created the
 understanding with a natural bias and  
inclination to truth2 as its object2 and

 to the prime truth1 as its prime       
object4 ,christian1 when1 after long    
gazing heaven-ward1 thou hast got a     
glimpse of ,christ1 dost thou not       
sometimes seem to have been with ,paul  
in the third heaven1 whether in the     
body1 or out1 and to have seen what is  
unutterable8#ca ,art thou not1 with     
,peter1 ready to say1 ,master1 it is    
good to be here8#cb ,oh that ,i might   
dwell in this mount6 ,o that ,i might   
ever see what ,i now see6 ,didst thou   
never look so long upon the ,sun of     
,righteousness1 till thine eyes were    
dazzled with his astonishing glory8 ,and
 did not the splendor of it make all    
things below seem black and dark to     
thee8 ,especially in thy day of         
suffering for ,christ1 when he usually  
appears most manifestly to his people1  
didst thou never see one walking in the 
midst of the fiery furnace with thee    
like the ,son of ,god8#cc ,believe me1  
,christians1 yea1 believe ,god2 you that
 have known most of ,god in ,christ     

here1 it is as nothing to what you shall
 know2 it scarce1 in comparison of that1
 deserves to be called knowledge4 ,for  
as these bodies1 so that knowledge must 
cease1 that a more perfect may succeed4 
,knowledge shall vanish away4 ,for we   
know in part4 ,but when that which is   
perfect is come1 then that which is in  
part shall be done away4 ,when ,i was a 
child1 ,i spake as a child1 ,i          
understood as a child1 ,i thought as a  
child2 but when ,i became a man1 ,i put 
away childish things4 ,for now we see   
through a glass darkly1 but then face to
 face2 now ,i know in part1 but then    
shall ,i know even as also ,i am        
known4#cd ,marvel not therefore1        
,christians1 how it can be life eternal1
 to know ,god and ,jesus ,christ4#ce ,to
 enjoy ,god and ,christ1 is eternal     
life2 and the soul's enjoying is in     
knowing4 ,they that savor only of earth1
 and consult only with flesh1 think it a
 poor happiness to know ,god4 ,but we   
know that we are of ,god1 and the whole 

world lieth in wickedness2 and we know  
that the ,son of ,god is come1 and hath 
given us an understanding that we may   
know him that is true2 and we are in him
 that is true1 even in his ,son ,jesus  
,christ4 ,this is the true ,god1 and    
eternal life4#cf  ,footnote #ca #b      
,corinthians xii1 #b-d4  ,footnote #cb  
,mark ix1 #e4  ,footnote #cc ,daniel    
iii1 #be4  ,footnote #cd ,corinthians   
xiii1 #h-ab4  ,footnote #ce ,john xvii1 
#c4  ,footnote #cf #a ,john v1 #ai1 #bj4
   #aa4 ,the memory will not be idle1 or
 useless in this blessed work4 ,from    
that height the saint can look behind   
him1 and before him4 ,and to compare    
past with present things1 must needs    
raise in the blessed soul an            
inconceivable esteem and sense of its   
condition4 ,to stand on that mount1     
whence we can see the ,wilderness and   
,canaan1 both at once2 to stand in      
heaven1 and look back on earth1 and     
weigh them together in the balance of a 
comparing sense and judgment1 how must  

it needs transport the soul1 and make it
 cry out1 ,is this the purchase that    
cost so dear as the blood of ,christ8   
,no wonder4 ,o blessed price6 and thrice
 blessed love1 that invented1 and       
condescended6 ,is this the end of       
believing8 ,is this the end of the      
,spirit's workings8 ,have the gales of  
grace blown me into such an harbor8 ,is 
it hither that ,christ hath allured my  
soul8 ,o blessed way1 and thrice blessed
 end6 ,is this the glory which the      
scriptures spoke of1 and ministers      
preached of so much8 ,i see the gospel  
is indeed good tidings1 even tidings of 
peace and good things1 tidings of great 
joy to all nations6 ,is my mourning1 my 
fasting1 my sad humblings1 my heavy     
walking1 come to this8 ,is my praying1  
watching1 fearing to offend1 come to    
this8 ,are all my afflictions1 ,satan's 
temptations1 the world's scorns1 and    
jeers1 come to this8--,o vile nature1   
that resisted so much1 and so long1 such
 a blessing8 ,unworthy soul1 is this the

 place thou camest so unwillingly to8   
,was duty wearisome8 ,was the world too 
good to lose8 ,didst thou stick at      
leaving all1 denying all1 and suffering 
any thing1 for this8 ,wast thou loth to 
die1 to come to this8 ,o false heart1   
thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal
 flames1 and lost me this glory6 ,art   
thou not now ashamed1 my soul1 that ever
 thou didst question that love which    
brought thee hither8 ,that thou wast    
jealous of the faithfulness of thy      
,lord8 ,that thou suspectedst his love1 
when thou shouldst only have suspected  
thyself8 ,that ever thou didst quench a 
motion of his ,spirit8 ,and that thou   
shouldst misinterpret those providences1
 and repine at those ways1 which have   
such an end8 ,now thou art sufficiently 
convinced1 that thy ,redeemer was saving
 thee1 as well when he crossed thy      
desires1 as when he granted them2 when  
he broke thy heart1 as when he bound it 
up4 ,no thanks to thee1 unworthy self1  
for this received crown2 but to         

,jehovah1 and the ,lamb1 be glory for   
ever4   #ab4 ,but oh6 the full1 the     
near1 the sweet enjoyment1 is that of   
love4 ,god is love1 and he that dwelleth
 in love1 dwelleth in ,god1 and ,god in 
him4#cg ,now the poor soul complains1   
,oh that ,i could love ,christ more6    
then1 thou canst not choose but love    
him4 ,now thou knowest little of his    
amiableness1 and therefore lovest       
little3 ,then1 thine eye will affect thy
 heart1 and the continual viewing of    
that perfect beauty will keep thee in   
continual transports of love4           
,christians1 doth it not now stir up    
your love to remember all the           
experiences of his love6 ,doth not      
kindness melt you1 and the sunshine of  
,divine goodness warm your frozen       
hearts8 ,what will it do then1 when you 
shall live in love1 and have all in him1
 who is all8 ,surely love is both work  
and wages4 ,what a high favor1 that ,god
 will give us leave to love him8 ,that  
he will be embraced by those1 who have  

embraced lust and sin before him6 ,but  
more than this1 he returneth love for   
love2 nay1 a thousand times more4       
,christian1 thou wilt be then brimfull  
of love2 yet1 love as much as thou      
canst1 thou shalt be ten thousand times 
more beloved4 ,were the arms of the ,son
 of ,god open upon the cross1 and an    
open passage made to his heart by the   
spear1 and will not arms and heart be   
open to thee in glory8 ,did he begin to 
love before thou lovedst1 and will not  
he continue now8 ,did he love thee1 an  
enemy8 thee1 a sinner8 thee1 who even   
loathedst thyself2 and own thee1 when   
thou didst disclaim thyself8 ,and will  
he not now immeasurably love thee1 a    
son8 thee1 a perfect saint8 thee1 who   
returnest some love for love8 ,he that  
in love wept over the old ,jerusalem    
when near its ruin1 with what love will 
he rejoice over the new ,jerusalem in   
her glory8 ,christian1 believe this1 and
 think on it2 thou shalt be eternally   
embraced in the arms of that love1 which

 was from everlasting1 and will extend  
to everlasting2--of that love which     
brought the ,son of ,god's love from    
heaven to earth1 from earth to the      
cross1 from the cross to the grave1 from
 the grave to glory2 that love1 which   
was weary1 hungry1 tempted1 scorned1    
scourged1 buffeted1 spit upon1          
crucified1 pierced2 which did fast1     
pray1 teach1 heal1 weep1 sweat1 bleed1  
die2--that love will eternally embrace  
thee4 ,when perfect created love1 and   
most perfect uncreated love1 meet       
together1 it will not be like ,joseph   
and his brethren1 who lay upon one      
another's necks weeping2 it will be     
loving and rejoicing1 not loving and    
sorrowing3 ,yet it will make ,satan's   
court ring with the news1 that ,joseph's
 brethren are come1 that the saints are 
arrived safe at the bosom of ,christ1   
out of the reach of hell for ever3 nor  
is there any such love as ,david's and  
,jonathan's1 breathing out its last into
 sad lamentations for a forced          

separation4 ,know this1 believer1 to thy
 everlasting comfort1 if those arms have
 once embraced thee1 neither sin1 nor   
hell1 can get thee thence for ever4     
,thou hast not to deal with an          
inconstant creature but with him with   
whom is no variableness1 nor shadow of  
turning4#ch ,his love to thee will not  
be as thine was on earth to him2 seldom1
 and cold1 up and down4 ,he that would  
not cease nor abate his love1 for all   
thine enmity1 unkind neglects1 and      
churlish resistances1 can he cease to   
love thee1 when he hath made thee truly 
lovely8 ,he that keepeth thee so        
constant in thy love to him1 that thou  
canst challenge tribulation1 distress1  
persecution1 famine1 nakedness1 peril1  
or sword1 to separate thy love from     
,christ1 how much more will himself be  
constant8#ci ,indeed thou mayest be     
persuaded that neither death1 nor life1 
nor angels1 nor principalities1 nor     
powers1 nor things present1 nor things  
to come1 nor height1 nor depth1 nor any 

other creature1 shall be able to        
separate us from the love of ,god which 
is in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4#dj ,and 
now are we not left in the apostle's    
admiration4 ,what shall we say to these 
things8#da ,infinite love must needs be 
a mystery to a finite capacity4 ,no     
wonder angels desire to look into this  
mystery4#db ,and if it be the study of  
saints here1 to know the breadth1 and   
length1 and depth1 and height1 of the   
love of ,christ1 which passeth          
knowledge2#dc the saint's everlasting   
rest must consist in the enjoyment of   
,god by love4  ,footnote #cg #a ,john   
iv1 #af4  ,footnote #ch ,james i1 #ag4  
,footnote #ci ,romans viii1 #ce4        
,footnote #dj ,romans viii1 #ch1 #ci4   
,footnote #da ,romans viii1 #ca4        
,footnote #db #a ,peter i1 #ab4         
,footnote #dc ,ephesians iii1 #ah1 #ai4 
#ac4 ,nor hath joy the least share in   
this fruition4 ',tis that1 which all the
 former lead to1 and conclude in2 even  
the inconceivable complacency which the 

blessed feel in their seeing1 knowing1  
loving1 and being beloved of ,god4 ,this
 is the white stone which no man        
knoweth1 saving he that receiveth it4#dd
 ,surely this is the joy which a        
stranger doth not intermeddle with4#de  
,all ,christ's ways of mercy tend to1   
and end in1 the saint's joys4 ,he wept1 
sorrowed1 suffered1 that they might     
rejoice2 he sendeth the ,spirit to be   
their ,comforter2 he multiplies         
promises2 he discovers their future     
happiness1 that their joy may be        
full4#df ,he opens to them the fountain 
of living waters1 that they may thirst  
no more1 and that it may spring up in   
them to everlasting life4#dg ,he        
chastens them1 that he may give them    
rest4#dh ,he makes it their duty to     
rejoice in him alway1 and again commands
 them to rejoice4#di ,he never brings   
them into so low a condition1 wherein he
 does not leave them more cause of joy  
than sorrow4 ,and hath the ,lord such a 
care of our comfort here8 ,o what will  

that joy be1 where the soul being       
perfectly prepared for joy1 and joy     
prepared by ,christ for the soul1 it    
shall be our work1 our business1        
eternally to rejoice6 ,it seems the     
saint's joy shall be greater than the   
damned's torment2 for their torment is  
the torment of creatures1 prepared for  
the devil and his angels2#ej but our joy
 is the joy of our ,lord4#ea ,the same  
glory which the ,father gave the ,son1  
the ,son hath given them1#eb to sit with
 him in his throne1 even as he is set   
down with his ,father in his throne4#ec 
,thou1 poor soul1 who prayest for joy1  
waitest for joy1 complainest for want of
 joy1 longest for joy2 thou then shalt  
have full joy1 as much as thou canst    
hold1 and more than ever thou thoughtest
 on1 or thy heart desired4 ,in the mean 
time walk carefully1 watch constantly1  
and then let ,god measure out to thee   
thy times and degrees of joy4 ,it may be
 he keeps them till thou hast more need4
 ,thou hadst better lose thy comfort    

than thy safety4 ,if thou shouldst die  
full of fears and sorrows1 it will be   
but a moment1 and they are all gone1 and
 concluded in joy inconceivable4 ,as the
 joy of the hypocrite1 so the fears of  
the upright are but for a moment4 ,god's
 anger endureth but a moment2 in his    
favor is life2 weeping may endure for a 
night1 but joy cometh in the morning4#ed
 ,o blessed morning6 ,poor1 humble      
drooping soul1 how would it fill thee   
with joy now1 if a voice from heaven    
should tell thee of the love of ,god1   
the pardon of thy sins1 and assure thee 
of thy part in these joys8 ,what then   
will thy joy be1 when thy actual        
possession shall convince thee of thy   
title1 and thou shalt be in heaven      
before thou art well aware8  ,footnote  
#dd ,revelation ii1 #ag4  ,footnote #de 
,proverbs xiv1 #aj4  ,footnote #df ,john
 xvi1 #bd4  ,footnote #dg ,john iv1 #aj1
 #ad4  ,footnote #dh ,psalm xciv1 #b1   
#ac4  ,footnote #di ,philippians iv1 #d4
  ,footnote #ej ,matthew xxv1 #da4      

,footnote #ea ,matthew xxv1 #ba4        
,footnote #eb ,john xvii1 #bb4          
,footnote #ec ,revelation iii1 #ba4     
,footnote #ed ,job xx1 #e4 ,psalm xxx1  
#e4   #ad4 ,and it is not the joy only2 
it is a mutual joy as well as mutual    
love4 ,is there joy in heaven at thy    
conversion1 and will there be none at   
thy glorification8 ,will not the angels 
welcome thee thither1 and congratulate  
thy safe arrival8--,yea1 it is the joy  
of ,jesus ,christ1 for now he hath the  
end of his undertaking1 labor1          
suffering1 dying1 when we have our joys2
 when he is glorified in his saints1 and
 admired in all them that believe2#ee   
when he sees of the travail of his soul1
 and is satisfied4#ef ,this is ,christ's
 harvest1 when he shall reap the fruit  
of his labors1 and it will not repent   
him concerning his sufferings1 but he   
will rejoice over his purchased         
inheritance1 and his people will rejoice
 in him4--,yea1 the ,father himself puts
 on joy too1 in our joy4 ,as we grieve  

his ,spirit1#eg and weary him with our  
iniquities3#eh so is he rejoiced in our 
good4 ,o how quickly does he now spy a  
returning prodigal1 even afar off8 ,how 
does he run and meet him8 ,and with what
 compassion does he fall on his neck1   
and kiss him1 and put on him the best   
robe1 and a ring on his hand1 and shoes 
on his feet1 and kills the fatted calf  
to eat and be merry4#ei ,this is indeed 
a happy meeting2 but nothing to the     
embracing and joy of that last and great
 meeting4----,yea more2 as ,god doth    
mutually love and joy1 so ,he makes this
 ,his rest1 as it is our rest4 ,what an 
eternal ,sabbatism1 when the work of    
redemption1 sanctification1             
preservation1 glorification1 is all     
finished1 and perfected for ever6 ,the  
,lord thy ,god in the midst of thee is  
mighty1 ,he will save1 ,he will rejoice 
over thee with joy1 ,he will rest in his
 love1 ,he will joy over thee with      
singing4#fj ,well may we then rejoice in
 our ,god with joy1 and rest in our     

love1 and joy in him with singing4      
,footnote #ee #b ,thessalonians i1 #aj4 
,footnote #ef ,isaiah liii1 #aa4        
,footnote #eg ,ephesians iv1 #cj4       
,footnote #eh ,isaiah xliii1 #bd4       
,footnote #ei ,luke xv1 #bj-bc4         
,footnote #fj ,zephaniah iii1 #ag4      
#ae4 ,alas6 my fearful heart scarce     
dares proceed4 ,methinks ,i hear the    
,almighty's voice saying to me1 ,who is 
this that darkeneth counsel by words    
without knowledge8#fa ,but pardon thy   
,servant1 ,o ,lord4 ,i have not pried   
into unrevealed things4 ,i bewail that  
my apprehensions are so dull1 my        
thoughts so mean1 my affections so      
stupid1 and my expressions so low1 and  
unbeseeming such a glory4 ,i have only  
heard by the hearing of the ear3 oh1 let
 thy servant see thee and possess these 
joys2 and then shall ,i have more       
suitable conceptions1 and shall give    
thee fuller glory2 ,i shall abhor my    
present self1 and disclaim and renounce 
all these imperfections1 ,i have uttered

 that ,i understood not1 things too     
wonderful for me1 which ,i knew not4#fb 
,yet ,i believed1 and therefore have ,i 
spoken4#fc ,what1 ,lord1 canst thou     
expect from dust but levity8 or from    
corruption1 but defilement8 ,though the 
weakness and irreverence be the fruit of
 my own corruption1 yet the fire is from
 thine altar1 and the work of thy       
commanding4 ,i looked not into thy ark1 
nor put forth my hand unto it1 without  
thee4 ,wash away these stains also in   
the blood of the ,lamb4 ,imperfect1 or  
none1 must be thy service here4 ,o take 
thy ,son's excuse1 the spirit is        
willing1 but the flesh is weak4#fd      
,footnote #fa ,job xxxviii1 #b4         
,footnote #fb ,job xlii1 #c1 #e1 #f4    
,footnote #fc #b ,corinthians iv1 #ac4  
,footnote #fd ,matthew xxvi1 #da4       
,,chap4 ,,ii4  ,the great preparatives  
to the ,saint's ,rest4    #a4 ,the      
happiness of ,christians in having a way
 open into paradise4  ,there are four   
things which principally prepare the way

 to enter into  it2  #b1 #c4            
particularly1 7#a47 ,the glorious       
appearing of ,christ2  #d4  7#b47 ,the  
general resurrection3  #e-h4 7#c47 ,the 
last judgment2  #i1 #aj4  and1 7#d47    
,the saint's coronation2  #aa4          
,transition to the subject of  the next 
chapter4    #a4 ,the passage of paradise
 is not now so blocked up1 as when the  
law and curse reigned4 ,wherefore       
finding1 beloved ,christians1 a new and 
living way consecrated for us1 through  
the vail1 that is to say1 the flesh of  
,christ1 by which we may with boldness1 
enter into the holiest1 ,i shall draw   
near with fuller assurance3#fe ,and     
finding the flaming sword removed1 shall
 look again into the paradise of our    
,god3 ,and because ,i know that this is 
no forbidden fruit1 and withal that it  
is good for food1 and pleasant to the   
spiritual eyes1 and a tree to be desired
 to make one truly wise and happy2 ,i   
shall through the assistance of the     
,spirit1 take and eat thereof myself1   

and give to you1 according to my power1 
that you may eat4 ,the porch of this    
temple is exceeding glorious1 and the   
gate of it is called ,beautiful4 ,here  
are four things1 as the four corners of 
this porch4 ,here is the most glorious  
coming and appearance of the ,son of    
,god2--that great work of ,jesus ,christ
 in raising our bodies from the dust1   
and uniting them again to the soul2--the
 public and solemn process at their     
judgment1 where they shall first        
themselves be acquitted and justified1  
and then with ,christ judge the         
world2--together with their solemn      
coronation1 and receiving the kingdom4  
,footnote #fe ,hebrews x1 #ai1 #bj1 #bb4
   #b4 7#a47 ,the most glorious coming  
and appearance of the ,son of ,god may  
well be reckoned into his people's      
glory4 ,for their sake he came into the 
world1 suffered1 died1 rose1 ascended1  
and for their sake it is that he will   
return4 ,to this end will ,christ come  
again to receive his people unto        

himself1 that where he is1 there they   
may be also4#ff ,the bridegroom's       
departure was not upon divorce4 ,he did 
not leave us with a purpose to return no
 more4 ,he hath left pledges enough to  
assure us of the contrary4 ,we have his 
word1 his many promises1 his sacraments1
 which shew forth his death till he     
come2#fg and his ,spirit1 to direct1    
sanctify1 and comfort1 till he return4  
,we have frequent tokens of love from   
him1 to shew us1 he forgets not his     
promise1 nor us4 ,we daily behold the   
forerunners of his coming1 foretold by  
himself4 ,we see the fig-tree putting   
forth leaves1 and therefore know that   
summer is nigh4#fh ,though the riotous  
world say1 my ,lord delayeth his        
coming2#fi yet let the saints lift up   
their heads1 for their redemption       
draweth nigh4#gj ,alas1 ,fellow         
,christians1 what should we do if our   
,lord should not return8 ,what a case   
are we here left in8 ,what1 leave us in 
the midst of wolves1#ga and among       

lions1#gb a generation of vipers1#gc and
 here forget us8 ,did he buy us so dear1
 and then leave us sinning1 suffering1  
groaning1 dying daily1 and will he come 
no more to us8 ,it cannot be4--,this is 
like our unkind dealing with ,christ1   
who when we feel ourselves warm in the  
world1 care not for coming to him3 ,but 
this is not like ,christ's dealing with 
us4 ,he that would come to suffer1 will 
surely come to triumph4 ,he that would  
come to purchase1 will surely come to   
possess4 ,where else were all our hopes8
 ,what were become of our faith1 our    
prayers1 our tears1 and our waiting8    
,what were all the patience of the      
saints worth to them8 ,were we not left 
of all men most miserable8#gd           
,christians1 hath ,christ made us       
forsake all the world1 and be forsaken  
of all the world8 to hate all1 and be   
hated of all8 and all this for him1 that
 we might have him1 instead of all8 ,and
 will he1 think you1 after all this1    
forget us1 and forsake us himself8 ,far 

be such a thought from our hearts6--,but
 why staid he not with his people while 
he was here8 ,why8 ,was not the work on 
earth done8 ,must he not take possession
 of glory in our behalf8 ,must he not   
intercede with the ,father1 plead his   
sufferings1 be filled with the ,spirit  
to send forth1 receive authority1 and   
subdue his enemies8 ,our abode here is  
short4 ,if he had staid on earth1 what  
would it have been to enjoy him for a   
few days1 and then die8 ,he hath more in
 heaven to dwell among2 even the spirits
 of many generations4 ,he will have us  
live by faith1 and not by sight4        
,footnote #ff ,john xiv1 #c4  ,footnote 
#fg #a ,corinthians xi1 #bf4  ,footnote 
#fh ,matthew xxiv1 #cb4  ,footnote #fi  
,matthew xxiv1 #dh4  ,footnote #gj ,luke
 xxi1 #bh4  ,footnote #ga ,matthew x1   
#af4  ,footnote #gb ,psalm lvii1 #d4    
,footnote #gc ,matthew iii1 #g4         
,footnote #gd #a ,corinthians xv1 #ai4  
#c4 ,o1 ,fellow ,christians1 what a day 
will that be1 when we1 who have been    

kept prisoners by sin1 by sinners1 by   
the grave1 shall be fetched out by the  
,lord himself8 ,it will not be such a   
coming as his first was1 in poverty and 
contempt1 to be spit upon1 and buffeted1
 and crucified again4 ,he will not come1
 ,o careless world6 to be slighted and  
neglected by you any more4 ,yet that    
coming wanted not its glory4 ,if the    
heavenly host1 for the celebration of   
his nativity1 must praise ,god2#ge with 
what shoutings will angels and saints at
 that day proclaim glory to ,god1 peace 
and good will towards men8 ,if a star   
must lead men from remote parts of the  
world to come to worship a child in a   
manger2#gf how will the glory of his    
next appearing constrain all the world  
to acknowledge his sovereignty8 ,if1    
riding on an ass1 he enter ,jerusalem   
with hosannas1#gg with what peace and   
glory will he come toward the ,new      
,jerusalem8 ,if1 when he was in the form
 of a servant1#gh they cry out1 ,what   
manner of man is this1 that even the    

winds and the sea obey him8#gi ,what    
will they say1 when they shall see him  
coming in his glory1 and the heavens and
 the earth obey him8 ,then shall all the
 tribes of the earth mourn4#hj ,to think
 and speak of that day with horror1 doth
 well beseem the impenitent sinner1 but 
ill the believing saint4 ,shall the     
wicked behold him and cry1 ,yonder is he
 whose blood we neglected1 whose grace  
we resisted1 whose counsels we refused1 
whose government we cast off6 ,and shall
 not the saints1 with inconceivable     
gladness1 cry1 ,yonder is he whose blood
 redeemed us1 whose ,spirit cleansed us1
 whose law did govern us1 in whom we    
trusted1 and he hath not deceived our   
trust2 for whom we long waited1 and now 
we see we have not waited in vain6 ,o   
cursed corruption6 that would have had  
us turn to the world1 and present       
things1 and say1 ,why should we wait for
 the ,lord any longer8#ha ,now we see1  
,blessed are all they that wait for     
him4#hb ,and now1 ,christians1 should we

 not put up that petition heartily1 ,thy
 kingdom come8 ,the ,spirit and the     
bride say come3 ,and let him that       
heareth1 and readeth1 say1 ,come4 ,our  
,lord himself says1 ,surely ,i come     
quickly4 ,amen1 even so come1 ,lord     
,jesus4#hc  ,footnote #ge ,luke ii1 #ac1
 #ad4  ,footnote #gf ,matthew ii1 #b4   
,footnote #gg ,matthew xxi1 #e-i4       
,footnote #gh ,philippians ii1 #g4      
,footnote #gi ,matthew viii1 #bg4       
,footnote #hj ,matthew xxiv1 #cj4       
,footnote #ha #b ,kings vi1 #cc4        
,footnote #hb ,isaiah xxx1 #ah4         
,footnote #hc ,revelation xxii1 #ag1    
#bj4   #d4 7#b47 ,another thing that    
leads to paradise is1 that great work of
 ,jesus ,christ1 in raising our bodies  
from the dust1 and uniting them again   
unto the soul4 ,a wonderful effect of   
infinite power and love6 ,yea1 wonderful
 indeed1 says unbelief1 if it be true4  
,what1 shall all these scattered bones  
and dust become a man8--,let me with    
reverence plead for ,god1 for that power

 whereby ,i hope to arise4 ,what beareth
 the massy body of the earth8 ,what     
limits the vast ocean of the waters8    
,whence is that constant ebbing and     
flowing of the tides8 ,how many times   
bigger than all the earth is the sun1   
that glorious body of light8 ,is it not 
as easy to raise the dead1 as to make   
heaven1 and earth1 and all of           
nothing8--,look not on the dead bones1  
and dust1 and difficulty1 but at the    
promise4 ,contentedly commit these      
carcasses to a prison1 that shall not   
long contain them4 ,let us lie down in  
peace1 and take our rest2 it will not be
 an everlasting night1 nor endless      
sleep4 ,if unclothing be the thing thou 
fearest2 it is that thou mayest have    
better clothing4#hd ,if to be turned out
 of doors be the thing thou fearest2    
remember1 that when the earthly house of
 this tabernacle is dissolved1 thou hast
 a building of ,god1 an house not made  
with hands1 eternal in the heavens4#he  
,lay down cheerfully this lump of       

corruption2 thou shalt undoubtedly      
receive it again in incorruption4 ,lay  
down freely this terrestrial1 this      
natural body2 thou shalt receive it     
again a celestial1 a spiritual body4    
,though thou lay it down with great     
dishonor2 thou shalt receive it in      
glory4 ,though thou art separated from  
it through weakness2 it shall be raised 
again in mighty power4 ,in a moment1 in 
the twinkling of an eye1 at the last    
trump1 for the trumpet shall sound1 and 
the dead shall be raised incorruptible1 
and we shall be changed4#hf ,the dead in
 ,christ shall rise first4 ,then they   
which are alive and remain1 shall be    
caught up together with them in the     
clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air4#hg
 ,triumph now1 ,o ,christian1 in these  
promises2 thou shalt shortly triumph in 
their performance4 ,this is the day     
which the ,lord will make1 we shall     
rejoice and be glad in it4#hh ,the      
grave1 that could not keep our ,lord1   
cannot keep us4 ,he arose for us1 and by

 the same power will cause us to arise4 
,for if we believe that ,jesus died1 and
 rose again1 even so them also which    
sleep in ,jesus will ,god bring with    
him4#hi ,let us never look at the grave1
 but let us see the resurrection beyond 
it4 ,yea1 let us be steadfast1          
immoveable1 always abounding in the work
 of the ,lord1 for as much as we know   
our labor is not in vain in the         
,lord4#ij  ,footnote #hd #b ,corinthians
 v1 #d4  ,footnote #he #b ,corinthians  
v1 #a4  ,footnote #hf #a ,corinthians   
xv1 #db-dd1 #eb4  ,footnote #hg #a      
,thessalonians iv1 #af1 #ag4  ,footnote 
#hh ,psalm cxviii1 #bd4  ,footnote #hi  
#a ,thessalonians iv1 #ad4  ,footnote   
#ij #a ,corinthians xv1 #eh4   #e4 7#c47
 ,part of this prologue to the saint's  
rest1 is the public and solemn process  
at their judgment1 where they shall     
first themselves be acquitted and       
justified1 and then with ,christ judge  
the world4 ,young and old1 of all       
estates and nations1 that ever were from

 the creation to that day1 must here    
come1 and receive their doom4 ,o        
terrible6 ,o joyful day6 ,terrible to   
those that have forgot the coming of    
their ,lord6 ,joyful to the saints1     
whose waiting and hope was to see this  
day6 ,then shall the world behold the   
goodness and severity of ,god2 on them  
which perish1 severity2 but to his      
chosen1 goodness4#ia ,every one must    
give an account of his stewardship4#ib  
,every talent of time1 health1 wit1     
mercies1 afflictions1 means1 warnings1  
must be reckoned for4 ,the sins of      
youth1 those which they had forgotten1  
and their secret sins1 shall all be laid
 open before angels and men4 ,they shall
 see the ,lord ,jesus1 whom they        
neglected1 whose word they disobeyed1   
whose ministers they abused1 whose      
servants they hated1 now sitting to     
judge them4 ,their own consciences shall
 cry out against them1 and call to their
 remembrance all their misdoings4 ,which
 way will the wretched sinner look8 ,who

 can conceive the terrible thoughts of  
his heart8 ,now the world cannot help   
him2 his old companions cannot2 the     
saints neither can1 nor will4 ,only the 
,lord ,jesus can2 but1 there is the     
misery1 he will not4 ,time was1 sinner1 
when ,christ would1 and you would not2  
now1 fain would you1 and he will not4   
,all in vain1 to cry to the mountains1  
and rocks1 ,fall on us1 and hide us from
 the face of ,him that sitteth upon the 
throne2#ic for thou hast the ,lord of   
mountains and rocks for thine enemy1    
whose voice they will obey1 and not     
thine4 ,i charge thee therefore1 before 
,god1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who 
shall judge the quick and the dead1 at  
his appearing1 and his kingdom1#id that 
thou set thyself seriously to ponder on 
these things4  ,footnote #ia ,romans xi1
 #ba4  ,footnote #ib ,luke xvi1 #b4     
,footnote #ic ,revelation vi1 #af4      
,footnote #id #b ,timothy iv1 #a4   #f4 
,but why tremblest thou1 ,o humble      
gracious soul8 ,he that would not lose  

one ,noah in a common deluge1 nor       
overlook one ,lot in ,sodom2 nay1 that  
could do nothing till he went forth2    
will he forget thee at that day8 ,the   
,lord knoweth how to deliver the godly  
out of temptations1 and to reserve the  
unjust unto the day of judgment to be   
punished4#ie ,he knoweth how to make the
 same day the greatest terror to his    
foes1 and yet the greatest joy to his   
people4 ,there is no condemnation to    
them that are in ,christ ,jesus1 who    
walk not after the flesh1 but after the 
spirit4 ,who shall lay any thing to the 
charge of ,god's elect8 ,shall the law8 
,the law of the spirit of life in       
,christ ,jesus1 hath made them free from
 the law of sin and death4 ,or shall    
conscience8 ,the ,spirit itself beareth 
witness with their spirit1 that they are
 the children of ,god4 ,it is ,god that 
justifieth1 who is he that              
condemneth8#if ,if our ,judge condemn us
 not1 who shall8 ,he that said to the   
adulterous woman1 ,hath no man condemned

 thee8 ,neither do ,i2#ig will say to   
us1 more faithfully than ,peter to him1 
though all men deny thee1 or condemn    
thee1 ,i will not4#ih ,having confessed 
me before men1 thee will ,i confess also
 before my ,father who is in heaven4#ii 
,footnote #ie #b ,peter ii1 #i4         
,footnote #if ,romans viii1 #a1 #b1 #af1
 #cc1 #cd4  ,footnote #ig ,john viii1   
#aj1 #aa4  ,footnote #ih ,matthew xxvi1 
#cc1 #ce4  ,footnote #ii ,matthew x1    
#cb4   #g4 ,what inexpressible joy1 that
 our dear ,lord1 who loveth our souls1  
and whom our souls love1 shall be our   
judge6 ,will a man fear to be judged by 
his dearest friend8 ,or a wife by her   
own husband8 ,christian1 did ,christ    
come down and suffer1 and weep1 and     
bleed1 and die for thee1 and will he now
 condemn thee8 ,was he judged1          
condemned1 and executed in thy stead1   
and now will he condemn thee himself8   
,hath he done most of the work already1 
in redeeming1 regenerating1 sanctifying1
 and preserving thee1 and will he now   

undo all again8 ,well then1 let the     
terror of that day be never so great1   
surely our ,lord can mean no ill to us  
in all4 ,let it make the devils tremble1
 and the wicked tremble2 but it shall   
make us leap for joy4 ,it must needs    
affect us deeply with the sense of our  
mercy and happiness1 to see most of the 
world tremble with terror1 while we     
triumph with joy2 to hear them doomed to
 everlasting flames1 when we are        
proclaimed heirs to the kingdom2 to see 
our neighbors that lived in the same    
towns1 came to the same congregation1   
dwelt in the same houses1 and were      
esteemed more honorable in the world    
than ourselves1 now by the ,searcher of 
hearts eternally separated4 ,this1 with 
the great magnificence and dreadfulness 
of the day1 the ,apostle pathetically   
expresses3 ,it is a righteous thing with
 ,god1 to recompense tribulation to them
 that trouble you2 and to you who are   
troubled1 rest with us1 when the ,lord  
,jesus shall be revealed from heaven1   

with his mighty angels1 in flaming fire1
 taking vengeance on them that know not 
,god1 and that obey not the gospel of   
our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 who shall be  
punished with everlasting destruction   
from the presence of the ,lord1 and from
 the glory of his power2 when he shall  
come to be glorified in his saints1 and 
to be admired in all them that believe  
in that day4#ajj  ,footnote #ajj #b     
,thessalonians i1 #f-aj4   #h4 ,yet     
more1 we shall be so far from the dread 
of that judgment1 that ourselves shall  
become the judges4 ,christ will take his
 people1 as it were1 into commission    
with himself1 and they shall sit and    
approve his righteous judgment4 ,do ye  
not know that the saints will judge the 
world8 ,nay1 know ye not that we shall  
judge angels8#aja ,were it not for the  
word of ,christ that speaks it1 this    
advancement would seem incredible and   
the language arrogant4 ,even ,enoch1 the
 seventh from ,adam1 prophesied of this1
 saying1 ,behold the ,lord cometh with  

ten thousand of his saints1 to execute  
judgment upon all1 and to convince all  
that are ungodly among them1 of all     
their ungodly deeds which they have     
ungodly committed1 and of all their hard
 speeches which ungodly sinners have    
spoken against him4#ajb ,thus shall the 
saints be honored1 and the upright shall
 have dominion in the morning4#ajc ,o   
that the careless world were wise1 that 
they understood this1 that they would   
consider their latter end6#ajd ,that    
they would be now of the same mind as   
they will be1 when they shall see the   
heavens pass away with a great noise1   
and the elements melt with fervent heat1
 the earth also1 and the works that are 
therein1 burnt up6 ,when all shall be on
 fire about their ears1 and all earthly 
glory consumed4 ,for the heavens and the
 earth1 which are now1 are reserved unto
 fire against the day of judgment1 and  
perdition of ungodly men4 ,seeing then  
that all these things shall be          
dissolved1 what manner of persons ought 

ye to be in all holy conversation and   
godliness1 looking for and hasting unto 
the coming of the day of ,god1 wherein  
the heavens being on fire1 shall be     
dissolved1 and the elements shall melt  
with fervent heat8#aje  ,footnote #aja  
#a ,corinthians vi1 #b1 #c4  ,footnote  
#ajb ,jude #ad1 #ae4  ,footnote #ajc    
,psalm xlix1 #ad4  ,footnote #ajd       
,deuteronomy xxxii1 #bi4  ,footnote #aje
 #b ,peter iii1 #g-ab4   #i4 7#d47 ,the 
last preparative to the saint's rest1 is
 their solemn coronation1 and receiving 
the kingdom4 ,for1 as ,christ1 their    
,head1 is anointed both ,king and       
,priest2 so under him are his people    
made unto ,god both kings and priests1  
to reign1 and to offer praises for      
ever4#ajf ,the crown of righteousness1  
which was laid up for them1 shall by the
 ,lord the righteous ,judge be given    
them at that day4#ajg ,they have been   
faithful unto death1 and therefore he   
will give them a crown of life4#ajh ,and
 according to the improvement of their  

talents here1 so shall their rule and   
dignity be enlarged4#aji ,they are not  
dignified with empty titles1 but real   
dominion4 ,christ will grant them to sit
 with him in his throne2#aaj and will   
give them power over the nations1 even  
as he received of his ,father2 and he   
will give them the morning star4#aaa    
,the ,lord himself will give them       
possession with these applauding        
expressions3 ,well done1 good and       
faithful servant1 thou hast been        
faithful over a few things1 ,i will make
 thee ruler over many things2 enter thou
 into the joy of thy ,lord4#aab         
,footnote #ajf ,revelation v1 #aj4      
,footnote #ajg #b ,timothy iv1 #h4      
,footnote #ajh ,revelation ii1 #aj4     
,footnote #aji ,matthew xxv1 #ba1 #bc4  
,footnote #aaj ,revelation iii1 #ba4    
,footnote #aaa ,revelation ii1 #bf-bh4  
,footnote #aab ,matthew xxv1 #bc4   #aj4
 ,and with this solemn and blessed      
proclamation shall he enthrone them2    
,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 inherit

 the kingdom prepared for you from the  
foundation of the world4#aac ,every word
 full of life and joy4--,come--this is  
the holding forth of the golden sceptre1
 to warrant our approach unto this      
glory4 ,come now as near as you will2   
fear not the ,bethshemite's judgment2   
for the enemy is utterly abolished4#aad 
,this is not such a ,come as we were    
wont to hear1 ,come1 take up your cross1
 and follow me4#aae ,though that was    
sweet1 yet this much more4--,ye         
blessed--,blessed indeed1 when that     
mouth shall so pronounce us6 ,for though
 the world hath accounted us accursed1  
and we have been ready to account       
ourselves so2 yet certainly those that  
he blesseth1 are blessed2 and those whom
 he curseth1 only are cursed1 and his   
blessing cannot be reversed4#aaf----,of 
my ,father--,blessed in the ,father's   
love1 as well as the ,son's1 for they   
are one4#aag ,the ,father hath testified
 his love in their election1 donation to
 ,christ1 sending of ,christ1 and       

accepting his ransom1 as the ,son hath  
also testified his4--,inherit--,no      
longer bondmen1 nor servants only1 nor  
children under age1 who differ not in   
possession1 but only in title1 from     
servants4#aah ,but now we are heirs of  
the kingdom1#aai and joint heirs with   
,christ4#abj--,the kingdom--,no less    
than the kingdom8 ,indeed1 to be ,king  
of kings1 and ,lord of lords1 is our    
,lord's own proper title3 ,but to be    
kings1 and reign with him1#aba is ours4 
,the enjoyment of this kingdom is1 as   
the light of the sun1 each have the     
whole1 and the rest never the           
less4--,prepared for you--,god is the   
,alpha1 as well as the ,omega1 of our   
blessedness4 ,eternal love hath laid the
 foundation4 ,he prepared the kingdom   
for us1 and then prepared us for the    
kingdom4 ,this is the preparation of his
 counsel and decree2 for the execution  
whereof ,christ was yet to make a       
further preparation--,for you--,not for 
believers only in general1 who1 without 

individual persons1 are nobody2 but for 
you personally4--,from the foundation of
 the world4--,not only from the promise 
after ,adam's fall1 but from eternity4  
,footnote #aac ,matthew xxv1 #cd4       
,footnote #aad ,ephesians ii1 #ae4      
,footnote #aae ,matthew xvi1 #bd4       
,footnote #aaf ,numbers xxii1 #f1 xxiii1
 #bj4  ,footnote #aag ,john x1 #cj4     
,footnote #aah ,galatians iv1 #a-g4     
,footnote #aai ,james ii1 #e4  ,footnote
 #abj ,romans viii1 #ag4  ,footnote #aba
 ,revelation xix1 #af4 xx1 #f4   #aa4   
,thus we have seen the ,christian safely
 landed in paradise1 and conveyed       
honorably to his rest4 ,now let us a    
little further1 in the next chapter1    
view those mansions1 consider their     
privileges1 and see whether there be any
 glory like unto this glory4     ,,chap4
 ,,iii4  ,the ,excellencies of the      
,saint's ,rest4    #a4 ,the excellencies
 of the ,saint's ,rest are enumerated4  
#b4 7#a47 ,it  is the purchased         
possession4  #c1 #d4 7#b47 ,a free gift4

  #e4 7#c47  ,peculiar to saints4  #f4  
7#d47 ,an association with saints and   
angels4   #g4 7#e47 ,it derives its joys
 immediately from ,god himself4  #h4    
7#f47 ,it  will be seasonable4  #i4     
7#g47 ,suitable4  #aj-ab4 7#h47         
,perfect1 without  sin and suffering4   
#ac4 7#i47 ,and everlasting4  #ad4 ,the 
chapter  concludes with a serious       
address to the reader4    #a4 ,let us   
draw a little nearer1 and see what      
further excellencies this rest          
affordeth4 ,the ,lord hide us in the    
clefts of the rock1 and cover us with   
the hands of indulgent grace1 while we  
approach to take this view6 ,this rest  
is excellent for being--a purchased     
possession2--a free gift2--peculiar to  
saints2--an association with saints and 
angels2 yet deriving its joys           
immediately from ,god2--and because it  
will be a                               
seasonable1--suitable1--perfect1--and   
eternal rest4   #b4 7#a47 ,it is a most 
singular honor of the saint's rest1 to  

be called the purchased possession4#abb 
,that is1 the fruit of the blood of the 
,son of ,god2 yea1 the chief fruit1 the 
end and perfection of all the fruits and
 efficacy of that blood4 ,greater love  
than this there is not1 to lay down the 
life of the lover4 ,and to have this our
 ,redeemer ever before our eyes1 and the
 liveliest sense and freshest           
remembrance of that dying1 bleeding love
 still upon our souls3 ,how will it fill
 our souls with perpetual joy1 to think 
that in the streams of this blood we    
have swam through the violence of the   
world1 the snares of ,satan1 the        
seducements of flesh1 the curse of the  
law1 the wrath of an offended ,god1 the 
accusations of a guilty conscience1 and 
the vexing doubts and fears of an       
unbelieving heart1 and are arrived safe 
at the presence of ,god6 ,now1 he cries 
to us1 is it nothing to you1 all ye that
 pass by8 ,behold and see1 if there be  
any sorrow like unto my sorrow6#abc and 
we scarce regard the mournful voice1 nor

 scarce turn aside to view the wounds4  
,but then our perfected souls will feel1
 and flame in love for love4 ,with what 
astonishing apprehensions will redeemed 
saints everlastingly behold their       
blessed ,redeemer8 the purchaser1 and   
the price1 together with the possession8
 ,neither will the view of his wounds of
 love1 renew our wounds of sorrow4 ,he1 
whose first words after his resurrection
 were to a great sinner1 ,woman1 why    
weepest thou8#abd knows how to raise    
love and joy1 without any cloud of      
sorrow1 or storm of tears4 ,if any thing
 we enjoy was purchased with the life of
 our dearest friend1 how highly should  
we value it6 ,if a dying friend deliver 
us but a token of his love1 how         
carefully do we preserve it6 ,and still 
remember him when we behold it1 as if   
his own name were written on it6 ,and   
will not then the death and blood of our
 ,lord everlastingly sweeten our        
possessed glory6 ,as we write down the  
price our goods cost us2 so on our      

righteousness and glory1 write down the 
price1 the precious blood of ,christ4   
,his sufferings were to satisfy the     
justice that required blood1 and to bear
 what was due to sinners1 and so to     
restore them to the life they lost1 and 
the happiness they fell from4 ,the work 
of ,christ's redemption so well pleased 
the ,father1 that he gave him power to  
advance his chosen1 and give them the   
glory which was given to himself1 and   
all this according to his good pleasure1
 and the counsel of his own will4#abe   
,footnote #abb ,ephesians i1 #ad4       
,footnote #abc ,lamentations i1 #ab4    
,footnote #abd ,john xx1 #ae4  ,footnote
 #abe ,ephesians i1 #i1 #aa4   #c4 7#b47
 ,another pearl in the saint's diadem   
is1 that it is a free gift4 ,these two1 
purchased and free1 are the chains of   
gold which make up the wreaths for the  
tops of the pillars in the temple of    
,god4#abf ,it was dear to ,christ1 but  
free to us4 ,when ,christ was to buy1   
silver and gold were nothing worth2     

prayers and tears could not suffice1 not
 any thing below his blood2 but our     
buying is receiving2 we have it freely1 
without money and without price4#abg ,a 
thankful acceptance of a free           
acquittance is no paying of the debt4   
,here all is free2 if the ,father freely
 give the ,son1 and the ,son freely pay 
the debt2 and if ,god freely accepts    
that way of payment1 when he might have 
required it of the principal2 and if    
both ,father and ,son freely offer us   
the purchased life on our cordial       
acceptance1 and if they freely send the 
,spirit to enable us to accept2 what is 
here then that is not free8 ,oh the     
everlasting admiration that must needs  
surprize the saints to think of this    
freeness6 ,what did the ,lord see in me1
 that he should judge me meet for such a
 state8 ,that ,i1 who was but a poor1   
diseased1 despised wretch1 should be    
clad in the brightness of this glory6   
,that ,i1 a creeping worm1 should be    
advanced to this high dignity6 ,that ,i1

 who was but lately groaning1 weeping1  
dying1 should now be as full of joy as  
my heart can hold6 yea1 should be taken 
from the grave1 where ,i was rotting1   
and from the dust and darkness1 where ,i
 seemed forgotten1 and be here set      
before his throne6 ,that ,i should be   
taken1 with ,mordecai1 from captivity1  
and be set next unto the king2 and1 with
 ,daniel1 from the den1 to be made ruler
 of princes and provinces6 ,who can     
fathom unmeasurable love8 ,if worthiness
 were our condition for admittance1 we  
might sit down and weep with ,st4 ,john1
 ,because no man was found worthy4 ,but 
the ,lion of the ,tribe of ,judah is    
worthy1 and hath prevailed2#abh and by  
that title must we hold the inheritance4
 ,we shall offer there the offering that
 ,david refused1 even praise for that   
which cost us nothing4#abi ,here our    
commission runs1 freely ye have         
received1 freely give2#acj but ,christ  
has dearly bought1 yet freely gives4    
,footnote #abf #a ,kings vii1 #ag4      

,footnote #abg ,isaiah lv1 #a4          
,footnote #abh ,revelation v1 #d1 #e4   
,footnote #abi #b ,samuel xxiv1 #bd4    
,footnote #acj ,matthew x1 #h4   #d4 ,if
 it were only for nothing1 and without  
our merit1 the wonder were great2 but it
 is moreover against our merit1 and     
against our long endeavoring our own    
ruin4 ,what an astonishing thought it   
will be1 to think of the unmeasurable   
difference between our deservings and   
receivings6 ,between the state we should
 have been in1 and the state we are in6 
,to look down upon hell1 and see the    
vast difference that grace hath made    
betwixt us and them6 ,to see the        
inheritance there1 which we were born   
to1 so different from that which we are 
adopted to6 ,what pangs of love will it 
cause within us1 to think1 yonder was   
the place that sin would have brought me
 to1 but this is it that ,christ hath   
brought me to6 ,yonder death was the    
wages of my sin1 but this eternal life  
is the gift of ,god1 through ,jesus     

,christ my ,lord6#aca ,who made me to   
differ8#acb ,had ,i not now been in     
those flames1 if ,i had had my own way1 
and been let alone to my own will8      
,should ,i not have lingered in ,sodom1 
till the flames had seized on me1 if    
,god had not in mercy brought me        
out8#acc ,doubtless this will be our    
everlasting admiration1 that so rich a  
crown should fit the head of so vile a  
sinner6 ,that such high advancement1 and
 such long unfruitfulness and           
unkindness1 can be the state of the same
 person6 ,and that such vile rebellions 
can conclude in such most precious joys6
 ,but no thanks to us1 nor to any of our
 duties and labors1 much less to our    
neglects and laziness2 we know to whom  
the praise is due1 and must be given for
 ever4 ,indeed to this very end it was  
that infinite ,wisdom cast the whole    
design of man's salvation into this     
mould of purchase and freeness1 that the
 love and joy of man might be perfected1
 and the honor of grace most highly     

advanced2 that the thought of merit     
might neither cloud the one1 nor        
obstruct the other8 and that on these   
two hinges the gate of heaven might     
turn4 ,so then let ,,deserved be written
 on the door of hell1 but on the door of
 heaven and life1 ,,the ,,free ,,gift4  
,footnote #aca ,romans vi1 #bc4         
,footnote #acb #a ,corinthians iv1 #g4  
,footnote #acc ,genesis xix1 #af4   #e4 
7#c47 ,this rest is peculiar to saints1 
belongs to no other of all the sons of  
men4 ,if all ,egypt had been light1 the 
,israelites would not have had the less2
 but to enjoy that light alone1 while   
their neighbors lived in thick darkness1
 must make them more sensible of their  
privilege4 ,distinguishing mercy affects
 more than any mercy4 ,if ,pharaoh had  
passed as safely as ,israel1 the ,red   
,sea would have been less remembered4   
,if the rest of the world had not been  
drowned1 and the rest of ,sodom and     
,gomorrah not burned1 the saving of     
,noah had been no wonder1 nor ,lot's    

deliverance so much talked of4 ,when one
 is enlightened1 and another left in    
darkness2 one reformed1 and another by  
his lust enslaved2 it makes the saints  
cry out1 ,lord1 how is it that thou wilt
 manifest thyself unto us1 and not unto 
the world8#acd ,when the prophet is sent
 to one widow only of all that were in  
,israel1 and to cleanse one ,naaman of  
all the lepers1#ace the mercy is more   
observable4 ,that will sure be a day of 
passionate sense on both sides1 when    
there shall be two in one bed1 and two  
in the field1 the one taken1 and the    
other left4#acf ,the saints shall look  
down upon the burning lake1 and in the  
sense of their own happiness1 and in the
 approbation of ,god's just proceedings1
 they shall rejoice and sing1 ,thou art 
righteous1 ,o ,lord1 which wast1 art1   
and shalt be1 because thou hast judged  
thus4#acg  ,footnote #acd ,john xiv1    
#bb4  ,footnote #ace ,luke iv1 #be-bg4  
,footnote #acf ,luke xvii1 #cd1 #cf4    
,footnote #acg ,revelation xvi1 #e4     

#f4 7#d47 ,but though this rest be      
proper to the saints1 yet it is common  
to all the saints2 for it is an         
association of blessed spirits1 both    
saints and angels2 a corporation of     
perfected saints1 whereof ,christ is the
 ,head2 the communion of saints         
completed4 ,as we have been together in 
the labor1 duty1 danger1 and distress2  
so shall we be in the great recompense  
and deliverance4 ,as we have been       
scorned and despised1 so shall we be    
owned and honored together4 ,we1 who    
have gone through the day of sadness1   
shall enjoy together that day of        
gladness4 ,those1 who have been with us 
in persecution and prison1 shall be with
 us also in that palace of consolation4 
,how oft have our groans made1 as it    
were1 one sound8 our tears one stream8  
and our desires one prayer8 ,but now all
 our praises shall make up one melody2  
all our churches1 one church1 and all   
ourselves1 one body2 for we shall be all
 one in ,christ1 even1 as he and the    

,father are one4#ach ',tis true1 we must
 be careful1 not to look for that in the
 saints1 which is alone in ,christ4 ,but
 if the forethought of sitting down with
 ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 in   
the kingdom of heaven1#aci may be our   
lawful joy2 how much more the real sight
 and actual possession8 ,it cannot      
choose but be comfortable to think of   
that day1 when we shall join with ,moses
 in his song1 with ,david1 in his psalms
 of praise1 and with all the redeemed in
 the song of the ,lamb for ever2#adj    
when we shall see ,enoch walking with   
,god2#ada ,noah enjoying the end of his 
singularity2 ,joseph of his integrity2  
,job of his patience2 ,hezekiah of his  
uprightness2 and all the saints the end 
of their faith4#adb ,not only our old   
acquaintance1 but all the saints1 of all
 ages1 whose faces in the flesh we never
 saw1 we shall there both know1 and     
comfortably enjoy4 ,yea1 angels as well 
as saints1 will be our blessed          
acquaintance4 ,those1 who now are       

willingly our ministering spirits1#adc  
will willingly then be our companions in
 joy4 ,they1 who had such joy in heaven 
for our conversion1#add will gladly     
rejoice with us in our glorification4   
,then we shall truly say1 as ,david1 ,i 
am a companion of all them that fear    
thee2#ade when we are come unto ,mount  
,zion1 and unto the city of the living  
,god1 the heavenly ,jerusalem1 and to an
 innumerable company of angels2 to the  
general assembly1 and church of the     
first-born1 which are written in heaven1
 and to ,god the judge of all1 and to   
the spirits of just men made perfect1   
and to ,jesus the ,mediator of the new  
covenant4#adf ',tis a singular          
excellence of heavenly rest1 that we are
 fellow-citizens with the saints1 and of
 the houshold of ,god4#adg  ,footnote   
#ach ,john xvii1 #ba4  ,footnote #aci   
,matthew viii1 #aa4  ,footnote #adj     
,revelation xv1 #c4  ,footnote #ada     
,genesis v1 #bd4  ,footnote #adb #a     
,pet4 i1 #i4  ,footnote #adc ,heb4 i1   

#ad4  ,footnote #add ,luke xv1 #g1 #aj4 
,footnote #ade ,psal4 cxix1 #fc4        
,footnote #adf ,heb4 xii1 #bb-bd4       
,footnote #adg ,eph4 ii1 #ai4   #g4     
7#e47 ,as another property of our rest1 
we shall derive its joys immediately    
from ,god4 ,now we have nothing at all  
immediately1 but at the second or third 
hand1 or how many1 who knows8 ,from the 
earth1 from man1 from sun and moon1 from
 the ministration of angels1 and from   
the ,spirit1 and ,christ4 ,though in the
 hand of angels the stream savors not of
 the imperfection of sinners1 yet it    
does of the imperfection of creatures2  
and as it comes from man1 it savors of  
both4 ,how quick and piercing is the    
word in itself8#adh ,yet many times it  
never enters1 being managed by a feeble 
arm4 ,what weight and worth is there in 
every passage of the blessed gospel8    
,enough1 one would think1 to enter and  
force the dullest soul1 and wholly      
possess its thoughts and affections2 and
 yet how oft does it fall as water upon 

a stone8 ,the things of ,god1 which we  
handle1 are divine2 but our manner of   
handling is human4 ,there is little we  
touch1 but we leave the print of our    
fingers behind4 ,if ,god speaks the word
 himself1 it will be a piercing1 melting
 word indeed4 ,the ,christian now knows 
by experience1 that his most immediate  
joys are his sweetest joys2 which have  
least of man1 and are most directly from
 the ,spirit4 ,christians1 who are much 
in secret prayer and contemplation1 are 
men of the greatest life and joy2       
because they have all more immediately  
from ,god himself4 ,not that we should  
cast off hearing1 reading1 and          
conference1 or neglect any ordinance of 
,god3 but to live above them1 while we  
use them1 is the way of a ,christian4   
,there is joy in these remote           
receivings2 but the fulness of joy is in
 ,god's immediate presence4#adi ,we     
shall then have light without a candle1 
and perpetual day without the sun2 for  
the city has no need of the sun1 neither

 of the moon to shine in it1 for the    
glory of ,god lightens it1 and the ,lamb
 is the light thereof2 there shall be no
 night there1 and they need no candle1  
neither light1 for the ,lord ,god giveth
 them light1 and they shall reign for   
ever and ever4#aej ,we shall then have  
enlightened understandings without      
,scripture1 and be governed without a   
written law2 for the ,lord will perfect 
his law in our hearts1 and we shall be  
all perfectly taught of ,god4 ,we shall 
have joy1 which we drew not from the    
promises1 nor fetched home by faith or  
hope4 ,we shall have communion without  
sacraments1 without this fruit of the   
vine1 when ,christ shall drink it new   
with us in his ,father's kingdom1#aea   
and refresh us with the comforting wine 
of immediate enjoyment4 ,to have        
necessities1 but no supply1 is the case 
of them in hell4 ,to have necessity     
supplied by means of the creatures1 is  
the case of us on earth4 ,to have       
necessity supplied immediately from     

,god1 is the case of the saints in      
heaven4 ,to have no necessity at all1 is
 the prerogative of ,god himself4       
,footnote #adh ,heb4 iv1 #ab4  ,footnote
 #adi ,psalm xvi1 #aa4  ,footnote #aej  
,revelation xxi1 #bc4 xxii1 #e4         
,footnote #aea ,matthew xxvi1 #bi4   #h4
 7#f47 ,a farther excellence of this    
rest is1 that it will be seasonable4 ,he
 that expects the fruit of his vineyard 
at the season1#aeb and makes his people 
like a tree planted by the rivers of    
water1 that bringeth forth his fruit in 
his season1#aec will also give them the 
crown in season4 ,he that will have a   
word of joy spoken in season1 to him    
that is weary1#aed will surely cause the
 time of joy to appear in the fittest   
season4 ,they who are not weary in well 
doing1 shall1 if they faint not1 reap in
 due season4#aee ,if ,god giveth rain   
even to his enemies1 both the former and
 the latter in his season1 and reserveth
 the appointed weeks of harvest1 and    
covenants that there shall be day and   

night in their season2#aef then surely  
the glorious harvest of the saints shall
 not miss its season4 ,doubtless he that
 would not stay a day longer than his   
promise1 but brought ,israel out of     
,egypt on the self same day when the    
four hundred and thirty years were      
expired2#aeg neither will he fail of one
 day or hour of the fittest season for  
his people's glory4 ,when we have had in
 this world a long night of darkness1   
will not the day breaking and the rising
 of the ,sun of ,righteousness1 be then 
seasonable8 ,when we have passed a long 
and tedious journey1 through no small   
dangers1 is not home then seasonable8   
,when we have had a long and perilous   
war1 and received many a wound1 would   
not a peace with victory be seasonable8 
,men live in a continual weariness2     
especially the saints1 who are most     
weary of that which the world cannot    
feel4 ,some weary of a blind mind2 some1
 of a hard heart2 some1 of their daily  
doubts and fears1 some of the want of   

spiritual joys2 and some1 of the sense  
of ,god's wrath4 ,and when a poor       
,christian hath desired1 and prayed1 and
 waited for deliverance many years1 is  
it not then seasonable8 ,we grudge that 
we do not find a ,canaan in the         
,wilderness2 or the songs of ,sion in a 
strange land2 that we have not a harbor 
in the main ocean1 nor our rest in the  
heat of the day1 nor heaven before we   
leave the earth2 and would not all this 
be very unseasonable4  ,footnote #aeb   
,mark xii1 #b4  ,footnote #aec ,psalm i1
 #c4  ,footnote #aed ,isaiah i1 #d4     
,footnote #aee ,galatians vi1 #i4       
,footnote #aef ,jeremiah v1 #bd4 xxxiii1
 #bj4  ,footnote #aeg ,exodus xii1 #dj1 
#da4   #i4 7#g47 ,as this rest will be  
seasonable1 so it will be suitable4 ,the
 new nature of the saints doth suit     
their spirits to this rest4 ,indeed     
their holiness is nothing else but a    
spark taken from this element1 and by   
the ,spirit of ,christ kindled in their 
hearts2 the flame whereof1 mindful of   

its own divine original1 ever tends to  
the place from whence it comes4         
,temporal crowns and kingdoms could not 
make a rest for saints4 ,as they were   
not redeemed with so low a price1#aeh   
neither are they endued with so low a   
nature4 ,as ,god will have from them a  
spiritual worship1 suited to his own    
spiritual being1 he will provide them a 
spiritual rest1 suitable to their       
spiritual nature4 ,the knowledge of ,god
 and his ,christ1 a delightful          
complacency in that mutual love1 an     
everlasting rejoicing in the enjoyment  
of our ,god1 with a perpetual singing of
 his high praises2 this is a heaven for 
a saint4 ,then we shall live in our own 
element4 ,we are now as the fish in a   
vessel of water1 only so much as will   
keep them alive2 but what is that to the
 ocean6 ,we have a little air let into  
us1 to afford us breathing2 but what is 
that to the sweet and fresh gales upon  
,mount ,sion8 ,we have a beam of the sun
 to lighten our darkness1 and a warm ray

 to keep us from freezing2 but then we  
shall live in its light1 and be revived 
by its heat for ever4 ,as the natures of
 saints are1 such are their desires2 and
 it is the desires of our renewed nature
 which this rest is suited to4 ,whilst  
our desires remain corrupted and        
misguided1 it is a far greater mercy to 
deny them1 yea1 to destroy them1 than to
 satisfy them3 but those which are      
spiritual are of his own planting1 and  
he will surely water them1 and give the 
increase4 ,he quickened our hunger and  
thirst for righteousness1 that he might 
make us happy in a full satisfaction4   
,christian1 this is a rest after thy own
 heart2 it contains all that thy heart  
can wish2 that which thou longest1      
prayest1 laborest for1 there thou shalt 
find it all4 ,thou hadst rather have    
,god in ,christ1 than all the world3    
there thou shalt have him4 ,what wouldst
 thou not give for assurance of his     
love8 ,there thou shalt have assurance  
without suspicion4 ,desire what thou    

canst1 and ask what thou wilt1 as a     
,christian1 and it shall be given thee1 
not only to half of the kingdom1 but to 
the enjoyment both of kingdom and ,king4
 ,this is a life of desire and prayer1  
but that is a life of satisfaction and  
enjoyment4--,this rest is very suitable 
to the saints's necessities also1 as    
well as to their natures and desires4   
,it contains whatsoever they truly      
wanted2 not supplying them with gross   
created comforts1 which1 like ,saul's   
armor on ,david1 are more burden than   
benefit4 ,it was ,christ and perfect    
holiness which they most needed1 and    
with these shall they be supplied4      
,footnote #aeh #a ,peter i1 #ah4   #aj4 
7#h47 ,still more1 this rest will be    
absolutely perfect4 ,we shall then have 
joy without sorrow1 and rest without    
weariness4 ,there is no mixture of      
corruption with our graces1 nor of      
suffering with our comfort4 ,there are  
none of those waves in that harbor1     
which now so toss us up and down4       

,to-day we are well1 to-morrow sick2    
to-day in esteem1 to-morrow in disgrace2
 to-day we have friends1 to-morrow none2
 nay1 we have wine and vinegar in the   
same cup4 ,if revelations raise us to   
the third heaven1 the messenger of      
,satan must presently buffet us1 and the
 thorn in the flesh fetch us down4#aei  
,but there is none of this inconstancy  
in heaven4 ,if perfect love casteth out 
fear1#afj then perfect joy must needs   
cast out sorrow1 and perfect happiness  
exclude all the reliques of misery4 ,we 
shall there rest from all the evil of   
sin and of suffering4  ,footnote #aei #b
 ,corinthians xii1 #b1 #g4  ,footnote   
#afj #a ,john iv1 #ah4   #aa4 ,heaven   
excludes nothing more directly than sin2
 whether of nature1 or of conversation4 
,there shall in no wise enter any thing 
that defileth1 neither whatsoever       
worketh abomination1 or maketh a        
lie4#afa ,what need ,christ at all to   
have died1 if heaven could have         
contained imperfect souls8 ,for this    

purpose the ,son of ,god was manifested1
 that he might destroy the works of the 
devil4#afb ,his blood and spirit have   
not done all this1 to leave us after all
 defiled4 ,what communion hath light    
with darkness8 and what concord hath    
,christ with ,belial8#afc ,christian1 if
 thou be once in heaven1 thou shalt sin 
no more4 ,is not this glad news to thee1
 who hast prayed1 and watched against it
 so long8 ,i know1 if it were offered to
 thy choice1 thou wouldst rather choose 
to be freed from sin1 than have all the 
world4 ,thou shalt have thy             
desire4--,that hard heart1 those vile   
thoughts1 which accompanied thee to     
every duty1 shall now be left behind for
 ever4 ,thy understanding shall never   
more be troubled with darkness4 ,all    
dark scriptures shall be made plain2 all
 seeming contradictions reconciled4 ,the
 poorest ,christian is presently there a
 more perfect divine than any here4 ,o  
that happy day1 when error shall vanish 
for ever6 ,when our understanding shall 

be filled with ,god himself1 whose light
 will leave no darkness in us6 ,his face
 shall be the scripture1 where we shall 
read the truth4 ,many a godly man hath  
here1 in his mistaken zeal1 been a means
 to deceive and pervert his brethren1   
and when he sees his own error1 cannot  
again tell how to undeceive them4 ,but  
there we shall conspire in one truth1 as
 being one in ,him who is the truth4 ,we
 shall also rest from all the sin of our
 will1 affection1 and conversation4 ,we 
shall no more retain this rebelling     
principle1 which is still drawing us    
from ,god3 no more be oppressed with the
 power of our corruptions1 nor vexed    
with their presence3 no pride1 passion1 
slothfulness1 insensibility1 shall enter
 with us2 no strangeness to ,god1 and   
the things of ,god2 no coldness of      
affections1 nor imperfection in our     
love2 no uneven walking1 nor grieving of
 the ,spirit2 no scandalous action1 nor 
unholy conversation2 we shall rest from 
all these for ever4 ,then shall our will

 correspond to the ,divine will1 as face
 answers face in a glass1 and from      
which1 as our law and rule1 we shall    
never swerve4 ,for he that is entered   
into his rest1 he also hath ceased from 
his own works1 as ,god did from his4#afd
  ,footnote #afa ,revelation xxi1 #bg4  
,footnote #afb #a ,john iii1 #h4        
,footnote #afc #b ,corinthians vi1 #ad1 
#ae4  ,footnote #afd ,hebrews iv1 #aj4  
#ab4 ,our sufferings were but the       
consequences of our sinning1 and in     
heaven they both shall cease together4  
,we shall rest from all our doubts of   
,god's love4 ,it shall no more be said1 
that ,doubts are like the thistle1 a bad
 weed1 but growing in good ground4#afe  
,they shall now be weeded out1 and      
trouble the gracious soul no more4 ,we  
shall hear that kind of language no     
more1 ,what shall ,i do to know my      
state8 ,how shall ,i know that ,god is  
my ,father8 that my heart is upright8   
that conversion is true8 that faith is  
sincere8 ,i am afraid my sins are       

unpardoned2 that all ,i do is hypocrisy2
 that ,god will reject me2 that he does 
not hear my prayers4 ,all this is there 
turned into praise4 ,we shall rest from 
all sense of ,god's displeasure4 ,hell  
shall not be mixed with heaven4 ,at     
times the gracious soul remembered ,god1
 and was troubled2 complained1 and was  
overwhelmed1 and refused to be          
comforted2 ,divine wrath lay hard upon  
him1 and ,god afflicted him with all his
 waves4#aff ,but that blessed day shall 
convince us1 that though ,god hid his   
face from us for a moment1 yet with     
everlasting kindness will he have mercy 
on us4#afg ,we shall rest from all      
temptations of ,satan4 ,what a grief is 
it to a ,christian1 though he yield not 
to the temptation1 yet to be solicited  
to deny his ,lord8 ,what a torment1 to  
have such horrid motions made to his    
soul8 such blasphemous ideas presented  
to his imagination8 ,sometimes cruel    
thoughts of ,god1 undervaluing thoughts 
of ,christ1 unbelieving thoughts of     

,scripture1 or injurious thoughts of    
,providence8 ,to be tempted sometimes to
 turn to present things1 to play with   
the baits of sin1 and venture on the    
delights of flesh1 and sometimes to     
atheism itself8 ,especially when we know
 the treachery of our own hearts1 ready1
 as tinder1 to take fire1 as soon as one
 of these sparks shall fall upon them8  
,satan hath power here to tempt us in   
the wilderness1 but he entereth not the 
holy city2 he may set us on a pinnacle  
of the temple in the earthly ,jerusalem1
 but the new ,jerusalem he may not      
approach2 he may take us up into an     
exceeding high mountain1 but the ,mount 
,sion he cannot ascend2 and if he could1
 all the kingdoms of the world and the  
glory of them1#afh would be a despised  
bait to a soul possessed of the kingdom 
of our ,lord4 ,no1 'tis in vain for     
,satan to offer a tempation more4--,all 
our temptations from the world and the  
flesh shall also cease4 ,o the hourly   
dangers that we here walk in6 ,every    

sense1 and member1 is a snare2 every    
creature1 every mercy1 and every duty1  
is a snare to us4 ,we can scarce open   
our eyes1 but we are in danger of       
envying those above us1 or despising    
those below us2 of coveting the honors  
and riches of some1 or beholding the    
rags and beggary of others with pride   
and unmercifulness4 ,if we see beauty1  
'tis a bait to lust2 if deformity1 to   
loathing and disdain4 ,how soon do      
slanderous reports1 vain jests1 wanton  
speeches1 creep into the heart6 ,how    
constant and strong a watch does our    
appetite require6 ,have we comeliness   
and beauty8 ,what fuel for pride6 ,are  
we deformed8 ,what an occasion of       
repining6 ,have we strength of reason1  
and gifts of learning8 ,o how prone to  
be puffed up1 hunt after applause1 and  
despise our brethren6 ,are we unlearned6
 ,how apt then to despise what we have  
not6 ,are we in places of authority8    
,how strong is the temptation to abuse  
our trust1 make our will our law1 and   

cut out all the enjoyments of others by 
the rules and model of our own interest 
and policy6 ,are we inferiors8 ,how     
prone to grudge at others' pre-eminence1
 and bring their actions to the bar of  
our judgment6 ,are we rich1 and not too 
much exalted8 ,are we poor1 and not     
discontented8 ,are we not lazy in our   
duties1 or make a ,christ of them8 ,not 
that ,god hath made all these things our
 snares2 but through our own corruption 
they become so to us4 ,ourselves are the
 greatest snare to ourselves4 ,this is  
our comfort1 our rest will free us from 
all these4 ,as ,satan hath no entrance  
there1 so neither hath any thing to     
serve his malice6 but all things there  
shall join with us in the high praises  
of our great ,deliverer4--,as we rest   
from the temptations1 we shall likewise 
from the abuses and persecutions of the 
world4 ,the prayers of the souls under  
the altar will then be answered1 and    
,god will avenge their blood on them    
that dwell on the earth4#afi ,this is   

the time for crowning with thorns2 that 
for crowning with glory4 ,now1 all that 
will live godly in ,christ ,jesus1 shall
 suffer persecution2#agj then they that 
suffered with him1 shall be glorified   
with him4#aga ,now we must be hated of  
all men for ,christ's name's sake4#agb  
,then ,christ will be admired in his    
saints that were thus hated4#agc ,we are
 here made a spectacle unto the world1  
and to angels1 and to men2 as the filth 
of the world1 and the off-scouring of   
all things2#agd men separate us from    
their company1 and reproach us1 and cast
 out our names as evil3#age ,but we     
shall then be as much gazed at for our  
glory2 and they will be shut out of the 
church of the saints1 and separated from
 us1 whether they will or not4 ,we can  
now scarce pray in our families1 or sing
 praises to ,god1 but our voice is a    
vexation to them3 how must it torment   
them then1 to see us praising and       
rejoicing1 while they are howling and   
lamenting6 ,you1 brethren1 who can now  

attempt no work of ,god1 without losing 
the love of the world1 consider you     
shall have none in heaven but will      
further your work1 and join heart and   
voice with you in your everlasting joy  
and praise4 ,till then1 possess ye your 
souls in patience4#agf ,bind all        
reproaches as a crown to your heads4    
,esteem them greater riches than the    
world's treasures4 ,it is a righteous   
thing with ,god1 to recompense          
tribulation to them that trouble you2   
and to you1 who are troubled1 rest with 
,christ4#agg--,we shall then rest from  
all our sad divisions1 and unchristian  
quarrels with one another4 ,how lovingly
 do thousands live together in heaven1  
who lived at variance upon earth6 ,there
 is no contention1 because none of this 
pride1 ignorance1 or other corruption4  
,there is no plotting to strengthen our 
party1 nor deep designing against our   
brethren4 ,if there be sorrow or shame  
in heaven1 we shall then be both sorry  
and ashamed to remember all this        

carriage on earth2 as ,joseph's brethren
 were to behold him1 when they          
remembered their former unkind usage4   
,is it not enough that all the world is 
against us1 but we must also be against 
one another8 ,o happy days of           
persecution1 which drove us together in 
love1 whom the sunshine of liberty and  
prosperity crumbles into dust by our    
contentions6 ,o happy day of the saint's
 rest in glory1 when1 as there is one   
,god1 one ,christ1 one ,spirit1 so we   
shall have one heart1 one church1 one   
employment for ever6--,we shall then    
rest from our participation of our      
brethren's sufferings4 ,the church on   
earth is a mere hospital2 some groaning 
under a dark understanding1 some under  
an insensible heart1 some languishing   
under unfruitful weakness1 and some     
bleeding for miscarriages and           
wilfulness1 some crying out of their    
poverty1 some groaning under pains and  
infirmities1 and some bewailing a whole 
catalogue of calamities4 ,but a far     

greater grief it is1 to see our dearest 
and most intimate friends turned aside  
from the truth of ,christ1 continuing   
their neglect of ,christ and their      
souls1 and nothing will awaken them out 
of their security3 ,to look on an       
ungodly father or mother1 brother or    
sister1 wife or husband1 child or       
friend1 and think how certainly they    
shall be in hell for ever1 if they die  
in their present unregenerate state3 ,to
 think of the gospel departing1 the     
glory taken from our ,israel1 poor souls
 left willingly dark and destitute1 and 
blowing out the light that should guide 
them to salvation6 ,our day of rest will
 free us from all this1 and the days of 
mourning shall be ended2 then thy       
people1 ,o ,lord1 shall be all          
righteous2 they shall inherit the land  
for ever1 the branch of thy planting1   
the work of thy hands1 that thou mayest 
be glorified4#agh--,then we shall rest  
from all our own personal sufferings4   
,this may seem a small thing to those   

that live in ease and prosperity2 but to
 the daily afflicted soul it makes the  
thoughts of heaven delightful4 ,o the   
dying life we now live6 as full of      
sufferings as of days and hours6 ,our   
,redeemer leaves this measure of misery 
upon us1 to make us know for what we are
 beholden1 to mind us of what we should 
else forget1 to be serviceable to his   
wise and gracious designs1 and          
advantageous to our full and final      
recovery4 ,grief enters at every sense1 
seizes every part and power of flesh and
 spirit4 ,what noble part is there1 that
 suffereth its pain or ruin alone8 ,but 
sin and flesh1 dust and pain1 will all  
be left behind together4 ,o the blessed 
tranquillity of that region1 where there
 is nothing but sweet1 continued peace6 
,o healthful place1 where none are sick6
 ,o fortunate land1 where all are kings6
 ,o holy assembly1 where all are        
priests6 ,how free a state1 where none  
are servants1 but to their supreme      
,monarch6 ,the poor man shall no more be

 tired with his labors3 ,no more hunger 
or thirst1 cold or nakedness3 ,no       
pinching frosts or scorching heats4 ,our
 faces shall no more be pale or sad3 ,no
 more breaches in friendship1 nor       
parting of friends asunder2 no more     
trouble accompanying our relations1 nor 
voice of lamentation heard in our       
dwellings3 ,god shall wipe away all     
tears from our eyes4#agi ,o my soul1    
bear with the infirmities of thine      
earthly tabernacle2 it will be thus but 
a little while2 the sound of thy        
,redeemer's feet is even at the         
door4--,we shall also rest from all the 
toil of duties4 ,the conscientious      
magistrate1 parent1 and minister1 cries 
out1 ,o the burden that lieth upon me6  
,every relation1 state1 age1 hath       
variety of duties2 so that every        
conscientious ,christian cries out1 ,o  
the burden6 ,o my weakness1 that makes  
it burdensome6 ,but our remaining rest  
will ease us of the burdens4--,once more
 we shall rest from all those           

troublesome afflictions which           
necessarily accompany our absence from  
,god4 ,the trouble that is mixt in our  
desires and hopes1 our longings and     
waitings1 shall then cease4 ,we shall no
 more look into our cabinet1 and miss   
our treasure2 into our hearts1 and miss 
our ,christ2 no more seek him from      
ordinance to ordinance2 but all be      
concluded in a most full and blessed    
enjoyment4  ,footnote #afe ,dr4 ,john   
,preston4  ,footnote #aff ,psalm lxxvii1
 #b1 #c4 lxxxviii1 #g4  ,footnote #afg  
,isaiah liv1 #i4  ,footnote #afh        
,matthew iv1 #a1 #e1 #h4  ,footnote #afi
 ,revelation vi1 #i1 #aj4  ,footnote    
#agj #b ,timothy iii1 #ab4  ,footnote   
#aga ,romans viii1 #ag4  ,footnote #agb 
,matthew x1 #bb4  ,footnote #agc #b     
,thessalonians i1 #aj4  ,footnote #agd  
#a ,corinthians iv1 #i1 #ac4  ,footnote 
#age ,luke1 vi1 #bb4  ,footnote #agf    
,luke xxi1 #ai4  ,footnote #agg #b      
,thessalonians i1 #f1 #g4  ,footnote    
#agh ,isaiah lx1 #bj1 #ba4  ,footnote   

#agi ,revelation vii1 #af1 #ag4   #ac4  
7#i47 ,the last jewel of our crown is1  
that it will be an everlasting rest4    
,without this all were comparatively    
nothing4 ,the very thought of leaving   
it1 would embitter all our joys4 ,it    
would be a hell in heaven1 to think of  
once losing heaven3 ,as it would be a   
kind of heaven to the damned1 had they  
but hopes of once escaping4 ,mortality  
is the disgrace of all sublunary        
delights4 ,how it spoils our pleasure1  
to see it dying in our hands6 ,but1 ,o  
blessed eternity6 where our lives are   
perplexed with no such thoughts1 nor our
 joys interrupted with any such fears6  
where we shall be pillars in the temple 
of our ,god1 and go no more out4#ahj    
,while we were servants1 we held by     
lease1 and that but for the term of a   
transitory life2 but the son abideth in 
the house for ever4#aha ,o my soul1 let 
go thy dreams of present pleasures1 and 
loose thy hold of earth and flesh4      
,study frequently1 study thoroughly1    

this one word1 eternity4 ,what6 ,live1  
and never die6 ,rejoice1 and ever       
rejoice6 ,o happy souls in hell1 should 
you but escape1 after millions of ages6 
,o miserable saints in heaven1 should   
you be dispossessed1 after the age of   
millions of worlds6 ,this word1         
everlasting1 contains the perfection of 
their torment1 and our glory4 ,o that   
the sinner would study this word1       
methinks it would startle him out of his
 dead sleep6 ,o that the gracious soul  
would study it1 methinks it should      
revive him in his deepest agony6 ,and   
must ,i1 ,lord1 thus live for ever8     
,then will ,i also love for ever4 ,must 
my joys be immortal8 ,and shall not my  
thanks be also immortal8 ,surely1 if ,i 
shall never lose my glory1 ,i will never
 cease thy praises4 ,if thou wilt both  
perfect1 and perpetuate me and my glory2
 as ,i shall be thine1 and not my own2  
so shall my glory be thy glory4 ,and as 
thy glory was thy ultimate end in my    
glory2 so shall it also be my end1 when 

thou hast crowned me with that glory    
which hath no end4 ,unto the ,king      
eternal1 immortal1 invisible1 the       
only-wise ,god1 be honor and glory1 for 
ever and ever4 ,amen4#ahb  ,footnote    
#ahj ,revelation iii1 #ab4  ,footnote   
#aha ,john viii1 #ce4  ,footnote #ahb #a
 ,timothy i1 #ag4   #ad4 ,thus ,i have  
endeavored to shew you a glimpse of     
approaching glory4 ,but how short are my
 expressions of its excellency6 ,reader1
 if thou be an humble1 sincere believer1
 and waitest with longing and laboring  
for this rest1 thou wilt shortly see1   
and feel the truth of all this4 ,thou   
wilt then have so high an apprehension  
of this blessed state1 as will make thee
 pity the ignorance and distance of     
mortals1 and will tell thee1 all that is
 here said falls short of the whole     
truth a thousand fold4 ,in the mean     
time1 let this much kindle thy desires  
and quicken thy endeavors3 ,up1 and be  
doing1 run1 and strive1 and fight1 and  
hold on2 for thou hast a certain1       

glorious prize before thee4 ,god will   
not mock thee2 do not mock thyself1 nor 
betray thy soul by delaying1 and all is 
thine own4 ,what kind of men1 dost thou 
think1 would ,christians be in their    
lives and duties1 if they had still this
 glory fresh in their thoughts8 ,what   
frame would their spirits be in1 if     
their thoughts of heaven were lively and
 believing8 ,would their hearts be so   
heavy8 their countenances be so sad8 or 
would they have need to take up their   
comforts from below8 ,would they be so  
loth to suffer2 so afraid to die2 or    
would they not think every day a year   
till they enjoy it8 ,may the ,lord heal 
our carnal hearts1 lest we enter not    
into this rest because of unbelief6#ahc 
,footnote #ahc ,hebrews iii1 #ai4       
,,chap4 ,,iv4  ,the ,character of the   
,persons for whom this rest is designed4
    #a4 ',tis wonderful that such rest  
should be designed for mortals4  #b4    
,the people of ,god1 who shall enjoy    
this rest1 are1 7#a47 ,chosen from      

eternity4  #c4 7#b47 ,given to ,christ4 
#d4 7#c47 ,born again4  #e-h4 7#d47     
,deeply convinced of the evil of sin1   
their misery by sin1 the vanity of  the 
creature1 and the all-sufficiency of    
,christ4  #i4 7#e47 ,their will  is     
proportionably changed4  #aj4 7#f47     
,they engage in covenant with  ,christ4 
#aa4 and1 7#g47 ,they persevere in their
 engagements4  #ab4 ,the  reader invited
 to examine himself by these            
characteristics of ,god's  people4  #ac4
 ,further testimony from ,scripture that
 this rest shall be  enjoyed by the     
people of ,god4  #ad4 ,also that none   
but they shall enjoy  it4  #ae-af4 ,and 
that it remains for them1 and is not to 
be enjoyed  till they come to another   
world4  #ag4 ,the chapter concludes with
  shewing1 that their souls shall enjoy 
this rest while separated from  their   
bodies4    #a4 ,while ,i was in the     
mount1 describing the excellencies of   
the saint's rest1 ,i felt it was good   
being there1 and therefore tarried the  

longer2 and was there not an extreme    
disproportion between my conceptions and
 the subject1 much longer had ,i been4  
,can a prospect of that happy land be   
tedious8 ,having read of such an high   
and unspeakable glory1 a stranger would 
wonder for what rare creature this      
mighty preparation should be made1 and  
expect some illustrious sun should break
 forth4 ,but behold6 only a shellfull of
 dust1 animated with an invisible1      
rational soul1 and that rectified with  
as unseen a restored power of grace2 and
 this is the creature that must possess 
such glory4 ,you would think it must    
needs be some deserving piece1 or one   
that brings a valuable price3 ,but      
behold6 one that hath nothing2 and can  
deserve nothing2 yea1 that deserves the 
contrary1 and would1 if he might proceed
 in that deserving2 but being           
apprehended by love1 he is brought to   
him that is ,all2#ahd and most          
affectionately receiving him1 and       
resting on him1 he doth1 in and through 

him1 receive all this4 ,more            
particularly1 the persons for whom this 
rest is designed1 are--chosen of ,god   
from eternity2--given to ,christ1 as    
their ,redeemer2--born again2--deeply   
convinced of the evil and misery of a   
sinful state1 the vanity of the         
creature1 and the all-sufficiency of    
,christ3--their will is renewed2--they  
engage themselves to ,christ in         
covenant2--and they persevere in their  
engagements to the end4  ,footnote #ahd 
,colossians iii1 #aa4   #b4 7#a47 ,the  
persons for whom this rest is designed1 
whom the text calls the people of ,god1 
are the chosen of ,god from             
eternity4#ahe ,that they are but a small
 part of mankind1 is too apparent in    
,scripture and experience4 ,they are the
 little flock1 to whom it is their      
,father's good pleasure to give the     
kingdom4#ahf ,fewer they are than the   
world imagines2 yet not so few as some  
drooping spirits think1 who are         
suspicious that ,god is unwilling to be 

their ,god1 when they know themselves   
willing to be his people4  ,footnote    
#ahe ,ephesians i1 #d1 #e4  ,footnote   
#ahf ,luke xii1 #cb4   #c4 7#b47 ,these 
persons are given of ,god to his ,son1  
to be by him redeemed from their lost   
state1 and advanced to this glory4 ,god 
hath given all things to his ,son1 but  
not as he hath given his chosen to him4 
,god hath given him power over all      
flesh1 that he should give eternal life 
to as many as the ,father hath given    
him4#ahg ,the difference is clearly     
expressed by the apostle2 he hath put   
all things under his feet1 and gave him 
to be the head over all things to the   
church4#ahh ,and though ,christ is1 in  
some sense1 a ransom for all1#ahi yet   
not in that special manner as for his   
people4  ,footnote #ahg ,john xvii1 #b4 
,footnote #ahh ,ephesians i1 #bb4       
,footnote #ahi ,timothy ii1 #f4   #d4   
7#c47 ,one great qualification of these 
persons is1 that they are born          
again4#aij ,to be the people of ,god    

without regeneration1 is as impossible  
as to be the children of men without    
generation4 ,seeing we are born ,god's  
enemies1 we must be new born his sons1  
or else remain enemies still4 ,the      
greatest reformation of life that can be
 attained to without this new life      
wrought in the soul1 may procure our    
farther delusion1 but never our         
salvation4  ,footnote #aij ,john iii1   
#c4   #e4 7#d47 ,this new life in the   
people of ,god discovers itself by      
conviction1 or a deep sense of ,divine  
things4 ,as for instance4--,they are    
convinced of the evil of sin4 ,the      
sinner is made to know and feel1 that   
the sin1 which was his delight1 is a    
more loathsome thing than a toad or a   
serpent1 and a greater evil than plague 
or famine2 being a breach of the        
righteous law of the most high ,god1    
dishonorable to him1 and destructive to 
the sinner4 ,now the sinner no more     
hears the reproofs of sin as words of   
course2 but the mention of his sin      

speaks to his very heart1 and yet he is 
contented you should shew him the worst4
 ,he was wont to marvel1 what made men  
keep such a stir against sin2 what harm 
it was for a man to take a little       
forbidden pleasure2 he saw no such      
heinousness in it1 that ,christ must    
needs die for it1 and a ,christless     
world be eternally tormented in hell4   
,now the case is altered1 ,god hath     
opened his eyes to see the inexpressible
 vileness in sin4   #f4 ,they are       
convinced of their own misery by reason 
of sin4 ,they who before read the       
threats of ,god's law1 as men do the    
story of foreign wars1 now find it their
 own story1 and perceive they read their
 own doom2 as if they found their names 
written in the curse1 or heard the law  
say1 as ,nathan1 ,thou art the man4#aia 
,the wrath of ,god seemed to him before1
 but as a storm to a man in a dry house1
 or as the pains of the sick to the     
healthful standerby2 but now he finds   
the disease is his own1 and feels       

himself a condemned man1 that he is dead
 and damned in point of law1 and that   
nothing was wanting but mere execution  
to make him absolutely and irrecoverably
 miserable4 ,this is a work of the      
,spirit1 wrought in some measure in all 
the regenerate4 ,how should he come to  
,christ for pardon1 that did not first  
find himself guilty1 and condemned8 or  
for life1 that never found himself      
spiritually dead8 ,the whole need not a 
physician1 but they that are sick4#aib  
,the discovery of the remedy1 as soon as
 the misery1 must needs prevent a great 
part of the trouble4 ,and perhaps the   
joyful apprehensions of mercy may make  
the sense of misery sooner forgotten4   
,footnote #aia #b ,samuel xii1 #g4      
,footnote #aib ,luke v1 #ca4   #g4 ,they
 are also convinced of the creature's   
vanity and insufficiency4 ,every man is 
naturally an idolater4 ,our hearts      
turned from ,god in our first fall1 and 
ever since the creature hath been our   
god4 ,this is the grand sin of nature4  

,every unregenerate man ascribes to the 
creature ,divine prerogatives1 and      
allows it the highest room in his soul2 
or if he is convinced of misery1 he     
flies to it as his savior4 ,indeed1 ,god
 and his ,christ shall be called ,lord  
and ,savior2 but the real expectation is
 from the creature1 and the work of ,god
 is laid upon it4 ,pleasure1 profit1 and
 honor1 are the natural man's trinity1  
and his carnal self is these in unity4  
,it was our first sin1 to aspire to be  
as gods2 and it is the greatest sin that
 is propagated in our nature from       
generation to generation4 ,when ,god    
should guide us1 we guide ourselves2    
when he should be our sovereign1 we rule
 ourselves2 the laws which he gives us  
we find fault with1 and would correct2  
and if we had the making of them1 we    
would have made them otherwise2 when he 
should take care of us1 7and must1 or we
 perish7 we will care for ourselves2    
when we should depend on him in daily   
receivings1 we had rather have our      

portion in our own hands2 when we should
 submit to his providence1 we usually   
quarrel at it1 and think we could make a
 better disposal than ,god hath made4   
,when we should study and love1 trust   
and honor ,god1 we study and love1 trust
 and honor1 our carnal selves4 ,instead 
of ,god1 we would have all men's eyes   
and dependence on us1 and all men's     
thanks returned to us1 and would gladly 
be the only men on earth extolled and   
admired by all4 ,thus we are naturally  
our own idols4 ,but down falls this     
,dagon1 when ,god does once renew the   
soul4 ,it is the chief design of that   
great work1 to bring the heart back to  
,god himself4 ,he convinceth the sinner1
 that the creature can neither be his   
,god1 to make him happy1 nor his        
,christ1 to recover him from his misery1
 and restore him to ,god1 who is his    
happiness4 ,god does this1 not only by  
his word but by his providence also4    
,this is the reason1 why affliction so  
frequently concurs in the work of       

conversion4 ,arguments which speak to   
the quick1 will force a hearing when the
 most powerful words are slighted4 ,if a
 sinner made his credit his god1 and    
,god shall cast him into the lowest     
disgrace1 or bring him1 who idolized his
 riches1 into a condition wherein they  
cannot help him3 or cause them to take  
wing and fly away2 what a help is here  
to this work of conviction8 ,if a man   
made pleasure his god1 whatsoever a     
roving eye1 a curious ear1 a greedy     
appetite1 or a lustful heart could      
desire1 and ,god should take these from 
him1 or turn them into gall and         
wormwood2 what a help is here to        
conviction8 ,when ,god shall cast a man 
into languishing sickness1 and inflict  
wounds on his heart1 and stir up against
 him his own conscience1 and then1 as it
 were1 say to him1 ,try if your credit1 
riches1 or pleasures1 can help you4 ,can
 they heal your wounded conscience8 ,can
 they now support your tottering        
tabernacle8 ,can they keep your         

departing soul in your body8 or save you
 from mine everlasting wrath8 or redeem 
your soul from eternal flames8 ,cry     
aloud to them1 and see now whether these
 will be to you instead of ,god and his 
,christ4 ,o how this works now with the 
sinner6 ,sense acknowledges the truth1  
and even the flesh is convinced of the  
creature's vanity1 and our very deceiver
 is undeceived4   #h4 ,the people of    
,god are likewise convinced of the      
absolute necessity1 the full            
sufficiency1 and perfect excellency of  
,jesus ,christ3 ,as a man in famine is  
convinced of the necessity of food2 or a
 man that had heard1 or read1 his       
sentence of condemnation1 of the        
absolute necessity of pardon2 or a man  
that lies in prison for debt1 is        
convinced of his need of a surety to    
discharge it4 ,now the sinner feels an  
insupportable burden upon him1 and sees 
there is none but ,christ can take it   
off4 ,he perceives the law proclaims him
 a rebel1 and none but ,christ can make 

his peace4 ,he is as a man pursued by a 
lion1 that must perish1 if he finds not 
a present sanctuary4 ,he is now brought 
to this dilemma2 either he must have    
,christ to justify him1 or be eternally 
condemned2 have ,christ to save him or  
burn in hell for ever2 have ,christ to  
bring him to ,god1 or be shut out of his
 presence everlastingly4 ,and no wonder 
if he cry1 as the martyr1 ,none but     
,christ1 none but ,christ4 ,not gold1   
but bread1 will satisfy the hungry2 nor 
anything but pardon will comfort the    
condemned4 ,all things are counted but  
dung now1 that he may win ,christ2 and  
what was gain1 he counts loss for       
,christ4#aic ,as the sinner sees his    
misery1 and the inability of himself1   
and all things to relieve him1 so he    
perceives there is no saving mercy but  
of ,christ4 ,he sees1 though the        
creature cannot1 and himself cannot1 yet
 ,christ can4 ,though the fig leaves of 
our own unrighteous1 righteousness are  
too short to cover our nakedness1 yet   

the righteousness of ,christ is large   
enough3 ,ours is disproportionate to the
 justice of the law1 but ,christ's      
extends to every tittle4 ,if he         
intercede1 there is no denial2 such is  
the dignity of his person1 and the value
 of his merits1 that the ,father grants 
all he desires4 ,before1 the sinner knew
 ,christ's excellency1 as a blind man   
knows the light of the sun2 but now1 as 
one that beholds its glory4  ,footnote  
#aic ,philippians iii1 #g1 #h4   #i4    
7#e47 ,after this deep conviction1 the  
will discovers also its change4 ,as for 
instance1--,the sin1 which the          
understanding pronounces evil1 the will 
turns from with abhorrence4 ,not that   
the sensitive appetite is changed1 or   
any way made to abhor its object3 ,but  
when it would prevail against reason1   
and carry us to sin against ,god1       
instead of ,scripture being the rule1   
and reason the master1 and sense the    
servant2 this disorder and evil1 the    
will abhors4--,the misery also which sin

 hath procured1 is not only discerned1  
but bewailed4 ,it is impossible that the
 soul should now look1 either on its    
trespass against ,god1 or yet on its own
 self-procured calamity1 without some   
contrition4 ,he that truly discerns that
 he hath killed ,christ1 and killed     
himself1 will surely in some measure be 
pricked to the heart4#aid ,if he cannot 
weep1 he can heartily groan2 and his    
heart feels what his understanding      
sees4--,the creature is renounced as    
vanity1 and turned out of the heart with
 disdain4 ,not that it is undervalued1  
or the use of it disclaimed2 but its    
idolatrous abase1 and its unjust        
usurpation4 ,can ,christ be the way     
where the creature is the end8 ,can we  
seek to ,christ to reconcile us to ,god1
 while in our hearts we prefer the      
creature before him8 ,in the soul of    
every unregenerate man1 the creature is 
both ,god and ,christ4 ,as turning from 
the creature to ,god and not by ,christ1
 is no true turning2 so believing in    

,christ1 while the creature hath our    
hearts1 is no true believing4 ,our      
aversion from sin1 renouncing our idols1
 and our right receiving ,christ1 is all
 but one work1 which ,god ever perfects 
where he begins4--,at the same time the 
will cleaves to ,god the ,father1 and to
 ,christ4 ,having been convinced1 that  
nothing else can be his happiness1 the  
sinner now finds it is in ,god4         
,convinced also1 that ,christ alone is  
able and willing to make peace for him1 
he most affectionately accepts of       
,christ for ,savior and ,lord4 ,paul's  
preaching was repentance toward ,god1   
and faith toward our ,lord ,jesus       
,christ1#aie ,and life eternal consists 
first in knowing the only true ,god1 and
 then ,jesus ,christ whom he hath       
sent4#aif ,to take the ,lord for our    
,god1 is the natural part of the        
covenant2 the supernatural part is1 to  
take ,christ for our ,redeemer4 ,the    
former is first necessary1 and implied  
in the latter4 ,to accept ,christ1      

without affection and love1 is not      
justifying faith4 ,nor does love follow 
as a fruit1 but immediately concurs2 for
 faith is the receiving of ,christ with 
the whole soul4 ,he that loveth father  
or mother more than ,christ1 is not     
worthy of him1#aig nor is justified by  
him4 ,faith accepts him for ,savior and 
,lord3 ,for in both relations will he be
 received1 or not at all4 ,faith not    
only acknowledges his sufferings1 and   
accepts of pardon and glory2 but        
acknowledges his sovereignty1 and       
submits to his government and way of    
salvation4  ,footnote #aid ,acts ii1    
#cg4  ,footnote #aie ,acts xx1 #ba4     
,footnote #aif ,john xvii1 #c4          
,footnote #aig ,matthew x1 #ag4   #aj4  
7#f47 ,as an essential part of the      
character of ,god's people1 they now    
enter into a cordial covenant with      
,christ4 ,the sinner was never strictly1
 nor comfortably1 in covenant with      
,christ till now4 ,he is sure1 by the   
free offers1 that ,christ consents2 and 

now he cordially consents himself2 and  
so the agreement is fully made4--,with  
this covenant ,christ delivers up       
himself in all comfortable relations to 
the sinner2 and the sinner delivers up  
himself1 to be saved1 and ruled by      
,christ4 ,now the soul resolutely       
concludes1 ,i have been blindly led by  
flesh and lust1 by the world and the    
devil1 too long1 almost to my utter     
destruction3 ,i will now be wholly at   
the disposal of my ,lord1 who hath      
bought me with his blood1 and will bring
 me to his glory4   #aa4 7#g47 ,i add1  
that the people of ,god persevere in    
this covenant to the end4 ,though the   
believer may commit sins1 yet he never  
disclaims his ,lord1 renounces his      
allegiance1 nor repents of his covenant2
 nor can he properly be said to break   
that covenant1 while that faith         
continues1 which is the condition of it4
 ,indeed1 those that have verbally      
covenanted1 and not cordially1 may tread
 under foot the blood of the covenant1  

as an unholy thing1 wherewith they were 
sanctified1 by separation from those    
without the church2#aih but the elect   
cannot be so deceived4#aii ,though this 
perseverance be certain to true         
believers1 yet it is made a condition of
 their salvation2 yea1 of their         
continued life and fruitfulness1 and of 
the continuance of their justification1 
though not of their first justification1
 itself4#bjj ,but eternally blessed be  
that hand of love1 which hath drawn the 
free promise1 and subscribed and sealed 
to that which ascertains us1 both of the
 grace which is the condition1 and the  
kingdom which on that condition is      
offered4  ,footnote #aih ,hebrews x1    
#bi4  ,footnote #aii ,matthew xxiv1 #bd4
  ,footnote #bjj ,john xv1 #d1 #f1 #i1  
viii1 #ca4 ,revelation ii1 #be1 #bf1    
iii1 #aa1 #ab4 ,colossians i1 #bc4      
,romans xi1 #bb4   #ab4 ,such are the   
essentials of this people of ,god3 ,not 
a full portraiture of them in all their 
excellencies1 nor all the notes whereby 

they may be discerned4 ,i beseech thee1 
,reader1 as thou hast the hope of a     
,christian1 or the reason of a man1     
judge thyself1 as one that must shortly 
be judged by a righteous ,god1 and      
faithfully answer these questions4 ,i   
will not inquire whether thou remember  
the time or the order of these workings 
of the ,spirit3 there may be much       
uncertainty and mistake in that3 ,if    
thou art sure they are wrought in thee1 
the matter is not so great1 though thou 
know not when nor how thou camest by    
them4 ,but carefully examine and        
inquire1 hast thou been thoroughly      
convinced of a prevailing depravation   
through thy whole soul8 and a prevailing
 wickedness through thy whole life8 and 
how vile sin is8 and that1 by the       
covenant thou hast transgressed1 the    
least sin deserves eternal death8 ,dost 
thou consent to the law1 that it is true
 and righteous1 and perceive thyself    
sentenced to this death by it8 ,hast    
thou seen the utter insufficiency of    

every creature1 either to be itself thy 
happiness1 or the means of removing this
 thy misery8 ,hast thou been convinced1 
that thy happiness is only in ,god1 as  
the end2 and in ,christ as the way to   
him8 and that thou must be brought to   
,god through ,christ1 or perish         
eternally8 ,hast thou seen an absolute  
necessity of thy enjoying ,christ1 and  
the full sufficiency in him1 to do for  
thee whatsoever thy case requires8 ,hast
 thou discovered the excellency of this 
pearl1 to be worth thy selling all to   
buy it8#bja ,have thy convictions been  
like those of a man that thirsts1 and   
not merely a change in opinion1 produced
 by reading1 or education8 ,have both   
thy sin and misery been the abhorrence  
and burden of thy soul8 ,if thou        
couldest not weep1 yet couldest thou    
heartily groan under the insupportable  
weight of both8 ,hast thou renounced all
 thy own righteousness8 ,hast thou      
turned thy idols out of thy heart1 so   
that the creature hath no more the      

sovereignty1 but is now a servant to    
,god and ,christ8 ,dost thou accept of  
,christ as thy only ,savior1 and expect 
thy justification1 recovery1 and glory1 
from him alone8 ,are his laws the most  
powerful commanders of thy life and     
soul8 ,do they ordinarily prevail       
against the commands of the flesh1 and  
against the greatest interest of thy    
credit1 profit1 pleasure1 or life8 ,has 
,christ the highest room in thy heart   
and affections1 that though thou canst  
not love him as thou wouldest1 yet      
nothing else is loved so much8 ,hast    
thou to this end made a hearty covenant 
with him1 and delivered up thyself to   
him8 ,is it thy utmost care and watchful
 endeavor1 that thou mayest be found    
faithful in this covenant2 and though   
thou fall into sin1 yet wouldest not    
renounce thy bargain1 nor change thy    
,lord1 nor give up thyself to any other 
government for all the world8--,if this 
be truly thy case1 thou art one of the  
people of ,god in my text2 and as sure  

as the promise of ,god is true1 this    
blessed rest remains for thee4 ,only see
 thou abide in ,christ1#bjb and endure  
to the end2#bjc for if any man draw     
back1 his soul shall have no pleasure in
 him4#bjd--;,but if no such work be     
found within thee2 whatever thy deceived
 heart may think1 or how strong soever  
thy false hopes may be2 thou wilt find  
to thy cost1 except thorough conversion 
prevent it1 that the rest of the saints 
belongs not to thee4 ,o that thou wert  
wise1 that thou wouldest understand     
this1 that thou wouldest consider thy   
latter end6#bje ,that yet1 while thy    
soul is in thy body1 and a price in thy 
hand1#bjf and opportunity and hope      
before thee1 thy ears may be open1 and  
thy heart yield to the persuasions of   
,god1 that so thou mightest rest among  
his people1 and enjoy the inheritance of
 the saints in light4#bjg  ,footnote    
#bja ,matthew xiii1 #df4  ,footnote #bjb
 ,john xv1 #d4  ,footnote #bjc ,matthew 
xxiv1 #ac4  ,footnote #bjd ,hebrews x1  

#ch4  ,footnote #bje ,deuteronomy xxxii1
 #bi4  ,footnote #bjf ,proverbs xvii1   
#af4  ,footnote #bjg ,colossians i1 #ab4
   #ac4 ,that this rest shall be enjoyed
 by the people of ,god1 is a truth which
 the ,scripture1 if its testimony be    
further needed1 clearly asserts in a    
variety of ways4 ,as for instance1 ,that
 they are foreordained to it1 and it for
 them4 ,god is not ashamed to be called 
their ,god1 for he hath prepared for    
them a city4#bjh ,they are styled       
vessels of mercy1 afore prepared unto   
glory4#bji ,in ,christ they have        
obtained an inheritance1 being          
predestinated according to the purpose  
of him who worketh all things after the 
counsel of his own will4#baj ,and whom  
he did predestinate1 them he also       
glorified4#baa ,who can bereave his     
people of that rest which is designed   
for them by ,god's eternal              
purpose8--,scripture tells us1 they are 
redeemed to this rest4 ,by the blood of 
,jesus we have boldness to enter into   

the holiest2#bab whether that entrance  
means by faith and prayer here1 or by   
full possession hereafter4 ,therefore   
the saints in heaven sing a new song    
unto him who has redeemed them to ,god  
by his blood1 out of every kindred1 and 
tongue1 and people1 and nation1 and made
 them kings and priests unto ,god4#bac  
,either ,christ then must lose his blood
 and sufferings1 and never see of the   
travail of his soul1 or else there      
remaineth a rest to the people of       
,god4--,in ,scripture this rest is      
promised to them4 ,as the firmament with
 stars1 so are the sacred pages         
bespangled with these ,divine           
engagements4 ,christ says1 fear not1    
little flock1 for it is your ,father's  
good pleasure to give you the           
kingdom4#bad ,i appoint unto you a      
kingdom1 as my ,father hath appointed   
unto me2 that ye may eat and drink at my
 table in my kingdom1#bae c4 c4 c4--,all
 the means of grace1 the operations of  
the ,spirit upon the soul1 and gracious 

actings of the saints1 every command to 
repent and believe1 to fast and pray1 to
 knock and seek1 to strive and labor1 to
 run and fight1 prove that there remains
 a rest for the people of ,god4 ,the    
,spirit would never kindle in us such   
strong desires after heaven1 such love  
to ,jesus ,christ1 if we should not     
receive what we desire and love4 ,he    
that guides our feet into the way of    
peace1#baf will undoubtedly bring us to 
the end of peace4 ,how nearly is the    
means and end conjoined8 ,the kingdom of
 heaven suffereth violence1 and the     
violent take it by force4#bag ,they that
 follow ,christ in the regeneration1    
shall sit upon thrones of               
glory4#bah--,scripture assures us1 that 
the saints have the beginnings1         
foretastes1 earnests1 and seals of this 
rest here4 ,the kingdom of ,god is      
within them4#bai ,though they have not  
seen ,christ1 yet loving him1 and       
believing in him1 they rejoice with joy 
unspeakable and full of glory2 receiving

 the end of their faith1 even the       
salvation of their souls4#bbj ,they     
rejoice in hope of the glory of         
,god4#bba ,and does ,god seal them with 
that holy spirit of promise1 which is   
the earnest of their inheritance1 and   
will he deny the full                   
possession8#bbb--,the ,scripture also   
mentions1 by name1 those who have       
entered into this rest4 ,as ,enoch1     
,abraham1 ,lazarus1 the thief that was  
crucified with ,christ1 c4 ,and if there
 be a rest for these1 sure there is a   
rest for all believers4 ,but it is vain 
to heap up ,scripture proofs1 seeing it 
is the very end of ,scripture to be a   
guide to lead us to this blessed state1 
and to be the charter and grant by which
 we hold all our title to it4  ,footnote
 #bjh ,hebrews xi1 #af4  ,footnote #bji 
,romans1 ix1 #bc4  ,footnote #baj       
,ephesians i1 #aa4  ,footnote #baa      
,romans viii1 #cj4  ,footnote #bab      
,hebrews x1 #ai4  ,footnote #bac        
,revelation v1 #h-aj4  ,footnote #bad   

,luke xii1 #cb4  ,footnote #bae ,luke   
xxii1 #bi1 #cj4  ,footnote #baf ,luke i1
 #gi4  ,footnote #bag ,matthew xi1 #ab4 
,footnote #bah ,matthew xix1 #bh4       
,footnote #bai ,luke xvii1 #ba4         
,footnote #bbj #a ,peter i1 #h1 #i4     
,footnote #bba ,romans v1 #b4  ,footnote
 #bbb ,ephesians i1 #ac1 #ad4   #ad4    
,scripture not only proves1 that this   
rest remains for the people of ,god1 but
 also that it remains for none but them1
 so that the rest of the world shall    
have no part in it4 ,without holiness no
 man shall see the ,lord4#bbc ,except a 
man be born again1 he cannot see the    
kingdom of ,god4 ,he that believeth not 
the ,son shall not see life1 but the    
wrath of ,god abideth on him4#bbd ,no   
whoremonger1 nor unclean person1 nor    
covetous man1 who is an idolator1 hath  
any inheritance in the kingdom of       
,christ1 and of ,god4#bbe ,the wicked   
shall be turned into hell1 and all the  
nations that forget ,god4#bbf ,they all 
shall be damned1 who believe not the    

truth1 but have pleasure in             
unrighteousness4#bbg ,the ,lord ,jesus  
shall come in flaming fire1 to take     
vengeance on them that know not ,god1   
and that obey not the gospel of our     
,lord ,jesus ,christ2 who shall be      
punished with everlasting destruction   
from the presence of the ,lord1 and from
 the glory of his power4#bbh ,had the   
ungodly returned before their life was  
expired1 and been heartily willing to   
accept of ,christ for their ,savior and 
their king1 and to be saved by him in   
his way1 and upon his most reasonable   
terms1 they might have been saved4 ,god 
freely offered them life1 and they would
 not accept it4 ,the pleasures of the   
flesh seemed more desirable to them than
 the glory of the saints4 ,satan offered
 them the one1 and ,god offered them the
 other1 and they had free liberty to    
choose which they would1 and they chose 
the pleasures of sin for a season1      
before the everlasting rest with        
,christ4 ,and is it not a righteous     

thing1 that they should be denied that1 
which they would not accept8 ,when ,god 
pressed them so earnestly1 and persuaded
 them so importunately1 to come in1 and 
yet they would not1 where should they be
 but among the dogs without8 ,though man
 be so wicked1 that he will not yield   
till the mighty power of grace prevail  
with him1 yet still we may truly say1   
that he may be saved1 if he will1 on    
,god's terms4 ,his inability1 being     
moral1 and lying in wilful wickedness1  
is no more excuse to him1 than it is to 
an adulterer1 that he cannot love his   
own wife1 or to a malicious person1 that
 he cannot but hate his own brother3 is 
he not so much the worse1 and deserving 
of so much the sorer punishment8        
,sinners shall lay all the blame on     
their own wills in hell for ever4 ,hell 
is a rational torment by conscience1    
according to the nature of the rational 
subject4 ,if sinners could but then say1
 it was long of ,god1 and not of us1 it 
would quiet their consciences1 and ease 

their torments1 and make hell to them to
 be no hell4 ,but to remember their     
wilfulness1 will feed the fire1 and     
cause the worm of conscience never to   
die4#bbi  ,footnote #bbc ,hebrews xii1  
#ad4  ,footnote #bbd ,john iii1 #c1 #cf4
  ,footnote #bbe ,ephesians v1 #e4      
,footnote #bbf ,psalm ix1 #ag4          
,footnote #bbg #b ,thessalonians ii1    
#ab4  ,footnote #bbh #b ,thessalonians  
i1 #g-i4  ,footnote #bbi ,mark ix1 #dd4 
#ae4 ,if is the will of ,god1 that this 
rest should yet remain for his people   
and not be enjoyed till they come to    
another world4--,who should dispose of  
the creatures1 but he that made them8   
,you may as well ask1 why have we not   
spring and harvest without winter8 or1  
why is the earth below1 and the heavens 
above1 as1 why we have not rest on      
earth8 ,all things must come to their   
perfection by degrees4 ,the strongest   
man must first be a child4 ,the greatest
 scholar must first begin in his        
alphabet4 ,the tallest oak was once an  

acorn4 ,this life is our infancy2 and   
would we be perfect in the womb1 or born
 at full stature8 ,if our rest was here1
 most of ,god's providences must be     
useless4 ,should ,god lose the glory of 
his church's miraculous deliverances1   
and the fall of his enemies1 that men   
may have their happiness here8 ,if we   
were all happy1 innocent1 and perfect1  
what use was there for the glorious     
works of our sanctification1            
justification1 and future               
salvation8--,if we wanted nothing1 we   
should not depend on ,god so closely1   
nor call upon him so earnestly4 ,how    
little should he hear from us1 if we had
 what we would have8 ,god would never   
have had such songs of praise from      
,moses at the ,red ,sea and in the      
wilderness from ,deborah and ,hannah1   
from ,david and ,hezekiah1 if they had  
been the choosers of their own          
condition4 ,have not thy own highest    
praises to ,god1 ,reader1 been          
occasioned by thy dangers or miseries8  

,the greatest glory and praise ,god has 
through the world1 is for redemption1   
reconciliation1 and salvation by        
,christ2 and was not man's misery the   
occasion of that8--,and where ,god loses
 the opportunity of exercising his      
mercies1 man must needs lose the        
happiness of enjoying them4 ,where ,god 
loses his praise1 man will certainly    
lose his comforts4 ,o the sweet comforts
 the saints have had in return to their 
prayers6 ,how should we know what a     
tender-hearted ,father we have1 if we   
had not1 as the prodigal1 been denied   
the husks of earthly pleasure and       
profit8 ,we should never have felt      
,christ's tender heart1 if we had not   
felt ourselves weary and heavy laden1   
hungry and thirsty1 poor and contrite4  
,it is a delight to a soldier1 or       
traveller1 to look back on his escapes  
when they are over3 and for a saint in  
heaven to look back on his sins and     
sorrows upon earth1 his fears and tears1
 his enemies and dangers1 his wants and 

calamities1 must make his joy more      
joyful4 ,therefore the blessed1 in      
praising the ,lamb1 mention his         
redeeming them out of every nation1 and 
kindred and tongue2 and so1 out of their
 misery1 and wants1 and sins1 and making
 them kings and priests to ,god4 ,but if
 they had had nothing but content and   
rest on earth1 what room would there    
have been for these rejoicings          
hereafter8   #af4 ,besides1 we are not  
capable of rest upon earth4 ,can a soul 
that is so weak in grace1 so prone to   
sin1 so nearly joined to such a neighbor
 as this flesh1 have full content and   
rest in such a case8 ,what is soul-rest1
 but our freedom from sin1 and          
imperfections1 and enemies8 ,and can the
 soul have rest that is pestered with   
all these1 and that continually8 ,why do
 ,christians so oft cry out in the      
language of ,paul1 ,o wretched man that 
,i am1 who shall deliver me8#bcj ,what  
makes them press towards the mark1 and  
run that they may obtain1 and strive to 

enter in1 if they are capable of rest in
 their present condition8 ,and our      
bodies are incapable1 as well as our    
souls4 ,they are not now those sun-like 
bodies which they shall be1 when this   
corruptible hath put on incorruption1   
and this mortal put on immortality4     
,they are our prisons1 and our burdens2 
so full of infirmities and defects1 that
 we are fain to spend most of our time  
in repairing them1 and supplying their  
continual wants4 ,is it possible that an
 immortal soul should have rest in such 
a distempered1 noisome habitation8      
,surely these sickly1 weary1 loathsome  
bodies must be refined1 before they can 
be capable of enjoying rest4 ,the       
objects we here enjoy are insufficient  
to afford us rest4 ,alas6 what is there 
in all the world to give us rest8 ,they 
that have most of it1 have the greatest 
burden4 ,they that set most by it1 and  
rejoice most in it1 do all cry out at   
last of its vanity and vexation4 ,men   
promise themselves a heaven upon earth2 

but when they come to enjoy it1 it flies
 from them4 ,he that has any regard to  
the works of the ,lord1 may easily see  
that the very end of them is to take    
down our idols1 to make us weary of the 
world1 and seek our rest in him4 ,where 
does he cross us most1 but where we     
promise ourselves most content8 ,if you 
have a child you dote upon1 it becomes  
your sorrow4 ,if you have a friend you  
trust in1 and judge unchangeable1 he    
becomes your scourge4 ,is this a place  
or state of rest8--,and as the objects  
we here enjoy are insufficient for our  
rest1 so ,god1 who is sufficient1 is    
here little enjoyed4 ,it is not here    
that he hath prepared the               
presence-chamber of his glory4 ,he hath 
drawn the curtain between us and him3   
,we are far from him as creatures1 and  
farther as frail mortals1 and farthest  
as sinners4 ,we hear now and then a word
 of comfort from him1 and receive his   
love-tokens1 to keep up our hearts and  
hopes2 but this is not our full         

enjoyment4 ,and can any soul1 that hath 
made ,god his portion1 as every one hath
 that shall be saved by him1 find rest  
in so vast a distance from him1 and so  
seldom and small enjoyment of him8--,nor
 are we now capable of rest1 as there is
 a worthiness must go before it4 ,christ
 will give the crown to none but the    
worthy4 ,and are we fit for the crown1  
before we have overcome8 ,or for the    
prize1 before we have run the race8 ,or 
to receive our penny before we have     
wrought in the vineyard2 or to be rulers
 of ten cities1 before we have improved 
our ten talents8 ,or to enter into the  
joy of our ,lord1 before we have well   
done1 as good and faithful servants8    
,god will not alter the course of       
justice1 to give you rest before you    
have labored for the crown of glory1    
till you have overcome4--,there is      
reason enough why our rest should remain
 till the life to come4 ,take heed then1
 ,christian ,reader1 how thou darest to 
contrive and care for a rest on earth2  

or to murmur at ,god for thy trouble1   
and toil1 and wants in the flesh4 ,doth 
thy poverty weary thee8 ,thy sickness8  
,thy bitter enemies and unkind friends8 
it should be so here4 ,doth the         
abominations of the times1 the sins of  
professors1 the hardening of the wicked1
 all weary thee8 ,it must be so while   
thou art absent from thy rest4 ,doth thy
 sins1 and thy naughty distempered heart
 weary thee8 ,be thus wearied more and  
more4 ,but under all this weariness1 art
 thou willing to go to ,god thy rest8   
,and to have thy warfare accomplished8  
and thy race and labor ended8 ,if not1  
complain more of thy own heart1 and get 
it more weary till rest seem more       
desirable4  ,footnote #bcj ,romans vii1 
#bd4   #ag4 ,i have but one thing more  
to add1 for the close of this chapter1  
that the souls of believers do enjoy    
inconceivable blessedness and glory1    
even while they remain separated from   
their bodies4--,what can be more plain  
than those words of ,paul8 ,we are      

always confident1 knowing that whilst we
 are at home1 or rather sojourning in   
the body1 we are absent from the ,lord4 
7,for we walk by faith1 not by sight47  
,we are confident1 ,i say1 and willing  
rather to be absent from the body1 and  
to be present with the ,lord4#bca ,or   
those8 ,i am in a strait betwixt two1   
having a desire to depart1 and to be    
with ,christ1 which is far              
better4#bcb--;,if ,paul had not expected
 to enjoy ,christ till the resurrection1
 why should he be in a strait2 or desire
 to depart8 ,nay1 should he not have    
been loth to depart upon the very same  
grounds8 ,for while he was in the flesh1
 he enjoyed something of ,christ4 ,plain
 enough is that of ,christ to the thief1
 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in       
paradise4#bcc ,in the parable of ,dives 
and ,lazarus1 it seems unlikely ,christ 
would so evidently intimate and suppose 
the soul's happiness or misery presently
 after death1 if there were no such     
matter4#bcd--,our ,lord's argument for  

the resurrection supposes1 that1 ,god   
being not the ,god of the dead1 but of  
the living1#bce therefore ,abraham1     
,isaac1 and ,jacob1 were then living in 
soul4--,if the blessedness of the dead  
that die in the ,lord1#bcf were only in 
resting in the grave1 then a beast or a 
stone were as blessed2 nay1 it were     
evidently a curse1 and not a blessing4  
,for was not life a great mercy8 ,was it
 not a greater mercy to serve ,god and  
do good2 to enjoy all the comforts of   
life1 the fellowship of saints1 the     
comfort of ordinances1 and much of      
,christ in all2 than to lie rotting in  
the grave8 ,therefore some farther      
blessedness is there promised4--,how    
else is it said1 ,we are come to the    
spirits of just men made perfect8#bcg   
,sure1 at the resurrection1 the body    
will be made perfect as well as the     
spirit4--,does not ,scripture tell us1  
that ,enoch and ,elias are taken up     
already8 ,and shall we think they       
possess that glory alone8--,did not     

,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 see ,moses   
also with ,christ on the mount8 ,yet the
 ,scripture saith1 ,moses died4 ,and is 
it likely that ,christ deluded their    
senses in shewing them ,moses1 if he    
should not partake of that glory till   
the resurrection8--,and is not that of  
,stephen as plain as we can desire8     
,lord ,jesus receive my spirit4#bch     
,surely1 if the ,lord receive it1 it is 
neither asleep1 nor dead1 nor           
annihilated2 but it is where he is1 and 
beholds his glory4--,that of the wise   
man is of the same import3 ,the spirit  
shall return unto ,god who gave it4#bci 
,why are we said to have eternal life1  
and that to know ,god is life eternal2  
and that a believer on the ,son hath    
everlasting life8 ,or how is the kingdom
 of ,god within us8 ,if there be as     
great an interruption of our life1 as   
till the resurrection1 this is no       
eternal life1 nor everlasting kingdom4  
,the cities of ,sodom and ,gomorrah are 
spoken of as suffering the vengeance of 

eternal fire4#bdj ,and if the wicked    
already suffer eternal fire1 then no    
doubt1 but the godly enjoy eternal      
blessedness4--,when ,john saw his       
glorious revelations1 he is said to be  
in the ,spirit1 and to be carried away  
in the ,spirit4 ,and when ,paul was     
caught up to the third heaven1 he knew  
not1 whether in the body1 or out of the 
body4#bda ,this implies1 that spirits   
are capable of these glorious things1   
without the help of their bodies4--,is  
not so much implied when ,john says1 ,i 
saw under the altar the souls of them   
that were slain for the word of         
,god6#bdb--,when ,christ says1 ,fear not
 them which kill the body1 but are not  
able to kill the soul1#bdc does it not  
plainly imply1 that when wicked men have
 killed our bodies1 that is1 have       
separated the souls from them1 yet the  
souls are still alive8--,the soul of    
,christ was alive when his body was     
dead1 and therefore so shall ours too4  
,this appears by his words to the thief1

 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in       
paradise2 and also by his voice on the  
cross1 ,father into thy hands ,i commend
 my spirit4#bdd ,if the spirits of those
 that were disobedient in the days of   
,noah1 were in prison1#bde that is1 in a
 living and suffering state2 then       
certainly the separate spirits of the   
just are in an opposite condition of    
happiness4--,therefore1 faithful souls  
shall no sooner leave their prisons of  
flesh1 but angels will be their convoy2 
,christ1 with all the perfected spirits 
of the just1 will be their companions2  
heaven will be their residence1 and ,god
 their happiness4 ,when such die1 they  
may boldly and believingly say1 as      
,stephen1 ,lord ,jesus1 receive my      
spirit2 and commend it1 as ,christ did1 
into a ,father's hands4  ,footnote #bca 
#b ,corinthians v1 #f-h4  ,footnote #bcb
 ,philippians i1 #bc4  ,footnote #bcc   
,luke xxiii1 #dc4  ,footnote #bcd ,luke 
xvi1 #ai-ca4  ,footnote #bce ,matthew   
xxii1 #cb4  ,footnote #bcf ,revelation  

xiv1 #ac4  ,footnote #bcg ,hebrews xii1 
#bb1 #bc4  ,footnote #bch ,acts vii1    
#ei4  ,footnote #bci ,ecclesiastes xii1 
#g4  ,footnote #bdj ,jude verse #g4     
,footnote #bda ,revelation i1 #aj4 iv1  
#b4 #b ,corinthians xii1 #b4  ,footnote 
#bdb ,revelation vi1 #i4  ,footnote #bdc
 ,matthew x1 #bh4  ,footnote #bdd ,luke 
xxiii1 #df4  ,footnote #bde #a ,peter   
iii1 #ai1 #bj4     ,,chap4 ,v4  ,the    
,misery of those who lose the ,saint's  
,rest4    #a4 ,the ,reader1 if          
unregenerate1 urged to consider what the
 loss of  heaven will be4  #b4 7,i47    
,the loss of heaven particularly        
includes1   #c4 7#a47 ,the personal     
perfection of the saints2  #d4 7#b47    
,god himself2   #e4 7#c47 all delightful
 affections towards ,god2  #f4 7#d47 the
 blessed  society of angels and         
glorified spirits4  #g4 7,,ii47 ,the    
aggravations of  the loss of heaven4    
#h4 7#a47 ,the understanding of the     
ungodly will  then be cleared2  #i4     
7#b47 also enlarged3  #aj4 7#c47 ,their 

consciences  will make a true and close 
application3  #aa 7#d47 ,their          
affections will  be more lively2        
#ab-ah4 7#e47 ,their memories will be   
large and strong4   #ai4 ,conclusion of 
the chapter4    #a4 ,if thou1 reader1   
art a stranger to ,christ1 and to the   
holy nature and life of his people1 who 
are before described1 and shalt live and
 die in this condition1 let me tell     
thee1 thou shalt never partake of the   
joys of heaven1 nor have the least taste
 of the saint's eternal rest4 ,i may    
say1 as ,ehud to ,eglon1 ,i have a      
message to thee from ,god2#bdf that as  
the word of ,god is true1 thou shalt    
never see the face of ,god with comfort4
 ,this sentence ,i am commanded to pass 
upon thee2 take it as thou wilt1 and    
escape it if thou canst4 ,i know thy    
humble and hearty subjection to ,christ 
would procure thy escape2 he would then 
acknowledge thee for one of his people1 
and give thee a portion in the          
inheritance of his chosen4 ,if this     

might be the happy success of my        
message1 ,i should be so far from       
repining1 like ,jonas1 that the         
threatenings of ,god are not executed   
upon thee1 that ,i should bless the day 
that ever ,god made me so happy a       
messenger4 ,but if thou end thy days in 
thy unregenerate state1 as sure as the  
heavens are over thy head1 and the earth
 under thy feet1 thou shalt be shut out 
of the rest of the saints1 and receive  
thy portion in everlasting fire4 ,i     
expect thou wilt turn upon me1 and say  
when did ,god shew you the ,book of     
,life1 or tell you who they are that    
shall be saved1 and who shut out8 ,i    
answer1 ,i do not name thee1 nor any    
other2 ,i only conclude it of the       
unregenerate in general1 and of thee1 if
 thou be such a one4 ,nor do ,i go about
 to determine who shall repent1 and who 
shall not2 much less1 that thou shalt   
never repent4 ,i had rather shew thee   
what hopes thou hast before thee1 if    
thou wilt not sit still1 and lose them4 

,i would far rather persuade thee to    
hearken in time1 before the door is shut
 against thee1 than tell thee there is  
no hope of thy repenting and returning4 
,but if the foregoing description of the
 people of ,god does not agree with the 
state of thy soul1 is it then a hard    
question1 whether thou shalt ever be    
saved8 ,need ,i ascend up into heaven to
 know1 that without holiness no man     
shall see the ,lord2 or1 that only the  
pure in heart shall see ,god1 or1 that  
except a man be born again1 he cannot   
enter into the kingdom of ,god8 ,need ,i
 go up to heaven1 to inquire that of    
,christ1 which he came down to earth to 
tell us2 and sent his ,spirit in his    
apostles to tell us2 and which he and   
they have left upon record to all the   
world8 ,and though ,i know not the      
secrets of thy heart1 and therefore     
cannot tell thee by name1 whether it be 
thy state1 or no2 yet if thou art but   
willing and diligent1 thou mayest know  
thyself1 whether thou art an heir of    

heaven or not4 ',tis the main thing ,i  
desire1 that if thou art yet miserable1 
thou mayest discern and escape it4 ,but 
how canst thou escape1 if thou neglect  
,christ and salvation8 ',tis as         
impossible as for the devils themselves 
to be saved4 ,nay1 ,god has more plainly
 and frequently spoken it in ,scripture 
of such sinners as thou art1 than he has
 of the devils4 ,methinks a sight of thy
 case should strike thee with amazement 
and horror4 ,when ,belshazzar saw the   
fingers of a man's hand that wrote upon 
the wall1 his countenance was changed1  
and his thoughts troubled him1 so that  
the joints of his loins were loosed1 and
 his knees smote one against the        
other3#bdg ,what trembling then should  
seize on thee1 who hast the hand of ,god
 himself against thee1 not in a sentence
 or two1 but in the very scope of the   
,scriptures1 threatening the loss of an 
everlasting kingdom8 ,because ,i would  
fain have thee lay it to heart1 ,i will 
shew thee----the nature of thy loss of  

heaven1--together with its aggravations4
  ,footnote #bdf ,judges iii1 #bj4      
,footnote #bdg ,daniel v1 #e1 #f4   #b4 
7#a47 ,in their loss of heaven the      
ungodly lose--the saint's personal      
perfection1--,god himself1--all         
delightful affections towards ,god1 and 
the blessed society of angels and       
saints4   #c4 7#a47 ,the glorious       
personal perfection which the saints    
enjoy in heaven1 is the great loss of   
the ungodly4 ,they lose that shining    
lustre of the body1 surpassing the      
brightness of the sun at noon-day4      
,though the bodies of the wicked will be
 raised more spiritual than they were   
upon earth1 yet that will only make them
 capable of the more exquisite torments4
 ,they would be glad then1 if every     
member were a dead member1 that it might
 not feel the punishment inflicted on   
it2 and if the whole body were a rotten 
carcass1 or might lie down again in the 
dust4 ,much more do they want that moral
 perfection which the blessed partake   

of2 those holy dispositions of mind2    
that cheerful readiness to do the will  
of ,god2 that perfect rectitude of all  
their actions4 ,instead of these1 they  
have that perverseness of will1 that    
loathing of good1 that love to evil1    
that violence of passion1 which they had
 on earth4 ',tis true1 their            
understandings will be much cleared by  
the ceasing of former temptations1 and  
experiencing the falsehood of former    
delusions4 ,but they have the same      
dispositions still2 and fain would they 
commit the same sins1 if they could2    
they want but opportunity4 ,there will  
be a greater difference between these   
wretches1 and the glorified ,christian1 
than there is betwixt a toad1 and the   
sun in the firmament4 ,the rich man's   
purple1 and fine linen1 and sumptuous   
fare1 did not so exalt him above        
,lazarus1 while at his gate full of     
sores4   #d4 7#b47 ,they shall have no  
comfortable relation to ,god1 nor       
communion with him4 ,as they did not    

like to retain ,god in their knowledge2 
but said unto him1 ,depart from us1 for 
we desire not the knowledge of thy ways2
 so ,god will abhor to retain them in   
his household4 ,he will never admit them
 to the inheritance of his saints1 nor  
endure them to stand in his presence1   
but will profess unto them1 ,i never    
knew you1 depart from me1 ye that work  
iniquity4 ,they are ready now to lay as 
confident claim to ,christ and heaven1  
as if they were sincere believing       
saints4 ,the swearer1 the drunkard1 the 
whore-master1 the worldling1 can say1   
,is not ,god our ,father1 as well as    
yours8 ,but when ,christ separates his  
followers from his foes1 and his        
faithful friends from his deceived      
flatterers1 where then will be their    
presumptuous claims8 ,then they shall   
find1 that ,god is not their ,father1   
because they would not be his people4   
,as they would not consent that ,god by 
his ,spirit should dwell in them1 so the
 tabernacle of wickedness shall have no 

fellowship with him1 nor the wicked     
inhabit the city of ,god4 ,only they    
that walked with ,god here1 shall live  
and be happy with him in heaven4 ,little
 does the world know what a loss that   
soul hath1 who loses ,god6 ,what a      
dungeon would earth be1 if it had lost  
the sun8 ,what a loathsome carrion the  
body1 if it had lost the soul8 ,yet all 
these are nothing to the loss of ,god4  
,as the enjoyment of ,god is the heaven 
of the saints1 so the loss of ,god is   
the hell of the ungodly4 ,and as the    
enjoying of ,god is the enjoying of all1
 so the loss of ,god is the loss of all4
   #e4 7#c47 ,they also lose all        
delightful affections towards ,god4     
,that transporting knowledge2 those     
delightful views of his glorious face2  
the inconceivable pleasure of loving    
him2 the apprehensions of his infinite  
love to us2 the constant joys of his    
saints1 and the rivers of consolation   
with which he satisfies them4 ,is it    
nothing to lose all this8 ,the          

employment of a king in ruling a        
kingdom1 does not so far exceed that of 
the vilest slave1 as this heavenly      
employment exceeds that of an earthly   
king4 ,god suits men's employments to   
their natures4 ,your hearts1 sinners1   
were never set upon ,god in your lives1 
never warmed with his love1 never longed
 after the enjoyment of him2 you had no 
delight in speaking or hearing of him2  
you had rather have continued on earth1 
if you had known how1 than be interested
 in the glorious praises of ,god4 ,is it
 meet then that you should be members of
 the celestial choir4   #f4 7#d47 ,they 
shall be deprived of the blessed society
 of angels and glorified saints4        
,instead of being companions of those   
happy spirits1 and numbered with those  
triumphant kings1 they must be members  
of the corporation of hell1 where they  
shall have companions of a far different
 nature and quality4 ,scorning and      
abusing the saints1 hating them1 and    
rejoicing in their calamities1 was not  

the way to obtain their blessedness4    
,now you are shut out of that company1  
from which you first shut out           
yourselves2 and are separated from them1
 with whom you would not be joined4 ,you
 could not endure them in your houses1  
nor towns1 nor scarce in the kingdom4   
,you took them as ,ahab did ,elijah1 for
 the troublers of the land2 and1 as the 
apostles were taken1 for men that turned
 the world upside down4 ,if any thing   
fell out amiss1 you thought all was     
owing to them4 ,when they were dead or  
banished1 you were glad they were gone1 
and thought the country well rid of     
them4 ,they molested you by faithfully  
reproving your sins4 ,their holy        
conversation troubled your consciences1 
to see them so far excel you4 ,it was a 
vexation to you1 to hear them pray or   
sing praises in their families4 ,and is 
it any wonder if you be separated from  
them hereafter8 ,the day is near when   
they will trouble you no more4 ,betwixt 
them and you will a great gulf be fixed4

 ,even in this life1 while the saints   
were mocked1 destitute1 afflicted1      
tormented1 and while they had their     
personal imperfections2 yet1 in the     
judgment of the ,holy ,ghost1 they were 
such of whom the world was not          
worthy4#bdh ,much more unworthy will the
 world be of their fellowship in glory4 
,footnote #bdh ,hebrews xi1 #cf-ch4     
#g4 7#aa47 ,i know many will be ready to
 think1 they could spare these things in
 this world well enough1 and why may    
they not be without them in the world to
 come8 ,therefore to shew them that this
 loss of heaven will then be most       
tormenting1 let them now consider--their
 understandings will be cleared to know 
their loss1 and have more enlarged      
apprehensions concerning it--their      
consciences will make a closer          
application of it to themselves1--their 
affections will no longer be            
stupefied1--nor their memories be       
treacherous4   #h4 7#a47 ,the           
understandings of the ungodly will then 

be cleared1 to know the worth of that   
which they have lost4 ,now they lament  
not their loss of ,god1 because they    
never knew his excellence2 nor the loss 
of that holy employment and society1 for
 they were never sensible what they were
 worth4 ,a man that has lost a jewel1   
and took it but for a common stone1 is  
never troubled at his loss2 but when he 
comes to know what he lost1 then he     
laments it4 ,though the understandings  
of the damned will not be sanctified1   
yet they will be cleared from a         
multitude of errors4 ,they now think    
that their honors1 estates1 pleasures1  
health1 and life1 are better worth their
 labor1 than the things of another      
world2 but when these things have left  
them in misery1 when they experience the
 things which before they did but read  
and hear of1 they will be of another    
mind4 ,they would not believe that water
 would drown1 till they were in the sea1
 nor the fire burn1 till they were cast 
into it2 but when they feel1 they will  

easily believe4 ,all that error of mind 
which made them set light by ,god1 and  
abhor his worship1 and vilify his       
people1 will then be confuted and       
removed by experience4 ,their knowledge 
shall be increased1 that their sorrows  
may be increased4 ,poor souls6 they     
would comparatively be happy1 if their  
understandings were wholly taken from   
them1 if they had no more knowledge than
 ideots1 or brute beasts2 or if they    
knew no more in hell1 than they did upon
 earth1 their loss would be less trouble
 to them4 ,how happy would they then    
think themselves1 if they did not know  
there is such a place as heaven6 ,now1  
when their knowledge would help to      
prevent their misery1 they will but     
know1 or will not read and study that   
they may know2 therefore1 when their    
knowledge will but feed their consuming 
fire1 they shall know whether they will 
or not4 ,they are now in a dead sleep1  
and dream they are the happiest men in  
the world2 but when death awakes them1  

how will their judgments be changed in a
 moment8 and they that would not see1   
shall then see1 and be ashamed4   #i4   
7#b47 ,as their understanding will be   
cleared1 so it will be more enlarged1   
and made more capacious to conceive the 
worth of that glory which they have     
lost4 ,the strength of their            
apprehensions1 as well as the truth of  
them1 will then be increased4 ,what deep
 apprehensions of the wrath of ,god1 the
 madness of sinning1 the misery of      
sinners1 have those souls that now      
endure this misery1 in comparison with  
those on earth1 that do but hear of it8 
,what sensibility of the worth of life  
has the condemned man that is going to  
be executed1 compared with what he was  
wont to have in the time of his         
prosperity8 ,much more will the actual  
loss of eternal blessedness make the    
damned exceedingly apprehensive of the  
greatness of their loss2 and as a large 
vessel will hold more water than a      
shell1 so will their more enlarged      

understandings contain more matter to   
feed their torment1 than their shallow  
capacity can now do4   #aj4 7#c47 ,their
 consciences also will make a truer and 
closer application of this doctrine to  
themselves1 which will exceedingly tend 
to increase their torment4 ,it will then
 be no hard matter to them to say1 ,this
 is my loss6 and this is my everlasting 
remediless misery6 ,the want of this    
self-application is the main cause1 why 
they are so little troubled now4 ,they  
are hardly brought to believe that there
 is such a state of misery2 but more    
hardly to believe that it is like to be 
their own4 ,this makes so many sermons  
lost to them1 and all threatenings and  
warnings in vain4 ,let a minister of    
,christ shew them their misery ever so  
plainly and faithfully1 they will not be
 persuaded they are so miserable4 ,let  
him tell them of the glory they must    
lose1 and the sufferings they must feel1
 and they think he means not them1 but  
some notorious sinners4 ,it is one of   

the hardest things in the world1 to     
bring a wicked man to know that he is   
wicked1 or to make him see himself in a 
state of wrath and condemnation4 ,though
 they may easily find by their          
strangeness to the new birth1 and their 
enmity to holiness1 that they never were
 partakers of them2 yet they as verily  
expect to see ,god1 and be saved1 as if 
they were the most sanctified persons in
 the world4 ,how seldom do men cry out1 
after the plainest discovery of their   
state1 ,i am the man8 or acknowledge1   
that if they die in their present       
condition1 they are undone for ever8    
,but when they suddenly find themselves 
in the land of darkness1 feel themselves
 in scorching flames1 and see they are  
shut out of the presence of ,god for    
ever2 then the application of ,god's    
anger to themselves1 will be the easiest
 matter in the world2 they will then    
roar out these forced confessions1 ,o my
 misery6 ,o my folly6 ,o my             
inconceivable1 irrecoverable loss6      

#aa4 7#d47 ,then will their affections  
likewise be more lively1 and no longer  
stupified4 ,a hard heart now makes      
heaven and hell seem but trifles4 ,we   
have shewed them everlasting glory and  
misery1 and they are as men asleep2 our 
words are as stones cast against a wall1
 which fly back in our faces3 we talk of
 terrible things1 but it is to dead men2
 we search their wounds1 but they never 
feel us2 we speak to rocks1 rather than 
to men2 the earth will as soon tremble  
as they4 ,but when these dead souls are 
revived1 what passionate sensibility6   
what working affections6 what pangs of  
horror6 what depth of sorrow will there 
then be6 ,how violently will they fly in
 their own faces6 ,how will they rage   
against their former madness6 ,the      
lamentations of the most affectionate   
wife for the loss of her husband1 or of 
the tenderest mother for the loss of her
 children1 will be nothing to theirs for
 the loss of heaven4 ,o the             
self-accusing and self-tormenting fury  

of those forlorn creatures6 ,how will   
they even tear their own hearts1 and be 
,god's executioners upon themselves6 ,as
 themselves were the only meritorious   
cause of their sufferings1 so themselves
 will be the chief executioners4 ,even  
,satan1 as he was not so great a cause  
of their sinning as themselves1 he will 
not be so great an instrument of their  
torment4 ,how happy would they think    
themselves then1 if they were turned    
into rocks1 or any thing that had       
neither passion nor sense6 ,how happy1  
if they could then feel1 as lightly as  
they were wont to hear6 if they could   
sleep out the time of execution1 as they
 did the time of the sermons1 that      
warned them of it6 ,but their stupidity 
is gone2 it will not be4   #ab4 7#e47   
,their memories will moreover be as     
large and strong as their understandings
 and affections4 ,could they but lose   
the use of their memory1 their loss of  
heaven being forgot1 would little       
trouble them4 ,though they would account

 annihilation a singular mercy1 they    
cannot lay aside any part of their      
being4 ,understanding1 conscience1      
affections1 memory1 must all live to    
torment them1 which should have helped  
to their happiness4 ,as by these they   
should have fed upon the love of ,god1  
and drawn forth perpetually the joys of 
his presence1 so by these must they feed
 upon his wrath1 and draw forth         
continually the pains of his absence4   
,now they have no leisure to consider1  
nor any room in their memories for the  
things of another life2 but then they   
shall have nothing else to do2 their    
memories shall have no other employment4
 ,god would have had the doctrine of    
their eternal state written on the posts
 of their doors1 on their hands and     
hearts2 he would have had them mind it1 
and mention it when they lay down and   
rose up1 when they sat in their house1  
and when they walked by the way2 and    
seeing they rejected this counsel of the
 ,lord1 therefore it shall be written   

always before them in the place of their
 thraldom1 that which way soever they   
look1 they may still behold it4--,it    
will torment them to think of the       
greatness of the glory they have lost4  
,if it had been what they could have    
spared1 or a loss to be repaired with   
any thing else1 it had been a small     
matter4 ,if it had been health1 or      
wealth1 or friends1 or life1 it had been
 nothing4 ,but1 oh6 to lose that        
exceeding eternal weight of glory6--,it 
will also torment them to think of the  
possibility they once had of obtaining  
it4 ,then they will remember1 ,time was1
 when ,i was as fair for the kingdom as 
others4 ,i was set upon the stage of the
 world1 if ,i had played my part wisely 
and faithfully1 ,i might now have had   
possession of the inheritance4 ,i might 
have been among yonder blessed saints1  
who am now tormented with these damned  
fiends4 ,the ,lord did set before me    
life and death2 and having chose death1 
,i deserve to suffer it4 ,the prize was 

held out before me2 if ,i had run well1 
,i might have obtained it2 if ,i had    
striven1 ,i might have had the victory2 
if ,i had fought valiantly1 ,i had been 
crowned4--,it will yet more torment them
 to remember1 that their obtaining the  
crown was1 not only possible1 but very  
probable4 ,it will wound them to think1 
,i had once the gales of the ,spirit    
ready to have assisted me4 ,i was       
purposing to be another man1 to have    
cleaved to ,christ1 and forsook the     
world4 ,i was almost resolved to have   
been wholly for ,god4 ,i was once even  
turning from my base seducing lusts4 ,i 
had cast off my old companions1 and was 
associating myself with the godly4 ,yet 
,i turned back1 lost my hold1 and broke 
my promises4 ,i was almost persuaded to 
be a real ,christian1 yet ,i conquered  
those persuasions4 ,what workings were  
in my heart1 when a faithful minister   
pressed home the truth6 ,o how fair was 
,i once for heaven6 ,i almost had it1   
and yet ,i have lost it6 ,had ,i        

followed on to seek the ,lord1 ,i had   
now been blessed among the saints4      
#ac4 ,it will exceedingly torment them  
to remember their lost opportunities4   
,how many weeks1 and months1 and years1 
did ,i lose1 which if ,i had improved ,i
 might now have been happy8 ,wretch that
 ,i was6 could ,i find no time to study 
the work1 for which ,i had all my time8 
no time among all my labors1 to labor   
for eternity8 ,had ,i time to eat1 and  
drink1 and sleep1 and none to save my   
soul8 ,had ,i time for mirth and vain   
discourse1 and none for prayer8 ,could  
,i take time to secure the world1 and   
none to try my title to heaven8 ,o      
precious time6 ,i had once enough1 and  
now ,i must have no more4 ,i had once so
 much1 ,i knew not what to do with it2  
and now it is gone1 and cannot be       
recalled4 ,o that ,i had but one of     
those years to live over again6 ,how    
speedily would ,i repent6 ,how earnestly
 would ,i pray6 ,how diligently would ,i
 hear6 ,how closely would ,i examine my 

state6 ,how strictly would ,i live6 ,but
 'tis now too late1 alas6 too late4     
#ad4 ,it will add to their calamity to  
remember how often they were persuaded  
to return4 ,fain would the minister have
 had me escape these torments4 ,with    
what love and compassion did he beseech 
me6 ,and yet ,i did but make a jest of  
it4 ,how oft did he convince me6 ,and   
yet ,i stifled all these convictions4   
,how did he open to me my very heart6   
,and yet ,i was loth to know the worst  
of myself4 ,o how glad would he have    
been1 if he could have seen me cordially
 turn to ,christ6 ,my godly friends     
admonished me4 ,they told me what would 
come of my wilfulness and negligence at 
last2 but ,i neither believed1 nor      
regarded them4 ,how long did ,god       
himself condescend to entreat me6 ,how  
did the ,spirit strive with my heart1 as
 if he was loth to take a denial6 ,how  
did ,christ stand knocking one ,sabbath 
after another1 and crying to me1 ,open1 
sinner1 open thy heart to thy ,savior1  

and ,i will come in1 and sup with thee1 
and thou with me6 ,why dost thou delay8 
,how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge 
within thee6 ,wilt thou not be pardoned1
 and sanctified1 and made happy8 ,when  
shall it once be8 ,o how the            
recollection of such ,divine pleadings  
will passionately transport the damned  
with self-indignation6 ,must ,i tire out
 the patience of ,christ8 ,must ,i make 
the ,god of heaven follow me in vain1   
till ,i had wearied him with crying to  
me1 ,repent1 return8 ,o how justly is   
that patience now turned into fury1     
which falls upon me with irresistible   
violence8 ,when the ,lord cried to me1  
,wilt thou not be made clean8 when shall
 it once be8 my heart1 or at least my   
practice1 answered1 ,never4 ,and now    
when ,i cry1 ,how long shall it be till 
,i am freed from this torment8 ,how     
justly do ,i receive the same answer1   
,never1 never4   #ae4 ,it will also be  
most cutting to remember on what easy   
terms they might have escaped their     

misery4 ,their work was not to remove   
mountains1 nor conquer kingdoms1 nor    
fulfil the law to the smallest tittle1  
nor satisfy justice for all their       
transgressions4 ,the yoke was easy1 and 
the burden light1 which ,christ would   
have laid upon them4 ,it was but to     
repent1 and cordially accept him for    
their ,savior2 to renounce all other    
happiness1 and take the ,lord for their 
supreme good2 to renounce the world and 
the flesh1 and submit to his meek and   
gracious government2 and to forsake the 
ways of their own devising1 and walk in 
his holy delightful way4 ,ah1 thinks the
 poor tormented wretch1 how justly do ,i
 suffer all this1 who would not be at so
 small pains to avoid it8 ,where was my 
understanding1 when ,i neglected that   
gracious offer2 when ,i called the ,lord
 an hard master1 and thought his        
pleasant service a bondage1 and the     
service of the devil and the flesh the  
only freedom8 ,was ,i not a thousand    
times worse than mad1 when ,i censured  

the holy way of ,god as needless        
preciseness8 when ,i thought the laws of
 ,christ too strict1 and all too much   
that ,i did for the life to come8 ,what 
would all sufferings for ,christ and    
well doing have been1 compared with     
these sufferings that ,i must undergo   
for ever6 ,would not the heaven1 which  
,i have lost1 have recompensed all my   
losses8 ,and should not all my          
sufferings have been there forgotten8   
,what if ,christ had bid me do some     
great matter2 whether to live in        
continual fears and sorrows1 or to      
suffer death an hundred times over2     
should ,i not have done it8 ,how much   
more1 when he only said1 ,believe and be
 saved4 ,seek my face1 and thy soul     
shall live4 ,take up thy cross1 and     
follow me1 and ,i will give thee        
everlasting life4 ,o gracious offer6 ,o 
easy terms6 ,o cursed wretch1 that would
 not be persuaded to accept them6   #af4
 ,this also will be a most tormenting   
consideration1 to remember what they    

sold their eternal welfare for4 ,when   
they compare the value of the pleasures 
of sin1 with the value of the recompense
 of reward1 how will the vast           
disproportion astonish them8 ,to think  
of the low delights of the flesh1 or the
 applauding breath of mortals1 or the   
possessing heaps of gold2 and then to   
think of everlasting glory4 ,this is all
 ,i had for my soul1 my ,god1 my hopes  
of blessedness6 ,it cannot possibly be  
expressed1 how these thoughts will tear 
his very heart4 ,then will he exclaim   
against his folly4 ,o miserable wretch6 
,did ,i set my soul to sale for so base 
a price8 ,did ,i part with my ,god for a
 little dirt and dross2 and sell my     
,savior1 as ,judas1 for a little silver8
 ,i had but a dream of delight1 for my  
hopes of heaven2 and now ,i am awaked1  
it is all vanished4 ,my morsels are now 
turned to gall1 and my cups to wormwood4
 ,when they were past my taste1 the     
pleasure perished4 ,and is this all that
 ,i have had for the inestimable        

treasure8 ,what a mad exchange did ,i   
make8 ,what if ,i had gained all the    
world1 and lost my soul8 ,but1 alas6 how
 small a part of the world was it1 for  
which ,i gave up my part in glory8 ,o   
that sinners would think of this1 when  
they are swimming in the delights of the
 flesh1 and studying how to be rich and 
honorable in the world6 ,when they are  
desperately venturing upon known        
transgression1 and sinning against the  
checks of conscience6   #ag4 ,it will   
add yet more to their torment1 when they
 consider that they most wilfully       
procured their own destruction4 ,had    
they been forced to sin1 it would much  
abate the rage of their consciences2 or 
if they were punished for another man's 
transgressions2 or any other had been   
the chief author of their ruin4 ,but to 
think1 it was the choice of their own   
will1 and that none in the world could  
have forced them to sin against their   
wills2 this will be a cutting thought3  
,had ,i not enemies enough in the world 

7thinks this miserable creature7 but ,i 
must be an enemy to myself8 ,god would  
never give the ,devil1 nor the world1 so
 much power over me1 as to force me to  
commit the least transgression4 ,they   
could but entice1 it was myself that    
yielded1 and did the evil4 ,and must ,i 
lay hands upon my own soul2 and embrue  
my hands in my own blood8 ,never had ,i 
so great an enemy as myself4 ,never did 
,god offer any good to my soul1 but ,i  
resisted him4 ,he hath heaped mercy upon
 me1 and renewed one deliverance after  
another1 to draw my heart to him3 yea1  
he hath gently chastised me1 and made me
 groan under the fruit of my            
disobedience2 and though ,i promised    
largely in my affliction1 yet never was 
,i heartily willing to serve him4 ,thus 
will it gnaw the hearts of these        
sinners1 to remember that they were the 
cause of their own undoing2 and that    
they wilfully and obstinately persisted 
in their rebellion1 and were mere       
volunteers in the service of the ,devil4

   #ah4 ,the wound in their consciences 
will be yet deeper1 when they shall not 
only remember it was their own doing1   
but that they were at so much cost and  
pains for their own damnation4 ,what    
great undertakings did they engage in to
 effect their ruin2 to resist the       
,spirit of ,god2 to overcome the power  
of mercies1 judgments1 and even the word
 of ,god2 to subdue the power of reason1
 and silence conscience8 ,all this they 
undertook1 and performed4 ,though they  
walked in continual danger of the wrath 
of ,god1 and knew he could lay them in  
the dust1 and cast them into hell1 in a 
moment2 yet would they run upon all     
this4 ,oh the labor it costs sinners to 
be damned6 ,sobriety1 with health and   
ease1 they might have had at a cheaper  
rate2 yet they will rather have gluttony
 and drunkenness1 with poverty1 shame1  
and sickness4 ,contentment they might   
have1 with ease and delight2 yet they   
will rather have covetousness and       
ambition1 though it costs them cares and

 fears1 labor of body1 and distraction  
of mind4 ,though their anger be         
self-torment1 and revenge and envy      
consume their spirits2 though           
uncleanness destroy their bodies1       
estates1 and good names2 yet will they  
do and suffer all this1 rather than     
suffer their souls to be saved4 ,with   
what rage will they lament their folly1 
and say1 ,was damnation worth all my    
cost and pains8 ,might ,i not have been 
damned on free cost1 but ,i must        
purchase it so dearly8 ,i thought ,i    
could have been saved without so much   
ado2 and could ,i not have been         
destroyed without so much ado8 ,must ,i 
so laboriously work out my own          
damnation1 when ,god commanded me to    
work out my salvation8 ,if ,i had done  
as much for heaven1 as ,i did for hell1 
,i had surely had it4 ,i cried out of   
the tedious way of godliness1 and the   
painful course of self-denial2 and yet  
,i could be at a great deal more pains  
for ,satan1 and for death4 ,had ,i loved

 ,christ as strongly as ,i did my       
pleasures1 and profits1 and honors1 and 
thought on him as often1 and sought him 
as painfully1 ,o how happy had ,i now   
been6 ,but justly do ,i suffer the      
flames of hell1 for buying them so dear1
 rather than have heaven when it was    
purchased to my hands6   #ai4 ,o that   
,god would persuade thee1 reader1 to    
take up these thoughts now1 for         
preventing the inconceivable calamity of
 taking them up in hell as thy own      
tormentor6 ,say not1 that they are only 
imaginary4 ,read what ,dives thought1   
being in torment4#bdi ,as the joys of   
heaven are chiefly enjoyed by the       
rational soul in its rational actings1  
so must the pains of hell be suffered4  
,as they will be men still1 so will they
 feel and act as men4  ,footnote #bdi   
,luke xvi4     ,,chap4 ,,vi4  ,the      
misery of those1 who1 besides losing the
 ,saint's ,rest1 lose the enjoyments of 
time1 and suffer the torments of hell4  
#a4 ,the connexion of this with the     

preceding chapter4  #b4 7,i47 ,the      
enjoyments of time which the damned     
lose3  #c4 7#a47 ,their presumptuous    
belief of their interest in ,god and    
,christ3  #d4 7#b47 ,all their hopes3   
#e4 7#c47 ,all their peace of           
conscience3  #f4 7#d47 ,all their carnal
  mirth3  #g4 7#e47 ,all their sensual  
delights3  #h4 7,,ii47 ,the torments of 
the damned are exceeding great3  #i4    
7#a47 ,the principal author of them  is 
,god himself3  #aj4 7#b47 ,the place or 
state of torment3  #aa4 7#c47  ,these   
torments are the effects of ,divine     
vengeance3  #ab4 7#d47 ,god will  take  
pleasure in executing them3  #ac4 7#e47 
,satan and sinners  themselves will be  
,god's executioners3  #ad4 7#f47 ,these 
torments will  be universal3  #ae4 7#g47
 without any mitigation3  #af4 7#h47 and
  eternal3  #ag4 ,the obstinate sinner  
convinced of his folly in venturing  on 
these torments3  #ah4 and entreated to  
fly for safety to ,christ4    #a4 ,as   
godliness hath a promise of the life    

that now is1 and of that which is to    
come2 and if we seek first the kingdom  
of ,god and his righteousness1 then all 
meaner things shall be added unto us3   
,so also are the ungodly threatened with
 the loss both of spiritual and temporal
 blessings1 and because they sought not 
first ,god's kingdom and righteousness1 
therefore shall they lose both it and   
that which they did seek1 and there     
shall be taken from them that little    
which they have4 ,if they could but have
 kept their present enjoyments1 they    
would not have much cared for the loss  
of heaven4 ,if they had lost and        
forsaken all for ,christ1 they would    
have found all again in him2 for he     
would have been all in all to them4 ,but
 now they have forsook ,christ for other
 things1 they shall lose ,christ1 and   
that also for which they forsook him2   
even--the enjoyments of time--besides   
suffering the torments of hell4   #b4   
7,i47 ,among the enjoyments of time1    
they shall particularly lose--their     

presumptuous belief of their interest in
 the favor of ,god1 and the merits of   
,christ2--all their hopes2--all their   
false peace of conscience2--all their   
carnal mirth2--and all their sensual    
delights4   #c4 7#a47 ,they shall lose  
their presumptuous belief of their      
interest in the favor of ,god and the   
merits of ,christ4 ,this false belief   
now supports their spirits1 and defends 
them from the terrors that would        
otherwise seize upon them4 ,but what    
will ease their trouble1 when they can  
believe no longer1 nor rejoice any      
longer8 ,if a man be near to the        
greatest mischief1 and yet strongly     
conceit that he is in safety1 he may be 
as cheerful as if all were well4 ,if    
there were no more to make a man happy1 
but to believe that he is so1 or shall  
be so1 happiness would be far more      
common than it is like to be4 ,as true  
faith is the leading grace in the       
regenerate1 so is false faith the       
leading vice in the unregenerate4 ,why  

do such multitudes sit still1 when they 
might have pardon2 but that they verily 
think they are pardoned already8 ,if you
 could ask thousands in hell1 what      
madness brought them thither8 they would
 most of them answer1 ,we made sure of  
being saved1 till we found ourselves    
damned4 ,we would have been more earnest
 seekers of regeneration1 and the power 
of godliness1 but we verily thought we  
were ,christians before4 ,we have       
flattered ourselves into these torments1
 and now there is no remedy4 ,reader1 ,i
 must in faithfulness tell thee1 that   
the confident belief of their good      
state1 which the careless1 unholy1      
unhumbled multitude so commonly boast   
of1 will prove in the end but a         
soul-damning delusion4 ,there is none of
 this believing in hell4 ,it was        
,satan's stratagem1 that being blindfold
 they might follow him the more boldly2 
but then he will uncover their eyes1 and
 they shall see where they are4   #d4   
7#b47 ,they shall lose also all their   

hopes4 ,in this life1 though they were  
threatened with the wrath of ,god1 yet  
their hope of escaping it bore up their 
hearts4 ,we can now scarce speak with   
the vilest drunkard1 or swearer1 or     
scoffer1 but he hopes to be saved for   
all this4 ,o happy world1 if salvation  
were as common as this hope6 ,nay1 so   
strong are men's hopes1 that they will  
dispute the cause with ,christ himself  
at judgment1 and plead their having eat 
and drank in his presence1 and          
prophesied in his name1 and in his name 
cast out devils2 they will stiffly deny 
that ever they neglected ,christ in     
hunger1 nakedness1 or prison1 till he   
confutes them with the sentence of their
 condemnation4 ,o the sad state of these
 men1 when they must bid farewell to all
 their hopes6 ,when a wicked man dieth1 
his expectations shall perish3 and the  
hope of unjust men perisheth4#bej ,the  
eyes of the wicked shall fail1 and they 
shall not escape1 and their hope shall  
be as the giving up of the ghost4#bea   

,the giving up the ghost1 is a fit1 but 
terrible resemblance of a wicked man's  
giving up his hopes4 ,as the soul       
departeth not from the body without the 
greatest pain2 so doth the hope of the  
wicked depart4 ,the soul departs from   
the body suddenly1 in a moment1 which   
hath there delightfully continued so    
many years2 just so doth the hope of the
 wicked depart4 ,the soul will never    
more return to live with the body in    
this world2 and the hope of the wicked  
takes an everlasting farewell of the    
soul4 ,a miracle of resurrection shall  
again unite soul and body1 but there    
shall be no such miraculous resurrection
 of the damned's hope4 ,methinks1 it is 
the most pitiable sight this world      
affords1 to see such an ungodly person  
dying1 and to think of his soul and his 
hopes departing together4 ,with what a  
sad change he appears in another world6 
,then if a man could but ask that       
hopeless soul1 ,are you as confident of 
salvation as you were wont to be8 ,what 

a sad answer would be returned6 ,o that 
careless sinners would be awakened to   
think of this in time6 ,reader1 rest not
 till thou canst give a reason of all   
thy hopes1 grounded upon ,scripture     
promises2 that they purify thy heart2   
that they quicken thy endeavors in      
godliness2 that the more thou hopest the
 less thou sinnest1 and the more exact  
is thy obedience4 ,if thy hopes be such 
as these1 go on in the strength of the  
,lord1 hold fast thy hope1 and never    
shall it make thee ashamed4 ,but if thou
 hast not one sound evidence of a work  
of grace on thy soul1 cast away thy     
hopes4 ,despair of ever being saved1    
except thou be born again2 or of seeing 
,god1 without holiness2 or of having    
part in ,christ1 except thou love him   
above father1 mother1 or thy own life4  
,this kind of despair is one of the     
first steps to heaven4 ,if a man be     
quite out of his way1 what must be the  
first means to bring him in again8 ,he  
must despair of ever coming to his      

journey's end in the way that he is in3 
if his home be eastward1 and he is going
 westward1 as long as he hopes he is    
right1 he will go on2 and as long as he 
goes on hoping1 he goes farther amiss3  
,when he despairs of coming home1 except
 he turn back1 then he will return1 and 
then he may hope4 ,just so it is1       
sinner1 with thy soul3 ,thou art born   
out of the way to heaven1 and hast      
proceeded many a year2 thou goest on1   
and hopest to be saved1 because thou art
 not so bad as many others4 ,except thou
 throwest away those hopes1 and see that
 thou hast all this while been quite out
 of the way to heaven1 thou wilt never  
return and be saved4 ,there is nothing  
in the world more likely to keep thy    
soul out of heaven1 than thy false hopes
 of being saved1 while thou art out of  
the way to salvation4 ,see then how it  
will aggravate the misery of the damned1
 that with the loss of heaven1 they     
shall lose all that hope of it1 which   
now supports them4  ,footnote #bej      

,proverbs xi1 #g4  ,footnote #bea ,job  
xi1 #bj4   #e4 7#c47 ,they will lose all
 that false peace of conscience which   
makes their present life so easy4 ,who  
would think1 that sees how quietly the  
multitude of the ungodly live1 that they
 must very shortly lie down in          
everlasting flames8 ,they are as free   
from the fears of hell as an obedient   
believer2 and for the most part have    
less disquiet of mind than those who    
shall be saved4 ,happy men1 if this     
peace would prove lasting6 ,when they   
shall say1 ,peace and safety2 then      
sudden destruction cometh upon them1 as 
travail upon a woman with child1 and    
they shall not escape4#beb ,o cruel     
peace1 which ends in such a war6 ,the   
soul of every man by nature is ,satan's 
garrison2 all is at peace in such a man 
till ,christ comes1 and gives it        
terrible alarms of judgment and hell1   
batters it with the ordnance of his     
threats and terrors1 forces it to yield 
to his mere mercy1 and take him for the 

,governor2 then doth he cast out ,satan1
 overcome him1 take from him all his    
armor wherein he trusted1 and divideth  
his spoil1#bec and then doth he         
establish a firm and lasting peace4 ,if 
therefore thou art yet in that first    
peace1 never think it will endure4 ,can 
thy soul have lasting peace1 in enmity  
with ,christ8 ,can he have peace against
 whom ,god proclaims war8 ,i wish thee  
no greater good1 than that ,god break in
 upon thy careless heart1 and shake thee
 out of thy false peace1 and make thee  
lie down at the feet of ,christ1 and    
say1 ,lord what wouldst thou have me to 
do8 and so receive from him a better and
 surer peace1 which will never be quite 
broken1 but be the beginning of thy     
everlasting peace1 and not perish in thy
 perishing1 as the groundless peace of  
the world will do4  ,footnote #beb #a   
,thessalonians v1 #c4  ,footnote #bec   
,luke xi1 #bb4   #f4 7#d47 ,they shall  
lose all their carnal mirth4 ,they will 
themselves say of their laughter1 it is 

mad1 and of their mirth1 what doth      
it8#bed ,it was but as the crackling of 
thorns under a pot4#bee ,it made a blaze
 for a while1 but it was presently gone1
 and returned no more4 ,the talk of     
death and judgment was irksome to them1 
because it damped their mirth4 ,they    
could not endure to think of their sin  
and danger1 because these thoughts sunk 
their spirits4 ,they knew not what it   
was to weep for sin1 or to humble       
themselves under the mighty hand of     
,god4 ,they could laugh away sorrow1 and
 sing away cares1 and drive away those  
melancholy thoughts4 ,to meditate1 and  
pray1 they fancied would be enough to   
make them miserable or run mad4 ,poor   
souls6 what a misery will that life be1 
where you shall have nothing but sorrow2
 intense1 heart-piercing1 multiplied    
sorrow2 when you shall neither have the 
joys of saints1 nor your own former     
joys8 ,do you think there is one merry  
heart in hell2 or one joyful            
countenance1 or jesting tongue8 ,you now

 cry1 a little mirth is worth a great   
deal of sorrow4 ,but1 surely1 a little  
godly sorrow1 which would have ended in 
eternal joy had been worth much more    
than all your foolish mirth2 for the end
 of such mirth is sorrow4  ,footnote    
#bed ,ecclesiastes ii1 #b4  ,footnote   
#bee ,ecclesiastes vii1 #f4   #g4 7#e47 
,they shall also lose all their sensual 
delights4 ,that which they esteemed     
their chief good1 their heaven1 their   
,god1 must they lose1 as well as ,god   
himself4 ,what a fall will the proud    
ambitious man have from the top of his  
honors8 ,as his dust and bones will not 
be known from the dust and bones of the 
poorest beggar2 so neither will his soul
 be honored or favored more than theirs4
 ,what a number of the great1 noble1 and
 learned1 will be shut out of the       
presence of ,christ8 ,they shall not    
find their magnificent buildings1 soft  
beds1 and easy couches4 ,they shall not 
view their curious gardens1 their       
pleasant meadows1 and plenteous         

harvests4 ,their tables will not be so  
furnished1 nor attended4 ,the rich man  
is there no more clothed in purple and  
fine linen1 nor fareth sumptuously every
 day4 ,there is no expecting the        
admiration of beholders4 ,they shall    
spend their time in sadness1 and not in 
sports and pastimes4 ,what an alteration
 will they then find8 ,the heat of their
 lust will be then abated4 ,how will it 
even cut them to the heart to look each 
other in the face6 ,what an interview   
will there then be1 cursing the day that
 ever they saw one another8 ,o that     
sinners would now remember and say6     
,will these delights accompany us into  
the other world8 ,will not the          
remembrance of them be then our torment8
 shall we then take this partnership in 
vice for true friendship8 ,why should we
 sell such lasting1 incomprehensible    
joys for a taste of seeming pleasure8   
,come1 as we have sinned together1 let  
us pray together1 that ,god would pardon
 us2 and let us help one another toward 

heaven1 instead of helping to deceive   
and destroy each other4 ,o that men knew
 but what they desire1 when they would  
so fain have all things suited to the   
desires of the flesh6 ,it is but to     
desire their temptations to be          
increased1 and their snares             
strengthened4   #h4 7,,ii47 ,as the loss
 of the ,saint's ,rest will be          
aggravated by losing the enjoyments of  
time1 it will be much more so by        
suffering the torments of hell4 ,the    
exceeding greatness of such torments may
 appear by considering1--the principal  
author of them1 which is ,god           
himself2--the place or state of         
torment2--that these torments are the   
fruit of ,divine vengeance2--that the   
,almighty takes pleasure in them2--that 
,satan and sinners themselves shall be  
,god's executioners2--that these        
torments shall be universal1--without   
mitigation1--and without end4   #i4     
7#a47 ,the principal ,author of         
hell-torments is ,god himself4 ,as it   

was no less than ,god whom the sinner   
had offended1 so it is no less than ,god
 who will punish them for their         
offences4 ,he hath prepared those       
torments for his enemies4 ,his continued
 anger will still be devouring them4    
,his breath of indignation will kindle  
the flames4 ,his wrath will be an       
intolerable burden to their souls4 ,if  
it were but a creature they had to do   
with1 they might better bear it4 ,woe to
 him that falls under the strokes of the
 ,almighty6 it is a fearful thing to    
fall into the hands of the living       
,god4#bef ,it were nothing1 in          
comparison to this1 if all the world    
were against them1 or if the strength of
 all creatures were united in one to    
inflict their penalty4 ,they had now    
rather venture to displease ,god than   
displease a landlord1 a customer1 a     
master1 a friend1 a neighbor1 or their  
own flesh2 but then they will wish a    
thousand times in vain1 that they had   
been hated of all the world1 rather than

 have lost the favor of ,god4 ,what a   
consuming fire is his wrath8 ,if it be  
kindled here but a little1 how do we    
wither like the grass8 ,how soon doth   
our strength decay1 and turn to         
weakness1 and our beauty to deformity8  
,the flames do not so easily run through
 the dry stubble1 as the wrath of ,god  
will consume these wretches4 ,they that 
could not bear a prison1 or a gibbet1 or
 fire1 for ,christ1 nor scarce a few    
scoffs1 how will they now bear the      
devouring flames of ,divine wrath8      
,footnote #bef ,hebrews x1 #ca4   #aj4  
7#b47 ,the place or state of torment is 
purposely ordained to glorify the       
justice of ,god4 ,when ,god would       
glorify his power1 he made the worlds4  
,the comely order of all his creatures1 
declareth his wisdom4 ,his providence is
 shewn1 in sustaining all things4 ,when 
a spark of his wrath kindles upon the   
earth1 the whole world1 except only     
eight persons1 are drowned2 ,sodom1     
,gomorrah1 ,admah1 and ,zeboim1 are     

burnt with fire from heaven2 the sea    
shuts her mouth upon some1 the earth    
opens and swallows up others2 the       
pestilence destroys by thousands4 ,what 
a standing witness of the wrath of ,god1
 is the present deplorable state of the 
,jews8 ,yet the glorifying the mercy and
 justice of ,god is intended most       
eminently for the life to come4 ,as ,god
 will then glorify his mercy in a way   
that is now beyond the comprehension of 
the saints that must enjoy it2 so also  
will he manifest his justice to be      
indeed the justice of ,god4 ,the        
everlasting flames of hell will not be  
thought too hot for the rebellious2 and 
when they have there burned through     
millions of ages1 he will not repent him
 of the evil which is befallen them4    
,woe to the soul that is thus set up as 
a butt1 for the wrath of the ,almighty  
to shoot at6 and as a bush that must    
burn in the flames of his jealousy1 and 
never be consumed6   #aa4 7#c47 ,the    
torments of the damned must be extreme1 

because they are the effect of ,divine  
vengeance4 ,wrath is terrible1 but      
revenge is implacable4 ,when the great  
,god shall say1 ,my rebellious creatures
 shall now pay for all the abuse of my  
patience4 ,remember how ,i waited your  
leisure in vain1 how ,i stooped to      
persuade and entreat you4 ,did you think
 ,i would always be so slighted8 ,then  
will he be revenged for every abused    
mercy1 and for all their neglects of    
,christ and grace4 ,o that men would    
foresee this1 and please ,god better in 
preventing their woe6   #ab4 7#d47      
,consider also1 that though ,god had    
rather men would accept of ,christ and  
mercy1 yet when they persist in         
rebellion1 he will take pleasure in     
their execution4 ,he tells us1 fury is  
not in me2 yet he adds1 who would set   
the briars and thorns against me in     
battle3 ,i would go through them1 ,i    
would burn them together4 ,wretched     
creatures6 when he that made them will  
not have mercy on them1 and he that     

formed them will shew them no favor4#beg
 ,as the ,lord rejoiced over them to do 
them good2 so the ,lord will rejoice    
over them to destroy them1 and to bring 
them to nought4#beh ,woe to the soul    
whom ,god rejoiceth to punish6 ,he will 
laugh at their calamity1 he will mock   
when their fear cometh2 when their fear 
cometh as desolation1 and their         
destruction cometh as a whirlwind2 when 
distress and anguish cometh upon        
them4#bei ,terrible thing1 when none in 
heaven or earth can help them but ,god1 
and he shall rejoice in their calamity6 
,though ,scripture speaks of ,god's     
laughing and mocking1 not literally1 but
 after the manner of men2 yet it is such
 an act of ,god in tormenting the       
sinner1 which cannot otherwise be more  
fitly expressed4  ,footnote #beg ,isaiah
 xxvii1 #d1 #aa4  ,footnote #beh        
,deuteronomy xxviii1 #fc4  ,footnote    
#bei ,proverbs i1 #bf1 #bg4   #ac4 7#e47
 ,consider that ,satan and themselves   
shall be ,god's executioners4 ,he that  

was here so successful in drawing them  
from ,christ1 will then be the          
instrument of their punishment1 for     
yielding to his temptations4 ,that is   
the reward he will give them for all    
their services2 for their rejecting the 
commands of ,god1 and forsaking ,christ1
 and neglecting their souls at his      
persuasion4 ,if they had served ,christ 
as faithfully as they did ,satan1 he    
would have given them a better reward4  
,it is also most just1 that they should 
be their own tormentors1 that they may  
see their whole destruction is of       
themselves2 and then who can they       
complain of but themselves8   #ad4 7#f47
 ,consider also that their torment will 
be universal4 ,as all parts have joined 
in sin1 so must they all partake in the 
torment4 ,the soul1 as it was the chief 
in sinning1 shall be the chief in       
suffering1 and as it is of a more       
excellent nature than the body1 so will 
its torments far exceed bodily torments2
 and as its joys far surpass all sensual

 pleasures1 so the pains of the soul    
exceed corporal pains4 ,it is not only a
 soul1 but a sinful soul1 that must     
suffer4 ,fire will not burn1 except the 
fuel be combustible2 but if the wood be 
dry1 how fiercely will it burn6 ,the    
guilt of their sins will be to damned   
souls like tinder to gun-powder1 to make
 the flames of hell take hold upon them 
with fury4 ,the body must also bear its 
part4 ,that body which was so carefully 
looked to1 so tenderly cherished1 so    
curiously dressed2 what must it now     
endure6 ,how are its haughty looks now  
taken down8 ,how little will those      
flames regard its comeliness and beauty8
 ,those eyes which were wont to be      
delighted with curious sights1 must then
 see nothing but what shall terrify     
them2 an angry ,god above them1 with    
those saints whom they scorned1 enjoying
 the glory which they have lost2 and    
about them will be only devils and      
damned souls4 ,how will they look back1 
and say1 ,are all our feasts1 and games1

 and revels1 come to this8 ,those ears  
which were accustomed to music and      
songs1 shall hear the shrieks and cries 
of their damned companions2 children    
crying out against their parents1 that  
gave them encouragement and example in  
evil2 husbands and wives1 masters and   
servants1 ministers and people1         
magistrates and subjects1 charging their
 misery upon one another1 for           
discouraging in duty1 conniving at sin1 
and being silent1 when they should have 
plainly foretold the danger4 ,thus will 
soul and body be companions in woe4     
#ae4 7#g47 ,far greater will these      
torments be1 because without mitigation4
 ,in this life1 when told of hell1 or   
conscience troubled their peace1 they   
had comforters at hand2 their carnal    
friends1 their business1 their company1 
their mirth4 ,they could drink1 play1 or
 sleep away their sorrows4 ,but now all 
these remedies are vanished4 ,their     
hard1 presumptuous1 unbelieving heart   
was a wall to defend them against       

trouble of mind4 ,satan was himself     
their comforter1 as he was to our first 
mother2 ,hath ,god said1 ye shall not   
eat8 ye shall not surely die4 ,doth ,god
 tell you that you shall lie in hell8   
,it is no such matter4 ,god is more     
merciful4 ,or if there be a hell1 what  
need you fear it8 ,are not you          
,christians8 ,was not the blood of      
,christ shed for you8 ,thus as the      
,spirit of ,christ is the comforter of  
the saints1 so ,satan is the comforter  
of the wicked4 ,never was a thief more  
careful lest he should awake the people1
 when he is robbing the house1 than     
,satan is not to awaken a sinner4 ,but  
when the sinner is dead1 then ,satan    
hath done flattering and comforting4    
,which way then will the forlorn sinner 
look for comfort8 ,they that drew him   
into the snare1 and promised him safety1
 now forsake him1 and are forsaken      
themselves4 ,his comforts are gone1 and 
the righteous ,god1 whose forewarnings  
he made light of1 will now make good his

 word against him to the least tittle4  
#af4 7#h47 ,but the greatest aggravation
 of these torments will be their        
eternity4 ,when a thousand millions of  
ages are past1 they are as fresh to     
begin as the first day4 ,if there were  
any hope of an end1 it would ease the   
damned to foresee it2 but for ever1 is  
an intolerable thought4 ,they were never
 weary of sinning1 nor will ,god be     
weary of plaguing4 ,they never heartily 
repented of sin1 nor will ,god repent of
 their suffering4 ,they broke the laws  
of the eternal ,god1 and therefore shall
 suffer eternal punishment4 ,they knew  
it was an everlasting kingdom which they
 refused1 and what wonder if they are   
everlastingly shut out of it8 ,their    
immortal souls were guilty of the       
trespass1 and therefore must immortally 
suffer the pains4 ,what happy men would 
they think themselves1 if they might    
have lain still in their graves1 or     
might but there lie down again6 ,how    
will they call and cry8 ,o death6       

whither art thou now gone8 ,now come1   
and cut off this doleful life4 ,o that  
these pains would break my heart1 and   
end my being6 ,o that ,i might once at  
last die6 ,o that ,i had never had a    
being6 ,these groans will the thoughts  
of eternity wring from their hearts4    
,they were wont to think sermons and    
prayers long6 ,how long then will they  
think these endless torments8 ,what     
difference is there betwixt the length  
of their pleasures and their pains6 ,the
 one continued but a moment1 the other  
endureth through all eternity4 ,sinner1 
remember how time is almost gone4 ,thou 
art standing at the door of eternity2   
and death is waiting to open the door1  
and put thee in4 ,go sleep out a few    
more nights1 and stir about a few more  
days on earth1 and then thy nights and  
days shall end3 thy thoughts1 and cares1
 and pleasures1 shall all be devoured by
 eternity2 thou must enter upon the     
state which shall never be changed4 ,as 
the joys of heaven are beyond our       

conception1 so are the pains of hell4   
,everlasting torment is inconceivable   
torment4   #ag4 ,but methinks ,i see the
 obstinate sinner desperately resolving1
 ,if ,i must be damned1 there is no     
remedy2 rather than ,i will live as the 
,scripture requires1 ,i will put it to  
the venture2 ,i shall escape as well as 
the rest of my neighbors1 and we will   
even bear it as well as we can4 ,alas6  
poor creature1 let me beg this of thee1 
before thou dost so flatly resolve1 that
 thou wouldst lend me thy attention to a
 few questions1 and weigh them with the 
reason of a man4 ,who art thou1 that    
thou shouldst bear the wrath of ,god8   
,art thou a god1 or a man8 ,what is thy 
strength8 ,is it not as the strength of 
wax or stubble to resist the fire2 or as
 chaff to the wind2 or as dust before   
the fierce whirlwind8 ,if thy strength  
were as iron1 and thy bones as brass2 if
 thy foundation were as the earth1 and  
thy power as the heaven2 yet shouldst   
thou perish at the breath of his        

indignation3 ,how much more when thou   
art but a piece of breathing clay1 kept 
a few days from being eaten with worms1 
by the mere support and favor of ,him   
whom thou art thus resisting8--,why dost
 thou tremble at the signs of almighty  
power and wrath8 ,at claps of thunder1  
or flashes of lightning2 or that unseen 
power which rends in pieces the mighty  
oaks1 and tears down the strongest      
buildings2 or at the plague1 when it    
rageth around thee8 ,if thou hadst seen 
the plagues of ,egypt1 or the earth     
swallow up ,dathan and ,abiram2 or      
,elijah bring fire from heaven to       
destroy the captains and their          
companies1 would not any of these sights
 have daunted thy spirits8 ,how then    
canst thou bear the plagues of          
hell8--,why art thou dismayed with such 
small sufferings as befal thee here8 ,a 
toothach2 a fit of the gout1 or stone1  
the loss of a limb1 or falling into     
beggary and disgrace8 ,and yet all these
 laid together1 will be one day         

accounted a happy state1 in comparison  
of that which is suffered in hell4 ,why 
does the approach of death so much      
affright thee8 ,o how cold it strikes to
 thy heart6 ,and would not the grave be 
accounted a paradise1 compared with that
 place of torment which thou            
slightest8--,is it an intolerable thing 
to burn part of thy body1 by holding it 
in the fire8 ,what then will it be to   
suffer ten thousand times more for ever 
in hell8--,why does the thought or      
mention of hell occasion any disquiet in
 thy spirit8--,and canst thou endure the
 torments themselves8--,why doth the    
rich man complain to ,abraham of his    
torment in hell8 ,or thy dying          
companions lose their courage1 and      
change their haughty language8 ,why     
cannot these make as light of hell as   
thyself8--,didst thou never see or speak
 with a man under despair8 ,how         
uncomfortable was his talk8 ,how        
burdensome his life8 ,nothing he        
possessed did him good3 he had no       

sweetness in meat or drink2 the sight of
 friends troubled him3 he was weary of  
life1 and fearful of death4 ,if the     
misery of the damned can be endured1 why
 cannot a man more easily endure these  
foretastes of hell8--,what if thou      
shouldst see the ,devil appear to thee  
in some terrible shape8 ,would not thy  
heart fail thee1 and thy hair stand on  
end8 ,and how wilt thou endure to live  
for ever1 where thou shalt have no other
 company but ,devils1 and the damned1   
and shalt not only see them1 but be     
tormented with them and by them8--,let  
me once more ask1 if the wrath of ,god  
be so light1 why did the ,son of ,god   
himself make so great a matter of it8   
,it made him sweat as it were great     
drops of blood falling down to the      
ground4 ,the ,lord of life cried1 ,my   
soul is exceeding sorrowful1 even unto  
death4 ,and on the cross1 ,my ,god1 my  
,god1 why hast thou forsaken me8 ,surely
 if any one could have born these       
sufferings easily1 it would have been   

,jesus ,christ4 ,he had another measure 
of strength to bear it than thou hast4  
,woe to thee1 sinner1 for thy mad       
security6 ,dost thou think to find it   
tolerable to thee1 which was so heavy to
 ,christ8 ,nay1 the ,son of ,god is cast
 into a bitter agony1 and bloody sweat1 
only under the curse of the law2 and yet
 thou1 feeble1 foolish creature1 makest 
nothing to bear also the curse of the   
gospel1 which requires a much sorer     
punishment4#bfj ,the good ,lord bring   
thee to thy right mind by repentance1   
lest thou buy thy wit at too dear a     
rate6  ,footnote #bfj ,hebrews x1 #bi4  
#ah4 ,and now1 reader1 ,i demand thy    
resolution1 what use wilt thou make of  
all this8 ,shall it all be lost to thee8
 or wilt thou consider it in good       
earnest3 ,thou hast cast away many a    
warning of ,god2 wilt thou do so by this
 also8 ,take heed1 ,god will not always 
stand warning and threatening4 ,the hand
 of revenge is lifted up1 the blow is   
coming1 and woe to him on whom it       

lighteth6 ,dost thou throw away the     
book1 and say1 it speaks of nothing but 
hell and damnation8 ,thus thou usest    
also to complain of the preacher4 ,but  
wouldst thou not have us tell thee of   
these things8 ,should we be guilty of   
the blood of thy soul1 by keeping silent
 that which ,god hath charged us to make
 known8 ,wouldst thou perish in ease and
 silence1 and have us to perish with    
thee1 rather than displease thee1 by    
speaking the truth8 ,if thou wilt be    
guilty of such inhuman cruelty1 ,god    
forbid we should be guilty of such      
sottish folly4 ,this kind of preaching  
or writing is the ready way to be hated2
 and the desire of applause is so       
natural1 that few delight in such a     
displeasing way4 ,but consider1 are     
these things true1 or are they not8 ,if 
they were not true1 ,i would heartily   
join with thee against any that fright  
people without a cause4 ,but if these   
threatenings be the word of ,god1 what a
 wretch art thou1 that wilt not hear it1

 and consider it8 ,if thou art one of   
the people of ,god1 this doctrine will  
be a comfort to thee1 and not a terror4 
,if thou art yet unregenerate1 methinks 
thou shouldst be as fearful to hear of  
heaven1 as of hell1 except the bare name
 of heaven or salvation be sufficient4  
,preaching heaven and mercy to thee1 is 
entreating thee to seek them and not    
reject them2 and preaching hell1 is but 
to persuade thee to avoid it4 ,if thou  
wert quite past hope of escaping it1    
then it were in vain to tell thee of    
hell2 but as long as thou art alive1    
there is hope of thy recovery1 and      
therefore all means must be used to     
awake thee from thy lethargy4 ,alas6    
what heart can now possibly conceive1 or
 what tongue express1 the pains of those
 souls1 that are under the wrath of     
,god8 ,then1 sinners1 you will be crying
 to ,jesus ,christ1 ,o mercy6 ,o pity1  
pity on a poor soul6 ,why1 ,i do now1 in
 the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 cry to   
thee1 ,o have mercy1 have pity1 man1    

upon thy own soul6 ,shall ,god pity     
thee1 who wilt not be entreated to pity 
thyself8 ,if thy horse see but a pit    
before him1 thou canst scarcely force   
him in2 and wilt thou so obstinately    
cast thyself into hell1 when the danger 
is foretold thee8 ,who can stand before 
the indignation of the ,lord8 and who   
can abide in the fierceness of his      
anger8#bfa ,methinks thou shouldst need 
no more words1 but presently cast away  
thy soul-damning sins1 and wholly       
deliver up thyself to ,christ4 ,resolve 
on it immediately1 and let it be done1  
that ,i may see thy face in rest among  
the saints4 ,may the ,lord persuade thy 
heart to strike this covenant without   
any longer delay6 ,but if thou be       
hardened unto death1 and there be no    
remedy1 yet say not another day but that
 thou wast faithfully warned1 and hadst 
a friend1 that would fain have prevented
 thy damnation4  ,footnote #bfa ,nahum  
i1 #f4     ,,chap4 ,,vii4  ,the         
necessity of diligently seeking the     

,saint's ,rest4    #a4 ,the ,saint's    
,rest surprizingly neglected2           
particularly1  #b4 ,by the              
worldly-minded-- #c4 ,the profane       
multitude-- #d4 ,formal professors--    
#e-h4  and by the godly themselves1     
whether magistrates1 ministers1 or      
people4   #i4 ,the author mourns the    
neglect1 and excites the ,reader to     
diligence1 by considering1  #aj4 ,the   
ends we aim at1 the work we have  to do1
 the shortness and uncertainty of our   
time1 and diligence of our  enemies2    
#aa4 ,our talents1 mercies1 relations to
 ,god1 and our  afflictions2  #ab4 ,what
 assistances we have1 what principles we
  profess1 and our certainty never to do
 enough2  #ac4 ,that every grace  tends 
to diligence1 that to trifle is lost    
labor1 that much time is  mispent1 and  
that our recompense and labor will be   
proportionable2   #ad4 ,that striving is
 the ,divine appointment1 all men do or 
will  approve it1 the best ,christians  
at death lament their want of it1       

heaven is often lost for want of it1 but
 never obtained without it2   #ae4 ,god1
 ,christ1 and the ,holy ,spirit are in  
earnest2 ,god is so in  hearing and     
answering prayer1 ministers in their    
instructions and  exhortations1 all the 
creatures in serving us1 sinners in     
serving the  devil1 as we were once1 and
 now are1 in worldly things1 and in     
heaven  and hell all are in earnest4    
#af4 ,the chapter concludes with        
proposing  some awakening questions to  
the ungodly1 and1  #ag4 also to the     
godly4    #a4 ,if there be so certain   
and glorious a rest for the saints1 why 
is there no more industrious seeking    
after it8 ,one would think1 if a man did
 but once hear of such unspeakable glory
 to be obtained1 and believed what he   
heard to be true1 he should be          
transported with the vehemency of his   
desire after it1 and should almost      
forget to eat or drink1 and should care 
for nothing else1 and speak of and      
inquire after nothing else1 but how to  

get this treasure4 ,and yet the people  
who hear of it daily1 and profess to    
believe it as a fundamental article of  
their faith1 do as little mind it1 or   
labor for it1 as if they had never heard
 of any such thing1 or did not believe  
one word they hear4 ,this reproof is    
more particularly applicable to--the    
worldly-minded1--the profane            
multitude1--the formal professors1--and 
even to the godly themselves4   #b4 ,the
 worldly-minded are so taken up in      
seeking the things below1 that they have
 neither heart nor time to seek this    
rest4 ,o foolish sinners1 who hath      
bewitched you8 ,the world bewitches men 
into brute beasts1 and draws them some  
degrees beyond madness4 ,see what riding
 and running1 what scrambling and       
catching for a thing of naught1 while   
eternal rest lies neglected6 ,what      
contriving and caring to get a step     
higher in the world than their brethren1
 while they neglect the kingly dignity  
of the saints6 ,what insatiable pursuit 

of fleshly pleasures1 while they look on
 the praises of ,god1 the joy of angels1
 as a tiresome burden6 ,what unwearied  
diligence in raising their posterity1   
enlarging their possessions2 perhaps for
 a poor living from hand to mouth2 while
 judgment is drawing near2 but1 how it  
shall go with them then1 never puts them
 to one hour's consideration6 ,what     
rising early1 and sitting up late1 and  
laboring from year to year1 to maintain 
themselves and children in credit till  
they die2 but1 what shall follow after1 
they never think on6 ,yet these men cry1
 ,may we not be saved without so much   
ado8 ,how early do they rouse up their  
servants to their labor6 ,but how seldom
 do they call them to prayer1 or reading
 the ,scriptures6 ,what hath this world 
done for its lovers and friends1 that it
 is so eagerly followed1 and painfully  
sought after1 while ,christ and heaven  
stand by1 and few regard them8 or what  
will the world do for them for the time 
to come8 ,the common entrance into it is

 through anguish and sorrow4 ,the       
passage through it is with continual    
care and labor4 ,the passage out of it1 
is the sharpest of all4 ,o unreasonable1
 bewitched men6 ,will mirth and pleasure
 stick close to you8 ,will gold and     
worldly glory prove fast friends to you 
in the time of your greatest need8 ,will
 they hear your cries in the day of your
 calamity8 ,at the hour of your death1  
will they either answer or relieve you8 
,will they go along with you to the     
other world1 and bribe the judge1 and   
bring you off clear1 or purchase you a  
place among the blessed8 ,why then did  
the rich man want a drop of water to    
cool his tongue8 ,or are the sweet      
morsels of present delight and honor of 
more worth than eternal rest8 and will  
they recompense the loss of that        
enduring treasure8 ,can there be the    
least hope of any of these8 ,ah1 vile1  
deceitful world6 ,how oft have we heard 
thy most faithful servants at last      
complaining2 ,oh the world hath deceived

 me1 and undone me6 ,it flattered me in 
my prosperity1 but now it turns me off  
in my necessity4 ,if ,i had as          
faithfully served ,christ1 as ,i have   
served it1 he would not have left me    
thus comfortless and hopeless4 ,thus    
they complain2 and yet succeeding       
sinners will take no warning4   #c4 ,as 
for the profane multitude1 they will not
 be persuaded to be at so much pains for
 salvation1 as to perform the common    
outward duties of religion4 ,if they    
have the gospel preached in the town    
where they dwell1 it may be they will   
give the hearing to it one part of the  
day1 and stay at home the other2 or if  
the master come to the congregation1 yet
 part of the family must stay at home4  
,if they want the plain and powerful    
preaching of the gospel1 how few are    
there in a whole town1 who will travel a
 mile or two to hear abroad2 though they
 will go many miles to the market for   
provisions for their bodies8 ,they know 
the ,scripture is the law of ,god by    

which they must be acquitted or         
condemned in judgment2 and that the man 
is blessed who delights in the law of   
the ,lord1 and in his law doth meditate 
day and night2 yet will they not be at  
pains to read a chapter once a day4 ,if 
they carry a ,bible to church1 and      
neglect it all the week1 this is the    
most use they make of it4 ,though they  
are commanded to pray without ceasing1  
and to pray alway2 yet they will neither
 pray constantly with their families1   
nor in secret4 ,though ,daniel would    
rather be cast to the lions1 than       
forbear praying three times a day in his
 house1 where his enemies might hear    
him2 yet these men will rather venture  
to be an eternal prey to ,satan1 the    
roaring lion1 than thus seek their own  
safety4 ,or their cold and heartless    
prayers invite ,god to a denial3 ,for   
among men it is taken for granted1 that 
he who asks but slightly and seldom1    
cares not much for what he asks4 ,they  
judge themselves unworthy of heaven1 who

 think it is not worth their more       
constant and earnest requests4 ,if every
 door was marked1 where families do not 
morning and evening earnestly seek the  
,lord in prayer1 that his wrath might be
 poured out upon such prayerless        
families1 our towns would be as places  
over-thrown by the plague1 the people   
being dead within1 and the mark of      
judgment without4 ,i fear where one     
house would escape1 ten would be marked 
out for death2 and then they might teach
 their doors to pray1 ,lord1 have mercy 
upon us1 because the people would not   
pray themselves4 ,but especially if we  
could see what men do in their secret   
chambers1 how few would you find in a   
whole town that spend one quarter of an 
hour1 morning and night1 in earnest     
supplication to ,god for their souls8 ,o
 how little do these men set by eternal 
rest6 ,thus do they slothfully neglect  
all endeavors for their own welfare1    
except some public duty in the          
congregation1 which custom or credit    

engages them to4 ,persuade them to read 
good books1 learn the grounds of        
religion in their catechism1 and        
sanctify the ,lord's day in prayer1 and 
meditation1 and hearing the word1 and   
forbearing all wordly thoughts and      
speeches2 and what a tedious life do    
they take this to be8 ,as if they       
thought heaven were not worth doing so  
much for4   #d4 ,another sort are formal
 professors1 who will be brought to any 
outward duty1 but to the inward work of 
religion they will never be persuaded4  
,they will preach1 or hear1 or read1 or 
talk of heaven1 or pray in their        
families1 and take part with the persons
 or causes that are good1 and desire to 
be esteemed among the godly2 but you can
 never bring them to the more spiritual 
duties2 as to be constant and fervent in
 secret prayer and meditation2          
conscientious in self-examination2      
heavenly minded2 and to watch over their
 hearts1 words1 and ways2 to mortify the
 flesh1 and not make provision to fulfil

 its lusts2 to love and heartily forgive
 an enemy1 and prefer their brethren    
before themselves2 to lay all they have1
 or do1 at the feet of ,christ1 and     
prize his service and favor before all2 
to prepare to die1 and willingly leave  
all to go to ,christ4 ,hypocrites will  
never be persuaded to any of these4 ,if 
an hypocrite entertains the gospel with 
joy2 it is only in the surface of his   
soul1 he never gives the seed any depth 
of earth3 ,it changes his opinion1 but  
never melts and new moulds his heart1   
nor sets up ,christ there in full power 
and authority4 ,as his religion lies    
most in opinion1 so does his chief      
business and conversation4 ,he is       
usually an ignorant1 bold1 conceited    
dealer in controversies1 rather than an 
humble embracer of known truth1 with    
love and obedience4 ,by his slighting   
the judgments and persons of others1 and
 seldom talking with seriousness and    
humility of the great things of ,christ1
 he shews his religion dwells in the    

brain1 and not in his heart4 ,the wind  
of temptation carries him away as a     
feather1 because his heart is not       
established with ,christ and grace4 ,he 
never in private conversation humbly    
bewails his soul's imperfections1 or    
tenderly acknowledges his unkindnesses  
to ,christ2 but gathers his greatest    
comforts from his being of such a       
judgment or party4 ,the like may be said
 of the worldly hypocrite1 who choaks   
the gospel with the thorns of worldly   
cares and desires4 ,he is convinced1    
that he must be religious1 or he cannot 
be saved2 and therefore he reads1 and   
hears1 and prays1 and forsakes his      
former company and courses2 but he      
resolves to keep his hold of present    
things4 ,his judgment may say1 ,god is  
the chief good2 but his heart and       
affections never said so4 ,the world    
hath more of his affections than ,god1  
and therefore is his god4 ,though he    
does not run after opinions and         
novelties1 like the former1 yet he will 

be of that opinion which will best serve
 his worldly advantage4 ,and as one     
whose spirits are enfeebled by some     
pestilential disease2 so this man's     
spirits being possessed by the plague of
 a worldly disposition1 how feeble is he
 in secret prayer6 ,how superficial in  
examination and meditation6 ,how poor in
 heart watchings6 ,how nothing at all in
 loving and walking with ,god1 rejoicing
 in him1 or desiring him6 ,so that both 
these1 and many other sorts of          
hypocrites1 though they will go with you
 in the easy outside of religion1 yet   
will never be at the pains of inward and
 spiritual duties4   #e4 ,and even the  
godly themselves are too lazy seekers of
 their everlasting rest4 ,alas6 what a  
disproportion is there between our light
 and heat8 our profession and           
prosecution8 ,who makes that haste1 as  
if it were for heaven8 ,how still we    
stand8 ,how idly we work8 ,how we talk1 
and jest1 and trifle away our time8 ,how
 deceitfully we perform the work of     

,god8 ,how we hear1 as if we heard not2 
and pray1 as if we prayed not2 and      
examine1 and meditate1 and reprove sin1 
as if we did it not2 and enjoy ,christ1 
as if we enjoyed him not2 as if we had  
learned to use the things of heaven1 as 
the apostle teacheth us to use the      
things of the world8 ,what a frozen     
stupidity hath benumbed us6 ,we are     
dying1 and we know it1 and yet we stir  
not6 we are at the door of eternal      
happiness1 or misery1 and yet we        
perceive it not2 death knocks1 and we   
hear it not2 ,god and ,christ call and  
cry to us ,to-day1 if ye will hear my   
voice1 harden not your hearts2 work1    
while it is day1 for the night cometh   
when none can work4 ,now ply your       
business1 labor for your lives1 lay out 
all your strength and time2 now or      
never2 and yet we stir no more than if  
we were half asleep4 ,what haste doth   
death and judgment make8 ,how fast do   
they come on8 ,they are almost at us1   
and yet what little haste we make8      

,lord1 what a senseless1 earthly1       
hellish thing is a hard heart6 ,where is
 the man that is in earnest a           
,christian8 ,methinks men every where   
make but a trifle of their eternal      
state4 ,they look after it but a little 
by the bye2 they do not make it the     
business of their lives4 ,if ,i were not
 sick myself of the same disease1 with  
what tears should ,i mix this ink8 ,with
 what groans should ,i express these    
complaints8 ,and with what heart grief  
should ,i mourn over this universal     
deadness8   #f4 ,do magistrates among us
 seriously perform their work8 ,are they
 zealous for ,god8 ,do they build up his
 house8 ,are they tender of his honor8  
,do they second the word8 ,and fly in   
the face of sin and sinners1 as the     
disturbers of our peace1 and the only   
cause of all our miseries8 ,do they     
improve all their power1 wealth1 and    
honor1 and all their influence1 for the 
greatest advantage to the kingdom of    
,christ1 as men that must shortly give  

an account of their stewardship8   #g4  
,how thin are those ministers that are  
serious in their work6 ,nay1 how        
mightily do the very best fail in this6 
,do we cry out of men's disobedience to 
the gospel in the demonstration of the  
,spirit1 and deal with sin as the       
destroying fire in our towns1 and by    
force pull men out of it8 ,do we        
persuade our people1 as those should1   
that know the terrors of the ,lord8 ,do 
we press ,christ1 and regeneration1 and 
faith1 and holiness1 believing that1    
without these1 men can never have life8 
,do our bowels yearn over the ignorant1 
careless1 and obstinate multitude8 ,when
 we look them in the face1 do our hearts
 melt over them1 lest we should never   
see their faces in rest8 ,do we1 as     
,paul1 tell them weeping1 of their      
fleshly and earthly disposition8 ,and   
teach them publicly1 and from house to  
house1 at all seasons1 and with many    
tears8 ,and do we entreat them as for   
their soul's salvation8 ,or rather1 do  

we not study to gain the approbation of 
critical hearers2 as if a minister's    
business were of no more weight but to  
tell a smooth tale for an hour1 and look
 no more after the people till the next 
sermon8 ,does not carnal prudence       
control our fervor1 and make our        
discourses lifeless1 on subjects the    
most piercing8 ,how gently we handle    
those sins1 which will so cruelly handle
 our people's souls8 ,in a word1 our    
want of seriousness about the things of 
heaven1 charms the souls of men into    
formality1 and brings them to this      
customary1 careless hearing1 which      
undoes them4 ,may the ,lord pardon the  
great sin of the ministry in this thing2
 and1 in particular1 my own6   #h4 ,and 
are the people more serious than        
magistrates or ministers6 ,how can it be
 expected8 ,reader1 look but to thyself1
 and resolve the question4 ,ask         
conscience1 and suffer it to tell thee  
truly4 ,hast thou set thy eternal rest  
before thine eyes1 as the great business

 thou hast to do in this world8 ,hast   
thou watched and labored1 with all thy  
might1 that no man take thy crown8 ,hast
 thou made haste1 lest thou shouldst    
come too late1 and die before thy work  
be done8 ,hast thou pressed on through  
crowds of opposition1 towards the mark1 
for the prize of the high calling of    
,god in ,christ ,jesus1 still reaching  
forth unto those things which are       
before8 ,can conscience witness your    
secret cries1 and groans1 and tears8    
,can your family witness1 that you      
taught them the fear of the ,lord1 and  
warned them not to go to that place of  
torment8 ,can your minister witness1    
that he has heard you cry out1 ,what    
shall ,i do to be saved8 and that you   
have followed him with complaints       
against your corruptions1 and with      
earnest inquiries after the ,lord8 ,can 
your neighbors about you witness1 that  
you reprove the ungodly1 and take pains 
to save the souls of your brethren8 ,let
 all these witnesses judge this day     

between ,god and you1 whether you are in
 earnest about eternal rest4 ,you can   
tell by his work1 whether your servant  
has loitered1 though you did not see    
him2 so you may by looking at your own  
work4 ,is your love to ,christ1 your    
faith1 your zeal1 and other graces1     
strong or weak8 ,what are your joys8    
,what is your assurance8 ,is all in     
order within you8 ,are you ready to die1
 if this should be the day8 ,do the     
souls1 among whom you have conversed1   
bless you8 ,judge by this1 and it will  
quickly appear whether you have been    
laborers or loiterers4   #i4 ,o blessed 
rest1 how unworthily art thou neglected6
 ,o glorious kingdom1 how art thou      
undervalued6 ,little know the careless  
sons of men1 what a state they set so   
light by4 ,if they once knew it1 they   
would surely be of another mind4 ,i hope
 thou1 reader1 art sensible1 what a     
desperate thing it is to trifle about   
eternal rest2 and how deeply thou hast  
been guilty of this thyself4 ,and ,i    

hope also1 thou wilt not now suffer this
 conviction to die4 ,should the         
physician tell thee1 ,if you will       
observe but one thing1 ,i doubt not to  
cure your disease1 wouldst thou not     
observe it8 ,so ,i tell thee1 if thou   
wilt observe but this one thing for thy 
soul1 ,i make no doubt of thy salvation2
 shake off thy sloth1 and put to all thy
 strength1 and be a ,christian indeed2  
,i know not then what can hinder thy    
happiness4 ,as far as thou art gone from
 ,god1 seek him with all thy heart1 and 
no doubt thou shalt find him4 ,as unkind
 as thou hast been to ,jesus ,christ1   
seek him heartily1 obey him             
unreservedly1 and thy salvation is as   
sure as if thou hadst it already4 ,but  
full as ,christ's satisfaction is1 free 
as the promise is1 large as the mercy of
 ,god is2 if thou only talk of these1   
when thou shouldst eagerly entertain    
them1 thou wilt be never the better for 
them2 and if thou loiter1 when thou     
shouldst labor1 thou wilt lose the      

crown4 ,fall to work1 then speedily and 
seriously1 and bless ,god that thou hast
 yet time to do it4 ,and to shew that ,i
 urge thee not without cause1 ,i will   
here add a variety of animating         
considerations4 ,rouse up thy spirits1  
and1 as ,moses said to ,israel1 set thy 
heart unto all the words which ,i       
testify unto thee this day2 for it is   
not a vain thing1 because it is your    
life4#bfb ,may the ,lord open thy heart1
 and fasten his counsel effectually upon
 thee6  ,footnote #bfb ,deuteronomy     
xxxii1 #df1 #dg4   #aj4 ,consider how   
reasonable it is1 that our diligence    
should be answerable to the ends we aim 
at1 to the work we have to do1 to the   
shortness and uncertainty of our time1  
and to the contrary diligence of our    
enemies4 ,the ends of a ,christian's    
desires and endeavors are so great1 that
 no human understanding on earth can    
comprehend them4 ,what is so excellent1 
so important1 or so necessary1 as1 the  
glorifying of ,god1 the salvation of our

 own and other men's souls1 by escaping 
the torments of hell1 and possessing the
 glory of heaven8 ,and can a man be too 
much affected with things of such       
moment8 ,can he desire them too         
earnestly1 or love them too strongly1 or
 labor for them too diligently8 ,do not 
we know1 that if our prayers prevail    
not1 and our labor succeeds not1 we are 
undone for ever8 ,the work of a         
,christian here is very great and       
various4 ,the soul must be renewed2     
corruptions must be mortified2 custom1  
temptations1 and worldly interests1 must
 be conquered2 flesh must be subdued2   
life1 friends1 and credit must be       
slighted2 conscience on good grounds be 
quieted2 and assurance of pardon and    
salvation attained4 ,though ,god must   
give us these without our merit1 yet he 
will not give them without our earnest  
seeking and labor4 ,besides1 there is   
much knowledge to be got1 many          
ordinances to be used1 and duties to be 
performed3 every age1 year1 and day2    

every place we come to2 every person we 
deal with2 every change of our          
condition1 still require the renewing of
 our labor2 wives1 children1 servants1  
neighbors1 friends1 enemies1 all of them
 call for duty from us4 ,judge then1    
whether men that have so much business  
lying upon their hands1 should not exert
 themselves2 and whether it be their    
wisdom either to delay or loiter4 ,time 
passeth on4 ,yet a few days1 and we     
shall be here no more4 ,many diseases   
are ready to assault us4 ,we that are   
now preaching1 and hearing1 and talking1
 and walking1 must very shortly be      
carried1 and laid in the dust1 and there
 left to the worms in darkness and      
corruption2 we are almost there already1
 we know not whether we shall have      
another sermon1 or sabbath1 or hour4    
,how active should they be1 who know    
they have so short a space for so great 
a work8--,and we have enemies1 that are 
always plotting and laboring for our    
destruction4 ,how diligent is ,satan in 

all kind of temptations6 ,therefore be  
sober1 be vigilant2 because your        
adversary the ,devil1 as a roaring lion1
 walketh about1 seeking whom he may     
devour4 ,whom resist steadfast in the   
faith4#bfc ,how diligent are all the    
ministers of ,satan6 ,false teachers1   
scoffers1 persecutors1 and our inbred   
corruptions1 the most busy and diligent 
of all6 ,will a feeble resistance serve 
our turn8 ,should not we be more active 
for our own preservation1 than our      
enemies are for our ruin6  ,footnote    
#bfc #a ,peter v1 #h1 #i4   #aa4 ,it    
should excite us to diligence1 when we  
consider our talents1 and our mercies1  
our relation to ,god1 and the           
afflictions he lays upon us4 ,the       
talents which we have received1 are many
 and great4 ,what people breathing on   
earth have had plainer instructions1 or 
more forcible persuasions1 or more      
constant admonitions1 in season and out 
of season8 ,sermons1 till we have been  
weary of them2 and ,sabbaths1 till we   

profaned them8 ,excellent books in such 
plenty1 that we knew not which to read8 
,what people have had ,god so near them8
 or have seen so much of ,christ        
crucified before their eyes8 or have had
 heaven and hell so opened unto them8   
,what speed should such a people make   
for heaven8 ,how should they fly that   
are thus winged8 ,and how swiftly should
 they sail that have wind and tide to   
help them8 ,a small measure of grace    
beseems not such a people1 nor will an  
ordinary diligence in the work of ,god  
excuse them4 ,all our lives have been   
filled with mercies4 ,god hath          
mercifully poured out upon us the riches
 of sea and land1 of heaven and earth4  
,we are fed and clothed with mercy4 ,we 
have mercies within and without4 ,to    
number them is to count the stars1 or   
the sands of the sea shore4 ,if there be
 any difference betwixt hell and earth2 
yea1 or heaven and earth2 then certainly
 we have received mercy4 ,if the blood  
of the ,son of ,god be mercy1 then we   

are engaged to ,god by mercy4 ,shall    
,god think nothing too much1 or too good
 for us3 and shall we think all too much
 that we do for him8 ,when ,i compare my
 slow and unprofitable life1 with the   
frequent and wonderful mercies received1
 it shames me1 it silences me1 and      
leaves me inexcusable4 ,besides our     
talents and mercies1 our relations to   
,god are most endearing4 ,are we his    
children1 and do we not owe him our most
 tender affections1 and dutiful         
obedience8 ,are we the spouse of        
,christ1 and should we not obey and love
 him8 ,if he be a ,father1 where is his 
honor8 and if he be a master1 where is  
his fear8#bfd ,we call him ,master1 and 
,lord1 and we say well4#bfe ,but if our 
industry be not answerable to our       
relations1 we condemn ourselves in      
saying1 we are his children1 or his     
servants4 ,how will the hard labor1 and 
daily toil1 which servants undergo to   
please their masters1 judge and condemn 
those who will not labor so hard for    

their ,great ,master8 ,surely there is  
no master like him2 nor can any servants
 expect such fruit of their labors as   
his servants4 ,and if we wander out of  
,god's way or loiter in it1 how is every
 creature ready to be his rod1 to reduce
 us1 or put us on6 ,our sweetest mercies
 will become our sorrows4 ,rather than  
want a rod1 the ,lord will make us a    
scourge to ourselves3 ,our diseased     
bodies shall make us groan2 our         
perplexed minds shall make us restless2 
our conscience shall be as a scorpion in
 our bosom4 ,and is it not easier to    
endure the labor than the spur8 ,had we 
rather be still afflicted1 than be up   
and doing8 ,and though they that do     
most1 meet also with afflictions2 yet   
surely1 according to their peace of     
conscience1 and faithfulness to ,christ1
 the bitterness of their cup is abated4 
,footnote #bfd ,malachi i1 #f4          
,footnote #bfe ,john xiii1 #ac4   #ab4  
,to quicken our diligence in our work1  
we should also consider1 what           

assistances we have1 what principles we 
profess1 and our certainty that we can  
never do too much4 ,for our assistance  
in the service of ,god1 all the world   
are our servants4 ,the sun1 moon1 and   
stars1 attend us with their light and   
influence4 ,the earth1 with all its     
furniture of plants and flowers1 fruits1
 birds1 and beasts2 the sea1 with its   
inhabitants2 the air1 the wind1 the     
frost and snow1 the heat and fire1 the  
clouds and rain1 all wait upon us while 
we do our work4 ,yea1 the angels are all
 our ministering spirits4#bff ,nay more1
 the patience of ,god doth wait upon us2
 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ waiteth1 in   
the offers of his blood2 the ,holy      
,spirit waiteth1 by striving with our   
backward hearts2 besides the ministers  
of the gospel1 who study and wait1      
preach and wait1 pray and wait1 upon    
careless sinners4 ,and is it not an     
intolerable crime for us to trifle1     
while angels and men2 yea1 the ,lord    
himself1 stand by1 and look on1 and1 as 

it were1 hold us the candle while we do 
nothing8 ,i beseech you1 ,christians1   
whenever you are praying1 or reproving  
transgressors1 or upon any duty1        
remember what assistances you have for  
your work1 and then judge how you ought 
to perform it4 ,the principles we       
profess1 are1 that ,god is the chief    
good2 that all our happiness consists in
 his love1 and therefore it should be   
valued and sought above all things2 that
 he is our only ,lord1 and therefore    
chiefly to be served2 that we must love 
him with all our heart1 and soul1 and   
strength2 that our great business in the
 world is to glorify ,god1 and obtain   
salvation4 ,are these doctrines seen in 
our practice8 ,or rather do not our     
works deny what our words confess8 ,but 
however our assistances and principles  
excite us to our work1 we are sure we   
can never do too much4 ,could we do all1
 we are unprofitable servants2#bfg much 
more when we are sure to fail in all4   
,no man can obey1 or serve ,god too     

much4 ,though all superstition1 or      
service of our own devising1 may be     
called a being righteous overmuch2 yet  
as long as we keep to the rule of the   
word1 we can never be righteous too     
much4 ,the world is mad with malice1    
when they think1 that faithful diligence
 in the service of ,christ is foolish   
singularity4 ,the time is near when they
 will easily confess1 that ,god could   
not be loved1 or served too much1 and   
that no man can be too busy to save his 
soul4 ,we may easily do too much for the
 world1 but we cannot for ,god4         
,footnote #bff ,hebrews i1 #ad4         
,footnote #bfg ,luke xvii1 #aj4   #ac4  
,let us further consider1 that it is the
 nature of every grace to promote       
diligence1 that trifling in the way to  
heaven is lost labor1 that much precious
 time is already mispent1 and that in   
proportion to our labor will be our     
recompense4 ,see the nature and tendency
 of every grace4 ,if you loved ,god you 
would think nothing too much that you   

could possibly do to serve him1 and     
please him still more4 ,love is quick   
and impatient1 active and observant4 ,if
 you loved ,christ1 you would keep his  
commandments1 nor accuse them of too    
much strictness4 ,if you had faith1 it  
would quicken and encourage you4 ,if you
 had the hope of glory1 it would as the 
spring in the watch1 set all the wheels 
of your soul a-going4 ,if you had the   
fear of ,god1 it would rouse you out of 
your slothfulness4 ,if you had zeal1 it 
would inflame1 and eat you up4 ,in what 
degree soever thou art sanctified1 in   
the same degree thou wilt be serious and
 laborious in the work of ,god4 ,but    
they that trifle1 lose their labor4     
,many1 who like ,agrippa1 are but almost
 ,christians1 will find in the end they 
shall be but almost saved4 ,if two be   
running in a race1 he that runs slowest 
loses both prize and labor4 ,a man that 
is lifting a weight1 if he put not      
sufficient strength to it1 had as good  
put none at all4 ,how many duties have  

,christians lost1 for want of doing them
 thoroughly8 ,many will seek to enter in
 and shall not be able1#bfh who1 if they
 had striven1 might have been able4     
,therefore1 put to a little more        
diligence and strength1 that all you    
have done already be not in vain4       
,besides1 is not much precious time     
already lost8 ,with some of us childhood
 and youth are gone2 with some1 their   
middle age also1 and the time before us 
is very uncertain4 ,what time have we   
slept1 talked1 and played away1 or spent
 in worldly thoughts and cares8 ,how    
little of our work is done8 ,the time we
 have lost cannot be recalled2 should we
 not then redeem and improve the little 
which remains8 ,if a traveller sleep1 or
 trifle most of the day1 he must travel 
so much faster in the evening1 or fall  
short of his journey's end4 ,doubt not  
but the recompense will be according to 
your labor4 ,the seed which is buried   
and dead1 will bring forth a plentiful  
harvest4 ,whatever you do1 or suffer1   

everlasting rest will pay for all4      
,there is no repenting of labors or     
sufferings in heaven4 ,there is not one 
says1 ,would ,i had spared my pains1 and
 prayed less1 or been less strict1 and  
done as the rest of my neighbors did4   
,on the contrary1 it will be their joy  
to look back upon their labors and      
tribulations1 and to consider how the   
mighty power of ,god brought them       
through all4 ,we may all say1 as ,paul1 
,i reckon1 that the sufferings1 and     
labors of this present time1 are not    
worthy to be compared with the glory    
which shall be revealed in us4#bfi ,we  
labor but for a moment1 but we shall    
rest for ever4 ,who would not put forth 
all his strength for one hour1 when for 
that hour's work he may be a prince     
while he lives8 ,god is not unrighteous1
 to forget our work and labor of        
love4#bgj ,will not all our tears be    
wiped away1 and all the sorrow of our   
duties be then forgotten8  ,footnote    
#bfh ,luke xiii1 #bd4  ,footnote #bfi   

,romans viii1 #ah4  ,footnote #bgj      
,hebrews vi1 #aj4   #ad4 ,nor does it   
less deserve to be considered1 that     
striving is the divinely appointed way  
of salvation1 that all men either do or 
will approve it1 that the best          
,christians at death lament their       
negligence1 and that heaven itself is   
often lost for want of striving1 but is 
never had on easier terms4 ,the         
sovereign wisdom of ,god has made       
striving necessary to salvation4 ,who   
knows the way to heaven better than the 
,god of heaven8 ,when men tell us we are
 too strict1 whom do they accuse1 ,god1 
or us8 ,if it were a fault1 it would lie
 in him that commands1 and not in us who
 obey4 ,these are the men that ask us1  
whether we are wiser than all the world 
beside8 and yet they will pretend to be 
wiser than ,god4 ,how can they reconcile
 their language with the laws of ,god8  
,the kingdom of heaven suffereth        
violence1 and the violent take it by    
force4#bga ,strive to enter in at the   

strait gate2 for many will seek to enter
 in1 and shall not be able4#bgb         
,whatsoever thy hand findeth to do1 do  
it with thy might1 for there is no work1
 nor device1 nor knowledge1 nor wisdom1 
in the grave whither thou goest4#bgc    
,work out your own salvation with fear  
and trembling4#bgd ,give diligence to   
make your calling and election sure4#bge
 ,if the righteous scarcely be saved1   
where shall the ungodly and the sinner  
appear8#bgf ,let them bring all the     
seeming reasons they can1 against the   
holy violence of the saints2 this       
sufficeth me to confute them all1 that  
,god is of another mind1 and he hath    
commanded me to do much more than ,i do8
 and though ,i could see no other reason
 for it1 his will is reason enough4 ,who
 should make laws for us1 but he that   
made us8 ,and who should point out the  
way to heaven1 but he that must bring us
 thither8 and who shall fix the terms of
 salvation1 but he that bestows the gift
 of salvation8 ,so that let the world1  

the flesh1 or the ,devil1 speak against 
a holy1 laborious life1 this is my      
answer1 ,god hath commanded it4 ,nay1   
there never was1 or ever will be1 a man1
 but will approve such a life1 and will 
one day justify the diligence of the    
saints4 ,and who would not go that way1 
which every man shall finally applaud8  
,true1 it is now a way every where      
spoken against4 ,but let me tell you1   
most that speak against it1 in their    
judgments approve of it2 and those that 
are now against it1 will shortly be of  
another mind4 ,if they come to heaven   
their mind must be changed before they  
come there4 ,if they go to hell1 their  
judgment will then be altered1 whether  
they will or no4 ,remember this1 you    
that love the opinion and way of the    
multitude2 why then will you not be of  
the opinion that all will be of8 ,why   
will you be of a judgment1 which you are
 sure all of you shortly to change8 ,oh 
that you were but as wise in this1 as   
those in hell6--,even the best of       

,christians1 when they come to die1     
exceedingly lament their negligence4    
,they then wish1 ,oh that ,i had been a 
thousand times more holy1 more heavenly1
 more laborious for my soul6 ,the world 
accuses me for doing too much1 but my   
own conscience accuses me for doing too 
little4 ,it is far easier bearing the   
scoffs of the world1 than the lashes of 
conscience4 ,i had rather be reproached 
by the ,devil for seeking salvation1    
than reproved of ,god for neglecting it4
 ,how do their failings thus wound and  
disquiet them1 who have been the wonders
 of the world for their heavenly        
conversation8--,it is for want of more  
diligence1 that heaven itself is often  
lost4 ,when they that have heard the    
word1 and anon with joy received it1 and
 have done many things1 and heard the   
ministers of ,christ gladly1#bgg shall  
yet perish2 should not this rouse us out
 of our security8 ,how far hath many a  
man followed ,christ1 and yet forsook   
him1 when all worldly interests and     

hopes were to be renounced8--,god hath  
resolved1 that heaven shall not be had  
on easier terms4 ,rest must always      
follow labor4 ,without holiness no man  
shall see the ,lord4#bgh ,seriousness is
 the very thing wherein consists our    
sincerity4 ,if thou art not serious1    
thou art not a ,christian4 ,it is not   
only a high degree in ,christianity1 but
 the very life and essence of it4 ,as   
fencers upon a stage differ from        
soldiers fighting for their lives1 so   
hypocrites differ from serious          
,christians4 ,if men could be saved     
without this serious diligence1 they    
would never regard it2 all the          
excellencies of ,god's ways would never 
entice them4 ,but when ,god hath        
resolved1 that1 without serious         
diligence here1 you shall not rest      
hereafter1 is it not wisdom to exert    
ourselves to the utmost8  ,footnote #bga
 ,matthew xi1 #ab4  ,footnote #bgb ,luke
 xiii1 #bd4  ,footnote #bgc             
,ecclesiastes ix1 #aj4  ,footnote #bgd  

,philippians ii1 #ab4  ,footnote #bge #b
 ,peter i1 #aj4  ,footnote #bgf #a      
,peter iv1 #ah4  ,footnote #bgg ,matthew
 xiii1 #bj4 ,mark vi1 #bj4  ,footnote   
#bgh ,hebrews xii1 #ad4   #ae4 ,but to  
persuade thee1 if possible1 reader1 to  
be serious in thy endeavors for heaven1 
let me add more considerations4 ,as for 
instance1 consider--,god is in earnest  
with you2 and why should not you be so  
with him8 ,in his commands1 his         
threatenings1 his promises1 he means as 
he speaks4 ,in his judgments he is      
serious4 ,was he not so1 when he drowned
 the world8 ,when he consumed ,sodom and
 ,gomorrah8 ,and when he scattered the  
,jews8 ,is it time then to trifle with  
,god8--,jesus ,christ was serious in    
purchasing our redemption4 ,in teaching1
 he neglected his meat and drink4 ,in   
prayer1 he continued all night4 ,in     
doing good1 his friends thought him     
beside himself4 ,in suffering1 ,he      
fasted forty days1 was tempted1         
betrayed1 spit upon1 buffeted1 crowned  

with thorns1 sweat drops of blood1 was  
crucified1 pierced1 died2 there was no  
jesting in all this4 ,and should not we 
be serious in seeking our own salvation6
 ,the ,holy ,spirit is serious in       
soliciting us to be happy4 ,his motions 
are frequent1 pressings and importunate4
 ,he striveth with us4 ,he is grieved1  
when we resist him4 ,and should not we  
be serious then in obeying1 and yielding
 to his motions8--,god is serious in    
hearing our prayers1 and bestowing his  
mercies4 ,he is afflicted with us4 ,he  
regardeth every groan and sigh1 and puts
 every tear into his bottle4 ,the next  
time thou art in trouble1 thou wilt beg 
for a serious regard of thy prayers4    
,and shall we expect real mercies1 when 
we are slight and superficial in the    
work of ,god8--,the ministers of ,christ
 are serious in exhorting and           
instructing you4 ,they beg of ,god1 and 
of you1 and long more for the salvation 
of your souls than for any worldly good4
 ,if they kill themselves with their    

labor1 or suffer martyrdom for preaching
 the gospel2 they think their lives are 
well bestowed1 so that they prevail for 
the saving your souls4 ,and shall other 
men be so painful and careful for your  
salvation1 and you be so careless and   
negligent of your own8--,how diligent   
and serious are all the creatures in    
serving you8 ,what haste makes the sun  
to compass the world8 ,the fountains are
 always flowing for thy use2 the rivers 
still running2 spring and harvest keep  
their times4 ,how hard does thy ox labor
 for thee from day to day8 ,how speedily
 does thy horse travel with thee8 ,and  
shalt thou only be negligent8 ,shall all
 these be so serious in serving thee1   
and thou so careless in thy service to  
,god8--,the servants of the world and   
the ,devil are serious and diligent4    
,they work1 as if they could never do   
enough4 ,they make haste1 as if afraid  
of coming to hell too late4 ,they bear  
down ministers1 sermons1 and all before 
them4 ,and shall they be more diligent  

for damnation1 than thou for salvation8 
,hast thou not a better master1 sweeter 
employment1 greater encouragement1 and a
 better reward8--,time was when thou    
wast serious thyself in serving ,satan  
and the flesh1 if it be not so yet4 ,how
 eagerly didst thou follow thy sports1  
thy evil company1 and sinful delights8  
,and wilt thou not now be as earnest and
 violent for ,god8--,you are to this day
 in earnest about the things of this    
life4 ,if you are sick1 or in pain1 what
 serious complaints do you utter8 ,if   
you are poor1 how hard do you labor for 
a livelihood8 ,and is not the business  
of your salvation of far greater        
moment8--,there is no jesting in heaven 
or hell4 ,the saints have a real        
happiness1 and the damned a real misery4
 ,there are no remiss or sleepy praises 
in heaven1 nor such lamentations in     
hell4 ,all there are in earnest4 ,when  
thou1 reader1 shalt come to death and   
judgment1 ,o what deep1 heart-piercing  
thoughts wilt thou have of eternity6    

,methinks ,i foresee thee already       
astonished1 to think how thou couldst   
possibly make so light of these things4 
,methinks ,i even hear thee crying out  
of thy stupidity and madness4   #af4    
,and now1 reader1 having laid down these
 undeniable arguments1 ,i do1 in the    
name of ,god1 demand thy resolution2    
wilt thou yield obedience1 or not8 ,i am
 confident thy conscience is convinced  
of thy duty4 ,darest thou now go on in  
thy common careless course1 against the 
plain evidence of reason1 and commands  
of ,god1 and against the light of thy   
own conscience8 ,darest thou live as    
loosely1 sin as boldly1 and pray as     
seldom1 as before8 ,darest thou profane 
the ,sabbath1 slight the service of     
,god1 and think of thine everlasting    
state as carelessly as before8 ,or dost 
thou not rather resolve to gird up the  
loins of thy mind1 and set thyself      
wholly to the work of thy salvation1 and
 break through the oppositions1 and     
slight the scoffs and persecutions of   

the world1 and lay aside every weight1  
and the sin which doth so easily beset  
thee1 and run with patience the race    
that is set before thee8 ,i hope these  
are thy full resolutions6 ,yet1 because 
,i know the obstinacy of the heart of   
man1 and because ,i am solicitous thy   
soul might live1 ,i once more entreat   
thy attention to the following          
questions2 and ,i command thee from     
,god1 that thou stifle not thy          
conscience1 nor resist conviction2 but  
answer them faithfully1 and obey        
accordingly--,if1 by being diligent in  
godliness1 you could grow rich1 get     
honor or preferment in the world1 be    
recovered from sickness1 or live for    
ever in prosperity on earth2 what lives 
would you lead1 and what pains would you
 take in the service of ,god8 ,and is   
not the saint's rest a more excellent   
happiness than all this8--,if it were   
felony to break the ,sabbath1 neglect   
secret or family worship1 or be loose in
 your lives1 what manner of persons     

would you then be8 ,and is not eternal  
death more terrible than temporal8--,if 
,god usually punished with some present 
judgment every act of sin1 as he did the
 lie of ,ananias and ,sapphira1 what    
kind of lives would you lead8 ,and is   
not eternal wrath far more              
terrible8--,if one of your acquaintance 
should come from the dead1 and tell you1
 that he suffered the torments of hell  
for those sins you are guilty of2 what  
manner of persons would you afterwards  
be8 ,how much more should the warnings  
of ,god affright you8--,if you knew that
 this were the last day you had to live 
in the world1 how would you spend it8   
,and you know not but it may be your    
last1 and are sure your last is near4   
,if you had seen the general dissolution
 of the world1 and all the pomp and     
glory of it consumed to ashes1 what     
would such a sight persuade thee to do8 
,such a sight you shall certainly see4  
,if you had seen the judgment set1 and  
the books opened1 and the wicked stand  

trembling on the left hand of the       
,judge1 and the godly rejoicing on the  
right hand1 and their different sentence
 pronounced2 what persons would you have
 been after such a sight8 ,this sight   
you shall one day surely see4 ,if you   
had seen hell open1 and all the damned  
there in their endless torments2 also   
heaven opened1 as ,stephen did1 and all 
the saints there triumphing in glory2   
what a life would you lead after such   
sights8 ,these you will see before it be
 long4 ,if you had lain in hell but one 
year1 or one day1 or hour1 and there    
felt the torments you now hear of2 how  
seriously would you then speak of hell1 
and pray against it8 ,and will you not  
take ,god's word for the truth of this1 
except you feel it8--,or if you had     
possessed the glory of heaven but one   
year2 what pains would you take1 rather 
than be deprived of such incomparable   
glory8--,thus ,i have said enough1 if   
not to stir up the sinner to a serious  
working out his salvation1 yet at least 

to silence him1 and leave him           
inexcusable at the judgment of ,god4    
,only as we do by our friends when they 
are dead1 and our words and actions can 
do them no good1 yet to testify our     
affection for them we weep and mourn2 so
 will ,i also do for these unhappy      
souls4 ,it makes my heart tremble1 to   
think how they will stand before the    
,lord confounded and speechless6 ,when  
he shall say1 ,was the world1 or ,satan1
 a better friend to you than ,i8 ,or had
 they done more for you than ,i had     
done8 ,try now whether they will save   
you1 or recompense you for the loss of  
heaven1 or be as good to you as ,i would
 have been4 ,what will the wretched     
sinner answer to any of this8 ,but      
though man will not hear1 we may hope in
 speaking to ,god4 ,o thou that didst   
weep and groan in spirit over a dead    
,lazarus1 pity these dead and senseless 
souls1 till they are able to weep and   
groan in pity to themselves6 ,as thou   
hast bid thy servant speak1 so speak now

 thyself2 they will hear thy voice      
speaking to their hearts1 who will not  
hear mine speaking to their ears4 ,lord1
 thou hast long knocked at these hearts 
in vain2 now break the doors1 and enter 
in4   #ag4 ,yet to shew the godly why   
they1 above all men1 should be laborious
 for heaven1 ,i desire to ask           
them1--,what manner of persons should   
those be1 whom ,god hath chosen to be   
vessels of mercy8 ,who have felt the    
smart of their negligence1 in their new 
birth1 in their troubles of conscience1 
in their doubts and fears1 and in other 
sharp afflictions8 ,who have often      
confessed their sin of negligence to    
,god in prayer8 ,who have bound         
themselves to ,god by so many covenants8
 ,what manner of persons should they be1
 who are near to ,god as the children of
 his family8 who have tasted such       
sweetness in diligent obedience8 who are
 many of them so uncertain what shall   
everlastingly become of their souls8    
,what manner of persons should they be  

in holiness1 whose sanctification is so 
imperfect8 ,whose lives and duties are  
so important to the saving or destroying
 a multitude of souls8 and on whom the  
glory of the great ,god so much         
depends8--,since these things are so1 ,i
 charge thee1 ,christian1 in thy        
,master's name1 to consider and resolve 
the question1 ,what manner of persons   
ought we to be in all holy conversation 
and godliness8 ,and let thy life answer 
the question as well as thy tongue4     
,,chap4 ,,viii4  ,how to discern our    
,title to the ,saint's ,rest4    #a4    
,the folly of men in not inquiring after
 a title to the ,saint's  ,rest2  #b4   
and their cause for terror1 as long as  
they are destitute of  a title4  #c4    
,self examination is urged upon them2   
#d4 7#a47 from the  possibility of      
arriving at certainty2  #e-i4 7#b47 from
 the hindrances  which will be thrown in
 our way by ,satan1 sinners1 our own    
hearts1 and  many other causes2  #aj4   
7#c47 from considering how easy1 common1

 and  dangerous it is to be mistaken3   
that trying will not be so painful as   
the neglect2 that ,god will soon try us1
 and that to try ourselves will  be     
profitable2  #aa4 and therefore the     
reader is entreated no longer to  delay 
the trial4  #ab4 ,then 7#d47 ,directions
 are given how to try3  #ac4  and 7#e47 
,marks for trial are added1             
particularly1  #ad4 ,do we make ,god    
our chief good8  #ae4 ,do we heartily   
accept of ,christ for our ,lord and     
,savior8  #af1 #ag4 ,the chapter        
concludes with illustrating the great   
importance of these two marks4    #a4   
,is there such a glorious rest so near  
at hand8 ,and shall none enjoy it but   
the people of ,god8 ,what mean most of  
the world then1 to live so contentedly  
without assurance of their interest in  
this rest1 and neglect the trying of    
their title to it8 ,when the ,lord hath 
so fully opened the blessedness of that 
kingdom1 which none but obedient        
believers shall possess2 and so fully   

expressed those torments1 which the rest
 of the world must eternally suffer2    
methinks they that believe this to be   
certainly true1 should never be at any  
quiet in themselves1 till they were     
fully assured of their being heirs of   
the kingdom4 ,lord1 what a strange      
madness is this1 that men1 who know they
 must presently enter upon unchangeable 
joy or pain1 should yet live as         
uncertain what shall be their doom1 as  
if they had never heard of any such     
state2 yea1 and live as quietly and     
merrily in this uncertainty1 as if all  
were made sure1 and there were no       
danger6 ,are these men alive or dead8   
,are they awake or asleep8 ,what do they
 think on8 ,where are their hearts8 ,if 
they have but a weighty suit at law1 how
 careful are they to know whether it    
will go for or against them2 if they    
were to be tried for their lives at an  
earthly bar1 how careful would they be  
to know whether they should be saved or 
condemned1 especially if their care     

might surely save them8 ,if they be     
dangerously sick1 they will inquire of  
the physician1 what think you1 ,sir1    
shall ,i escape1 or no8 ,but in the     
business of their salvation1 they are   
content to be uncertain6 ,if you ask    
most men a reason of the hope that is in
 them1 they will say1 ,because ,god is  
merciful1 and ,christ died for sinners1 
and the like general reasons1 which any 
man in the world may give as well as    
they3 but put them to prove their       
interest in ,christ1 and in the saving  
mercy of ,god1 and they can say nothing 
to the purpose4 ,if ,god or man should  
say to them1 what case is thy soul in1  
man8 ,is it regenerate1 sanctified and  
pardoned1 or no8 ,he would be ready to  
say1 as ,cain of ,abel1 ,i know not1 am 
,i my soul's keeper8 ,i hope well2 ,i   
trust ,god with my soul2 ,i shall speed 
as well as other men do2 ,i thank ,god1 
,i never made any doubt of my salvation4
 ,thou hast cause to doubt1 because thou
 never didst doubt2 and yet more1       

because thou hast been so careless in   
thy confidence4 ,what do thy expressions
 discover1 but a wilful neglect of thy  
own salvation8 ,as a shipmaster that    
should let his vessel alone1 and say1 ,i
 will venture it among the rocks1 and   
waves1 and winds2 ,i will trust ,god    
with it2 it will speed as well as other 
vessels4 ,what horrible abuse of ,god is
 this1 to pretend to trust ,god1 to     
cloak their own wilful negligence8 ,if  
thou didst really trust ,god1 thou      
wouldst also be ruled by him1 and trust 
him in his own appointed way4 ,he       
requires thee to give diligence to make 
thy calling and election sure1#bgi and  
so to trust him4 ,he hath marked thee   
out a way in ,scripture1 by which thou  
art charged to search and try thyself   
and mayest arrive at certainty4 ,were he
 not a foolish traveller1 that would    
hold on his way1 when he does not know  
whether he be right or wrong2 and say1  
,i hope ,i am right1 ,i will go on1 and 
trust ,god8 ,art not thou guilty of this

 folly in thy travels to eternity8 ,not 
considering that a little serious       
inquiry1 whether thy way be right1 might
 save thee a great deal of labor1 which 
thou bestowest in vain1 and must undo   
again1 or else thou wilt miss of        
salvation1 and undo thyself4  ,footnote 
#bgi #b ,peter i1 #aj4   #b4 ,how canst 
thou think or speak of the great ,god   
without terror1 as long as thou art     
uncertain whether he be thy ,father1 or 
thy enemy1 and knowest not but all his  
perfections may be employed against     
thee8 ,or of ,jesus ,christ1 when thou  
knowest not whether his blood hath      
purged thy soul2 whether he will        
condemn1 or acquit thee in judgment2 nor
 whether he be the foundation of thy    
happiness1 or a stone of stumbling to   
break thee1 and grind thee to powder8   
,how canst thou open the ,bible and read
 a chapter1 but it should terrify thee8 
,methinks every leaf should be to thee  
as ,belshazzar's writing on the wall1   
except only that which draws thee to try

 and reform4 ,if thou readest the       
promises1 thou knowest not whether they 
shall be fulfilled to thee4 ,if thou    
readest the threatenings1 for any thing 
thou knowest1 thou readest thy own      
sentence4 ,no wonder thou art an enemy  
to plain preaching1 and say of the      
minister1 as ,ahab of the prophet1 ,i   
hate him1 for he doth not prophesy good 
concerning me1 but evil4 ,how canst thou
 without terror join in prayer8 ,when   
thou receivest the sacrament1 thou      
knowest not whether it be thy bane or   
bliss4 ,what comfort canst thou find in 
thy friends1 and honors1 and houses1 and
 lands1 till thou knowest thou hast the 
love of ,god with them1 and shalt have  
rest with him when thou leavest them8   
,offer a prisoner1 before he knows his  
sentence1 either music1 or clothes1 or  
preferment2 what are they to him1 till  
he knows he shall escape with his life8 
for if he knows he must die the next    
day1 it will be small comfort to die    
rich or honorable4 ,methinks it should  

be so with thee1 till thou knowest thy  
eternal state4 ,when thou liest down to 
take thy rest1 methinks the uncertainty 
of thy salvation should keep thee       
waking1 or amaze thee in thy dreams1 and
 trouble thy sleep4 ,doth it not grieve 
thee to see the people of ,god so       
comfortable in their way to glory1 when 
thou hast no good hope of ever enjoying 
it thyself8 ,how canst thou think of thy
 dying hour8 ,thou knowest it is near1  
and there is no avoiding it1 nor any    
medicine found out that can prevent it4 
,if thou shouldest die this day1 7and   
who knows what a day may bring forth7   
thou art not certain whether thou shalt 
go to heaven or hell4 ,and canst thou be
 merry1 till thou art got out of this   
dangerous state8 ,what shift dost thou  
make to preserve thy heart from horror1 
when thou rememberest the great judgment
 day1 and everlasting flames8 ,when thou
 hearest of it1 dost thou not tremble as
 ,felix8 ,if the keepers shook1 and     
became as dead men1 when they saw the   

angel come and roll back the stone from 
,christ's sepulcher2 how canst thou     
think of living in hell with ,devils1   
till thou hast got some well-grounded   
assurance that thou shalt escape it8    
,thy bed is very soft1 or thy heart is  
very hard1 if thou canst sleep soundly  
in this uncertain case4   #c4 ,if this  
general uncertainty of the world about  
their salvation were remediless1 then   
must it be born as other unavoidable    
miseries4 ,but1 alas6 the common cause  
is wilful negligence4 ,men will not be  
persuaded to use the remedy4 ,the great 
means to conquer this uncertainty is    
self-examination1 or the serious and    
diligent trying of a man's heart and    
state by the rule of ,scripture4 ,either
 men understand not the nature and use  
of this duty1 or else they will not be  
at the pains to try4 ,go through a      
congregation of a thousand men1 and how 
few of them shall you meet with1 that   
ever bestowed one hour in all their     
lives in a close examination of their   

title to heaven8 ,ask thy own           
conscience1 ,reader1 when was the time1 
and where was the place1 that ever thou 
solemnly tookest thy heart to task1 as  
in the sight of ,god1 and didst examine 
it by ,scripture1 whether it be renewed 
or not8 ,whether it be holy or not8     
,whether it be set most on ,god or the  
creatures1 on heaven or earth8 ,and when
 didst thou follow on this examination  
till thou hadst discovered thy          
condition1 and passed sentence on       
thyself accordingly8 ,but became this is
 a work of so high importance1 and so   
commonly neglected1 ,i will therefore   
shew1--that it is possible by trying to 
come to certainty2--what hinders men    
from trying and knowing their           
state2--then offer motives to           
examine2--and directions2--together with
 some marks out of ,scripture1 by which 
you may try1 and certainly know1 whether
 you are the people of ,god or not4     
#d4 7#a47 ,scripture shews1 that        
certainty of salvation may be attained2 

and ought to be labored for3 when it    
tells us so frequently1 that the saints 
before us have known their justification
 and future salvation3 ,when it         
declares1 that whosoever believeth in   
,christ shall not perish1 but have      
everlasting life2 which it would be in  
vain to declare1 if we cannot know      
ourselves to be believers or not3 ,when 
it makes such a wide difference between 
the children of ,god1 and the children  
of the ,devil3 ,when it bids us give    
diligence to make our calling and       
election sure2 and earnestly urges us to
 examine1 prove1 know our own selves1   
whether we be in the faith and whether  
,jesus ,christ be in us1 except we be   
reprobates3 ,also when its precepts     
require us to rejoice always1 to call   
,god our father1 to live in his praises1
 to love ,christ's appearing1 to wish   
that he may come quickly1 and to comfort
 ourselves with the mention of it4 ,but 
who can do any of these heartily1 that  
is not in some measure sure that he is  

the child of ,god8   #e4 7#b47 ,among   
the many hindrances which keep men from 
self-examination1 we cannot doubt but   
,satan will do his part4 ,if all the    
power he hath1 or all the means and     
instruments he can employ1 can do it1 he
 will be sure above all duties to keep  
you from this4 ,he is loth the godly    
should have that joy1 assurance1 and    
advantage against corruption1 which the 
faithful performance of self-examination
 would procure them4 ,as for the        
ungodly1 he knows if they should once   
earnestly examine1 they would find out  
his deceits and their own danger1 and so
 be very likely to escape him4 ,how     
could he get so many millions to hell   
willingly1 if they knew they were going 
thither6 ,and how could they avoid      
knowing it1 if they did but thoroughly  
try2 having such a clear light and sure 
rule in the ,scripture to discover it8  
,if the snare be not hid1 the bird will 
escape it4 ,satan knows how to angle for
 souls better than to shew them the hook

 and line1 or fright them away with a   
noise1 or with his own appearance4      
,therefore he labors to keep them from a
 searching ministry2 or to keep the     
minister from helping them to search1 or
 to take off the edge of the word1 that 
it may not pierce and divide2 or to turn
 away their thoughts2 or to possess them
 with prejudice4 ,satan knows when the  
minister hath provided a searching      
sermon1 fitted to the state and         
necessity of an hearer2 and therefore he
 will keep him away that day1 if it be  
possible2 or cast him into a sleep2 or  
steal away the ,word by the cares and   
talk of the world1 or some way prevent  
its operation4   #f4 ,another great     
hindrance to self-examination arises    
from wicked men4 ,their examples2 their 
merry company and discourse2 their      
continually insisting on worldly        
concerns2 their raillery and scoffs at  
godly persons2 also their persuasions1  
allurements1 and threats1 are each of   
them exceeding great temptations to     

security4 ,god doth scarce ever open the
 eyes of a poor sinner1 to see that his 
way is wrong1 but presently there is a  
multitude of ,satan's apostles ready to 
deceive and settle him again in the     
quiet possession of his former master4  
,what1 say they1 do you make a doubt of 
your salvation1 who have lived so well1 
and done no body any harm8 ,god is      
merciful1 and if such as you shall not  
be saved1 ,god help a great many6 ,what 
do you think of all your forefathers8   
,and what will become of all your       
friends and neighbors that live as you  
do8 ,will they all be damned8 ,come1    
come1 if you hearken to these preachers1
 they will drive you out of your wits4  
,are not all men sinners8 ,and did not  
,christ die to save sinners8 ,never     
trouble your head with these thoughts1  
and you shall do well4 ,o how many      
thousands have such charms kept asleep  
in deceit and security1 till death and  
hell have awakened them6 ,the ,lord     
calls to the sinner1 and tells him1 ,the

 gate is strait1 the way is narrow1 and 
few find it3 ,try and examine1 give     
diligence to make sure4 ,the world      
cries1 ,never doubt1 never trouble      
yourselves with these thoughts4 ,in this
 strait1 sinner1 consider1 it is        
,christ1 and not your forefathers1 or   
neighbors1 or friends1 that must judge  
you at last2 and if ,christ condemn you1
 these cannot save you4 ,therefore      
common reason may tell you1 that it is  
not from the words of ignorant men1 but 
from the ,word of ,god1 you must fetch  
your hopes of salvation4 ,when ,ahab    
would inquire among the multitude of    
flattering prophets1 it was his death4  
,they can flatter men into the snare1   
but they cannot tell how to bring them  
out4 ,let no man deceive you with vain  
words1 for because of these things      
cometh the wrath of ,god upon the       
children of disobedience2 be not ye     
therefore partakers with them4#bhj      
,footnote #bhj ,ephesians v1 #f1 #g4    
#g4 ,but the greatest hinderances are in

 men's own hearts4 ,some are so         
ignorant1 that they know not what       
self-examination is1 nor what a minister
 means when he persuadeth them to try   
themselves3 ,or they know not that there
 is any necessity for it2 but think     
every man is bound to believe that his  
sins are pardoned1 whether it be true or
 false1 and that it is a great fault to 
make any question of it3 ,or they do not
 think that assurance can be attained3  
,or that there is any great difference  
between one man and another1 but that we
 are all ,christians1 and therefore need
 not trouble ourselves any further3 ,or 
at least they know not wherein the      
difference lies4 ,they have as gross an 
idea of regeneration1 as ,nicodemus had4
 ,some will not believe1 that ,god will 
ever make such a difference betwixt men 
in the life to come1 and therefore will 
not search themselves whether they      
differ here4 ,some are so stupified1 say
 what you can to them1 that they lay it 
not to heart1 but give us the hearing1  

and there's an end4 ,some are so        
possessed with self-love and pride1 that
 they will not so much as suspect they  
are in any danger1 like a proud         
tradesman1 who scorns the prudent advice
 of casting up his books4 ,as fond      
parents will not believe or hear any    
evil of their children4 ,some are so    
guilty1 that they dare not try2 and yet 
they dare venture on a more dreadful    
trial4 ,some are so in love with sin1   
and so dislike the ways of ,god1 that   
they dare not try their ways1 lest they 
be forced from the course they love1 to 
that which they loathe4 ,some are so    
resolved never to change their present  
state1 that they neglect examination as 
an useless thing4 ,before they will seek
 a new way when they have lived so long1
 and gone so far1 they will put their   
eternal state to the venture1 come of it
 what will4 ,many men are so busy in the
 world1 that they cannot set themselves 
to the trying their title to heaven4    
,others are so clogged with slothfulness

 of spirit1 that they will not be at the
 pains of an hour's examination of their
 own hearts4 ,but the most common and   
dangerous impediment is that false faith
 and hope1 commonly called presumption1 
which bears up the hearts of the        
greatest part of the world1 and so keeps
 them from suspecting their danger4     
#h4 ,and if a man should break through  
all these hinderances1 and set upon the 
duty of self-examination1 yet assurance 
is not presently attained4 ,too many    
deceive themselves in their inquiries   
after it1 through one or other of the   
following causes4 ,there is such        
confusion and darkness in the soul of   
man1 especially of an unregenerate man1 
that he can scarcely tell what he doth1 
or what is in him4 ,as in a house1 where
 nothing is in its proper place1 it will
 be difficult to find what is wanted2 so
 it is in the heart where all things are
 in disorder4--,most men accustom       
themselves to be strangers at home1 and 
too little observe the temper and       

motions of their own hearts4 ,many are  
resolved what to judge before they try4 
,like a bribed judge1 who examines as if
 he would judge uprightly1 when he is   
previously resolved which way the cause 
shall go4 ,men are partial in their own 
cause2 ready to think their great sins  
small1 and their small sins none2 their 
gifts of nature to be the work of grace1
 and to say1 ,all these have ,i kept    
from my youth2 ,i am rich1 and increased
 in goods1 and have need of nothing4    
,most men search but by the halves4 ,if 
it will not easily and quickly be done1 
they are discouraged1 and leave off4    
,they try themselves by false marks and 
rules3 not knowing wherein the truth of 
,christianity doth consist2 some looking
 beyond1 and some short of the          
,scripture-standard4 ,and frequently    
they miscarry in this work1 by          
attempting it in their own strength4 ,as
 some expect the ,spirit should do it   
without them1 so others attempt it      
themselves1 without seeking or expecting

 the help of the ,spirit4 ,both these   
will certainly miscarry in their        
assurance4   #i4 ,some other hinderances
 keep even true ,christians from        
comfortable certainty4 ,as for instance3
 ,the weakness of grace4 ,small things  
are hardly discerned4 ,most ,christians 
content themselves with a small measure 
of grace1 and do not follow on to       
spiritual strength and manhood4 ,the    
chief remedy for such would be to follow
 on their duty1 till their graces be    
increased4 ,wait upon ,god in the use of
 his prescribed means1 and he will      
undoubtedly bless you with increase4 ,oh
 that ,christians would bestow most of  
that time in getting more grace which   
they bestow in anxious doubtings whether
 they have any or none2 and lay out     
those serious affections in praying for 
more grace1 which they bestow in        
fruitless complaints6 ,i beseech thee1  
,christian1 take this advice as from    
,god2 and then1 when thou believest     
strongly1 and lovest fervently1 thou    

canst no more doubt of thy faith and    
love1 than a man that is very hot can   
doubt of his warmth1 or a man that is   
strong and lusty can doubt of his being 
alive4----,christians hinder their own  
comfort by looking more at signs1 which 
tell them what they are1 than at        
precepts1 which tell them what they     
should do4 ,as if their present case    
must needs be their everlasting case2   
and if they be now unpardoned1 there    
were no remedy4 ,were he not mad1 that  
would lie weeping because he is not     
pardoned1 when his prince stands by all 
the while offering him a pardon1 and    
persuading him to accept of it8         
,justifying faith1 ,christian1 is not   
thy persuasion of ,god's special love to
 thee1 but thy accepting ,christ to make
 thee lovely4 ,it is far better to      
accept ,christ as offered1 than spend so
 much time in doubting whether we have  
,christ or no4 ,another cause of        
distress to ,christians is1 their       
mistaking assurance for the joy that    

sometimes accompanies it4 ,as if a child
 should take himself for a son no       
longer1 than while he sees the smiles of
 his father's face1 or hears the        
comfortable expressions of his mouth3   
,and as if the father ceased to be a    
father1 whenever he ceased those smiles 
and speeches4 ,the trouble of souls is  
also increased by their not knowing the 
ordinary way of ,god's conveying        
comfort4 ,they think they have nothing  
to do but wait when ,god will bestow it4
 ,but they must know1 that the matter of
 their comfort is in the promises1 and  
thence they must fetch it as often as   
they expect it1 by daily and diligently 
meditating upon the promises1 and in    
this way they may expect the ,spirit    
will communicate comfort to their souls4
 ,the joy of the promises1 and the joy  
of the ,holy ,ghost are one4 ,add to    
this1 their expecting a greater measure 
of assurance than ,god usually bestows4 
,as long as they have any doubting1 they
 think they have no assurance4 ,they    

consider not that there are many degrees
 of certainty4 ,while they are here1    
they shall know but in part4 ,and also1 
their deriving their comfort at first   
from insufficient grounds4 ,this may be 
the case of a gracious soul1 who hath   
better grounds1 but doth not see them4  
,as an infant hath life before he       
knoweth it1 and many misapprehensions of
 himself and other things1 yet it will  
not follow that he hath no life4 ,so    
when ,christians find a flaw in their   
first comforts1 they are apt to judge it
 a flaw in their safety4 ,many come     
under doubting1 through the exceeding   
weakness of their natural parts4 ,many  
honest hearts have weak heads1 and know 
not how to perform the work of          
self-trial4 ,they will acknowledge the  
premises1 and yet deny the apparent     
conclusion4 ,if ,god do not some other  
way supply the defect of their reason1  
,i see not how they should have clear   
and settled peace4 ,one great and too   
common cause of distress is1 the secret 

maintaining some known sin4 ,this abates
 the degree of our graces1 and so makes 
them more undiscernible4 ,it obscureth  
that which it destroyeth not2 for it    
beareth such sway1 that grace is not in 
action1 nor seems to stir1 nor is scarce
 heard speak for the noise of this      
corruption4 ,it puts out1 or dimmeth the
 eye of the soul1 and stupifies it1 that
 it can neither see nor feel its own    
condition4 ,but especially it provokes  
,god to withdraw himself1 his comforts1 
and the assistance of his ,spirit1      
without which we may search long enough 
before we have assurance4 ,god hath made
 a separation between sin and peace4 ,as
 long as thou dost cherish thy pride1   
thy love of the world1 the desires of   
the flesh1 or any unchristian practice1 
thou expectest comfort in vain4 ,if any 
man setteth up his idols in his heart1  
and putteth the stumbling-block of his  
iniquity before his face1 and cometh to 
a minister1 or to ,god1 to inquire for  
comfort2 instead of comforting him1 ,god

 will answer him that cometh1 according 
to the multitude of his idols4#bha      
,another very great and common cause of 
the want of comfort is1 when grace is   
not kept in constant and lively         
exercise4 ,the way of painful duty1 is  
the way of fullest comfort4 ,peace and  
comfort are ,christ's great             
encouragements to faithfulness and      
obedience2 and therefore1 though our    
obedience does not merit them1 yet they 
usually rise and fall with our diligence
 in duty4 ,as prayer must have faith and
 fervency to procure it success1 besides
 the blood and intercession of ,christ1 
so must all other parts of our          
obedience4 ,if thou growest seldom1 and 
customary1 and cold in duty1 especially 
in thy secret prayers to ,god1 and yet  
findest no abatement in thy joys1 ,i    
cannot but fear thy joys are either     
carnal or diabolical4 ,besides grace is 
never apparent and sensible to the soul1
 but while it is in action2 therefore   
want of action must cause want of       

assurance4 ,and the action of the soul  
upon such excellent objects1 naturally  
bringeth consolation with it4 ,the very 
act of loving ,god in ,christ is        
inexpressibly sweet4 ,the soul that is  
best furnished with grace1 when it is   
not in action1 is like a lute well      
stringed and tuned1 which while it lieth
 still1 maketh no more music than a     
common piece of wood2 but when it is    
handled by a skilful musician1 the      
melody is delightful4 ,some degree of   
comfort follows every good action1 as   
heat accompanies fire1 and as beams and 
influence issue from the sun4 ,a man    
that is cold1 should labor till heat be 
excited2 so he that wants assurance1    
must not stand still1 but exercise his  
graces1 till his doubts vanish4----,the 
want of consolation in the soul is also 
very commonly owing to bodily           
melancholy4 ,it is no more wonder for a 
conscientious man1 under melancholy1 to 
doubt1 and fear1 and despair1 than for a
 sick man to groan1 or a child to cry   

when it is chastised4 ,without the      
physician in this case1 the labors of   
the divine are usually in vain4 ,you may
 silence1 but you cannot comfort them4  
,you may make them confess they have    
some grace1 and yet cannot bring them to
 the comfortable conclusion4 ,all the   
good thoughts of their state which you  
can possibly help them to1 are seldom   
above a day or two old4 ,the cry out of 
sin1 and the wrath of ,god1 when the    
chief cause is in their bodily          
distemper4  ,footnote #bha ,ezekiel xiv1
 #c-i4   #aj4 7#c47 ,as for the motives 
to persuade to the duty of              
self-examination1 ,i entreat you to     
consider the following4 ,to be deceived 
about your title to heaven is very easy4
 ,many are now in hell1 that never      
suspected any falsehood in their hearts1
 that excelled in worldly wisdom1 that  
lived in the clear light of the gospel1 
and even preached against the negligence
 of others4----,to be mistaken in this  
great point is also very common4 ,it is 

the case of most in the world4 ,in the  
old world1 and in ,sodom1 we find none  
that were in any fear of judgment4      
,almost all men among us verily look to 
be saved2 yet ,christ tells us1 there be
 few that find the strait gate1 and     
narrow way1 which leadeth unto life4#bhb
 ,and if such multitudes are deceived1  
should not we search the more           
diligently1 lest we should be deceived  
as well as they8----,nothing is more    
dangerous than to be thus mistaken4 ,if 
the godly judge their state worse than  
it is1 the consequences of this mistake 
will be sorrowful2 but the mischief     
flowing from the mistake of the ungodly 
is unspeakable4 ,it will exceedingly    
confirm them in the service of ,satan4  
,it will render ineffectual the means   
that should do them good4 ,it will keep 
a man from compassionating his own soul4
 ,it is a case of the greatest moment1  
where everlasting salvation or damnation
 is to be determined4 ,and if you       
mistake till death1 you are undone for  

ever4 ,seeing then the danger is so     
great1 what wise man would not follow   
the search of his heart both night and  
day1 till he were assured of his        
safety4--,consider how small the labor  
of this duty is1 in comparison of that  
sorrow which followeth its neglect4 ,you
 can endure to toil and sweat from year 
to year1 to prevent poverty2 and why not
 spend a little time in                 
self-examination1 to prevent eternal    
misery8 ,by neglecting this duty1 you   
can scarce do ,satan a greater pleasure1
 nor yourself a greater injury4 ,it is  
the grand design of the ,devil1 in all  
his temptations1 to deceive you1 and    
keep you ignorant of your danger1 till  
you feel the everlasting flames2 and    
will you join with him to deceive       
yourself8 ,if you do this for him1 you  
do the greatest part of his work4 ,and  
hath he deserved so well of you1 that   
you should assist him in such a design  
as your damnation8--,the time is nigh   
when ,god will search you4 ,if it be but

 in this life by affliction1 it will    
make you wish1 that you had tried and   
judged yourselves1 that you might have  
escaped the judgment of ,god4 ,it was a 
terrible voice to ,adam1 ,where art     
thou8 ,hast thou eaten of the tree8 ,and
 to ,cain1 ,where is thy brother8 ,men  
consider not in their hearts that ,i1   
saith the ,lord1 remember all their     
wickedness2 now their own doings have   
beset them about1 they are before my    
face4#bhc ,consider also1 what would be 
the sweet effects of this               
self-examination4 ,if thou be upright   
and godly1 it will lead thee straight   
towards assurance of ,god's love2 if    
thou be not1 though it will trouble thee
 at the present1 yet it will tend to thy
 happiness1 and at length lead thee to  
the assurance of that happiness4 ,is it 
not a desirable thing to know what shall
 befal us hereafter8 especially what    
shall befal our souls8 and what place   
and state we must be in for ever8 ,and  
as the very knowledge itself is         

desirable1 how much greater will the    
comfort be of that certainty of         
salvation8 ,what sweet thoughts wilt    
thou have of ,god8 ,all that greatness1 
and justice1 which is the terror of     
others1 will be thy joy4 ,how sweet may 
be thy thoughts of ,christ1 and the     
blood he hath shed1 and the benefits he 
hath procured8 ,how welcome will the    
word of ,god be to thee1 and how        
beautiful the very feet of those that   
bring it8 ,how sweet will be the        
promises when thou art sure they are thy
 own8 ,the very threatenings will       
occasion thy comfort1 to remember that  
thou hast escaped them4 ,what boldness  
and comfort mayest thou then have in    
prayer1 when thou canst say1 ,our       
,father1 in full assurance8 ,it will    
make the ,lord's ,supper a refreshing   
feast to thy soul4 ,it will multiply the
 sweetness of every common mercy4 ,how  
comfortably mayest thou then undergo all
 afflictions8 ,how will it sweeten thy  
forethoughts of death and judgment1 of  

heaven and hell8 ,how lively will it    
make thee in the work of the ,lord1 and 
how profitable to all around thee8 ,what
 vigor will it infuse into all thy      
graces and affections1 kindle thy       
repentance1 inflame thy love1 quicken   
thy desires1 and confirm thy faith1 be a
 fountain of continual rejoicing1       
overflow thy heart with thankfulness1   
raise thee high in the delightful work  
of praise1 help thee to be heavenly     
minded1 and render thee persevering in  
all8 ,all these sweet effects of        
assurance would make thy life a heaven  
upon earth4  ,footnote #bhb ,matthew    
vii1 #ad4  ,footnote #bhc ,hosea vii1   
#b4   #aa4 ,though ,i am certain these  
motives have weight of reason in them1  
yet ,i am jealous1 reader1 lest you lay 
aside the book1 as if you had done1 and 
never set yourself to the practice of   
the duty4 ,the case in hand is of the   
greatest moment1 whether thou shalt     
everlastingly live in heaven or hell6 ,i
 here request thee1 in behalf of thy    

soul2 nay1 ,i charge thee1 in the name  
of the ,lord1 that thou defer no longer1
 but take thy heart to task in good     
earnest1 and think with thyself1 ,is it 
so easy1 so common1 and so dangerous to 
be mistaken8 ,are there so many wrong   
ways8 ,is the heart so deceitful8 ,why  
then do ,i not search into every corner1
 till ,i know my state8 ,must ,i so     
shortly undergo the trial at the bar of 
,christ8 ,and do ,i not presently try   
myself8 ,what a case were ,i in1 if ,i  
should then miscarry8 ,may ,i know by a 
little diligent inquiry now8 ,and do ,i 
stick at the labor8 ,but perhaps thou   
wilt say1 ,i know not how to do it4 ,in 
that ,i am now to give thee directions2 
but1 alas6 it will be in vain1 if thou  
art not resolved to practise them4 ,wilt
 thou1 therefore1 before thou goest any 
further1 here promise before the ,lord1 
to set thyself upon the speedy          
performance of the duty1 according to   
the directions ,i shall lay down from   
the word of ,god4 ,i demand nothing     

unreasonable or impossible4 ,it is but  
to bestow a few hours to know what shall
 become of thee for ever4 ,if a         
neighbor1 or friend1 desire but an      
hour's time of thee in conversation1 or 
business1 or any thing in which thou    
mayest be of service1 surely thou       
wouldst not deny it2 how much less      
shouldst thou deny this to thyself in so
 great an affair8 ,i pray thee take from
 me this request1 as if1 in the name of 
,christ1 ,i presented it to thee on my  
knees2 and ,i will betake me on my knees
 to ,christ again1 to beg that he will  
persuade thy heart to the duty4   #ab4  
7#d47 ,the directions how to examine    
thyself are such as these3--,empty thy  
mind of all other cares and thoughts1   
that they may not distract or divide thy
 mind4 ,this work will be enough at     
once1 without joining others with it4   
,then fall down before ,god in hearty   
prayer1 desiring the assistance of his  
,spirit1 to discover to thee the plain  
truth of thy condition1 and to enlighten

 thee in the whole progress of this     
work4 ,make choice of the most          
convenient time and place4 ,let the     
place be the most private2 and the time1
 when you have nothing to interrupt you2
 and1 if possible1 let if be the present
 time4 ,have in readiness1 either in    
memory or writing1 some ,scriptures1    
containing the descriptions of the      
saints1 and the gospel terms of         
salvation2 and convince thyself         
thoroughly of their infallible truth4   
,proceed then to put the question to    
thyself4 ,let it not be1 whether there  
be any good in thee at all8 ,nor1       
whether thou hast such or such a degree 
and measure of grace8 ,but1 whether such
 or such a saving grace be in thee in   
sincerity or not8--,if thy heart draw   
back from the work1 force it on4 ,lay   
thy command upon it4 ,let reason        
interpose1 and use its authority4 ,yea1 
lay the command of ,god upon it1 and    
charge it to obey upon pain of his      
displeasure4 ,let conscience also do its

 office1 till thy heart be excited to   
the work4 ,nor let thy heart trifle away
 the time1 when it should be diligently 
at the work4 ,do as the psalmist1 my    
spirit made diligent search4 ,he that   
can prevail with his own heart1 shall   
also prevail with ,god4 ,if1 after all  
thy pains1 thou art not resolved then   
seek out for help4 ,go to one that is   
godly1 experienced1 able1 and faithful1 
and tell him thy case1 and desire his   
best advice4 ,use the judgment of such a
 one1 as that of a physician for thy    
body2 though this can afford thee no    
full certainty1 yet it may be a great   
help to stay and direct thee4 ,but do   
not make it a pretence to put off thy   
own self-examination3 ,only use it as   
one of the last remedies1 when thy own  
endeavors will not serve4 ,when thou    
hast discovered thy true state1 pass    
sentence on thyself accordingly2 either 
that thou art a true ,christian1 or that
 thou art not4 ,pass not this sentence  
rashly1 nor with self flattery1 nor from

 melancholy terrors2 but deliberately1  
truly1 and according to thy conscience  
convinced by ,scripture and reason4     
,labor to get thy heart affected with   
its condition1 according to the sentence
 passed on it4 ,if graceless1 think of  
thy misery4 ,if renewed and sanctified1 
think what a blessed state the ,lord    
hath brought thee into4 ,pursue these   
thoughts till they have left their      
impression on thy heart4 ,write this    
sentence1 at least in thy memory4 ,at   
such a time1 upon thorough examination1 
,i found my state to be thus1 or thus4  
,such a record will be very useful to   
thee hereafter4 ,trust not to this one  
discovery1 so as to try no more3 ,nor   
let it hinder thee in the daily search  
of thy ways3 ,neither be discouraged1 if
 the trial must be often repeated4      
,especially take heed1 if unregenerate1 
not to conclude of thy future state by  
the present4 ,do not say1 because ,i am 
ungodly1 ,i shall die so2 because ,i am 
an hypocrite1 ,i shall continue so4 ,do 

not despair4 ,nothing but thy           
unwillingness can keep thee from        
,christ1 though thou hast hitherto      
abused him1 and dissembled with him4    
#ac4 7#e47 ,now let me add some marks by
 which you may try your title to the    
saint's rest4 ,i will only mention these
 two--taking ,god for thy chief         
good--and heartily accepting ,christ for
 thy only ,savior and ,lord4   #ad4     
,every soul that hath a title to this   
rest1 doth place his chief happiness in 
,god4 ,this rest consisteth in the full 
and glorious enjoyment of ,god4 ,he that
 maketh not ,god his chief good1 and    
ultimate end1 is in heart a pagan and a 
vile idolater4 ,let me ask then1 dost   
thou truly account it thy chief         
happiness to enjoy the ,lord in glory1  
or dost thou not8 ,canst thou say1 the  
,lord is my portion8 ,whom have ,i in   
heaven but thee8 and there is none upon 
earth that ,i desire besides thee4 ,if  
thou be an heir of rest1 it is thus with
 thee4 ,though the flesh will be        

pleading for its own delights1 and the  
world will be creeping into thine       
affections2 yet in thy ordinary1        
settled1 prevailing judgment and        
affections1 thou preferrest ,god before 
all things in the world4 ,thou makest   
him the very end of thy desires and     
endeavors4 ,the very reason why thou    
hearest and prayest1 and desirest to    
live on earth1 is chiefly this1 that    
thou mayest seek the ,lord1 and make    
sure of thy rest4 ,though thou dost not 
seek it so zealously as thou shouldst2  
yet hath it the chief of thy desires and
 endeavors2 so that nothing else is     
desired or preferred before it4 ,thou   
wilt think no labor or suffering too    
great to obtain it4 ,and though the     
flesh may sometimes shrink1 yet thou art
 resolved and contented to go through   
all4 ,thy esteem for it will also be so 
high1 and thy affections to it so great1
 that thou wouldst not exchange thy     
title to it1 and hopes of it1 for any   
worldly good whatsoever4 ,if ,god should

 set before thee an eternity of earthly 
pleasure on one hand1 and the saint's   
rest on the other1 and bid thee take thy
 choice2 thou wouldst refuse the world  
and choose this rest4 ,but if thou art  
yet unsanctified1 then thou dost in thy 
heart prefer thy worldly happiness      
before ,god2 and though thy tongue may  
say1 that ,god is thy chief good1 yet   
thy heart doth not so esteem him4 ,for  
the world is the chief end of thy       
desires and endeavors4 ,thy very heart  
is set upon it4 ,thy greatest care and  
labor is to maintain thy credit1 or     
fleshly delights4 ,but the life to come 
hath little of thy care or labor4 ,thou 
didst never perceive so much excellency 
in that unseen glory of another world1  
as to draw thy heart after it1 and set  
thee a laboring heartily for it4 ,the   
little pains thou bestowest that way1 is
 but in the second place4 ,god hath but 
the world's leavings1 only that time and
 labor which thou canst spare from the  
world1 or those few1 cold1 and careless 

thoughts1 which follow thy constant1    
earnest1 and delightful thoughts of     
earthly things4 ,neither wouldst thou do
 any thing at all for heaven1 if thou   
knewest how to keep the world4 ,but lest
 thou shouldst be turned into hell1 when
 thou canst keep the world no longer1   
therefore thou wilt do something4 ,for  
the same reason thou thinkest the way of
 ,god too strict1 and wilt not be       
persuaded to the constant labor of      
walking according to the gospel rule2   
and when it comes to the trial1 that    
thou must forsake ,christ1 or thy       
worldly happiness1 then thou wilt       
venture heaven rather than earth1 and so
 wilfully deny thy obedience to ,god4   
,and certainly if ,god would but give   
thee leave to live in health and wealth 
for ever on earth1 thou wouldst think it
 a better state than rest4 ,let them    
seek for heaven that would1 thou wouldst
 think this thy chief happiness4 ,this  
is thy case1 if thou art yet an         
unregenerate person1 and hast no title  

to the saint's rest4   #ae4 ,and as thou
 takest ,god for thy chief good1 so thou
 dost heartily accept of ,christ for thy
 only ,savior and ,lord to bring thee to
 this rest4 ,the former mark was the sum
 of the first and great command of the  
law1 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god
 with all thy heart4 ,this second mark1 
is the sum of the command of the gospel1
 ,believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1  
and thou shalt be saved4 ,and the       
performance of these two is the whole of
 godliness and ,christianity4 ,this mark
 is but the definition of faith4 ,dost  
thou heartily consent that ,christ alone
 shall be thy ,savior8 and no further   
trust to thy duties and works1 than as  
means appointed in subordination to him8
 not looking at them as in the least    
measure able to satisfy the curse of the
 law1 or as a legal righteousness1 or   
any part of it8 but content to trust thy
 salvation on the redemption made by    
,christ8 ,art thou also content to take 
him for thy only ,lord and ,king1 to    

govern and guide thee by his laws and   
,spirit8 ,and to obey him1 even when he 
commandeth the hardest duties1 and those
 which most cross the desires of the    
flesh8 ,is it thy sorrow when thou      
breakest thy resolution herein8 and thy 
joy when thou keepest closest in        
obedience to him8 ,wouldst thou not     
change thy ,lord and ,master for all the
 world8 ,thus it is with every true     
,christian4 ,but if thou be an          
hypocrite1 it is far otherwise4 ,thou   
mayest call ,christ thy ,lord and thy   
,savior2 but thou never foundest thyself
 so lost without him1 as to drive thee  
to seek him and trust him1 and lay thy  
salvation on him alone4 ,at least thou  
didst never heartily consent that he    
should govern thee as thy ,lord1 nor    
resign up thy soul and life to be ruled 
by him1 nor take his word for the law of
 thy thoughts and actions4 ,it is likely
 thou art content to be saved from hell 
by ,christ when thou diest8 but in the  
mean time he shall command thee no      

farther than will stand with thy credit2
 or pleasure1 or other worldly ends4    
,and if he would give thee leave1 thou  
hadst far rather live after the world   
and flesh1 than after the word and      
,spirit4 ,and though thou mayest now and
 then have a motion or purpose to the   
contrary2 yet this that ,i have         
mentioned is the ordinary desire and    
choice of thy heart4 ,thou art therefore
 no true believer in ,christ2 for though
 thou confess him in words1 yet in works
 thou dost deny him1 being abominable   
and disobedient1 and unto every good    
work reprobate4 ,this is the case of    
those that shall be shut out of the     
saint's rest4   #af4 ,observe1 it is the
 consent of your hearts1 or wills1 which
 ,i especially lay down to be inquired  
after4 ,i do not ask1 whether thou be   
assured of salvation8 nor1 whether thou 
canst believe that thy sins are         
pardoned1 and that thou art beloved of  
,god in ,christ8 ,these are no parts of 
justifying faith1 but excellent fruits  

of it1 and they that receive them1 are  
comforted by them2 but perhaps thou     
mayest never receive them whilst thou   
livest1 and yet be a true heir of rest4 
,do not say then1 ,i cannot believe that
 my sins are pardoned1 or that ,i am in 
,god's favor1 and therefore ,i am no    
true believer4 ,this is a most mistaken 
conclusion4 ,the question is1 whether   
thou dost heartily accept of ,christ1   
that thou mayest be pardoned1 reconciled
 to ,god1 and so saved8 ,dost thou      
consent that he shall be thy ,lord who  
hath bought thee1 and that he shall     
bring thee to heaven in his own way8    
,this is justifying1 saving faith1 and  
the mark by which thou mayest try       
thyself4 ,yet still observe1 that all   
this consent must be hearty and real1   
not feigned or with reservations4 ,it is
 not saying1 as that dissembling son1 ,i
 go1 ,sir2 and went not4 ,if any have   
more of the government of thee than     
,christ1 thou art not his disciple4 ,i  
am sure these two marks are such as     

every ,christian hath1 and none but     
sincere ,christians4 ,o that the ,lord  
would now persuade thee to the close    
performance of this self-trial8 ,that   
thou mayest not tremble with horror of  
soul1 when the ,judge of all the world  
shall try thee2 but be so able to prove 
thy title to rest1 that the prospect and
 approach of death and judgment may     
raise thy spirits1 and fill thee with   
joy6   #ag4 ,on the whole1 as ever      
,christians would have comforts that    
will not deceive them1 let them make it 
the great labor of their lives to grow  
in grace1 to strengthen and advance the 
interest of ,christ in their souls1 and 
to weaken and subdue the interest of the
 flesh4 ,deceive not yourselves with a  
persuasion1 that ,christ hath done all1 
and left you nothing to do4 ,to overcome
 the world1 the flesh1 and the ,devil2  
and in order to that1 to stand always   
armed upon our watch1 and valiantly and 
patiently to fight it out1 is of great  
importance to our assurance and         

salvation4 ,indeed it is so great a part
 of our baptismal vow1 that he1 who     
performeth it not1 is no more than a    
nominal ,christian4 ,not to every one   
that presumptuously believeth1 but to   
him that overcometh1 will ,christ give  
to eat of the hidden manna1 and will    
give him a white stone1 and in the stone
 a new name written1 which no man       
knoweth saving him that receiveth it3   
,he shalt eat of the tree of life1 which
 is in the midst of the paradise of     
,god1 and shall not be hurt of the      
second death4 ,christ will confess his  
name before his ,father1 and before his 
angels1 and make him a pillar in the    
temple of ,god1 and he shall go no more 
out1 and will write upon him the name of
 his ,god1 and the name of the city of  
his ,god1 which is ,new ,jerusalem1     
which cometh down out of heaven from his
 ,god1 and will write upon him his new  
name4 ,yea1 ,he will grant to him to sit
 with him on his throne1 even as he also
 overcame1 and is set down with his     

,father on his throne4 ,he that hath an 
ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith
 unto the churches4#bhd  ,footnote #bhd 
,revelation ii1 #g1 #aa1 #ag4 iii1 #e1  
#ab1 #ba1 #bb4     ,,chap4 ,,ix4  ,the  
,duty of the people of ,god to excite   
others to seek this ,rest4    #a4 ,the  
,author laments that ,christians do so  
little to help others to  obtain the    
,saint's ,rest2  #b4 7,i47 ,shews the   
nature of this duty2  particularly1  #c4
 7#a47 ,in having our hearts affected   
with the misery  of our brethren's      
souls1  #d-f4 7#b47 ,in taking all      
opportunities to  instruct them in the  
way of salvation1  #g4 7#c47 ,in        
promoting their  profit by public       
ordinances2  #h4 7,,ii47 ,he assigns    
various reasons why  this duty is so    
much neglected1  #i4 ,and answers some  
objections  against it4  #aj-ac4 ,then  
7,,iii47 ,urges to the discharge of it1 
by  several considerations1  #ad4       
,addressed to such as have knowledge1   
learning1 and utterance1  #ae4 ,those   

that are acquainted with sinners1   #af4
 ,physicians that attend dying men1     
#ag4 ,persons of wealth and  power1     
#ah4 ,ministers1  #ai4 ,and those that  
are intrusted with the  care of children
 or servants1  #bj4 ,the chapter        
concludes with an  earnest request to   
,christian parents to be faithful to    
their trust4    #a4 ,hath ,god set      
before us such a glorious prize as the  
saint's rest1 and made us capable of    
such inconceivable happiness8 ,why then 
do not all the children of this kingdom 
exert themselves more to help others to 
the enjoyment of it8 ,alas1 how little  
are poor souls about us beholden to most
 of us6 ,we see the glory of the        
kingdom1 and they do not3 ,we see the   
misery of those that are out of it1 and 
they do not3 ,we see them wandering     
quite out of the way1 and know1 if they 
hold on1 they can never come there2 and 
they themselves discern it not3 and yet 
we will not seriously shew them their   
danger and error1 and help to bring them

 into the way1 that they may live4      
,alas1 how few ,christians are there to 
be found1 that set themselves with all  
their might to save souls6 ,no thanks to
 us1 if heaven be not empty1 and if the 
souls of our brethren perish not for    
ever4 ,considering how important this   
duty is1 to the glory of ,god1 and the  
happiness of men1 ,i will shew--how it  
is to be performed2--why it is so much  
neglected2 and then offer some          
considerations to persuade to it4   #b4 
7,i47 ,the duty of exciting and helping 
others to obtain the saint's rest doth  
not mean1 that every man should turn a  
public preacher1 or that any should go  
beyond the bounds of their particular   
callings2 much less does it consist in  
promoting a party spirit2 and least of  
all in speaking against men's faults    
behind their backs1 and be silent before
 their faces4 ,this duty is of another  
nature1 and consists of the following   
things2--in having our hearts affected  
with the misery of our brethren's       

souls1--in taking all opportunities to  
instruct them in the way of             
salvation1--and in promoting their      
profit by public ordinances4   #c4 7#a47
 ,our hearts must be affected with the  
misery of our brethren's souls4 ,we must
 be compassionate towards them1 and     
yearn after their recovery and          
salvation4 ,if we earnestly longed after
 their conversion1 and our hearts were  
solicitous to do them good1 it would set
 us on work1 and ,god would usually     
bless it4   #d4 7#b47 ,we must take all 
opportunities we possibly can to        
instruct them how to attain salvation4  
,if the person be ignorant1 labor to    
make him understand the chief happiness 
of man1 how far he was once possessed of
 it2 the covenant ,god then made with   
him2 how he broke it2 what penalty he   
incurred2 and what misery he brought    
himself into3 ,teach him his need of a  
,redeemer2 how ,christ did mercifully   
interpose and bear the penalty2 what the
 new covenant is2 how men are drawn to  

,christ2 and what are the riches and    
privileges which believers have in him4 
,if he is not moved by these things1    
then shew him the excellency of the     
glory he neglects2 the extremity and    
eternity of the torments of the damned2 
the justice of enduring them for        
wilfully refusing grace2 the certainty1 
nearness1 and terrors of death and      
judgment2 the vanity of all things      
below2 the sinfulness of sin2 the       
preciousness of ,christ2 the necessity  
of regeneration1 faith1 and holiness1   
and the true nature of them4 ,if after  
all you find him entertaining false     
hopes1 then urge him to examine his     
state2 shew him the necessity of doing  
so2 help him in it2 nor leave him till  
you have convinced him of his misery and
 remedy4 ,shew him how vain and         
destructive it is to join ,christ and   
his duties1 to compose his justifying   
righteousness4 ,yet be sure to draw him 
to the use of all means2 such as hearing
 and reading the word1 calling upon     

,god1 and associating with the godly2   
persuade him to forsake sin1 avoid all  
temptations to sin1 especially evil     
companions1 and to wait patiently on    
,god in the use of means1 as the way in 
which ,god will be found4   #e4 ,but    
because the manner of performing this   
work is of great moment1 observe        
therefore these rules4 ,enter upon it   
with right intentions4 ,aim at the glory
 of ,god in the person's salvation4 ,do 
it not to get a name1 or esteem to      
thyself1 or to bring men to depend upon 
thee1 or to get thee followers1 but in  
obedience to ,christ1 in imitation of   
him1 and tender love to men's souls4 ,do
 not as those1 who labor to reform their
 children or servants from such things  
as are against their own profit or      
humor1 but never seek to save their     
souls in the way which ,god hath        
appointed4 ,do it speedily4 ,as you     
would not have them delay their return1 
do not you delay to seek their return4  
,while you are purposing to teach and   

help him1 the man goes deeper in debt2  
wrath is heaping up2 sin taking root2   
custom fastens him2 temptations to sin  
multiply2 conscience grows seared2 the  
heart hardened2 the ,devil rules2       
,christ is shut out2 the ,spirit is     
resisted2 ,god is daily dishonored2 ,his
 law violated2 ,he is without a servant1
 and that service from ,him which ,he   
should have2 time runs on2 death and    
judgment are at the door2 and what if   
the man die1 and drop into hell1 while  
you are purposing to prevent it8 ,if in 
the case of his bodily distress1 you    
must not say to him1 ,go1 and come      
again1 and to-morrow ,i will give1 when 
thou hast it by thee2#bhe how much less 
may you delay the succor of his soul8   
,that physician is no better than a     
murderer1 who negligently delayeth till 
his patient be dead1 or past cure4 ,lay 
by excuses then1 and all lesser         
business1 and exhort one another daily1 
while it is called to-day2 lest any be  
hardened through the deceitfulness of   

sin4#bhf ,let your exhortation proceed  
from compassion and love4 ,to jeer and  
scoff1 to rail and vilify1 is not a     
likely way to reform men1 or convert    
them to ,god4 ,go to poor sinners with  
tears in your eyes1 that they may see   
you believe them to be miserable1 and   
that you unfeignedly pity their case4   
,deal with them with earnest humble     
entreatings4 ,let them perceive it is   
the desire of your hearts to do them    
good2 that you have no other end but    
their everlasting happiness2 and that it
 is your sense of their danger1 and your
 love to their souls1 that forceth you  
to speak2 even because you know the     
terrors of the ,lord1 and for fear you  
should see them in eternal torments4    
,say to them1 ,friend1 you know ,i seek 
no advantage of my own3 ,the method to  
please you1 and keep your friendship1   
were to soothe you in your way1 or let  
you alone2 but love will not suffer me  
to see you perish1 and be silent4 ,i    
seek nothing at your hands1 but that    

which is necessary to your own          
happiness4 ,it is yourself that will    
have the gain and comfort1 if you come  
to ,christ4 ,if we were thus to go to   
every ignorant1 wicked neighbor1 what   
blessed fruit should we quickly         
see6--,do it with all possible plainness
 and faithfulness4 ,do not make their   
sins less than they are1 nor encourage  
them in a false hope4 ,if you see the   
case dangerous1 speak plainly2 ,neighbor
 ,i am afraid ,god hath not yet renewed 
your soul2 ,i doubt you are not yet     
recovered from the power of ,satan to   
,god2 ,i doubt you have not chosen      
,christ above all1 nor unfeignedly taken
 him for your sovereign ,lord4 ,if you  
had1 surely you durst not so easily     
disobey him1 nor neglect his worship in 
your family1 and in public3 ,you could  
not so eagerly follow the world1 and    
talk of nothing but the things of the   
world4 ,if you were in ,christ1 you     
would be a new creature2 old things     
would be passed away1 and all things    

would become new4 ,you would have new   
thoughts1 new talk1 new company1 new    
endeavors1 and a new conversation3      
,certainly without these you can never  
be saved3 ,you may think otherwise1 and 
hope better as long as you will1 but    
your hopes will all deceive you and     
perish with you4 ,thus must you deal    
faithfully with men1 if ever you intend 
to do them good4 ,it is not in curing   
men's souls1 as in curing their bodies1 
where they must not know their danger1  
lest it hinder the cure4 ,they are here 
agents in their own cure1 and if they   
know not their misery1 they will never  
bewail it1 nor know their need of a     
,savior4 ,do it also seriously1         
zealously1 and effectually4 ,labor to   
make men know that heaven and hell are  
not matters to be played with1 or passed
 over with a few careless thoughts4 ,is 
it most certain1 that one of these days 
thou shalt be in everlasting joy or     
torment2 and doth it not awaken thee8   
,are there so few that find the way of  

life8 ,so many that go the way of death8
 ,is it so hard to escape8 ,so easy to  
miscarry8 ,and yet do you sit still and 
trifle8 ,what do you mean8 ,the world is
 passing away3 ,its pleasures1 honors1  
and profits are fading and leaving you3 
,eternity is a little before you3 ,god  
is just and jealous3 ,his threatenings  
are true3 ,the great day will be        
terrible3 ,time runs on3 ,your life is  
uncertain3 ,you are far behind-hand3    
,your case is dangerous3 ,if you die    
to-morrow1 how unready are you6 ,with   
what terror will your souls go out of   
your bodies6 ,and do you yet loiter8    
,consider1 ,god is all this while       
waiting your leisure3 ,his patience     
beareth3 ,his long-suffering forbeareth3
 ,his mercy entreateth you3 ,christ     
offers you his blood and merits3 ,the   
,spirit is persuading3 ,conscience is   
accusing3 ,satan waits to have you3     
,this is your time3 ,now or never4 ,had 
you rather burn in hell1 than repent on 
earth8 have ,devils your tormentors1    

than ,christ your governor8 ,will you   
renounce your part in ,god and glory1   
rather than renounce your sins8 ,o      
friends1 what do you think of these     
things8 ,god hath made you men2 do not  
renounce your reason where you should   
chiefly use it4 ,alas1 it is not a few  
dull words between jest and earnest1    
between sleep and awake1 that will rouse
 a dead-hearted sinner4 ,if a house be  
on fire1 you will not make a cold       
oration on the nature and danger of     
fire2 but will run1 and cry1 fire1 fire4
 ,to tell a man of his sins as softly as
 ,eli did his sons2 or reprove him1 as  
gently as ,jehoshaphat did ,ahab1 ,let  
not the king say so1 usually doth as    
much harm as good4 ,lothness to         
displease men1 makes us undo them4      
,footnote #bhe ,proverbs iii1 #bh4      
,footnote #bhf ,hebrews iii1 #ac4   #f4 
,yet1 lest you run into extremes1 ,i    
advise you to do it with prudence and   
discretion4 ,choose the fittest season4 
,deal not with men when they are in a   

passion1 or where they will take it for 
a disgrace4 ,when the earth is soft1 the
 plough will enter4 ,take a man when he 
is under affliction1 or newly impressed 
under a sermon4 ,christian faithfulness 
requires us1 not only to do good when it
 falls in our way1 but to watch for     
opportunities4 ,suit yourself also to   
the quality and temper of the person4   
,you must deal with the ingenious1 more 
by argument than persuasion4 ,there is  
need of both to the ignorant4 ,the      
affections of the convinced should be   
chiefly excited4 ,the obstinate must be 
sharply reproved4 ,the timorous must be 
dealt with tenderly4 ,love1 and         
plainness1 and seriousness1 take with   
all2 but words of terror some can scarce
 bear4 ,use also the aptest expressions4
 ,unseemly language makes the hearers   
loathe the food they should live by2    
especially if they be men of curious    
ears1 and carnal hearts4 ,let all your  
reproofs and exhortations be backed with
 the authority of ,god4 ,let sinners be 

convinced that you speak not of your own
 head4 ,turn them to the very chapter   
and verse where their sin is condemned1 
and their duty commanded4 ,the voice of 
man is contemptible1 but the voice of   
,god is awful and terrible4 ,they may   
reject your words1 that dare not reject 
the words of the ,almighty4 ,be frequent
 with men in this duty of exhortation4  
,if we are always to pray and not to    
faint1 because ,god will have us        
importunate with himself3 the same      
course1 no doubt1 will be most          
prevailing with men4 ,therefore we are  
commanded to exhort one another         
daily2#bhg and with all                 
long-suffering4#bhh ,the fire is not    
always brought out of the flint at one  
stroke2 nor men's affections kindled at 
the first exhortation4 ,and if they     
were1 yet if they be not followed1 they 
will soon grow cold again4 ,follow      
sinners with your loving and earnest    
entreaties1 and give them no rest in    
their sin4 ,this is true charity1 the   

way to save men's souls1 and will afford
 you comfort upon review4 ,strive to    
bring all your exhortations to an issue4
 ,if we speak the most convincing words1
 but all our care is over with our      
speech1 we shall seldom prosper in our  
labors3 ,but ,god usually blesses their 
labors1 whose very heart is set upon the
 conversion of their hearers1 and who   
are therefore inquiring after the       
success of their work4 ,if you reprove a
 sin1 cease not till the sinner promises
 you to leave it1 and avoid the         
occasions of it4 ,if you are exhorting  
to a duty1 urge for a promise to set    
upon it presently4 ,if you would draw   
men to ,christ1 leave not1 till you have
 made them confess the misery of their  
present unregenerate state1 and the     
necessity of ,christ1 and of a change1  
and have promised you to fall close to  
the use of means4 ,o that all           
,christians would take this course with 
all their neighbors that are enslaved to
 sin1 and strangers to ,christ6--,once  

more1 be sure your example exhort as    
well as your words4 ,let them see you   
constant in all the duties you persuade 
them to4 ,let them see in your lives    
that superiority to the world1 which    
your lips recommend4 ,let them see by   
your constant labors for heaven1 that   
you indeed believe what you would have  
them believe4 ,a holy and heavenly life1
 is a continual pain to the consciences 
of sinners around you1 and continually  
solicits them to change their course4   
,footnote #bhg ,hebrews iii1 #ac4       
,footnote #bhh #b ,timothy iv1 #b4   #g4
 7#c47 ,besides the duty of private     
admonition1 you must endeavor to help   
men to profit by the public ordinances4 
,in order to that1 endeavor to procure  
for them faithful ministers1 where they 
are wanting4 ,how shall they hear       
without a preacher8#bhi ,improve your   
interest and diligence to this end1 till
 you prevail4 ,extend your purses to the
 utmost4 ,how many souls may be saved by
 the ministry you have procured8 ,it is 

a higher and nobler charity1 than       
relieving their bodies4 ,what abundance 
of good might great men do1 if they     
would support in academical education1  
such youth as they have first carefully 
chosen for their ingenuity and piety1   
till they should be fit for the         
ministry8--,and when a faithful ministry
 is obtained1 help poor souls to receive
 the fruit of it4 ,draw them constantly 
to attend it4 ,remind them often what   
they have heard1 and if it be possible1 
let them hear it repeated in their      
families1 or elsewhere4 ,promote their  
frequent meeting together1 besides      
publicly in the congregation2 not as a  
separate church1 but as part of the     
church more diligent than the rest in   
redeeming time1 and helping the souls of
 each other heaven-ward4 ,labor also to 
keep the ordinances1 and ministry in    
esteem4 ,no man will be much wrought on 
by that which he despiseth4 ,an apostle 
says1 ,we beseech you1 brethren1 to know
 them which labor among you1 and are    

over you in the ,lord1 and admonish you2
 and to esteem them very highly in love 
for their work's sake4#bij  ,footnote   
#bhi ,romans x1 #ad4  ,footnote #bij #a 
,thessalonians v1 #ab1 #ac4   #h4       
7,,ii47 ,let us now a little inquire1   
what may be the causes of the gross     
neglect of this duty2 that the          
hinderances being discovered1 may the   
more easily be overcome4 ,one hinderance
 is1 men's own sin and guilt4 ,they have
 not themselves been ravished with      
heavenly delights2 how then should they 
draw others so earnestly to seek them8  
,they have not felt their own lost      
condition1 nor their need of ,christ2   
nor the renewing work of the ,spirit1   
how then can they discover these to     
others8 ,they are guilty of the sins    
they should reprove1 and this makes them
 ashamed to reprove4 ,another is a      
secret infidelity prevailing in men's   
hearts4 ,did we verily believe1 that all
 the unregenerate and unholy shall be   
eternally tormented1 how could we hold  

our tongues1 or avoid bursting into     
tears1 when we look them in the face8   
,especially when they are our near and  
dear friends8 ,thus doth secret unbelief
 consume the vigor of each grace and    
duty4 ,o ,christians1 if you did verily 
believe1 that your ungodly neighbors1   
wife1 husband1 or child1 should         
certainly lie for ever in hell1 except  
they be thoroughly changed before death 
shall snatch them away1 would not this  
make you address them day and night till
 they were persuaded8 ,were it not for  
this cursed unbelief1 our own and our   
neighbor's souls would gain more by us  
than they do4 ,these attempts are also  
much hindered by our want of charity and
 compassion for men's souls4 ,we look on
 miserable souls1 and pass by1 as the   
priest and ,levite by the wounded man4  
,what though the sinner1 wounded by sin1
 and captivated by ,satan1 do not desire
 thy help himself2 yet his misery cries 
aloud4 ,if ,god had not heard the cry of
 our miseries1 before he heard the cry  

of our prayers1 and been moved by his   
own pity1 before he was moved by our    
importunity1 we might long have         
continued the slaves of ,satan4 ,you    
will pray to ,god for them1 to open     
their eyes1 and turn their hearts2 and  
why not endeavor their conversion1 if   
you desire it8 ,and if you do not desire
 it1 why do you ask it8 ,why do you not 
pray them to consider and return1 as    
well as pray ,god to convert and turn   
them8 ,if you should see your neighbor  
fallen into a pit1 and should pray to   
,god to help him out1 but neither put   
forth your hand to help him1 nor once   
direct him to help himself1 would not   
any man censure you for your cruelty and
 hypocrisy8 ,it is as true of the soul  
as the body4 ,if any man seeth his      
brother have need1 and shutteth up his  
bowels of compassion from him1 how      
dwelleth the love of ,god in him8 ,or   
what love hath he to his brother's soul8
 ,we are also hindered by a base1       
man-pleasing disposition4 ,we are so    

desirous to keep in credit and favor    
with men1 that it makes us most         
unconscionably neglect our known duty4  
,he is a foolish and unfaithful         
physician1 that will let a sick man die 
for fear of troubling him4 ,if our      
friends are distracted1 we please them  
in nothing that tends to their hurt4    
,and yet when they are beside themselves
 in point of salvation1 and in their    
madness posting on to damnation1 we will
 not stop them1 for fear of displeasing 
them4 ,how can we be ,christians1 that  
love the praise of men more than the    
praise of ,god8 ,for if we seek to      
please men1 we shall not be the servants
 of ,christ4 ,it is common to be        
hindered by sinful bashfulness4 ,when we
 should shame men out of their sins1 we 
are ourselves ashamed of our duties4    
,may not these sinners condemn us1 when 
they blush not to swear1 be drunk1 or   
neglect the worship of ,god2 and we     
blush to tell them of it1 and persuade  
them from it8 ,bashfulness is unseemly  

in cases of necessity4 ,it is not a work
 to be ashamed of1 to obey ,god in      
persuading men from their sins to       
,christ4 ,reader1 hath not thy          
conscience told thee of thy duty many a 
time1 and put thee on to speak to poor  
sinners2 and yet thou hast been ashamed 
to open thy mouth1 and so let them alone
 to sink or swim8 ,o read and tremble1  
,whosoever shall be ashamed of me1 and  
my words1 in this adulterous and sinful 
generation1 of him also shall the ,son  
of man be ashamed1 when he cometh in the
 glory of his ,father1 with the holy    
angels4#bia ,an idle and impatient      
spirit hindereth us4 ,it is an          
ungrateful work1 and sometimes makes men
 our enemies4 ,besides1 it seldom       
succeeds at the first1 except it be     
followed on4 ,you must be long teaching 
the ignorant1 and persuading the        
obstinate4 ,we consider not what        
patience ,god used towards us1 when we  
were in our sins4 ,woe to us1 if ,god   
had been as impatient with us1 as we are

 with others4 ,another hinderance is    
self-seeking4 ,all seek their own1 not  
the things which are ,jesus             
,christ's1#bib and their brethren's4    
,with many1 pride is a great impediment4
 ,if it were to speak with a great man1 
and it would not displease him1 they    
would do it4 ,but to go among the poor1 
and take pains with them in their       
cottages2 where is the person that will 
do it8 ,many will rejoice in being      
instrumental to convert a gentleman2 and
 they have good reason2 but overlook the
 multitude2 as if the souls of all were 
not alike to ,god4 ,alas1 these men     
little consider how low ,christ stooped 
to us6 ,few rich1 and noble1 and wise   
are called4 ,it is the poor that receive
 the glad tidings of the gospel4 ,and   
with some their ignorance of the duty   
hindereth them from performing it4      
,either they know it not to be a duty1  
or at least not to be their duty4 ,if   
this be thy case1 reader1 ,i am in hope 
thou art now acquainted with thy duty1  

and wilt set upon it4  ,footnote #bia   
,mark viii1 #ch4  ,footnote #bib        
,philippians ii1 #ba4   #i4 ,do not     
object to this duty1 that you are unable
 to manage an exhortation1 but either   
set those on the work who are more able1
 or faithfully and humbly use the small 
ability you have1 and tell them1 as a   
weak man may do1 what ,god says in his  
word4 ,decline not the duty1 because it 
is your superior who needs advice and   
exhortation4 ,order must be dispensed   
with in cases of necessity4 ,though it  
be a husband1 a parent1 a minister1 you 
must teach him in such a case4 ,if      
parents are in want1 children must      
relieve them4 ,if a husband be sick1 the
 wife must fill up his place in family  
affairs4 ,if the rich are reduced to    
beggary1 they must receive charity4 ,if 
the physician be sick1 somebody must    
look to him4 ,so the meanest servant    
must admonish his master1 and the child 
his parent1 and the wife her husband1   
and the people their minister2 so that  

it be done when there is real need1 and 
with all possible humility1 modesty1 and
 meekness4 ,do not say1 this will make  
us all preachers2 for every good        
,christian is a teacher1 and hath a     
charge of his neighbor's soul4 ,every   
man is a physician1 when a regular      
physician cannot be had1 and when the   
hurt is so small that any man may       
relieve it2 and in the same cases every 
man must be a teacher4 ,do not despair  
of success4 ,cannot ,god give it8 ,and  
must it not be by means8--,do not plead1
 it will only be casting pearls before  
swine4 ,when you are in danger to be    
torn in pieces1 ,christ would have you  
forbear2 but what is that to you that   
are in no such danger8 ,as long as they 
will hear1 you have encouragement to    
speak1 and may not cast them off as     
contemptible swine4 ,say not1 ,it is a  
friend on whom ,i much depend1 and by   
telling him his sin and misery1 ,i may  
lose his love1 and be undone4 ,is his   
love more to be valued than his safety8 

or thy own benefit by him1 than the     
salvation of his soul8 or wilt thou     
connive at his damnation1 because he is 
thy friend8 ,is that thy best requital  
of his friendship8 ,hadst thou rather he
 should burn in hell for ever1 than thou
 shouldst lose his favor1 or the        
maintenance thou hast from him8   #aj4  
7,,iii47 ,but that all who fear ,god may
 be excited to do their utmost to help  
others to this blessed rest1 let me     
entreat you to consider the following   
motives4 ,as1 for instance1--not only   
nature1 but especially grace1 disposes  
the soul to be communicative of good4   
,therefore to neglect this work is a sin
 both against nature and grace4 ,would  
you not think him unnatural1 that would 
suffer his children or neighbors to     
starve in the streets1 while he has     
provision at hand8 ,and is not he more  
unnatural1 that will let them eternally 
perish1 and not open his mouth to save  
them8 ,an unmerciful1 cruel man1 is a   
monster to be abhorred of all4 ,if ,god 

had bid you give them all your estates1 
or lay down your lives1 to save them1   
you would surely have refused1 when you 
will not bestow a little breath to save 
them4 ,is not the soul of a husband1 or 
wife1 or child1 or neighbor1 worth a few
 words8 ,cruelty to men's bodies is a   
most damnable sin2 but to their souls   
much more1 as the soul is of greater    
worth than the body1 and eternity than  
time4 ,little know you what many a soul 
may now be feeling in hell1 who died in 
their sins1 for want of your faithful   
admonition4 ,consider what ,christ did  
towards the saving of souls4 ,he thought
 them worth his blood2 and shall we not 
think them worth our breath8 ,will you  
not do a little1 where ,christ hath done
 so much8--,consider what fit objects of
 pity ungodly souls are4 ,they are dead 
in trespasses and sins1 have not hearts 
to feel their miseries1 nor to pity     
themselves4 ,if others do not pity them1
 they will have no pity2 for it is the  
nature of their disease to make them    

pitiless to themselves1 yea1 their own  
most cruel destroyers4 ,consider it was 
once thy own case4 ,it was ,god's       
argument to the ,israelites1 to be kind 
to strangers1 because themselves had    
been strangers in the land of ,egypt4   
,so should you pity them that are       
strangers to ,christ1 and to the hopes  
and comforts of the saints1 because you 
were once strangers to them yourselves4 
,consider your relation to them4 ,it is 
thy neighbor1 thy brother1 whom thou art
 bound to love as thyself4 ,he that     
loveth not his brother whom he seeth    
daily1 doth not love ,god whom he never 
saw4 ,and doth he love his brother1 that
 will see him go to hell1 and never     
hinder him8   #aa4 ,consider what a load
 of guilt this neglect lays upon thy own
 soul4 ,thou art guilty of the murder   
and damnation of all those souls whom   
thou dost thus neglect2 and of every sin
 they now commit2 and of all the        
dishonor done to ,god thereby2 and of   
all those judgments which their sins    

bring upon the town or country where    
they live4 ,consider what it will be1 to
 look upon your poor friends in eternal 
flames1 and to think that your neglect  
was a great cause of it4 ,if you should 
there perish with them1 it would be no  
small aggravation of your torment4 ,if  
you be in heaven it would sure be a sad 
thought1 were it possible that any      
sorrow could dwell there1 to hear a     
multitude of poor souls cry out for     
ever1 ,o1 if you would but have told me 
plainly of my sin and danger1 and set it
 home1 ,i might have escaped all this   
torment1 and been now in rest6 ,what a  
sad voice will this be6--,consider what 
a joy it will be in heaven1 to meet     
those there1 whom you have been the     
means to bring thither4 ,to see their   
faces1 and join with them for ever in   
the praises of ,god1 whom you were the  
happy instruments of bringing to the    
knowledge and obedience of ,jesus       
,christ6 ,consider how many souls you   
may have drawn into the way of          

damnation1 or hardened in it4 ,we have  
had1 in the days of our ignorance1 our  
companions in sin1 whom we enticed1 or  
encouraged4 ,and doth it not become us1 
to do as much to save men1 as we have   
done to destroy them8--,consider how    
diligent are all the enemies of these   
poor souls to draw them to hell4 ,the   
,devil is tempting them day and night3  
their inward lusts are still working for
 their ruin3 the flesh is still pleading
 for its delights3 their old companions 
are increasing their dislike of         
holiness4 ,and if nobody be diligent in 
helping them to heaven1 what is like to 
become of them8   #ab4 ,consider how    
deep the neglect of this duty will      
wound1 when conscience is awakened4     
,when a man comes to die1 conscience    
will ask him1 ,what good hast thou done 
in thy lifetime8 ,the saving of souls is
 the greatest good work2 what hast thou 
done towards it8 ,how many hast thou    
dealt faithfully with8 ,i have oft      
observed1 that the consciences of dying 

men very much wound them for this       
omission4 ,for my own part1 when ,i have
 been near death1 my conscience hath    
accused me more for this than for any   
sin3 ,it would bring every ignorant1    
profane neighbor to my remembrance1 to  
whom ,i never made known their danger4  
,it would tell me1 thou shouldst have   
gone to them in private1 and told them  
plainly of their desperate danger1      
though it had been when thou shouldst   
have eaten or slept1 if thou hadst no   
other time4 ,conscience would remind me 
how at such or such a time1 ,i was in   
company with the ignorant1 or was riding
 by the way with a wilful sinner1 and   
had a fit opportunity to have dealt with
 him2 but did not2 or at least did it to
 little purpose4 ,the ,lord grant ,i may
 better obey conscience while ,i have   
time1 that it may have less to accuse me
 of at death6--,consider what a         
seasonable time you now have for this   
work4 ,there are times in which it is   
not safe to speak1 it may cost you your 

liberties or your lives4 ,besides1 your 
neighbors will shortly die1 and so will 
you4 ,speak to them therefore while you 
may4 ,consider1 though this is a work of
 greatest charity1 yet every one of you 
may perform it4 ,the poorest as well as 
the rich4 ,every one hath a tongue to   
speak to a sinner4 ,once more1 consider 
the happy consequences of this work1    
where it is faithfully done4 ,you may be
 instrumental of saving souls1 for which
 ,christ came down and died1 and in     
which the angels of ,god rejoice4 ,such 
souls will bless you here and hereafter1
 ,god will have much glory by it4 ,the  
church will be multiplied and edified by
 it4 ,your own souls will enjoy more    
improvement and vigor in a ,divine life1
 more peace of conscience1 more         
rejoicing in spirit4 ,of all the        
personal mercies that ,i ever received1 
next to the love of ,god in ,christ to  
my own soul1 ,i must most joyfully bless
 him for the plentiful success of my    
endeavors upon others4 ,o what fruits   

then might ,i have seen1 if ,i had been 
more faithful6 ,i know we need to be    
very jealous of our deceitful hearts in 
this point1 lest our rejoicing should   
come from our pride4 ,naturally we would
 have the praise of every good work     
ascribed to ourselves3 ,yet to imitate  
our ,father in goodness and mercy1 and  
to rejoice in the degree of them we     
attain to1 is the duty of every child of
 ,god4 ,i therefore tell you my own     
experience1 to persuade you1 that if you
 did but know what a joyful thing it is1
 you would follow it night and day      
through the greatest discouragements4   
#ac4 ,up then1 every man that hath a    
tongue1 and is a servant of ,christ1 and
 do something of your ,master's work4   
,why hath he given you a tongue1 but to 
speak in his service8 ,and how can you  
serve him more eminently1 than in saving
 souls8 ,he that will pronounce you     
blessed at the last day1 and invite you 
to the kingdom prepared for you1 because
 you fed him1 and clothed him1 and      

visited him1 in his poor members1 will  
surely pronounce you blessed for so     
great a work as bringing souls to his   
kingdom4 ,he that saith the poor you    
have always with you1 hath left the     
ungodly always with you1 that you might 
still have matter to exercise your      
charity upon4 ,if you have the hearts of
 ,christians or of men1 let them yearn  
towards your ignorant1 ungodly          
neighbors4 ,say as the lepers of        
,samaria1 ,we do not well2 this day is a
 day of good tidings1 and we hold our   
peace4 ,hath ,god had so much mercy on  
you1 and will you have no mercy on your 
poor neighbors8--,but as this duty      
belongs to all ,christians1 so          
especially to some1 according as ,god   
hath called them to it1 or qualified    
them for it4 ,to them therefore ,i will 
more particularly address the           
exhortation4   #ad4 ,god especially     
expects this duty at your hands to whom 
he hath given more learning and         
knowledge1 and endued with better       

utterance1 than your neighbors4 ,the    
strong are made to help the weak2 and   
those that see must direct the blind4   
,god looketh for this faithful          
improvement of your parts and gifts1    
which1 if you neglect1 it were better   
you had never received them2 for they   
will but aggravate your condemnation1   
and be as useless to your own salvation1
 as they were to others4   #ae4 ,all    
those that are particularly acquainted  
with some ungodly men1 and that have    
peculiar interest in them1 ,god looks   
for this duty at your hands4 ,christ    
himself did eat and drink with publicans
 and sinners2 but it was only to be     
their physician1 and not their          
companion4 ,who knows but ,god gave you 
interest in them to this end1 that you  
might be the means of their recovery8   
,they that will not regard the words of 
a stranger1 may regard a brother1 or    
sister1 or husband1 or wife1 or near    
friend3 ,besides that the bond of       
friendship engageth you to more kindness

 and compassion than ordinary4   #af4   
,physicians that are much about dying   
men1 should in a special manner make    
conscience of this duty4 ,it is their   
peculiar advantage1 that they are at    
hand2 that they are with men in sickness
 and dangers1 when the ear is more open1
 and the heart is less stubborn than in 
time of health2 and that men look upon  
their physician as a person in whose    
hand is their life2 or at least1 who may
 do much to save them2 and therefore    
they will the more regard his advice4   
,you that are of this honorable         
profession1 do not think this a work    
beside your calling1 as if it belonged  
to none but ministers2 except you think 
it beside your calling to be            
compassionate1 or to be ,christians4 ,o 
help therefore to fit your patients for 
heaven8 ,and whether you see they are   
for life or death1 teach them both how  
to live and die1 and give them some     
physic for their souls1 as you do for   
their bodies4 ,blessed be ,god1 that    

very many of the chief physicians of    
this age have1 by their eminent piety   
vindicated their profession from the    
common imputation of atheism and        
profaneness4   #ag4 ,men of wealth and  
authority1 and that have many           
dependants1 have excellent advantages   
for this duty4 ,o what a world of good  
might lords and gentlemen do1 if they   
had but hearts to improve their         
influence over others8 ,have you not all
 your honor and riches from ,god8 ,doth 
not ,christ say1 unto whomsoever much is
 given1 of him shall be much required8  
,if you speak to your dependants for    
,god and their souls1 you may be        
regarded1 when even a minister shall be 
despised4 ,as you value the honor of    
,god1 your own comfort1 and the         
salvation of souls1 improve your        
influence over tenants and neighbors2   
visit their houses2 see whether they    
worship ,god in their families2 and take
 all opportunities to press them to     
their duty4 ,despise them not4 ,remember

 ,god is no respecter of persons4 ,let  
men see that you excel others in piety1 
compassion1 and diligence in ,god's     
work1 as you do in the riches and honors
 of the world4 ,i confess you will by   
this means be singular1 but then you    
will be singular in glory2 for few of   
the mighty and noble are called4   #ah4 
,as for the ministers of the gospel1 it 
is the very work of their calling1 to   
help others to heaven4 ,be sure to make 
it the main end of your studies and     
preaching4 ,he is the able1 skilful     
minister1 that is best skilled in the   
art of instructing1 convincing1         
persuading1 and consequently of winning 
souls2 and that is the best sermon that 
is best in these4 ,when you seek not    
,god1 but yourselves1 ,god will make you
 the most contemptible of men4 ,it is   
true of your reputation1 what ,christ   
says of your life1 ,he that loveth it1  
shall lose it4 ,let the vigor of your   
persuasions shew1 that you are sensible 
on how weighty a business you are sent4 

,preach with that seriousness and       
fervor1 as men that believe their own   
doctrine1 and that know their hearers   
must be prevailed with1 or be damned4   
,think not that all your work is in your
 studies and pulpit4 ,you are shepherds 
and must know every sheep1 and what is  
their disease1 and mark their strayings1
 and help to cure them and fetch them   
home4 ,learn of ,paul1 not only to teach
 your people publicly1 but from house to
 house4 ,inquire how they grow in       
knowledge and holiness1 and on what     
grounds they build their hopes of       
salvation1 and whether they walk        
uprightly1 and perform the duties of    
their several relations4 ,see whether   
they worship ,god in their families1 and
 teach them how to do it4 ,be familiar  
with them1 that you may maintain your   
interest in them1 and improve it all for
 ,god4 ,know of them how they profit by 
public teaching4 ,if any too little     
favor the things of the spirit1 let them
 be pitied1 but not neglected4 ,if any  

walk disorderly1 recover them with      
diligence and patience4 ,if they be     
ignorant1 it may be your fault as much  
as theirs4 ,be not asleep while the wolf
 is waking4 ,deal not slightly with any4
 ,some will not tell their people       
plainly of their sins1 because they are 
great men3 and some because they are    
godly2 as if none but the poor and the  
wicked should be dealt plainly with4    
,yet labor to be skilful and discreet1  
that the manner may answer to the       
excellency of the matter4 ,every        
reasonable soul hath both judgment and  
affection2 and every rational1 spiritual
 sermon1 must have both4 ,study and     
pray1 and pray and study1 till you are  
become workmen that need not be ashamed1
 rightly dividing the truth2 that your  
people may not be ashamed1 not weary in 
hearing you4 ,let your conversation be  
teaching1 as well as your doctrine4 ,be 
as forward in a holy and heavenly life1 
as you are in pressing others to it4    
,let your discourse be edifying and     

spiritual4 ,suffer any thing rather than
 the gospel and men's souls should      
suffer4 ,let men see that you use not   
the ministry only for a trade to live   
by2 but that your hearts are set upon   
the welfare of souls4 ,whatsoever       
meekness1 humility1 condescension1 or   
self-denial you teach them from the     
gospel1 teach it them also by your      
undissembled example4 ,study and strive 
after unity and peace4 ,if ever you     
would promote the kingdom of ,christ1   
and your people's salvation1 do it in a 
way of peace and love4 ,it is as hard a 
thing to maintain in your people a sound
 understanding1 a tender conscience1 a  
lively1 gracious1 heavenly frame of     
spirit1 and an upright life1 amidst     
contention1 as to keep your candle      
lighted in the greatest storms4 ,blessed
 is that servant1 whom his ,lord1 when  
he cometh1 shall find so doing4   #ai4  
,all you whom ,god hath entrusted with  
the care of children or servants1 ,i    
would also persuade to this great work  

of helping others to the heavenly rest4 
,consider what plain and pressing       
commands of ,god require this at your   
hands4 ,these words thou shalt teach    
diligently unto thy children1 and shalt 
talk of them when thou sittest in thine 
house1 and when thou walkest by the way1
 and when thou liest down and when thou 
risest up4#bic ,train up a child in the 
way he should go2 and when he is old1 he
 will not depart from it4#bid ,bring up 
your children in the nurture and        
admonition of the ,lord4#bie ,joshua    
resolved1 that he and his house would   
serve the ,lord4#bif ,and ,god himself  
says of ,abraham1 ,i know him1 that he  
will command his children1 and his      
household after him1 and they shall keep
 the way of the ,lord4#big ,consider it 
is a duty you owe your children in point
 of justice4 ,from you they received the
 defilement and misery of their natures2
 and therefore you owe them all possible
 help for their recovery4 ,consider1 how
 near your children are to you4 ,they   

are parts of yourselves4 ,if they       
prosper when you are dead1 you take it  
as if you lived and prospered in them2  
and should you not be of the same mind  
for their everlasting rest8--,otherwise 
you will be witnesses against your own  
souls4 ,your care1 and pains1 and cost  
for their bodies1 will condemn you for  
your neglect of their precious souls4   
,yea1 all the brute creatures may       
condemn you4 ,which of them is not      
tender of their young8--,consider1 ,god 
hath made your children your charge1 and
 your servants too4 ,every one will     
confess they are the minister's charge4 
,and have not you a greater charge of   
your own families1 than any minister can
 have of them8 doubtless at your hands  
,god will require the blood of their    
souls4 ,it is the greatest charge you   
were ever entrusted with1 and woe to    
you1 if you suffer them to be ignorant  
or wicked for want of your instruction  
or correction4 ,consider1 what work     
there is for you in their dispositions  

and lives4 ,there is not one sin1 but   
thousands4 ,they are hereditary         
diseases1 bred in their natures4 ,the   
things you must teach them are contrary 
to the interest and desires of their    
flesh4 ,may the ,lord make you sensible 
what a work and charge lieth upon       
you6--,consider what sorrows you prepare
 for yourselves by the neglect of your  
children4 ,if they prove thorns in your 
eyes1 they are of your own planting4 ,if
 you should repent and be saved1 is it  
nothing to think of their damnation2 and
 yourselves the occasion of it8 ,but if 
you die in your sin1 how will they cry  
out against you in hell8 ,all this was  
long of you1 you should have taught us  
better1 and did not2 you should have    
restrained us from sin1 and corrected   
us1 but did not4 ,what an addition will 
such outcries be to your misery8 ,on the
 other side1 think what a comfort you   
may have1 if you be faithful in this    
duty4 ,if you should not succeed1 you   
have freed your own souls1 and have     

peace in your own consciences4 ,if you  
do1 the comfort is inexpressible1 in    
their love and obedience1 their         
supplying your wants1 and delighting you
 in all your remaining path to glory4   
,yea1 all your family may fare the      
better for one pious child or servant4  
,but the greatest joy will be1 when you 
shall say1 ,lord1 here am ,i1 and the   
children thou hast given me2 and shall  
joyfully live with them for ever4       
,consider how much the welfare of church
 and state depends on this duty4 ,good  
laws will not reform us1 if reformation 
begin not at home4 ,this is the cause of
 all our miseries in church and state1  
even the want of a holy education of    
children4 ,i also entreat parents to    
consider1 what excellent advantages they
 have for saving their children4 ,they  
are with you while they are tender and  
flexible4 ,you have a twig to bend1 not 
an oak4 ,none in the world have such    
interest in their affections as you     
have4 ,you have also the greatest       

authority over them4 ,their whole       
dependence is upon you for a            
maintenance4 ,you best know their temper
 and inclinations4 ,and you are ever    
with them1 and can never want           
opportunities3 ,especially you1 mothers1
 remember this1 who are more with your  
children1 while young1 than their       
fathers4 ,what pains are you at for     
their bodies8 ,what do you suffer to    
bring them into the world8 ,and will you
 not be at as much pains for the saving 
of their souls8 ,your affections are    
tender2 and will it not move you to     
think of their perishing for ever8 ,i   
beseech you1 for the sake of the        
children of your bowels1 teach them1    
admonish them1 watch over them1 and give
 them no rest till you have brought them
 to ,christ4  ,footnote #bic            
,deuteronomy vi1 #f1 #g4  ,footnote #bid
 ,proverbs xxii1 #f4  ,footnote #bie    
,ephesians vi1 #d4  ,footnote #bif      
,joshua xxiv1 #ae4  ,footnote #bie      
,genesis xviii1 #ai4   #bj4 ,i shall    

conclude with this earnest request to   
all ,christian parents that read these  
lines3 that they would have compassion  
on the souls of their poor children1 and
 be faithful to the great trust that    
,god hath put on them4 ,if you cannot do
 what you would for them1 yet do what   
you can4 ,both church and state1 city   
and country1 groan under neglect of this
 weighty duty4 ,your children know not  
,god1 nor his laws1 but take his name in
 vain1 and slight his worship1 and you  
neither instruct them nor correct them2 
and therefore ,god corrects both them   
and you4 ,you are so tender of them1    
that ,god is the less tender both of    
them1 and you4 ,wonder not if ,god make 
you smart for your children's sins2 for 
you are guilty of all they commit1 by   
your neglect of your duty to reform     
them4 ,will you resolve therefore to set
 upon this duty1 and neglect it no      
longer8 ,remember ,eli4 ,your children  
are like ,moses in the bulrushes1 ready 
to perish if they have not help4 ,as    

ever you would not be charged before    
,god as murderers of their souls1 nor   
have them cry out against you in        
everlasting fire1 see that you teach    
them how to escape it1 and bring them up
 in holiness1 and the fear of ,god4 ,i  
charge every one of you1 upon your      
allegiance to ,god1 as you will very    
shortly answer the contrary at your     
peril1 that you will neither refuse nor 
neglect this most necessary duty4 ,if   
you are not willing to do it1 now you   
know it to be so great a duty1 you are  
rebels1 and not true subjects of ,jesus 
,christ4 ,if you are willing1 but know  
not how1 ,i will add a few words of     
direction to help you4 ,lead them by    
your examples1 to prayer1 reading1 and  
other religious duties4 ,inform their   
understandings4 ,store their memories4  
,rectify their wills4 ,quicken their    
affections4 ,keep tender their          
consciences4 ,restrain their tongues1   
and teach them gracious speech4 ,reform 
and watch over their outward            

conversation4 ,to these ends1 get them  
,bibles and pious books1 and see that   
they read them4 ,examine them often what
 they learn3 ,especially spend the      
,lord's day in this work1 and suffer    
them not to spend it in sports or       
idleness4 ,shew them the meaning of what
 they read or learn4 ,keep them out of  
evil company1 and acquaint them with the
 godly1 and fail not to make them learn 
their catechism4 ,especially shew them  
the necessity1 excellency1 and pleasure 
of serving ,god2 and labor to fix all   
upon their hearts4     ,,chap4 ,x4  ,the
 ,saint's ,rest is not to be expected on
 ,earth4    #a4 ,in order to shew the   
sin and folly of expecting rest here1   
#b4  7,i47 the reasonableness of present
 afflictions is considered2  #c4 7#a47  
that they are the way to rest1  #d4     
7#b47 keep us from mistaking our  rest1 
#e4 7#c47 from losing our way to it1    
#f4 7#d47 quicken our pace  towards it1 
#g4 7#e47 chiefly incommode our flesh1  
#h1 #i4 and 7#f47  under them the       

sweetest foretastes of rest are often   
enjoyed2  #aj4  7,,ii47 ,how            
unreasonable to rest in present         
enjoyments2  #aa4 7#a47 that  'tis      
idolatry2  #ab4 7#b47 that it           
contradicts ,god's end in giving them2  
#ac4 7#c47 is the way to have them      
refused1 withdrawn1 or embittered2      
#ad4 7#d47 that to be suffered to take  
up our rest here is the greatest  curse2
  #ae4 7#e47 that it is seeking rest    
where it is not4  #af 7#f47  that the   
creatures without ,god1 would aggravate 
our misery4  #ag4 7#g47  and all this is
 confirmed by experience4  #ah4 ,the    
,author laments that  this is           
nevertheless a most common sin4  #ai-bc 
7,,iii47 ,how unreasonable  our         
unwillingness to die1 and possess the   
saint's rest1 is largely  considered4   
#bd4 ,the ,author apologizes for saying 
so much on this last  head4    #a4 ,we  
are not yet come to our resting place4  
,doth it remain8 ,how great then is our 
sin and folly to seek and expect it     

here8 ,where shall we find the          
,christian that deserves not this       
reproof8 ,we would all have continual   
prosperity1 because it is easy and      
pleasing to the flesh2 but we consider  
not the unreasonableness of such        
desires4 ,and when we enjoy convenient  
houses1 goods1 lands1 and revenues8 or  
the necessary means ,god hath appointed 
for our spiritual good2 we seek rest in 
these enjoyments4 ,whether we are in an 
afflicted1 or prosperous state1 it is   
apparent1 we exceedingly make the       
creature our rest4 ,do we not desire    
creature enjoyments more violently1 when
 we want them1 than we desire ,god      
himself8 ,do we not delight more in the 
possession of them1 than in the         
enjoyment of ,god8 ,and if we lose them1
 doth it not trouble us more than our   
loss of ,god8 ,is it not enough1 that   
they are refreshing helps in our way to 
heaven1 but they must also be made our  
heaven itself8 ,christian reader1 ,i    
would as willingly make thee sensible of

 this sin1 as of any sin in the world1  
if ,i could tell how to do it2 for the  
,lord's greatest quarrel with us is in  
this point4 ,in order to this1 ,i most  
earnestly beseech thee to consider1--the
 reasonableness of present              
afflictions1--and the unreasonableness  
of resting in present enjoyments2--as   
also of our unwillingness to die1 that  
we may possess eternal rest4   #b4 7,i47
 ,to shew the reasonableness of present 
afflictions1 consider1--they are the way
 to rest2--they keep us from mistaking  
our rest1--and from losing our way to   
it2--they quicken our pace towards      
it2--they chiefly incommode our         
flesh2--and under them ,god's people    
have often the sweetest foretastes of   
their rest4   #c4 7#a47 ,consider1 that 
labor and trouble are the common way to 
rest1 both in the course of nature and  
grace4 ,can there possibly be rest      
without weariness8 ,do you not travel   
and toil first1 and rest after8 ,the day
 for labor is first1 and then follows   

the night for rest4 ,why should we      
desire the course of grace to be        
perverted1 any more than the course of  
nature8 ,it is an established decree1   
that we must through much tribulation   
enter into the kingdom of ,god4#bih ,and
 that if we suffer1 we shall also reign 
with ,christ4#bii ,and what are we that 
,god's statutes should be reversed for  
our pleasure8  ,footnote #bih ,acts xiv1
 #bb4  ,footnote #bii #b ,timothy ii1   
#ab4   #d4 7#b47 ,afflictions are       
exceeding useful to us1 to keep us from 
mistaking our rest4 ,a ,christian's     
motion towards heaven is voluntary1 and 
not constrained4 ,those means therefore 
are most profitable1 which help his     
understanding and will4 ,the most       
dangerous mistake of our souls is1 to   
take the creature for ,god1 and earth   
for heaven4 ,what warm1 affectionate1   
eager thoughts have we of the world1    
till afflictions cool and moderate them8
 ,afflictions speak convincingly1 and   
will be heard when preachers cannot4    

,many a poor ,christian is sometimes    
bending his thoughts to wealth1 or flesh
 pleasing1 or applause2 and so loses his
 relish of ,christ1 and the joy above2  
till ,god break in upon his riches1 or  
children1 or conscience1 or health1 and 
break down his mountain which he thought
 so strong3 ,and then1 when he lieth in 
,manasseh's fetters2 or is fastened to  
his bed with pining sickness1 the world 
is nothing1 and heaven is something4 ,if
 our dear ,lord did not put these thorns
 under our head1 we should sleep out our
 lives1 and lose our glory4   #e4 7#c47 
,afflictions1 are also ,god's most      
effectual means to keep us from losing  
our way to our rest4 ,without this hedge
 of thorns1 on the right hand1 and left1
 we should hardly keep the way to       
heaven4 ,if there be but one gap open1  
how ready are we to find it1 and turn   
out at it8 ,when we grow wanton1 or     
worldly1 or proud1 how doth sickness1 or
 other affliction1 reduce us8 ,every    
,christian1 as well as ,luther1 may call

 affliction one of his best             
schoolmasters2 and with ,david may say1 
,before ,i was afflicted1 ,i went       
astray2 but now have ,i kept thy        
word4#cjj ,many thousand recovered      
sinners may cry1 ,o healthful sickness6 
,o comfortable sorrows6 ,o gainful      
losses6 ,o enriching poverty6 ,o blessed
 day that ever ,i was afflicted6 ,not   
only the green pastures1 and still      
waters1 but the rod and staff1 they     
comfort us4 ,though the word and ,spirit
 do the main work1 yet suffering so     
unbolts the door of the heart1 that the 
word hath easier entrance4  ,footnote   
#cjj ,psalm cxix1 #fg4   #f4 7#d47      
,afflictions likewise serve to quicken  
our pace in the way to our rest4 ,it    
were well if mere love would prevail    
with us1 and that we were rather drawn  
to heaven1 than driven4 ,but seeing our 
hearts are so bad1 that mercy will not  
do it2 it is better be put on with the  
sharpest scourge1 than loiter1 like the 
foolish virgins1 till the door is shut4 

,o what difference is there1 betwixt our
 prayers in health1 and in sickness2    
betwixt our repentings in prosperity and
 adversity6 ,alas6 if we did not        
sometime feel the spur1 what a slow pace
 would most of us hold towards heaven8  
,since our vile natures require it1 why 
should we be unwilling that ,god should 
do us good by sharp means8 ,judge1      
,christian1 whether thou dost not go    
more watchfully and speedily in the way 
to heaven1 in thy sufferings1 than in   
thy more pleasing and prosperous state4 
#g4 7#e47 ,consider further1 it is but  
the flesh that is chiefly troubled and  
grieved by affliction4 ,in most of our  
sufferings the soul is free1 unless we  
ourselves wilfully afflict it4 ,why     
then1 ,o my soul1 dost thou side with   
this flesh1 and complain1 as it         
complaineth8 ,it should be thy work to  
keep it under1 and bring it into        
subjection1 and if ,god do it for thee1 
shouldst thou be discontented8 ,hath not
 the pleasing of it been the cause of   

almost all thy spiritual sorrows8 ,why  
then may not the displeasing of it      
further thy joys8 ,must not ,paul and   
,silas sing1 because their feet are in  
the stocks8 ,their spirits were not     
imprisoned4 ,ah1 unworthy soul6 is this 
thy thanks to ,god for preferring thee  
so far before thy body8 ,when it is     
rotting in the grave1 thou shalt be a   
companion of the perfected spirits of   
the just4 ,in the mean time1 hast thou  
not consolation which the flesh knows   
not of8 ,murmur not then at ,god's      
dealings with thy body2 if it were not  
for want of love to thee1 he would not  
have dealt so by all his saints4 ,never 
expect thy flesh should truly expound   
the meaning of the rod4 ,it will call   
love1 hatred2 and say1 ,god is          
destroying1 when he is saving4 ,it is   
the suffering party1 and therefore not  
fit to be the judge4 ,could we once     
believe ,god1 and judge of his dealings 
by his word1 and by their usefulness to 
our souls1 and reference to our rest1   

and could we stop our ears against all  
the clamors of the flesh1 then we should
 have a truer judgment of our           
afflictions4   #h4 7#f47 ,once more     
consider1 ,god seldom gives his people  
so sweet a foretaste of their future    
rest1 as in their deep afflictions4 ,he 
keeps his most precious cordials for the
 time of our greatest faintings and     
dangers4 ,he gives them1 when he knows  
they are needed1 and will be valued3 and
 when he is sure to be thanked for them1
 and his people rejoiced by them4       
,especially when our sufferings are more
 directly for his cause1 then he seldom 
fails to sweeten the bitter cup4 ,the   
martyrs have possessed the highest joys4
 ,when did ,christ preach such comforts 
to his disciples1 as when their hearts  
were sorrowful at his departure8 ,when  
did he appear among them1 and say1      
,peace be unto you1 but when they were  
shut up for fear of the ,jews8 ,when did
 ,stephen see heaven opened1 but when he
 was giving up his life for the         

testimony of ,jesus8 ,is not that our   
best state1 wherein we have most of     
,god8 ,why else do we desire to come to 
heaven8 ,if we look for a heaven of     
fleshly delights1 we shall find         
ourselves mistaken4 ,conclude then1 that
 affliction is not so bad a state for a 
saint in his way to rest4 ,are we wiser 
than ,god8 ,doth he not know what is    
good for us as well as we8 ,or is he not
 as careful of our good1 as we are of   
our own8 ,woe to us1 if he were not much
 more so6 and if he did not love us     
better1 than we love either him1 or     
ourselves6   #i4 ,say not1 ,i could bear
 any other affliction but this4 ,if ,god
 had afflicted thee where thou canst    
bear it1 thy idol would neither have    
been discovered1 nor removed4 ,neither  
say1 ,if ,god would deliver me out of   
it1 ,i could be content to bear it4 ,is 
it nothing that he hath promised it     
shall work for thy good8 ,is it not     
enough that thou art sure to be         
delivered at death8 ,nor let it be said1

 ,if my affliction did not disable me   
for duty1 ,i could bear it4 ,it doth not
 disable thee for that duty which       
tendeth for thy own personal benefit1   
but is the greatest quickening help thou
 canst expect4 ,as for thy duty to      
others1 it is not thy duty when ,god    
disables thee4 ,perhaps thou wilt say1  
,the godly are my afflictors3 if it were
 ungodly men1 ,i could easily bear it4  
,whoever is the instrument1 the         
affliction is from ,god1 and the        
deserving cause thyself2 and is it not  
better to look more to ,god and thyself8
 ,didst thou not know that the best men 
are still sinful in part8 ,do not plead1
 ,if ,i had but that consolation1 which 
you say ,god reserveth for suffering    
times1 ,i should suffer more            
contentedly2 but ,i do not perceive any 
such thing4 ,the more you suffer for    
righteousness' sake1 the more of this   
blessing you may expect2 and the more   
you suffer for your own evil doing1 the 
longer it will be before that sweetness 

comes4 ,are not the comforts you desire1
 neglected or resisted8 ,have your      
afflictions wrought kindly with you1 and
 fitted you for comfort8 ,it is not mere
 suffering that prepares you for        
comfort1 but the success and fruit of   
sufferings upon your hearts4   #aj4     
7,,ii47 ,to shew the unreasonableness of
 resting in present enjoyments1         
consider1--it is idolizing them2--it    
contradicts ,god's end in giving        
them2--it is the way to have them       
refused1 withdrawn1 or embittered2--to  
be suffered to take up our rest here1 is
 the greatest curse2--it is seeking rest
 where it is not to be found2--the      
creatures1 without ,god1 would aggravate
 our misery2--and to confirm all this1  
we may consult our own and others'      
experience4   #aa4 7#a47 ,it is gross   
idolatry to make any creature or means  
our rest4 ,to be the rest of the soul1  
is ,god's own prerogative4 ,as it is    
apparent idolatry to place our rest in  
riches or honors2 so it is but a more   

refined idolatry to take up our rest in 
excellent means of grace4 ,how ill must 
our dear ,lord take it1 when we give him
 cause to complain as he did of our     
fellow idolaters1 ,my people have been  
lost sheep1 they have forgotten their   
resting place8#cja ,my people can find  
rest in any thing1 rather than in me4   
,they can delight in one another1 but   
not in me4 ,they can rejoice in my      
creatures and ordinances1 but not in me4
 ,yea1 in their very labors and duties  
they seek for rest1 but not in me4 ,they
 had rather be any where1 than be with  
me4 ,are these their gods8 ,have these  
redeemed them8 ,will these be better to 
them1 than ,i have been1 or than ,i     
would be8 ,if yourselves have a wife1 a 
husband1 a son1 that had rather be any  
where than in your company1 and be never
 so merry as when furthest from you1    
would you not take it ill8 ,so must our 
,god needs do4  ,footnote #cja ,jeremiah
 l1 #f4   #ab4 7#b47 ,you contradict the
 end of ,god in giving these enjoyments4

 ,he gave them to help thee to him1 and 
dost thou take up with them in his      
stead8 ,he gave them to be refreshments 
in thy journey1 and wouldst thou dwell  
in thy inn1 and go no further8 ,it may  
be said of all our comforts and         
ordinances1 as it is said of the        
,israelites1 ,the ark of the covenant of
 the ,lord went before them1 to search  
out a resting place for them4#cjb ,so do
 all ,god's mercies here4 ,they are not 
that rest2 as ,john professed he was not
 the ,christ2 but they are voices crying
 in this wilderness1 to bid us prepare1 
for the kingdom of ,god1 our true rest  
is at hand4 ,therefore1 to rest here1   
were to turn all mercies contrary to    
their own ends1 and to our own          
advantages1 and to destroy ourselves    
with that which should help us4         
,footnote #cjb ,numbers x1 #cc4   #ac4  
7#c47 ,it is the way to cause ,god1     
either to deny the mercies we ask1 or   
take from us those we enjoy1 or at least
 embitter them to us4 ,god is no where  

so jealous as here4 ,if you had a       
servant1 whom your wife loved better    
than yourself1 would you not take it ill
 of such a wife1 and rid your house of  
such a servant8 ,so1 if the ,lord see   
you begin to settle in the world1 and   
say1 ,here ,i will rest8 no wonder if he
 soon in his jealousy unsettle you4 ,if 
he love you1 no wonder if he take that  
from you with which he sees you are     
destroying yourselves4 ,it hath long    
been my observation of many1 that when  
they have attempted great works1 and    
have just finished them2 or have aimed  
at great things in the world1 and have  
just obtained them2 or have lived in    
much trouble1 and have just overcome it2
 and begin to look on their condition   
with content1 and rest in it2 they are  
then usually near to death or ruin4     
,when a man is once at this language1   
,soul1 take thy ease2 the next news     
usually is1 ,thou fool1 this night1 or  
this month1 or this year1 thy soul shall
 he required1 and then whose shall these

 things be8 ,what house is there where  
this fool dwelleth not8 ,let you and ,i 
consider1 whether it be not our own     
case8 ,many a servant of ,god hath been 
destroyed from the earth1 by being      
over-valued and over-loved4 ,i am       
persuaded1 our discontents and          
murmurings are not so provoking to ,god1
 nor so destructive to the sinner1 as   
our too sweet enjoying1 and resting in1 
a pleasing state4 ,if ,god hath crossed 
you in wife1 children1 goods1 friends1  
either by taking them away1 or the      
comfort of them2 try whether this be not
 the cause3 ,for wheresoever your       
desires stop1 and you say1 ,now ,i am   
well2 that condition you make your ,god1
 and engage the jealousy of ,god against
 it4 ,whether you be friends to ,god or 
enemies1 you can never expect that ,god 
should suffer you quietly to enjoy your 
idols4   #ad4 7#d47 ,should ,god suffer 
you to take up your rest here1 it is one
 of the greatest curses that could befal
 you4 ,it were better never to have a   

day of ease in the world2 for then      
weariness might make you seek after the 
true rest4 ,but if you are suffered to  
sit down and rest here1 a restless      
wretch you will be through all eternity4
 ,to have their portion in this life1 is
 the lot of the most miserable1         
perishing sinners4 ,doth it become      
,christians then to expect so much here8
 ,our rest is our heaven2 and where we  
take our rest1 there we make our heaven4
 ,and wouldst thou have but such a      
heaven as this8   #ae4 7#e47 ,it is     
seeking rest where it is not to be      
found4 ,your labor will be lost1 and1 if
 you proceed1 your soul's eternal rest  
too4 ,our rest is only in the full      
obtaining of our ultimate end4 ,but that
 is not to be expected in this life2    
neither is rest therefore to be expected
 here4 ,is ,god to be enjoyed in the    
best church here1 as he is in heaven8   
,how little of ,god the saints enjoy    
under the best means1 let their own     
complainings testify4 ,poor comforters  

are the best ordinances1 without ,god4  
,should a traveller take up his rest in 
the way8 ,no1 because his home is his   
journey's end4 ,when you have all that  
creatures and means can afford1 have you
 that which you believed1 prayed1       
suffered for8 ,i think you dare not say 
so4 ,we are like little children strayed
 from home1 and ,god is now fetching us 
home1 and we are ready to turn into any 
house1 stay and play with every thing in
 our way1 and sit down on every green   
bank1 and much ado there is to get us   
home4 ,we are also in the midst of our  
labors and dangers2 and is there any    
resting here8 ,what painful work doth   
lie upon our hands8 ,look to our        
brethren1 to our souls1 and to ,god2 and
 what a deal of work1 in respect to each
 of these1 doth lie before us8 ,and can 
we rest in the midst of all our labors8 
,indeed we may rest on earth1 as the ark
 is said to have rested in the midst of 
,jordan2 a short and small rest4 ,or as 
,abraham desired the ,angels to turn in1

 and rest themselves in his tent1 where 
they would have been loth to have taken 
up their dwelling4 ,should ,israel have 
fixed their rest in the wilderness1     
among serpents1 and enemies1 and        
weariness1 and famine8 ,should ,noah    
have made the ark his home1 and have    
been loth to come forth when the waters 
were assuaged8 ,should the mariner      
choose his dwelling on the sea1 and     
settle his rest in the midst of rocks1  
and sands1 and raging tempests8 ,should 
a soldier rest in the thickest of his   
enemies8 ,and are not ,christians such  
travellers1 such mariners1 such         
soldiers8 ,have you not fears within1   
and troubles without8 ,are we not in    
continual dangers8 ,we cannot eat1      
drink1 sleep1 labor1 pray1 hear1        
converse1 but in the midst of snares2   
and shall we sit down and rest here8 ,o 
,christian1 follow thy work1 look to thy
 dangers1 and hold on to the end1 win   
the field1 and come off the ground1     
before thou think of a settled rest4    

,whenever thou talkest of rest on earth1
 it is like ,peter on the mount1 thou   
knowest not what thou sayest4 ,if1      
instead of telling the converted thief1 
this day shalt thou be with me in       
paradise1 ,christ had said1 he should   
rest there on the cross2 would he not   
have taken it for a derision8 ,methinks 
it should be ill resting in the midst of
 sickness and pains1 persecutions and   
distresses4 ,but if nothing else will   
convince us1 yet sure the remainders of 
sin1 which do so easily beset us1 should
 quickly satisfy a believer1 that here  
is not his rest4 ,i say therefore to    
every one that thinketh of rest on      
earth1 ,arise ye1 and depart1 for this  
is not your rest1 because it is         
polluted4#cjc ,these things cannot in   
their nature be a true ,christian's     
rest4 ,they are too poor1 to make us    
rich2 too low1 to raise us to happiness2
 too empty1 to fill our souls2 and of   
too short continuance to be our eternal 
content4 ,if prosperity1 or whatsoever  

we here desire1 be too base to make gods
 of1 they are too base to be our rest4  
,the soul's rest must be sufficient to  
afford it perpetual satisfaction4 ,but  
the content which creatures afford1     
waxes old1 and1 abates after a short    
enjoyment4 ,if ,god should rain down    
,angel's food1 we should soon loathe the
 manna4 ,if novelty support not1 our    
delights on earth grow dull4 ,all       
creatures are to us1 as the flowers to  
the bee2 there is but little honey on   
any one1 and therefore there must be a  
superficial taste1 and so to the next4  
,the more the creature is known1 the    
less it satisfieth4 ,those only are     
taken with it1 who see no further than  
its outward beauty1 without discerning  
its inward vanity4 ,when we thoroughly  
know the condition of other men1 and    
have discovered the evil as well as the 
good1 and the defects as well as the    
perfections1 we then cease our          
admiration4  ,footnote #cjc ,micah ii1  
#aj   #af4 7#f47 ,to have creatures and 

means without ,god1 is an aggravation of
 our misery4 ,if ,god should say1 ,take 
my creatures1 my word1 my servants1 my  
ordinances1 but not myself2 would you   
take this for happiness8 ,if you had the
 word of ,god1 and not the word1 which  
is ,god2 or the bread of the ,lord1 and 
not the ,lord1 which is the true bread2 
or could cry with the ,jews1 ,the temple
 of the ,lord1 and had not the ,lord of 
the temple2 this were a poor happiness4 
,was ,capernaum the more happy or the   
more miserable1 for seeing the mighty   
works which they had seen1 and hearing  
the words of ,christ which they did     
hear8 ,surely that1 which aggravates our
 sin and misery1 cannot be our rest4    
#ag4 7#g47 ,to confirm all this1 let us 
consult our own and others's experience4
 ,millions have made trial1 but did any 
ever find a sufficient rest for his soul
 on earth8 ,delights ,i deny not but    
they have found1 but rest and           
satisfaction they never found4 ,and     
shall we think to find that which never 

man could find before us8 ,ahab's       
kingdom is nothing to him1 without      
,naboth's vineyard3 and did that satisfy
 him when he obtained it8 ,were you like
 ,noah's dove1 to look through the earth
 for a resting place1 you would return  
confessing1 that you could find none4   
,go ask honor1 is there rest here8 ,you 
may as well rest on the top of          
tempestuous mountains1 or in tna's      
flames4 ,ask riches1 is there rest here8
 ,even such as is in a bed of thorns4   
,if you inquire for rest of worldly     
pleasure2 it is such as the fish hath in
 swallowing the bait1 when the pleasure 
is sweetest1 death is nearest4 ,go to   
learning1 and even to ,divine           
ordinances1 and inquire whether there   
your souls may rest8 ,you might indeed  
receive from these an olive-branch of   
hope1 as they are means to your rest1   
and have relation to eternity2 but in   
regard of any satisfaction in           
themselves1 you would remain as restless
 as ever4 ,how well might all these     

answer us1 as ,jacob did ,rachel1 ,am ,i
 in ,god's stead1 that you come to me   
for soul-rest8 ,not all the states of   
men in the world2 neither court nor     
country1 towns nor cities1 shops nor    
fields1 treasuries1 libraries1 solitude1
 society1 studies1 nor pulpits1 can     
afford any such thing as this rest4 ,if 
you could inquire of the dead of all    
generations1 or of the living through   
all dominions1 they would all tell you1 
,here is no rest4 ,or if other men's    
experiences move you not1 take a view of
 your own4 ,can you remember the state  
that did fully satisfy you1 or if you   
could1 will it prove lasting8 ,i believe
 we may all say of our earthly rest1 as 
,paul of our hope1 ,if it were in this  
life only1 we are of all men most       
miserable4   #ah4 ,if then either       
,scripture1 or reason1 or the experience
 of ourselves1 and all the world1 will  
satisfy us1 we may see there is no      
resting here4 ,and yet how guilty are   
the generality of us of this sin8 ,how  

many halts and stops do we make1 before 
we will make the ,lord our rest8 ,how   
must ,god even drive us1 and fire us out
 of every condition1 lest we should sit 
down and rest there8 ,if he give us     
prosperity1 riches1 or honor1 we do in  
our hearts dance before them1 as the    
,israelites before their calf1 and say1 
,these are thy gods1 and conclude1 it is
 good to be here4 ,if he embitter all   
these to us1 how restless are we till   
our condition be sweetened1 that we may 
sit down again1 and rest where we were8 
,if he proceed in the cure1 and take the
 creature quite away1 then how do we    
labor1 and cry1 and pray1 that ,god     
would restore it1 that we may make it   
our rest again8 ,and while we are       
deprived of our former idol1 yet rather 
than come to ,god1 we delight ourselves 
in the hope of recovering it1 and make  
that very hope our rest2 or search about
 from creature to creature1 to find out 
something to supply the room2 yea1 if we
 can find no supply1 yet we will rather 

settle in this misery1 and make a rest  
of a wretched being1 than leave all and 
come to ,god4 ,o the cursed averseness  
of our souls from ,god6 ,if any place in
 hell were tolerable1 the soul would    
rather take up its rest there than come 
to ,god4 ,yea1 when he is bringing us   
over to him1 and hath convinced us of   
the worth of his ways and service1 the  
last deceit of all is here1 we will     
rather settle upon those ways that lead 
to him1 and those ordinances that speak 
of him1 and those gifts which flow from 
him1 than we will come entirely over to 
himself4 ,christian1 marvel not that ,i 
speak so much of resting in these2      
beware lest it prove thy own case4 ,i   
suppose thou art so far convinced of the
 vanity of riches1 honor1 and pleasure1 
that thou canst more easily disclaim    
these1 and it is well if it be so2 but  
the means of grace thou lookest on with 
less suspicion1 and thinkest thou canst 
not delight in them too much1 especially
 seeing most of the world despise them1 

or delight in them too little4 ,i know  
they must be loved and valued1 and he   
that delighteth in any worldly thing    
more than in them1 is not a ,christian4 
,but when we are content with ordinances
 without ,god1 and had rather be at a   
sermon than in heaven1 and a member of  
the church here1 than of the perfect    
church above1 this is a sad mistake4 ,so
 far let thy soul take comfort in       
ordinances1 as ,god doth accompany them2
 remembering1 this is not heaven1 but   
the first fruits4 ,while we are present 
in the body1 we are absent from the     
,lord2 and while we are absent from him 
we are absent from our rest4 ,if ,god   
were as willing to be absent from us1 as
 we from him1 and as loth to be our     
rest1 as we to rest in him1 we should be
 left to an eternal restless separation4
 ,in a word1 as you are sensible of the 
sinfulness of your earthly discontents1 
so be you also of your irregular        
satisfactions1 and pray ,god to pardon  
them much more4 ,and above all the      

plagues on this side hell1 see that you 
watch and pray against settling any     
where short of heaven1 or reposing your 
souls on any thing below ,god4   #ai4   
7,,iii47 ,the next thing to be          
considered is1 our unreasonable         
unwillingness to die that we may possess
 the saint's rest4 ,we linger1 like ,lot
 in ,sodom1 till the ,lord1 being       
merciful unto us1 doth pluck us away    
against our wills4 ,i confess that death
 of itself is not desirable2 but the    
soul's rest with ,god is1 to which death
 is the common passage4 ,because we are 
apt to make light of this sin1 let me   
set before you its nature and remedy in 
a variety of considerations4 ,as for    
instance1--,it has in it much           
infidelity4 ,if we did but verily       
believe1 that the promise of this glory 
is the word of ,god1 and that ,god doth 
truly mean as he speaks1 and is fully   
resolved to make it good2 if we did     
verily believe1 that there is indeed    
such blessedness prepared for believers2

 surely we should be as impatient of    
living1 as we are now fearful of dying1 
and should think every day a year till  
our last day should come4 ,is it        
possible that we can truly believe1 that
 death will remove us from misery to    
such glory1 and yet be loth to die8 ,if 
the doubts of our own interest in that  
glory make us fear1 yet a true belief of
 the certainty and excellency of this   
rest would make us restless till our    
title to it be cleared4 ,though there is
 much faith and ,christianity in our    
mouths1 yet there is much infidelity and
 paganism in our hearts1 which is the   
chief cause that we are so loth to die4 
,it is also much owing to the coldness  
of our love4 ,if we love our friend1 we 
love his company2 his presence is       
comfortable1 his absence is painful1    
when he comes to us we entertain him    
with gladness2 when he dies1 we mourn1  
and usually over mourn4 ,to be separated
 from a faithful friend1 is like the    
rending a member from our body4 ,and    

would not our desires after ,god be     
such1 if we really loved him8 ,nay1     
should it not be much more than such1 as
 he is above all friends most lovely8   
,may the ,lord teach us to look closely 
to our hearts1 and take heed of         
self-deceit in this point6 ,whatever we 
pretend1 if we love either father1      
mother1 husband1 wife1 child1 friend1   
wealth1 or life itself more than        
,christ1 we are yet none of his sincere 
disciples4 ,when it comes to the trial1 
the question will not be1 who hath      
preached most1 or heard most1 or talked 
most2 but1 who hath loved most8 ,christ 
will not take sermons1 prayers1         
fastings1 no1 nor the giving our goods1 
nor the burning our bodies1 instead of  
love4 ,and do we love him1 and yet care 
not how long we are from him8 ,was it   
such a joy to ,jacob to see the face of 
,joseph in ,egypt8 and shall we be      
contented without the sight of ,christ  
in glory1 and yet say we love him8 ,i   
dare not conclude1 that we have no love 

at all1 when we are so loth to die2 but 
,i dare say1 were our love more1 we     
should die more willingly4 ,if this holy
 flame were thoroughly kindled in our   
breasts1 we should cry out with ,david1 
,as the hart panteth after the water    
brooks1 so panteth my soul after thee1  
,o ,god4 ,my soul thirsteth for ,god1   
for the living ,god2 when shall ,i come 
and appear before ,god8--,by our        
unwillingness to die1 it appears we are 
little weary of sin4 ,did we take sin   
for the greatest evil1 we should not be 
willing to have its company so long4 ,o 
foolish1 sinful heart6 ,hast thou been  
so long a cage of all unclean lusts1 a  
fountain incessantly streaming forth the
 bitter waters of transgression1 and art
 thou not yet weary8 ,wretched soul6    
,hast thou been so long wounded in all  
thy faculties1 so grievously languishing
 in all thy performances1 so fruitful a 
soil of all iniquities1 and art thou not
 yet more weary8 ,wouldst thou still lie
 under thy imperfections8 ,hath thy sin 

proved so profitable a commodity1 so    
necessary a companion1 such a delightful
 employment1 that thou dost so much     
dread the parting day8 ,may not ,god    
justly grant thee thy wishes and seal   
thee a lease of thy desired distance    
from him1 and nail thy ears to these    
doors of misery1 and exclude thee       
eternally from his glory8--,it shews    
that we are insensible of the vanity of 
the creature1 when we are so loth to    
hear or think of a removal4 ,ah foolish1
 wretched soul6 doth every prisoner     
groan for freedom8 and every slave      
desire his jubilee8 and every sick man  
long for health8 and every hungry man   
for food8 and dost thou alone abhor     
deliverance8 ,doth the sailor wish to   
see the land8 ,doth the husbandman      
desire the harvest1 and the laborer to  
receive his pay8 ,doth the traveller    
long to be at home1 and the racer to win
 the prize1 and the soldier to win the  
field8 and art thou loth to see thy     
labors finished1 and to receive the end 

of thy faith and sufferings8 ,have thy  
griefs been only dreams8 ,if they were1 
yet methinks thou shouldst not be afraid
 of waking4 ,or is it not rather the    
world's delights that are all mere      
dreams and shadows8 ,or is the world    
become of late more kind8 ,we may1 at   
our peril1 reconcile ourselves to the   
world1 but it will never reconcile      
itself to us4 ,o unworthy soul6 who     
hadst rather dwell in this land of      
darkness1 and wander in this barren     
wilderness1 than be at rest with ,jesus 
,christ6 who hadst rather stay among the
 wolves1 and daily suffer the scorpion's
 stings1 than praise the ,lord with the 
host of heaven6   #bj4 ,this            
unwillingness to die1 doth actually     
impeach us of high treason against the  
,lord4 ,is it not choosing of earth     
before him1 and taking present things   
for our happiness1 and consequently     
making them our very ,god8 ,if we did   
indeed make ,god our end1 our rest1 our 
portion1 our treasure1 how is it        

possible but we should desire to enjoy  
him8--,it moreover discovers some       
dissimulation4 ,would you have any man  
believe you1 when you call the ,lord    
your only hope1 and speak of ,christ as 
all in all1 and of the joy that is in   
his presence1 and yet would endure the  
hardest life1 rather than die1 and enter
 into his presence8 ,what               
self-contradiction is this1 to talk so  
hardly of the world1 and the flesh1 to  
groan and complain of sin and suffering2
 and yet fear no day more than that1    
which we expect should bring our final  
freedom8 ,what hypocrisy is this1 to    
profess to strive and fight for heaven1 
which we are loth to come to2 and spend 
one hour after another in prayer1 for   
that which we would not have8----,hereby
 we wrong the ,lord and his promises1   
and disgrace his ways in the eyes of the
 world4 ,as if we would persuade them to
 question1 whether ,god be true to his  
word or no8 ,whether there be any such  
glory as the ,scripture mentions8 ,when 

they see those so loth to leave their   
hold of present things1 who have        
professed to live by faith1 and have    
boasted of their hopes in another world1
 and spoken disgracefully of all things 
below1 in comparison of things above2   
how doth this confirm the world in their
 unbelief and sensuality8 ,sure1 say    
they1 if these professors did expect so 
much glory1 and make so light of the    
world as they seem1 they would not      
themselves be so loth to change4 ,o how 
are we ever able to repair the wrong    
which we do to ,god and souls by this   
scandal8 ,and what an honor to ,god1    
what a strengthening to believers1 what 
a conviction to unbelievers1 would it   
be1 if ,christians in this did answer   
their professions1 and cheerfully       
welcome the news of rest4--,it also     
evidently shews1 that we have spent much
 time to little purpose4 ,have we not   
had all our lifetime to prepare to die8 
,so many years to make ready for one    
hour1 and are we so unready and         

unwilling yet8 ,what have we done8 ,why 
have we lived8 ,had we any greater      
matters to mind8 ,would we have wished  
for more frequent warnings8 ,how oft    
hath death entered the habitations of   
our neighbors8 ,how oft hath it knocked 
at our own doors8 ,how many distempers  
have vexed our bodies1 that we have been
 forced to receive the sentence of      
death8 ,and are we unready and unwilling
 after all this8 ,o careless1           
dead-hearted sinners6 unworthy          
neglecters of ,god's warnings6 faithless
 betrayers of our own souls6   #ba4     
,consider1 not to die1 is1 never to be  
happy2 to escape death1 is1 to miss of  
blessedness2 except ,god should         
translate us1 as ,enoch and ,elijah2    
which he never did before1 or since4 ,if
 in this life only we have hope in      
,christ1 we are of all men most         
miserable4 ,if you would not die1 and go
 to heaven1 what would you have more    
than an epicure1 or a beast8 ,why do we 
pray1 and fast1 and mourn8 ,why do we   

suffer the contempt of the world8 ,why  
are we ,christians1 and not ,pagans and 
,infidels1 if we do not desire a life to
 come8 ,wouldst thou lose thy faith and 
labor1 ,christian1 all thy duties and   
sufferings1 all the end of thy life1 and
 all the blood of ,christ1 and be       
contented with the portion of a         
worldling or a brute8 ,rather say1 as   
one did on his death-bed1 when he was   
asked whether he was willing to die or  
no1 ,let him be loth to die1 who is loth
 to be with ,christ4  ,is ,god willing  
by death to glorify us1 and are we      
unwilling to die1 that we may be        
glorified8 ,methinks1 if a prince were  
willing to make you his heir1 you would 
scarce be unwilling to accept it2 the   
refusing such a kindness would discover 
ingratitude and unworthiness4 ,as ,god  
hath resolved against them1 who make    
excuses when they should come to        
,christ1 none of those men1 which were  
bidden1 shall taste of my supper2 so it 
is just with him to resolve against us1 

who frame excuses when we should come to
 glory4 ,the ,lord ,jesus was willing to
 come from heaven to earth for us1 and  
shall we be unwilling to remove from    
earth to heaven for ourselves and him8  
,he might have said1 ,what is it to me1 
if these sinners suffer8 ,if they value 
their flesh above their spirits1 and    
their lust above my ,father's love1 if  
they will sell their souls for nought1  
who is it fit should be the loser8      
,should ,i1 whom they have wronged8     
,must they wilfully transgress my law1  
and ,i undergo their deserved pain8     
,must ,i come down from heaven to earth1
 and clothe myself with human flesh1 be 
spit upon and scorned by man1 and fast1 
and weep1 and sweat1 and suffer1 and    
bleed1 and die a cursed death2 and all  
this for wretched worms1 who would      
rather hazard their souls1 than forbear 
one forbidden morsel8 ,do they cast away
 themselves so slightly1 and must ,i    
redeem them so dearly8 ,thus we see     
,christ had reason enough to have made  

him unwilling2 and yet did he           
voluntarily condescend4 ,but we have no 
reason against our coming to him2 except
 we will reason against our hopes1 and  
plead for the perpetuity of our own     
calamities4 ,christ came down to fetch  
us up2 and would we have him lose his   
blood and labor1 and go again without   
us8 ,hath he bought our rest at so dear 
a rate8 ,is our inheritance purchased   
with his blood8 ,and are we1 after all  
this1 loth to enter8 ,ah1 ,sirs6 it was 
,christ1 and not we1 that had cause to  
be loth4 ,may the ,lord forgive1 and    
heal this foolish ingratitude6   #bb4   
,do we not combine with our most cruel  
foes in their most malicious designs1   
while we are loth to die1 and go to     
heaven8 ,what is the ,devil's daily     
business8 ,is it not to keep our souls  
from ,god8 ,and shall we be content with
 this8 ,is it not the one half of hell1 
which we wish to ourselves1 while we    
desire to be absent from heaven8 ,what  
sport is this to ,satan1 that his       

desires and thine1 ,christian1 should so
 concur8 that when he sees he cannot get
 thee to hell1 he can so long keep thee 
out of heaven1 and make thee the earnest
 petitioner for it thyself8 ,o gratify  
not the ,devil so much to thy own       
injury6--,do not our daily fears of     
death make our lives a continual        
torment8 ,those lives which might be    
full of joy1 in the daily contemplations
 of the life to come1 and the sweet     
delightful thoughts of bliss2 how do we 
fill them up with causeless terrors8    
,thus we consume our own comforts1 and  
prey upon our truest pleasures4 ,when we
 might lie down1 and rise up1 and walk  
abroad1 with our hearts full of the joys
 of ,god1 we continually fill them with 
perplexing fears4 ,for he that fears    
dying1 must be always fearing2 because  
he hath always reason to expect it4 ,and
 how can that man's life be comfortable1
 who lives in continual fear of losing  
his comforts8 ,are not these fears of   
death self-created sufferings8 ,as if   

,god had not inflicted enough upon us1  
but we must inflict more upon ourselves4
 ,is not death bitter enough to the     
flesh of itself1 but we must double and 
treble its bitterness8 ,the sufferings  
laid upon us by ,god1 do all lead to    
happy issues2 the progress1 is from     
tribulation to patience1 from thence to 
experience1 and so to hope1 and at last 
to glory4 ,but the sufferings we make   
for ourselves are circular and endless1 
from sin to suffering1 from suffering to
 sin1 and so to suffering again2 and not
 only so1 but they multiply in their    
course2 every sin is greater than the   
former1 and so every suffering also3 so 
that1 except we think ,god hath made us 
to be our own tormentors1 we have small 
reason to nourish our fears of death4   
,and are they not useless1 unprofitable 
fears8 ,as all our care cannot make one 
hair white or black1 nor add one cubit  
to our stature2 so neither can our fear 
prevent our sufferings1 nor delay our   
death one hour2 willing1 or unwilling1  

we must away4 ,many a man's fears have  
hastened his end1 but no man's did ever 
avert it4 ',tis true1 a cautious fear1  
concerning the danger after death1 hath 
profited many1 and is very useful to the
 preventing of that danger2 but for a   
member of ,christ1 and an heir of       
heaven1 to be afraid of entering his own
 inheritance1 is a sinful1 useless fear4
 ,and do not our fears of dying ensnare 
our souls1 and add strength to many     
temptations8 ,what made ,peter deny his 
,lord8 ,what makes apostates in         
suffering times forsake the truth8 ,why 
doth the green blade of unrooted faith  
wither before the heat of persecution8  
fear of imprisonment and poverty may do 
much1 but fear of death will do much    
more4 ,so much fear as we have of death1
 so much cowardice we usually have in   
the cause of ,god3 ,beside the multitude
 of unbelieving contrivances1 and       
discontents1 at the wise disposals of   
,god1 and hard thoughts of most of his  
providences1 which this sin doth make us

 guilty of4   #bc4 ,let us farther      
consider1 what a competent time most of 
us have had4 ,why should not a man1 that
 would die at all1 be as willing at     
thirty or forty1 if ,god see fit1 as at 
seventy or eighty8 ,length of time doth 
not conquer corruption2 it never withers
 nor decays1 through age4 ,except we    
receive an addition of grace1 as well as
 time1 we naturally grow worse4 ,o my   
soul1 depart in peace6 ,as thou wouldst 
not desire an unlimited state in wealth 
and honor1 so desire it not in point of 
time4 ,if thou wast sensible1 how little
 thou deservest an hour of that patience
 which thou hast enjoyed1 thou wouldst  
think thou hast had a large part4 ,is it
 not ,divine wisdom that sets the       
bounds8 ,god will honor himself by      
various persons1 and several ages1 and  
not by one person or age4 ,seeing thou  
hast acted thine own part1 and finished 
thine appointed course1 come down       
contentedly1 that others may succeed1   
who must have their turns as well as    

thyself4 ,much time hath much duty4 ,beg
 therefore for grace to improve it      
better2 but be content with thy share of
 time4 ,thou hast also had a competency 
of the comforts of life4 ,god might have
 made thy life a burden1 till thou hadst
 been as weary of possessing it1 as thou
 art now afraid of losing it4 ,he might 
have suffered thee to have consumed thy 
days in ignorance1 without the saving   
knowledge of ,christ3 ,but he hath      
opened thine eyes in the morning of thy 
days1 and acquainted thee betimes with  
the business of thy life4 ,hath thy     
heavenly ,father caused thy lot to fall 
in ,europe1 not in ,asia1 ,africa1 or   
,america2 in ,england1 not in ,spain or 
,italy8 ,hath he filled up all thy life 
with mercies1 and dost thou now think   
thy share too small8 ,what a multitude  
of hours of consolation1 of delightful  
,sabbaths1 of pleasant studies1 of      
precious companions1 of wonderful       
deliverances1 of excellent              
opportunities1 of fruitful labors1 of   

joyful tidings1 of sweet experiences1 of
 astonishing providences1 hath that life
 partaken of8 ,hath thy life been so    
sweet1 that thou art loth to leave it8  
,is this thy thanks to him1 who is thus 
drawing thee to his own sweetness8 ,o   
foolish soul6 would thou wast as        
covetous after eternity1 as thou art for
 a fading1 perishing life6 and after the
 presence of ,god in glory1 as thou art 
for continuance on earth6 ,then thou    
wouldst cry1 ,why is his chariot so long
 in coming8 why tarry the wheels of his 
chariots8 ,how long1 ,lord6 how         
long6--,what if ,god should let thee    
live many years1 but deny thee the      
mercies which thou hast hitherto        
enjoyed8 ,might he not give thee life1  
as he gave the murmuring ,israelites    
quails8 ,he might give thee life1 till  
thou art weary of living1 and as glad to
 be rid of it as ,judas or ,achitophel2 
and make thee like many miserable       
creatures in the world1 who can hardly  
forbear laying violent hands on         

themselves4 ,be not therefore so        
importunate for life1 which may prove a 
judgment1 instead of a blessing4 ,how   
many of the precious servants of ,god1  
of all ages and places1 have gone before
 thee8 ,thou art not to enter an        
untrodden path1 nor appointed first to  
break the ice4 ,except ,enoch and       
,elijah1 which of the saints have       
escaped death8 ,and art thou better than
 they8 ,there are many millions of      
saints dead1 more than now remain on    
earth4 ,what a number of thine own bosom
 friends1 and companions in duty1 are   
now gone1 and why shouldst thou be so   
loth to follow8 ,nay1 hath not ,jesus   
,christ himself gone this way8 ,hath he 
not sanctified the grave to us1 and     
perfumed the dust with his own body1 and
 art thou loth to follow him too8       
,rather say as ,thomas1 ,let us also go1
 that we may die with him4   #bd4 ,if   
what hath been said1 will not persuade1 
,scripture and reason have little force4
 ,and ,i have said the more on this     

subject1 finding it so needful to myself
 and others2 finding among so many      
,christians1 who could do and suffer so 
much for ,christ1 so few that can       
willingly die2 and of many1 who have    
somewhat subdued other corruptions1 so  
few have got the conquest of this4 ,i   
persuade not the ungodly from fearing   
death3 ',tis a wonder rather1 that they 
fear it no more1 and spend not their    
days in continual horror4     ,,chap4   
,,xi4  ,the ,importance of leading a    
heavenly ,life upon ,earth4    #a4 ,the 
reasonableness of delighting in the     
thoughts of the saint's  rest4  #b4     
,christians exhorted to it1 by          
considering2  #c4 7#a47 ,it will        
evidence their sincere piety2  #d4 7#b47
 ,it is the highest excellence of  the  
,christian temper2  #e4 7#c47 ,it leads 
to the most comfortable life2   #f-i    
7#d47 ,it will be the best preservative 
from temptations to sin2   #aj4 7#e47   
,it will invigorate their graces and    
duties2  #aa4 7#f47 ,it  will be their  

best cordial in all afflictions2  #ab4  
7#g47 ,it will  render them most        
profitable to others2  #ac4 7#h47 ,it   
will honor ,god2   #ad4 7#i47 ,without  
it1 we disobey the commands and lose the
 most  gracious and delightful          
discoveries of the word of ,god2  #ae4  
7#aj47 ,it  is the more reasonable to   
have our hearts with ,god1 as his is so 
much  on us2  #af1 #ag4 and 7#aa47 ,in  
heaven1 where we have so much interest  
and relation2  #ah4 7#ab47 ,besides1    
there is nothing but heaven worth       
setting our hearts upon4  #ai4          
,transition to the subject of the next  
chapter4    #a4 ,is there such a rest   
remaining for us8 ,why then are our     
thoughts no more upon it8 ,why are not  
our hearts continually there8 ,why dwell
 we not there in constant contemplation8
 ,what is the cause of this neglect8    
,are we reasonable in this1 or are we   
not8 ,hath the eternal ,god provided us 
such a glory1 and promised to take us up
 to dwell with himself1 and is not this 

worth thinking of8 ,should not the      
strongest desires of our hearts be after
 it8 ,do we believe this1 and yet forget
 and neglect it8 ,if ,god will not give 
us leave to approach this light1 what   
mean all his earnest invitations8 ,why  
doth he so condemn our                  
earthly-mindedness1 and command us to   
set our affections on things above8 ,ah 
vile hearts6 ,if ,god were against it1  
we were likelier to be for it2 but when 
he commands our hearts to heaven1 then  
they will not stir one inch3 ,like our  
predecessors1 the sinful ,israelites2   
when ,god would have them march for     
,canaan1 then they mutiny1 and will not 
stir2 but when ,god bids them not go1   
then they will be presently marching4   
,if ,god say1 ,love not the world1 nor  
the things of the world2 we dote upon   
it4 ,how freely1 how frequently can we  
think of our pleasures1 our friends1 our
 labors1 our flesh and its lusts1 yea1  
our wrongs and miseries1 our fears and  
sufferings8 ,but where is the           

,christian1 whose heart is on his rest8 
,what is the matter8 ,are we so full of 
joy1 that we need no more8 ,or is there 
nothing in heaven for our joyous        
thoughts8 ,or rather1 are not our hearts
 carnal and stupid8 ,let us humble these
 sensual hearts that have in them no    
more of ,christ and glory4 ,if this     
world was the only subject of our       
discourse1 all would count us ungodly2  
why then may we not call our hearts     
ungodly1 that have so little delight in 
,christ and heaven8   #b4 ,but ,i am    
speaking only to those1 whose portion is
 in heaven1 whose hopes are there1 and  
who have forsaken all to enjoy this     
glory2 and shall ,i be discouraged from 
persuading such to be heavenly minded8  
,fellow ,christians1 if you will not    
hear and obey1 who will8 ,well may we be
 discouraged to exhort the blind1       
ungodly world1 and may say1 as ,moses   
did1 ,behold the children of ,israel    
have not hearkened unto me1 how then    
shall ,pharaoh hear me8 ,i require thee1

 reader1 as ever thou hopest for a part 
in this glory1 that thou presently take 
thy heart to task1 chide it for its     
wilful strangeness to ,god1 turn thy    
thoughts from the pursuit of vanity1    
bend thy soul to study eternity1 busy it
 about the life to come1 habituate      
thyself to such contemplations1 and let 
not those thoughts be seldom and        
cursory1 but bathe thy soul in heaven's 
delights2 and if thy backward soul begin
 to flag1 and thy thoughts to scatter1  
call them back1 hold them to their work1
 bear not with their laziness1 nor      
connive at one neglect4 ,and when thou  
hast1 in obedience to ,god1 tried this  
work1 got acquainted with it1 and kept a
 guard on thy thoughts till they are    
accustomed to obey1 thou wilt then find 
thyself in the suburbs of heaven1 and   
that there is1 indeed1 a sweetness in   
the work and way of ,god1 and that the  
life of ,christianity is a life of joy4 
,thou wilt meet with those abundant     
consolations which thou hast prayed1    

panted1 and groaned after1 and which so 
few ,christians do ever here obtain1    
because they know not this way to them1 
or else make not conscience of walking  
in it4 ,say not1 ,we are unable to set  
our own hearts on heaven2 this must be  
the work of ,god only4 ,though ,god be  
the chief ,disposer of your hearts1 yet 
next under him you have the greatest    
command of them yourselves4 ,though     
without ,christ you can do nothing1 yet 
under him you may do much1 and must1 or 
else it will be undone1 and yourselves  
undone through your neglect4            
,christians1 if your souls were         
healthful and vigorous1 they would      
perceive incomparably more delight and  
sweetness in the believing joyful       
thoughts of your future blessedness1    
than the soundest stomach finds in its  
food1 or the strongest senses in the    
enjoyment of their objects2 so little   
painful would this work be to you4 ,but 
because1 ,i know1 while we have flesh   
about us1 and any remains of that carnal

 mind1 which is enmity to ,god1 and to  
this noble work1 that all motives are   
little enough1 ,i will here lay down    
some considerations2 which1 if you will 
deliberately weigh1 with an impartial   
judgment1 ,i doubt not1 but they will   
prove effectual with your hearts1 and   
make you resolve on this excellent duty4
 ,more particularly consider2--it will  
evidence your sincere piety2--it is the 
highest excellence of the ,christian    
temper2--it is the way to live most     
comfortably2--it will be the best       
preservative from temptations and       
sin2--it will enliven your graces and   
duties2--it will be your best cordial in
 all afflictions2--it will render you   
most profitable to others2--it will     
honor ,god2--without it you will disobey
 the commands1 and lose the most        
gracious and delightful discoveries of  
the word of ,god2--it is also the more  
reasonable to have your hearts with     
,god1 as his is so much on you2--and in 
heaven where you have so much interest  

and relation2--besides1 there is        
nothing1 but heaven1 worth setting your 
hearts upon4   #c4 7#a47 ,consider1 a   
heart set upon heaven will be one of the
 most unquestionable evidences of your  
sincerity1 and a clear discovery of a   
true work of saving grace upon your     
souls4 ,you are often asking1 ,how shall
 we know that we are truly sanctified8  
,here you have a sign1 infallible1 from 
the mouth of ,jesus ,christ himself2    
where your treasure is1 there will your 
hearts be also4#cjd ,god is the saint's 
treasure and happiness2 heaven is the   
place where they must fully enjoy him4  
,a heart therefore set upon heaven1 is  
no more but a heart set upon ,god2 and  
surely1 a heart set upon ,god through   
,christ1 is the truest evidence of      
saving grace4 ,when learning will be no 
proof of grace2 when knowledge1 duties1 
gifts1 will fail2 when arguments from   
thy tongue1 or hand may be confuted2 yet
 then will this from the bent of thy    
heart prove thee sincere4 ,take a poor  

,christian1 of a weak understanding1 a  
feeble memory1 a stammering tongue2 yet 
his heart is set on ,god1 he hath chosen
 him for his portion1 his thoughts are  
on eternity1 his desires there1 he cries
 out1 ,o that ,i were there6 ,he takes  
that day for a time of imprisonment1 in 
which he hath not had one refreshing    
view of eternity2 ,i had rather die in  
this man's condition1 than in the case  
of him who hath the most eminent gifts1 
and is most admired for his             
performances1 while his heart is not    
thus taken up with ,god4 ,the man that  
,christ will find out at the last day1  
and condemn for want of a               
wedding-garment1 will be one that wants 
this frame of heart4 ,the question will 
not then be how much have you known1 or 
professed1 or talked8 but1 how much have
 you loved1 and where was your heart8   
,christians1 as you would have a proof  
of your title to glory1 labor to get    
your hearts above4 ,if sin and ,satan   
keep not your affections from thence1   

they will never be able to keep away    
your persons4  ,footnote #cjd ,matthew  
vi1 #ba4   #d4 7#b47 ,a heart in heaven1
 is the highest excellence of your      
,christian temper4 ,as there is a common
 excellence1 by which ,christians differ
 from the world2 so there is this       
peculiar dignity of spirit1 by which the
 more excellent differ from the rest4   
,as the noblest creatures1 so the       
noblest of ,christians are they1 whose  
faces are set most direct for heaven4   
,such an heavenly saint1 who hath been  
wrapt up to ,god in his contemplations1 
and is newly come down from the views of
 ,christ1 what discoveries will he make 
of those superior regions6 how high and 
sacred is his discourse6 ,enough to     
convince an understanding hearer1 that  
he hath seen the ,lord1 and that no man 
could speak such words1 except he had   
been with ,god4 ,this1 this is the noble
 ,christian4 ,the most famous mountains 
and trees are those that reach nearest  
to heaven2 and he is the choicest       

,christian1 whose heart is most         
frequently and most delightfully there4 
,if a man hath lived near the king1 or  
hath seen the ,sultan of ,persia1 or the
 ,great ,turk1 he will be thought a step
 higher than his neighbors4 ,what then  
shall we judge of him that daily travels
 as far as heaven1 and there hath seen  
the ,king of kings1 hath frequent       
admittance into the ,divine presence1   
and feasteth his soul upon the tree of  
life8 ,for my part1 ,i value this man   
before the noblest1 the richest1 the    
most learned in the world4   #e4 7#c47  
,a heavenly mind is the nearest and     
truest way to a life of comfort4 ,the   
countries far north are cold and frozen 
because they are distant from the sun4  
,what makes such frozen uncomfortable   
,christians1 but their living so far    
from heaven8 ,and what makes others so  
warm in comforts1 but their living      
higher1 and having nearer access to     
,god8 ,when the sun in the spring draws 
near our path of the earth1 how do all  

things congratulate its approach8 ,the  
earth looks green1 the trees shoot      
forth1 the plants revive1 the birds     
sing1 and all things smile upon us4 ,if 
we should but try this life with ,god1  
and keep these hearts above1 what a     
spring of joy would be within us8 ,how  
should we forget our winter sorrows8    
,how early should we rise to sing the   
praise of our great ,creator8 ,o        
,christian1 get above4 ,those that have 
been there1 have found it warmer2 and ,i
 doubt not but thou hast sometimes tried
 it thyself4 ,when have you largest     
comforts8 ,is it not1 when thou hast    
conversed with ,god1 and talked with the
 inhabitants of the higher world1 and   
viewed their mansions1 and filled thy   
soul with the forethoughts of glory8 ,if
 thou knowest by experience what this   
practice is1 ,i dare say thou knowest   
what spiritual joy is4 ,if1 as ,david   
professes1 the light of ,god's          
countenance more gladdens the heart than
 corn and wine2 then surely they that   

draw nearest1 and most behold it1 must  
be fullest of these joys4 ,whom should  
we blame then1 that we are so void of   
consolation1 but our own negligent      
hearts8 ,god hath provided us a crown of
 glory1 and promised to set it shortly  
on our heads1 and we will not so much as
 think of it2 ,he bids us behold and    
rejoice1 and we will not so much as look
 at it2 and yet we complain for want of 
comfort4 ,it is by believing that we are
 filled with joy and peace1 and no      
longer than we continue our believing4  
,it is in hope the saints rejoice1 and  
no longer than they continue hoping4    
,god's ,spirit worketh our comforts1 by 
setting our spirits on work upon the    
promises1 and raising our thoughts to   
the place of our comforts4 ,as you would
 delight a covetous man by shewing him  
gold2 so ,god delights his people by    
leading them1 as it were1 into heaven1  
and shewing them himself1 and their rest
 with him4 ,he does not cast in our joys
 while we are idle1 or taken up with    

other things4 ,he gives the fruits of   
the earth while we plough1 and sow1 and 
weed1 and water1 and dung1 and dress1   
and with patience expect his blessing2  
so doth he give the joys of the soul4 ,i
 entreat thee1 reader1 in the name of   
the ,lord1 and as thou valuest the life 
of constant joy1 and that good          
conscience1 which is a continual feast1 
to set upon this work seriously1 and    
learn the art of heavenly-mindedness1   
and thou shalt find the increase an     
hundred fold1 and the benefit abundantly
 exceed thy labor4 ,but this is the     
misery of man's nature2 though every man
 naturally hates sorrow1 and loves the  
most merry and joyful life1 yet few love
 the way to joy1 or will endure the     
pains by which it is obtained2 they will
 take the next that comes to hand1 and  
content themselves with earthly         
pleasures1 rather than they will ascend 
to heaven to seek it2 and yet when all  
is done1 they must have it there1 or be 
without it4   #f4 7#d47 ,a heart in     

heaven will be a most excellent         
preservative against temptation to sin4 
,it will keep the heart well employed4  
,when we are idle1 we tempt the ,devil  
to tempt us2 as careless persons make   
thieves4 ,a heart in heaven can reply to
 the tempter1 as ,nehemiah did1 ,i am   
doing a great work1 so that ,i cannot   
come4 ,it hath no leisure to be lustful 
or wanton1 ambitious1 or worldly4 ,if   
you were but busy in your lawful        
callings1 you would not be so ready to  
hearken to temptations2 much less if you
 were also busy above with ,god4 ,would 
a judge be persuaded to rise from the   
bench1 when he is sitting upon life and 
death1 to go and play with children in  
the streets8 ,no more will a ,christian1
 when he is taking a survey of his      
eternal rest1 give ear to the alluring  
charms of ,satan4 ,the children of the  
kingdom should never have time for      
trifles1 especially when they are       
employed in the affairs of the kingdom2 
and this employment is one of the       

saint's chief preservatives from        
temptations4   #g4 ,a heavenly mind is  
the freest from sin1 because it hath    
truer and livelier apprehensions of     
spiritual things4 ,he hath so deep an   
insight into the evil of sin1 the vanity
 of the creature1 the brutishness of    
fleshly1 sensual delights1 that         
temptations have little power over him4 
,in vain the net is spread1 says        
,solomon1 in the sight of any bird4 ,and
 usually in vain doth ,satan lay his    
snares to entrap the soul that plainly  
sees them4 ,earth is the place for his  
temptations1 and earth the ordinary     
bait2 and how shall these ensnare the   
,christian1 who hath left the earth1 and
 walks with ,god8 ,is converse with wise
 and learned men1 the way to make one   
wise8 ,much more is converse with ,god4 
,if travellers return home with wisdom  
and experience1 how much more he that   
travels to heaven8 ,if our bodies are   
suited to the air and climate we must   
live in2 his understanding must be      

fuller of light1 who lives with the     
,father of lights4 ,the men of the      
world1 that dwell below1 and know no    
other conversation but earthly1 no      
wonder if their understanding be        
darkened1 and ,satan takes them captive 
at his will4 ,how can worms and moles   
see1 whose dwelling is always in the    
earth8 ,while this dust is in their     
eyes1 no wonder they mistake gain for   
godliness1 sin for grace1 the world for 
,god1 their own wills for the law of    
,christ1 and1 in the issue1 hell for    
heaven4 ,but when a ,christian withdraws
 himself from his worldly thoughts1 and 
begins to converse with ,god in heaven1 
methinks he is1 as ,nebuchadnezzar1     
taken from the beast of the field to the
 throne1 and his reason returneth unto  
him4 ,when he hath had a glimpse of     
eternity1 and looks down on the world   
again1 how doth he charge with folly his
 neglects of ,christ1 his fleshly       
pleasures1 his earthly cares8 ,how doth 
he say of his laughter it is mad2 and of

 his vain mirth1 what doth it8 ,how doth
 he verily think there is no man in     
bedlam so truly mad1 as wilful sinners1 
and unworthy slighters of ,christ and   
glory8 ,this makes a dying man usually  
wiser than others1 because he looks on  
eternity as near1 and hath more         
heart-piercing thoughts of it1 than he  
ever had in health and prosperity4 ,then
 many of the most bitter enemies of the 
saints have their eyes opened1 and1 like
 ,balaam1 cry out ,o that ,i might die  
the death of the righteous1 and that my 
last end might be like his6 ,yet let the
 same men recover1 and lose their       
apprehensions of the life to come1 and  
how quickly do they lose their          
understandings with it8 ,tell a dying   
sinner of the riches1 honors1 or        
pleasures of the world1 and would he not
 answer1 ,what is all this to me1 who   
must presently appear before ,god1 and  
give account of all my life8 ,christian1
 if the apprehended nearness of eternity
 will work such strange effects upon the

 ungodly1 and make them so much wiser   
than before2 ,o what rare effects would 
it produce in thee1 if thou couldst     
always dwell in the views of ,god1 and  
in lively thoughts of thy everlasting   
state6 ,surely a believer1 if he improve
 his faith1 may ordinarily have more    
quickening apprehensions of the life to 
come1 in the time of his health1 than an
 unbeliever hath at the hour of his     
death4   #h4 ,a heavenly mind is also   
fortified against temptations1 because  
the affections are thoroughly           
prepossessed with the high delights of  
another world4 ,he that loves most1 and 
not he that only knows most1 will most  
easily resist the motions of sin4 ,the  
will doth as sweetly relish goodness1 as
 the understanding doth truth2 and here 
lies much of a ,christian's strength4   
,when thou hast had a fresh delightful  
taste of heaven1 thou wilt not be so    
easily persuaded from it4 ,you cannot   
persuade a child to part with his       
sweetmeats1 while he hath the taste in  

his mouth4 ,o that you would be much in 
feeding on the hidden manna1 and be     
frequently tasting the delights of      
heaven6 ,how would this confirm thy     
resolutions1 and make thee despise the  
fooleries of the world1 and scorn to be 
cheated with such childish toys8 ,if the
 ,devil had set upon ,peter in the mount
 of transfiguration1 when he saw ,moses 
and ,elias talking with ,christ1 would  
he so easily have been drawn to deny his
 ,lord8 ,what1 with all that glory in   
his eye8 ,no4 ,so if he should set upon 
a believing soul1 when he is taken up in
 the mount with ,christ1 what would such
 a soul say8 ,get thee behind me1       
,satan2 wouldst thou persuade me hence  
with trifling pleasures1 and steal my   
heart from this my rest8 ,wouldst thou  
have me sell these joys for nothing8 ,is
 there any honor or delight like this8  
or can that be profit1 for which ,i must
 lose this8 ,but ,satan stays till we   
are come down1 and the taste of heaven  
is out of our mouths1 and the glory we  

saw is even forgotten1 and then he      
easily deceives our hearts4 ,though the 
,israelites below1 eat and drink1 and   
rise up to play before their idol1      
,moses in the mount will not do so4 ,o  
if we could keep the taste of our souls 
continually delighted with the sweetness
 above1 with what disdain should we spit
 out the baits of sin8   #i4 ,besides1  
whilst the heart is set on heaven1 a man
 is under ,god's protection4 ,if ,satan 
then assault us1 ,god is more engaged   
for our defence1 and will doubtless     
stand by us1 and say1 ,my grace is      
sufficient for thee4 ,when a man is in  
the way of ,god's blessing1 he is in the
 less danger of sin's enticing4 ,amidst 
thy temptations1 ,christian reader1 use 
much this powerful remedy2 keep close   
with ,god by a heavenly mind2 follow    
your business above with ,christ1 and   
you will find this a surer help than any
 other4 ,the way of life is above to the
 wise1 that he may depart from hell     
beneath4#cje ,remember that ,noah was a 

just man1 and perfect in his generation2
 for he walked with ,god3 ,and that ,god
 said to ,abraham1 ,walk before me1 and 
be thou perfect4  ,footnote #cje        
,proverbs xv1 #bd4   #aj4 7#e47 ,the    
diligent keeping your hearts in heaven1 
will maintain the vigor of all your     
graces1 and put life into all your      
duties4 ,the heavenly ,christian is the 
lively ,christian4 ',tis our strangeness
 to heaven that makes us so dull4 ,how  
will the soldier hazard his life1 and   
the mariner pass through storms and     
waves1 and no difficulty keep them back1
 when they think of an uncertain1       
perishing treasure8 ,what life then     
would it put into a ,christian's        
endeavors1 if he would frequently think 
of his everlasting treasure8 ,we run so 
slowly1 and strive so lazily1 because we
 so little mind the prize4 ,observe but 
the man who is much in heaven1 and you  
shall see he is not like other          
,christians2 there is something of what 
he hath seen above1 appeareth in all his

 duty and conversation4 ,if a preacher1 
how heavenly are his sermons6 ,if a     
private ,christian1 what heavenly       
converse1 prayers1 and deportment6 ,set 
upon this employment1 and others will   
see the face of your conversation shine1
 and say1 surely he hath been with ,god 
in the mount4 ,but if you lie           
complaining of deadness and dulness1    
that you cannot love ,christ1 nor       
rejoice in his love1 that you have no   
life in prayer1 nor any other duty2 and 
yet neglect this quickening employment2 
you are the cause of your own           
complaints4 ,is not thy life hid with   
,christ in ,god8 ,where must thou go1   
but to ,christ for it8 ,and where is    
that1 but to heaven1 where ,christ is8  
,thou wilt not come to ,christ1 that    
thou mayest have life4 ,if thou wouldst 
have light and heat why art thou no more
 in the sunshine8 ,for want of this     
recourse to heaven1 thy soul is as a    
lamp that is not lighted1 and thy duties
 as a sacrifice which hath no fire4     

,fetch one coal daily from this altar1  
and see if thy offering will not burn4  
,light thy lamp at this flame1 and feed 
it daily with oil from hence1 and see if
 it will not gloriously shine4 ,keep    
close to this reviving fire1 and see if 
thy affections will not be warm4 ,in thy
 want of love to ,god1 lift up thy eye  
of faith to heaven1 behold his beauty1  
contemplate his excellencies1 and see   
whether his amiableness and perfect     
goodness will not ravish thy heart4 ,as 
exercise maintaineth appetite1 strength1
 and vigor to the body2 so these        
heavenly exercises will quickly cause   
the increase of grace and spiritual     
life4 ,besides1 it is not false or      
strange fire1 which you fetch from      
heaven for your sacrifices4 ,the zeal   
which is kindled by your meditations on 
heaven1 is most likely to be a heavenly 
zeal4 ,some men's fervency is only drawn
 from their books1 and some from the    
sharpness of affliction1 and some from  
the mouth of a moving minister1 and some

 from the attention of an auditory2 but 
he that knows this way to heaven1 and   
derives it daily from the true fountain1
 shall have his soul revived with the   
water of life1 and enjoy that quickening
 which is peculiar to the saints4 ,by   
this faith thou mayest offer ,abel's    
sacrifice1 more excellent than that of  
common men1 and by it obtain witness1   
that thou art righteous1 ,god testifying
 of thy gifts1 that they are sincere4   
,when others are ready1 like ,baal's    
priests1 to cut themselves1 because     
their sacrifice will not burn2 thou     
mayest breathe the spirit of ,elijah1   
and in the chariot of contemplation soar
 aloft1 till thy soul and sacrifice     
gloriously flame1 though the flesh and  
the world should cast upon them all the 
water of their opposing enmity4 ,say    
not1 how can mortals ascend to heaven8  
,faith hath wings1 and meditation is its
 chariot4 ,faith is as a burning glass  
to thy sacrifice1 and meditation sets it
 to the face of the sun2 only take it   

not away too soon1 but hold it there a  
while1 and thy soul will feel the happy 
effect4 ,reader1 art thou not thinking1 
when thou seest a lively ,christian1 and
 hearest his lively1 fervent prayers1   
and edifying discourse1 ,o how happy a  
man is this6 ,o that my soul were in    
this blessed condition6 ,why1 ,i here   
advise thee from ,god1 set thy soul     
conscientiously to this work1 wash thee 
frequently in this ,jordan1 and thy     
leprous1 dead soul will revive1 and thou
 shalt know that there is a ,god in     
,israel1 and that thou mayest live a    
vigorous and joyful life1 if thou dost  
not wilfully neglect thy own mercies4   
#aa4 7#f47 ,the frequent believing views
 of glory are the most precious cordials
 in all afflictions4 ,these cordials1 by
 cheering our spirits1 render our       
sufferings far more easy2 enable us to  
bear them with patience and joy2 and so 
strengthen our resolutions1 that we     
forsake not ,christ for fear of trouble4
 ,if the way be ever so rough1 can it be

 tedious1 if it lead to heaven8 ,o sweet
 sickness1 reproaches1 imprisonments1 or
 death1 accompanied with these tastes of
 our future rest6 ,this keeps the       
suffering from the soul1 so that it can 
only touch the flesh4 ,had it not been  
for that little 7alas1 too little7 taste
 which ,i had of rest1 my sufferings    
would have been grievous1 and death more
 terrible4 ,i may say1 ,i had fainted1  
unless ,i had believed to see the       
goodness of the ,lord in the land of the
 living4 ,unless this promised rest had 
been my delight1 ,i should then have    
perished in mine affliction4 ,one thing 
have ,i desired of the ,lord1 that will 
,i seek after1 that ,i may dwell in the 
house of the ,lord all the days of my   
life1 to behold the beauty of the ,lord1
 and to inquire in his temple4 ,for in  
the time of trouble he shall hide me in 
his pavilion2 in the secret of his      
tabernacle shall he hide me2 he shall   
set me upon a rock4 ,and now shall mine 
head be lifted up above mine enemies    

round about me4 ,therefore will ,i offer
 in his tabernacle sacrifices if joy2 ,i
 will sing1 yea1 ,i will sing praises   
unto the ,lord4#cjf ,all sufferings are 
nothing to us1 so far as we have these  
supporting joys4 ,when persecution and  
fear hath shut the doors1 ,christ can   
come in1 and stand in the midst1 and say
 to his disciples1 ,peace be unto you4  
,paul and ,silas can be in heaven1 even 
when they are thrust into the inner     
prison1 their bodies scourged with many 
stripes1 and their feet fast in the     
stocks4 ,the martyrs find more rest in  
their flames1 than their persecutors in 
their pomp and tyranny2 because they    
foresee the flames they escape1 and the 
rest which their fiery chariot is       
conveying them to4 ,if the ,son of ,god 
will walk with us1 we are safe in the   
midst of those flames1 which shall      
devour them that cast us in4 ,abraham   
went out of his country1 not knowing    
whither he went2 because he looked for a
 city which hath foundations1 whose     

builder and maker is ,god4 ,moses       
esteemed the reproach of ,christ greater
 riches than the treasures in ,egypt1   
because he had respect unto the         
recompense of reward4 ,he forsook       
,egypt1 not fearing the wrath of the    
king2 because he endured as seeing ,him 
who is invisible4 ,others were tortured1
 not accepting deliverance1 that they   
might obtain a better resurrection4     
,even ,jesus1 the author and finisher of
 our faith1 for the joy that was set    
before him1 endured the cross1 despising
 the shame1 and is set down at the right
 hand of the throne of ,god4 ,this is   
the noble advantage of faith1 it can    
look on the means and end together4     
,this is the great reason of our        
impatience1 and censuring of ,god1      
because we gaze on the evil itself1 but 
fix not our thoughts on what is beyond  
it4 ,they that saw ,christ only on the  
cross1 or in the grave1 do shake their  
heads1 and think him lost2 but ,god saw 
him dying1 buried1 rising1 glorified1   

and all this at one view4 ,faith will in
 this imitate ,god1 so far as it hath   
the glass of a promise to help it4 ,we  
see ,god burying us under ground1 but we
 foresee not the spring1 when we shall  
all revive4 ,could we but clearly see   
heaven1 as the end of all ,god's        
dealings with us1 surely none of his    
dealings could be so grievous4 ,if ,god 
would once raise us to this life1 we    
should find1 that though heaven and sin 
are at a great distance2 yet heaven and 
a prison1 or banishment1 heaven and the 
belly of a whale1 or a den of lions1    
heaven and consuming sickness1 or       
invading death1 are at no such distance4
 ,but as ,abraham saw ,christ's day1 and
 rejoiced2 so we1 in our most forlorn   
state1 might see that day when ,christ  
shall give us rest1 and therein rejoice4
 ,i beseech thee1 ,christian1 for the   
honor of the gospel1 and for thy soul's 
comfort1 be not to learn this heavenly  
art1 when in thy greatest extremity thou
 hast most need to use it4 ,he that1    

with ,stephen1 sees the glory of ,god1  
and ,jesus standing on the right hand of
 ,god1 will comfortably bear the shower 
of stones4 ,the joy of the ,lord is our 
strength1 and that joy must be fetched  
from the place of our joy6 and if we    
walk without our strength1 how long are 
we like to endure8  ,footnote #cjf      
,psalm xxvii1 #ac4 cxix1 #ib4 xxvii1    
#d-f4   #ab4 7#g47 ,he that hath his    
conversation in heaven1 is the          
profitable ,christian to all about him4 
,when a man is in a strange country1 how
 glad is he of the company of one of his
 own nation8 ,how delightful is it to   
talk of their own country1 their        
acquaintance1 and affairs at home8 ,with
 what pleasure did ,joseph talk with his
 brethren1 and inquire after his father1
 and his brother ,benjamin8 ,is it not  
so to a ,christian1 to talk with his    
brethren that have been above1 and      
inquire after his ,father1 and ,christ  
his ,lord8 ,when a worldly man will talk
 of nothing but the world1 and a        

politician of state affairs1 and a mere 
scholar of human learning1 and a common 
professor of his duties2 the heavenly   
man will be speaking of heaven1 and the 
strange glory his faith hath seen1 and  
our speedy and blessed meeting there4 ,o
 how refreshing and useful are his      
expressions6 ,how his words pierce and  
melt the heart1 and transform the       
hearers into other men6 ,how doth his   
doctrine drop as the rain1 and his      
speech distil as the dew1 as the small  
rain upon the tender herb1 and as the   
showers upon the grass1 while his lips  
publish the name of the ,lord1 and      
ascribe greatness unto his ,god6 ,is not
 his sweet discourse of heaven1 like the
 box of precious ointment1 which1 being 
poured on the head of ,christ1 filled   
the house with the odor8 ,all that are  
near may be refreshed by it6 ,happy the 
people that have a heavenly minister6   
,happy the children and servants that   
have a heavenly father or master6 ,happy
 the man that hath a heavenly companion1

 who will watch over thy ways1          
strengthen thee when thou art weak1     
cheer thee when thou art drooping1 and  
comfort thee with the comfort wherewith 
he himself hath been so often comforted 
of ,god6 ,this is he that will be always
 blowing at the spark of thy spiritual  
life1 and drawing thy soul to ,god1 and 
will say to thee1 as the ,samaritan     
woman1 ,come and see one that hath told 
me all that ever ,i did2 one that hath  
loved our souls to the death4 ,is not   
this the ,christ8 ,is not the knowledge 
of ,god and him1 eternal life8 ,is it   
not the glory of the saints1 to see his 
glory8 ,come to this man's house and sit
 at his table1 and he will feast thy    
soul with the dainties of heaven3       
,travel with him by the way1 and he will
 direct and quicken thee in thy journey 
to heaven3 ,trade with him in the world1
 and he will counsel thee to buy the    
pearl of great price4 ,if thou wrong    
him1 he can pardon thee1 remembering    
that ,christ hath pardoned his greater  

offences3 ,if thou be angry1 he is meek1
 considering the meekness of his        
heavenly ,pattern3 ,or if he fall out   
with you1 he is soon reconciled1 when he
 recollects that in heaven you must be  
everlasting friends4 ,this is the       
,christian of the right stamp1 and all  
about him are the better for him4 ,how  
unprofitable is the society of all other
 sorts of ,christians in comparison with
 this6 ,if a man should come from       
heaven1 how would men long to hear what 
reports he would make of the other      
world1 and what he had seen1 and what   
the blessed there enjoy8 ,would they not
 think this man the best companion1 and 
his discourse the most profitable8 ,why 
then do you value the company of saints 
no more1 and inquire no more of them1   
and relish their discourse no better8   
,for every saint shall go to heaven in  
person1 and is frequently there in      
spirit1 and hath often viewed it in the 
glass of the gospel4 ,for my part1 ,i   
had rather have the company of a        

heavenly minded ,christian1 than of the 
most learned disputants1 or princely    
commanders4   #ac4 7#h47 ,no man so     
highly honoreth ,god1 as he whose       
conversation is in heaven4 ,is not a    
parent disgraced1 when children feed on 
husks1 are clothed in rags1 and keep    
company with none but rogues and        
beggars8 ,is it not so to our heavenly  
,father1 when we1 who call ourselves his
 children1 feed on earth1 and the garb  
of our souls is like that of the naked  
world2 and our hearts familiarly        
converse with1 and cleave to the dust1  
rather than stand continually in our    
,father's presence8 ,surely we live     
below the children of a king1 not       
according to the height of our hopes1   
nor the provision of our ,father's      
house1 and the great preparations made  
for his saints4 ,it is well we have a   
,father of tender bowels1 who will own  
his children in rags4 ,if he did not    
first challenge his interest in us1     
neither ourselves1 nor others could know

 us to be his people4 ,but when a       
,christian can live above1 and rejoice  
his soul with the things that are       
unseen2 how is ,god honored by such a   
one6 ,the ,lord will testify for him1   
,this man believes me1 and takes me at  
my word2 he rejoiceth in my promise1    
before he hath possession2 he can be    
thankful for what his bodily eyes never 
saw2 his rejoicing is not in the flesh2 
his heart is with me2 he loves my       
presence2 and he shall surely enjoy it  
in my kingdom for ever4 ,blessed are    
they that have not seen1 and yet have   
believed4 ,them that honor me1 ,i will  
honor4 ,how did ,god esteem himself     
honored by ,caleb and ,joshua1 when they
 went into the promised land1 and       
brought back to their brethren a taste  
of the fruits1 and spake well of the    
good land1 and encouraged the people8   
,what a promise and recompense did they 
receive8   #ad4 7#i47 ,a soul that doth 
not set its affections on things above1 
disobeys the commands1 and loses the    

most gracious and delightful discoveries
 of the ,word of ,god4 ,the same ,god   
that hath commanded thee to believe1 and
 to be a ,christian1 hath commanded thee
 to seek those things which are above1  
where ,christ sitteth on the right hand 
of ,god1 and to set your affection on   
things above1 not on things on the      
earth4#cjg ,the same ,god that hath     
forbidden thee to murder1 steal1 or     
commit adultery1 hath forbidden thee the
 neglect of this great duty2 and darest 
thou wilfully disobey him8 ,why not make
 conscience of one1 as well as the      
other8 ,he hath made it thy duty1 as    
well as the means of thy comfort1 that a
 double bond may engage thee not to     
forsake thy own mercies4 ,besides1 what 
are all the most glorious descriptions  
of heaven1 all those discoveries of our 
future blessedness1 and precious        
promises of our rest1 but lost to thee8 
,are not these the stars in the         
firmament of ,scripture1 and the golden 
lines in that book of ,god8 ,methinks   

thou shouldst not part with one of those
 promises1 no not for a world4 ,as      
heaven is the perfection of all our     
mercies1 so the promises of it in the   
gospel1 are the very soul of the gospel4
 ,is a comfortable word from the mouth  
of ,god of such worth1 that all the     
comforts in the world are nothing to it8
 ,and dost thou neglect and overlook so 
many of them8 ,why should ,god reveal so
 much of his counsel1 and tell us       
beforehand of the joys we shall possess1
 but to make us know it for our joy8 ,if
 it had not been to fill us with the    
delights of our foreknown blessedness1  
he might have kept his purpose to       
himself1 and never have let us know it  
till we come to enjoy it4 ,yea1 when we 
had got possession of our rest1 he might
 still have concealed its eternity from 
us1 and then the fears of losing it     
would have much diminished the sweetness
 of our joys4 ,but it hath pleased our  
,father to open his counsel1 and let us 
know the very intent of his heart1 that 

our joy might be full1 and that we might
 live as the heirs of such a kingdom4   
,and shall we now overlook all8 ,shall  
we live in earthly cares and sorrows1   
and rejoice no more in these            
discoveries1 than if the ,lord had never
 wrote them8 ,if thy prince had but     
sealed thee a patent of some lordship1  
how oft wouldst thou cast thine eye upon
 it1 and make it thy delightful study1  
till thou shouldst come to possess the  
dignify itself8 ,and hath ,god sealed   
thee a patent of heaven1 and dost thou  
let it lie by thee1 as if thou hadst    
forgot it8 ,o that our hearts were as   
high as our hopes1 and our hopes as high
 as these infallible promises6          
,footnote #cjg ,colossians iii1 #a1 #b4 
#ae4 7#aj47 ,it is but equal that our   
hearts should be on ,god1 when the heart
 of ,god is so much on us4 ,if the ,lord
 of glory can stoop so low1 as to set   
his heart on sinful dust1 methinks we   
should easily be persuaded to set our   
hearts on ,christ and glory1 and ascend 

to him1 in our daily affections1 who so 
much condescends to us4 ,christian1 dost
 thou not perceive1 that the heart of   
,god is set upon thee1 and that he is   
still minding thee with tender love1    
even when thou forgettest both thyself  
and him8 ,is he not following thee with 
daily mercies1 moving upon thy soul1    
providing for thy body1 preserving both8
 ,doth he not bear thee continually in  
the arms of love1 and promise that all  
shall work together for thy good1 and   
suit all his dealings to thy greatest   
advantage1 and give his angels charge   
over thee8 ,and canst thou be taken up  
with the joys below1 and forget thy     
,lord1 who forgets not thee6 ,unkind    
ingratitude6 ,when he speaks of his own 
kindness for us1 hear what he says3     
,zion said1 ,the ,lord hath forsaken me1
 and my ,lord hath forgotten me4 ,can a 
woman forget her sucking child1 that she
 should not have compassion on the son  
of her womb8 ,yea1 they may forget1 yet 
will ,i not forget thee4 ,behold1 ,i    

have graven thee upon the palms of my   
hands2 thy walls are continually before 
me4#cjh ,but when he speaks of our      
regards to him1 the case is otherwise4  
,can a maid forget her ornaments1 or a  
bride her attire8 ,yet my people have   
forgotten me days without number4#cji   
,as if he should say1 ,you will not rise
 one morning1 but you will remember to  
cover your nakedness1 nor forget your   
vanity of dress2 and are these of more  
worth than your ,god2 of more importance
 than your eternal life8 ,and yet you   
can forget these day after day4 ,give   
not ,god cause thus to expostulate with 
us4 ,rather let our souls get up to     
,god1 and visit him every morning1 and  
our hearts be towards him every moment4 
,footnote #cjh ,isaiah xlix1 #ad-af4    
,footnote #cji ,jeremiah ii1 #cb4   #af4
 7#aa47 ,should not our interest in     
heaven1 and our relation to it1         
continually keep our hearts upon it8    
,there our ,father keeps his court4 ,we 
call him1 ,our ,father which art in     

heaven4 ,unworthy children6 that can be 
so taken up in their play1 as to be     
mindless of such a ,father4 ,there also 
is ,christ1 our ,head1 our ,husband1 our
 ,life2 and shall we not look towards   
him1 and send to him1 as oft as we can1 
till we come to see him face to face8   
,since the heavens must receive him1    
until the times of restitution of all   
things2 let them also receive our hearts
 with him4 ,there also is ,new          
,jerusalem1 which is the mother of us   
all4#caj ,and there are multitudes of   
our elder brethren4 ,there are our      
friends and old acquaintance1 whose     
society1 in the flesh1 we so much       
delighted in1 and whose departure hence 
we so much lamented2 and is this no     
attractive to thy thoughts8 ,if they    
were within thy reach on earth1 thou    
wouldst go and visit them1 and why not  
oftener visit them in spirit1 and       
rejoice beforehand to think of meeting  
them there8 ,socrates rejoiced that he  
should die1 because he believed he      

should see ,homer1 ,hesiod1 and other   
eminent persons4 ,how much more do ,i   
rejoice1 said a pious old minister1 who 
am sure to see ,christ my ,savior1 the  
eternal ,son of ,god1 in his assumed    
flesh2 besides so many wise1 holy1 and  
renowned patriarchs1 prophets1 apostles1
 c4 ,a believer should look to heaven1  
and contemplate the blessed state of the
 saints1 and think with himself1 ,though
 ,i am not yet so happy as to be with   
you1 yet this is my daily comfort1 you  
are my brethren and fellow-members in   
,christ1 and therefore your joys are my 
joys1 and your glory by this near       
relation is my glory2 especially while  
,i believe in the same ,christ1 and hold
 fast the same faith and obedience1 by  
which you were thus dignified1 and      
rejoice in spirit with you1 and         
congratulate your happiness in my daily 
meditations4  ,footnote #caj ,galatians 
iv1 #bf4   #ag4 ,moreover1 our house and
 home is above4 ,for we know1 that if   
our earthly house of this tabernacle    

were dissolved1 we have a building of   
,god1 an house not made with hands1     
eternal in the heavens4 ,why do we then 
look no oftener towards it1 and groan   
earnestly1 desiring to be clothed upon  
with our house which is from heaven8#caa
 ,if our home were far meaner1 sure we  
should remember it1 because it is our   
home4 ,if you were but banished into a  
strange land1 how frequently would your 
thoughts be at home4 ,and why is it not 
thus with us in respect of heaven8 ,is  
not that more truly and properly our    
home1 where we must take up our         
everlasting abode1 than this1 which we  
are every hour expecting to be separated
 from1 and to see no more8 ,we are      
strangers1 and that is our country4 ,we 
are heirs1 and that is our inheritance2 
even an inheritance incorruptible1 and  
undefiled1 and that fadeth not away1    
reserved in heaven for us4#cab ,we are  
here in continual distress and want1 and
 there lies our substance2 even a better
 and an enduring substance4#cac ,yea1   

the very hope of our souls is there2 all
 our hope of relief from our distresses2
 all our hope of happiness1 when here we
 are miserable2 all this hope is laid up
 for us in heaven4#cad ,why1 beloved    
,christians1 have we so much interest1  
and so few thoughts there8 ,so near     
relation1 and so little affection6 ,doth
 it become us to be delighted in the    
company of strangers1 so as to forget   
our ,father1 and our ,lord6 ,or to be so
 well pleased with those that hate and  
grieve us1 as to forget our best and    
dearest friends8 ,or to be so fond of   
borrowed trifles1 as to forget our own  
possession and treasure8 ,or to be so   
much impressed with tears and wants1 as 
to forget our eternal joy and rest8 ,god
 usually pleads his propriety in us2 and
 thence concludes he will do us good1   
even because we are his own people whom 
he hath chosen out of all the world3    
,why then do we not plead our interest  
in him1 and so raise our hearts above2  
even because he is our own ,god1 and    

because the place is our own possession8
 ,men commonly over-love and over-value 
their own things1 and mind them too     
much4 ,o that we could mind our own     
inheritance1 and value it half as much  
as it deserves6  ,footnote #caa #b      
,corinthians v1 #a1 #b4  ,footnote #cab 
#a ,peter i1 #d4  ,footnote #cac        
,hebrews x1 #cd4  ,footnote #cad        
,colossians i1 #e4   #ah4 7#ab47 ,once  
more consider1 there is nothing1 but    
heaven1 worth setting our hearts upon4  
,if ,god have them not1 who shall8 ,if  
thou mind not thy rest1 what wilt thou  
mind8 ,hast thou found out some other   
god8 ,or something that will serve thee 
instead of rest8 ,hast thou found on    
earth an eternal happiness8 ,where is   
it8 ,what is it made of8 ,who was the   
man that found it out8 ,who was he that 
last enjoyed it8 ,where dwelt he8 ,what 
was his name8 ,or art thou the first    
that ever discovered heaven on earth8   
,ah wretch6 trust not to thy            
discoveries1 boast not of thy gain1 till

 experience bid thee boast4 ,disquiet   
not thyself1 in looking for that which  
is not on earth2 lest thou learn thy    
experience with the loss of thy soul1   
which thou mightest have learned on     
easier terms2 even by the warnings of   
,god in his ,word1 and the loss of      
thousands of souls before thee4 ,if     
,satan should take thee up to the       
mountain of temptation1 and shew thee   
all the kingdoms of the world1 and the  
glory of them2 he could shew thee       
nothing that is worthy thy thoughts1    
much less to be preferred before thy    
rest4 ,indeed1 so far as duty and       
necessity require it1 we must be content
 to mind the things below2 but who is he
 that contains himself within the       
compass of those limits8 ,and yet if we 
ever so diligently contract our cares   
and thoughts1 we shall find the least to
 be bitter and burdensome4 ,christian1  
see the emptiness of all these things1  
and the preciousness of the things      
above4 ,if thy thoughts should1 like the

 laborious bee1 go over the world from  
flower to flower1 from creature to      
creature1 they would bring no honey or  
sweetness home1 save what they gathered 
from their relations to eternity4       
,though every truth of ,god is precious1
 and ought to be defended2 yet even all 
our study of truth should be still in   
reference to our rest3 ,for the         
observation is too true1 that the lovers
 of controversies in religion1 have     
never been warmed with one spark of the 
love of ,god4 ,and as for minding the   
affairs of church and state2 so far as  
they illustrate the providence of ,god1 
and tend to the settling of the gospel1 
and the government of ,christ1 and      
consequently to the saving our own      
souls1 and those of our posterity1 they 
are well worth our diligent observation2
 but these are only their relations to  
eternity4 ,even all our dealings in the 
world1 our buying and selling1 our      
eating and drinking1 our building and   
marrying1 our peace and war1 so far as  

they relate not to the life to come1 but
 tend only to the pleasing of the flesh1
 are not worthy the frequent thoughts of
 a ,christian4 ,and now doth not thy    
conscience say1 that there is nothing   
but heaven1 and the way to it1 that is  
worth thy minding8   #ai4 ,now1 reader1 
are these considerations weighty1 or    
not8 ,have ,i proved it thy duty to keep
 thy heart on things above1 or have ,i  
not8 ,if thou say1 not2 ,i am confident 
thou contradictest thy own conscience4  
,if thou acknowledge thyself convinced  
of the duty2 that very tongue of thine  
shall condemn thee1 and that confession 
be pleaded against thee1 if thou        
wilfully neglectest such a confessed    
duty4 ,be thoroughly willing1 and the   
work is more than half done4 ,i have now
 a few plain directions to give you for 
your help in this great work2 but1 alas6
 it is in vain to mention them1 except  
you be willing to put them in practice4 
,however1 ,i will propose them to thee1 
and may the ,lord persuade thy heart to 

the work6     ,,chap4 ,,xii4            
,directions how to lead a heavenly ,life
 upon ,earth4    #a4 7,i47 ,hinderances 
to a heavenly life must be avoided2 such
 as  #b4  7#a47 ,living in any known    
sin2  #c4 7#b47 ,an earthly mind2  #d4  
7#c47  ,ungodly companions2  #e4 7#d47  
,a notional religion2  #f4 7#e47 ,a     
haughty  spirit2  #g4 7#f47 ,a slothful 
spirit2  #h4 ,and 7#g47 resting in      
preparatives for a heavenly life1       
without the thing itself-- #i4 7,,ii47  
,the duties which will promote a        
heavenly life are these2  #aj4 7#a47 ,be
  convinced that heaven is the only     
treasure and happiness2  #aa1 #ab4      
7#b47 ,labor to know your interest in   
it2  #ac4 7#c47 ,and how near it is2    
#ad4 7#d47 ,frequently and seriously    
talk of it2  #ae4 7#e47 ,endeavor in    
every duty to raise your affections     
nearer to it2  #af4 7#f47 ,to the  same 
purpose improve every object and event2 
#ag1 #ah4 7#g47 ,be much in  the        
angelical work of praise2  #ai4 7#h47   

,possess your souls with  believing     
thoughts of the infinite love of ,god2  
#bj4 7#i47 ,carefully  observe and      
cherish the motions of the ,spirit of   
,god2  #ba4 7#aj47 ,nor  even neglect   
the due care of your bodily health4     
#a4 ,as thou valuest the comforts of a  
heavenly conversation1 ,i must here     
charge thee from ,god1--to avoid        
carefully some dangerous hinderances2   
and then--faithfully and diligently to  
practise such duties as will especially 
assist thee in attaining to a heavenly  
life4 ,and1 7,i47 the hinderances to be 
avoided with all possible care1         
are1--living in any known sin1--an      
earthly mind1--the company of the       
ungodly1--a notional religion1--a proud 
and lofty spirit1--a slothful           
spirit1--and resting in mere            
preparatives for this heavenly life1    
without any acquaintance with the thing 
itself4   #b4 7#a47 ,living in any known
 sin1 is a grand impediment to a        
heavenly conversation4 ,what havoc will 

this make in thy soul6 ,o the joys that 
this hath destroyed6 ,the ruin it hath  
made amongst men's graces6 ,the         
soul-strengthening duties it hath       
hindered6 ,christian reader1 art thou   
one that hast used violence with thy    
conscience8 ,art thou a wilful neglecter
 of known duties1 either public1        
private1 or secret8 ,art thou a slave to
 thine appetite1 or to any other        
commanding sense8 ,art thou a proud     
seeker of thine own esteem8 ,art thou a 
peevish and passionate person1 ready to 
take fire at every word1 or look1 or    
supposed slight8 ,art thou a deceiver of
 others in thy dealings1 or one that    
will be rich1 right or wrong8 ,if this  
be thy case1 ,i dare say1 heaven and thy
 soul are very great strangers4 ,these  
beams in thine eyes will not suffer thee
 to look to heaven2 they will be a cloud
 between thee and thy ,god4 ,when thou  
dost but attempt to study eternity1 and 
gather comforts from the life to come1  
thy sin will presently look thee in the 

face1 and say1 ,these things belong not 
to thee4 ,how shouldst thou take comfort
 from heaven1 who takest so much        
pleasure in the lusts of the flesh8 ,how
 will this damp thy joys1 and make the  
thoughts of that day1 and state1 become 
thy trouble1 and not thy delight6 ,every
 wilful sin will be to thy comforts1 as 
water to the fire2 when thou thinkest to
 quicken them1 this will quench them4   
,it will utterly indispose and disable  
thee1 that thou canst no more ascend in 
,divine meditation1 than a bird can fly 
when its wings are clipped4 ,sin cuts   
the very sinews of this heavenly life4  
,o man6 what a life dost thou lose8     
,what daily delights dost thou sell for 
a vile lust8 ,if heaven and hell can    
meet together1 and ,god become a lover  
of sin1 then mayest thou live in thy    
sin1 and in the tastes of glory2 and    
have a conversation in heaven1 though   
thou cherish thy corruption4 ,and take  
heed1 lest it banish thee from heaven1  
as it does thy heart4 ,and though thou  

be not guilty1 and knowest no reigning  
sin in thy soul1 think what a sad thing 
it would be1 if ever this should prove  
thy case4 ,watch therefore2 especially  
resolve to keep from the occasions of   
sin1 and out of the way of temptations4 
,what need have we daily to pray1 ,lead 
us not into temptation1 but deliver us  
from evil8   #c4 7#b47 ,an earthly mind 
is another hinderance to be carefully   
avoided4 ,god and ,mammon1 earth and    
heaven1 cannot both have the delight of 
thy heart4 ,when the heavenly believer  
is blessing himself in his ,god1 and    
rejoicing in hope of the glory to come2 
perhaps thou art blessing thyself in thy
 worldly prosperity1 and rejoicing in   
hope of thy thriving here4 ,when he is  
comforting his soul in the views of     
,christ1 of angels1 and saints1 whom he 
shall live with for ever2 then thou art 
comforting thyself with thy wealth1 in  
looking over thy bills and bonds1 thy   
goods1 thy cattle1 or thy buildings1 and
 in thinking of the favor of the great1 

of the pleasure of a plentiful estate1  
of larger provision for thy children    
after thee1 of the advancement of thy   
family1 or the increase of thy          
dependants4 ,if ,christ pronounced him a
 fool1 that said1 ,soul1 take thy ease1 
thou hast enough laid up for many years2
 how much more so art thou1 who         
knowingly speakest in thy heart the same
 words8 ,tell me1 what difference       
between this fool's expressions1 and thy
 affections8 ,remember1 thou hast to do 
with the ,searcher of hearts4           
,certainly1 so much as thou delightest1 
and takest up thy rest1 on earth1 so    
much of thy delight in ,god is abated4  
,thine earthly mind may consist with thy
 outward profession and common duties2  
but it cannot consist with this heavenly
 duty4 ,thou thyself knowest how seldom 
and cold1 how cursory and reserved1 thy 
thoughts have been of the joys above1   
ever since thou didst trade so eagerly  
for the world4 ,o the cursed madness of 
many that seem to be religious6 ,they   

thrust themselves into a multitude of   
employments1 till they are loaded with  
labors1 and clogged with cares1 that    
their souls are as unfit to converse    
with ,god1 as a man to walk with a      
mountain on his back2 and as unapt to   
soar in meditation1 as their bodies to  
leap above the sun6 ,and when they have 
lost that heaven upon earth1 which they 
might have had1 they take up with a few 
rotten arguments to prove it lawful3    
though1 indeed1 they cannot4 ,i advise  
thee1 ,christian1 who hast tasted the   
pleasures of a heavenly life1 as ever   
thou wouldst taste of them any more1    
avoid this devouring gulf of an earthly 
mind4 ,if once thou come to this1 that  
thou wilt be rich1 thou fallest into    
temptation1 and a snare1 and into many  
foolish and hurtful lusts4#cae ,keep    
these things loose about thee1 like thy 
upper garments1 that thou mayest lay    
them by whenever there is need2 but let 
,god and glory be next thy heart4 ,ever 
remember1 that the friendship of the    

world is enmity with ,god4 ,whosoever   
therefore will be a friend of the world1
 is the enemy of ,god4#caf ,love not the
 world1 neither the things that are in  
the world4 ,if any man love the world1  
the love of the ,father is not in       
him4#cag ,this is plain dealing1 and    
happy he that faithfully receives it6   
,footnote #cae #a ,timothy vi1 #i4      
,footnote #caf ,james iv1 #d4  ,footnote
 #cag #a ,john ii1 #ae4   #d4 7#c47     
,beware of the company of the ungodly4  
,not that ,i would dissuade thee from   
necessary converse1 or from doing them  
any office of love2 especially1 not from
 endeavoring the good of their souls1 as
 long as thou hast any opportunity or   
hope3 ,nor would ,i have thee conclude  
them to be dogs and swine1 in order to  
evade the duty of reproof3 ,nor even to 
judge them such at all1 as long as there
 is any hope for the better3 ,much less 
can ,i approve of their practice1 who   
conclude men dogs or swine1 before ever 
they faithfully and lovingly admonish   

them1 or perhaps before they have known 
them1 or spoke with them4 ,but it is the
 unnecessary society of ungodly men1 and
 too much familiarity with unprofitable 
companions1 that ,i dissuade you from4  
,not only the open profane1 the swearer1
 the drunkard1 and the enemies of       
godliness1 will prove hurtful companions
 to us1 though these indeed are chiefly 
to be avoided2 but too frequent society 
with persons merely civil and moral1    
whose conversation is empty and         
unedifying1 may much divert our thoughts
 from heaven4 ,our backwardness is such 
that we need the most constant and      
powerful helps4 ,a stone1 or a clod1 is 
as fit to arise and fly in the air1 as  
our hearts are naturally to move toward 
heaven4 ,you need not hinder the rocks  
from flying up to the sky2 it is        
sufficient that you do not help them4   
,and surely if our spirits have not     
great assistance1 they may easily be    
kept from soaring upward1 though they   
never should meet with the least        

impediment4 ,o think of this in the     
choice of your company6 ,when your      
spirits are so disposed for heaven1 that
 you need no help to lift them up1 but1 
as flames1 you are always mounting1 and 
carrying with you all that is in your   
way2 then you may1 indeed1 be less      
careful of your company2 but till then1 
as you love the delights of a heavenly  
life1 be careful herein4 ,what will it  
advantage thee in a ,divine life1 to    
hear how the market goes1 or what the   
weather is1 or is like to be1 or what   
news is stirring8 ,this is the discourse
 of earthly men4 ,what will it conduce  
to the raising thy heart ,god-ward1 to  
hear that this is an able minister1 or  
that an eminent ,christian1 or this an  
excellent sermon1 or that an excellent  
book1 or to hear some difficult but     
unimportant controversy8 ,yet this for  
the most part1 is the sweetest discourse
 thou art like to have from a formal1   
speculative1 dead-hearted professor4    
,nay1 if thou hadst newly been warming  

thy heart in the contemplation of the   
blessed joys above1 would not this      
discourse benumb thy affections1 and    
quickly freeze thy heart again8 ,i      
appeal to the judgment of any man that  
hath tried it1 and maketh observations  
on the frame of his spirit4 ,men cannot 
well talk of one thing1 and mind        
another1 especially things of such      
different natures4 ,you1 young men1 who 
are most liable to this temptation1     
think seriously of what ,i say2 can you 
have your hearts in heaven1 among your  
roaring companions in an ale house1 or  
tavern8 ,or when you work in your shops 
with those1 whose common language is    
oaths1 filthiness1 or foolish talking1  
or jesting8 ,nay1 let me tell you1 if   
you choose such company when you might  
have better1 and find most delight in   
such1 you are so far from a heavenly    
conversation1 that as yet you have no   
title to heaven at all1 and in that     
state shall never come there4 ,if your  
treasure was there1 your heart could not

 be on things so distant4 ,in a word1   
our company will be part of our         
happiness in heaven1 and it is a        
singular part of our furtherance to it1 
or hinderance from it4   #e4 7#d47      
,avoid frequent disputes about lesser   
truths1 and a religion that lies only in
 opinions4 ,they are usually least      
acquainted with a heavenly life1 who are
 violent disputers about the            
circumstantials of religion4 ,he1 whose 
religion is all in his opinions1 will be
 most frequently and zealously speaking 
his opinions2 and he1 whose religion    
lies in the knowledge and love of ,god  
and ,christ1 will be most delightfully  
speaking of that happy time when he     
shall enjoy them4 ,he is a rare and     
precious ,christian1 who is skilful to  
improve well known truths4 ,therefore   
let me advise you1 who aspire after a   
heavenly life1 not to spend too much of 
your thoughts1 your time1 your zeal1 or 
your speech1 upon disputes that less    
concern your souls2 but when hypocrites 

are feeding on husks1 or shells1 do you 
feed on the joys above4 ,i wish you were
 able to defend every truth of ,god1 and
 to this end would read and study2 but  
still ,i would have the chief truths to 
be chiefly studied1 and none to cast out
 your thoughts of eternity4 ,the least  
controverted points are usually most    
weighty1 and of most necessary frequent 
use to our souls4 ,therefore study well 
such ,scripture precepts as these2 him  
that is weak in the faith receive ye1   
but not to doubtful disputations4#cah   
,foolish and unlearned questions1 avoid1
 knowing that they do gender strifes4   
,and the servant of the ,lord must not  
strive4#cai ,avoid foolish questions1   
and genealogies1 and contentions1 and   
strivings about the law2 for they are   
unprofitable and vain4#cbj ,if any man  
teach otherwise1 and consent not to     
wholesome words1 even the words of our  
,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and to the        
doctrine which is according to          
godliness2 he is proud1 knowing nothing1

 but doting about questions and strifes 
of words1 whereof cometh envy1 strife1  
railings1 evil surmisings1 perverse     
disputings of men of corrupt minds1 and 
destitute of the truth1 supposing that  
gain is godliness2 from such withdraw   
thyself4#cba  ,footnote #cah ,romans    
xiv1 #a4  ,footnote #cai #b ,timothy ii1
 #bc1 #bd4  ,footnote #cbj ,titus iii1  
#i4  ,footnote #cba #a ,timothy vi1     
#c-e4   #f4 7#e47 ,take heed of a proud 
and lofty spirit4 ,there is such an     
antipathy between this sin and ,god1    
that thou wilt never get thy heart near 
him1 nor get him near thy heart1 as long
 as this prevaileth in it4 ,if it cast  
the angels out of heaven1 it must needs 
keep thy heart from heaven4 ,if it cast 
our first parents out of paradise1 and  
separated between the ,lord and us1 and 
brought his curse on all the creatures  
here below2 it will certainly keep our  
hearts from paradise1 and increase the  
cursed separation from our ,god4        
,intercourse with ,god will keep men    

low1 and that lowliness will promote    
their intercourse4 ,when a man is used  
to be much with ,god1 and taken up in   
the study of his glorious attributes1 he
 abhors himself in dust and ashes2 and  
that self-abhorrence is his best        
preparative to obtain admittance to ,god
 again4 ,therefore after a soul-humbling
 day1 or in times of trouble1 when the  
soul is lowest1 it useth to have free   
access to ,god1 and savor most of the   
life above4 ,the delight of ,god is in  
him that is poor1 and of a contrite     
spirit1 and trembleth at his word2#cbb  
and the delight of such a soul is in    
,god2 and where there is mutual delight1
 there will be freest admittance1       
heartiest welcome1 and most frequent    
converse4 ,but ,god is so far from      
dwelling in the soul that is proud1 that
 he will not admit it to any near       
access2 the proud he knoweth afar       
off2#cbc ,god resisteth the proud and   
giveth grace to the humble4#cbd ,a proud
 mind is high in conceit1 self-esteem1  

and carnal aspiring2 a humble mind is   
high1 indeed1 in ,god's esteem1 and in  
holy aspiring4 ,these two sorts of      
high-mindedness are most of all opposite
 to each other1 as we see most wars are 
between princes and princes1 not between
 a prince and a ploughman4 ,well then1  
art thou a man of worth in thine own    
eyes8 ,art thou delighted when thou     
hearest of thy esteem with men1 and much
 dejected when thou hearest that they   
slight thee8 ,dost thou love those best 
that honor thee1 and think meanly of    
them that do not1 though they be        
otherwise men of godliness and honesty8 
,must thou have thy humors fulfilled1   
and thy judgment be a rule1 and thy word
 a law to all about thee8 ,are thy      
passions kindled1 if thy word or will be
 crossed8 ,art thou ready to judge      
humility to be sordid baseness1 and     
knowest not how to submit to humble     
confession1 when thou hast sinned       
against ,god2 or injured thy brother8   
,art thou one that lookest strange at   

the godly poor1 and art almost ashamed  
to be their companion8 ,canst thou not  
serve ,god in a low place1 as well as a 
high8 ,are thy boastings restrained more
 by prudence or artifice than humility8 
,dost thou desire to have all men's eyes
 upon thee1 and to hear them say1 ,this 
is he8 ,art thou unacquainted with the  
deceitfulness and wickedness of thy     
heart8 ,art thou more ready to defend   
thy innocence1 than accuse thyself1 or  
confess thy fault8 ,canst thou hardly   
bear a close reproof1 or digest plain   
dealing8 ,if these symptoms be          
undeniably in thy heart1 thou art a     
proud person4 ,there is too much of hell
 abiding in thee1 to have any           
acquaintance with heaven2 thy soul is   
too like the ,devil1 to have any        
familiarity with ,god4 ,a proud man     
makes himself his ,god1 and sets up     
himself as his idol2 how then can his   
affections be set on ,god8 ,how can he  
possibly have his heart in heaven8      
,invention and memory may possibly      

furnish his tongue with humble and      
heavenly expressions1 but in his spirit 
there is no more heaven than there is   
humility4 ,i speak the more of it1      
because it is the most common and       
dangerous sin in morality1 and most     
promotes the great sin of infidelity4 ,o
 ,christian6 if thou wouldst live       
continually in the presence of thy      
,lord1 lie in the dust1 and he will     
thence take thee up4 ,learn of him to be
 meek and lowly1 and thou shalt find    
rest unto thy soul4#cbe ,otherwise thy  
soul will be like the troubled sea1 when
 it cannot rest1 whose waters cast up   
mire and dirt2#cbf and instead of these 
sweet delights in ,god1 thy pride will  
fill thee with perpetual disquiet4 ,as  
he that humbleth himself as a little    
child1 shall hereafter be greatest in   
the kingdom of heaven2#cbg so shall he  
now be greatest in the foretastes of    
that kingdom4 ,god dwells with a        
contrite and humble spirit1 to revive   
the spirit of the humble1 and to revive 

the heart of the contrite ones4#cbh     
,therefore humble yourselves in the     
sight of the ,lord1 and he shall lift   
you up4#cbi ,and when others are cast   
down1 then thou shalt say1 there is     
lifting up1 and he shall save the humble
 person4#ccj  ,footnote #cbb ,isaiah    
lxvi1 #b4  ,footnote #cbc ,psalm        
cxxxviii1 #f4  ,footnote #cbd #a ,peter 
v1 #e4  ,footnote #cbe ,matthew xi1 #bi4
  ,footnote #cbf ,isaiah lvii1 #bj4     
,footnote #cbg ,matthew xviii1 #d4      
,footnote #cbh ,isaiah lvii1 #ae4       
,footnote #cbi ,james iv1 #aj4          
,footnote #ccj ,job xvii1 #bi4   #g4    
7#f47 ,a slothful spirit is another     
impediment to this heavenly life4 ,and  
,i verily think there is nothing hinders
 it more than this in men of a good     
understanding4 ,if it were only the     
exercise of the body1 the moving of the 
lips1 the bending of the knee2 men would
 as commonly step to heaven1 as they go 
to visit a friend4 ,but to separate our 
thoughts and affections from the world1 

to draw forth all our graces1 and       
increase each in its proper object1 and 
hold them to it till the work prospers  
in our hands2 this1 this is the         
difficulty4 ,reader1 heaven is above    
thee1 and dost thou think to travel this
 steep ascent without labor and         
resolution8 ,canst thou get that earthly
 heart to heaven1 and bring that        
backward mind to ,god1 while thou liest 
still1 and takest thine ease8 ,if lying 
down at the foot of a hill1 and looking 
toward the top1 and wishing we were     
there1 would serve the turn1 then we    
should have daily travellers for heaven4
 ,but the kingdom of heaven suffereth   
violence1 and the violent take it by    
force4#cca ,there must be violence used 
to get these first fruits1 as well as to
 get the full possession4 ,dost thou not
 feel it so1 though ,i should not tell  
thee8 ,will thy heart get upwards1      
except thou drive it8 ,thou knowest that
 heaven is all thy hopes1 that nothing  
below can yield thee rest1 that a heart 

seldom thinking of heaven1 can fetch but
 little comfort thence2 and yet dost    
thou not lose thy opportunities1 and lie
 below1 when thou shouldst walk above1  
and live with ,god8 ,dost thou not      
commend the sweetness of a heavenly     
life1 and judge those the best          
,christians that use it1 and yet never  
try it thyself8 ,as the sluggard that   
stretches himself on his bed1 and cries1
 ,o that this were working6 ,so dost    
thou talk1 and trifle1 and live at thy  
ease1 and say1 ,o that ,i could get my  
heart to heaven6 ,how many read books1  
and hear sermons1 expecting to hear of  
some easier way1 or to meet with a      
shorter course to comfort1 than they are
 ever like to find in ,scripture8 ,or   
they ask for directions for a heavenly  
life1 and if the hearing them will      
serve1 they will be heavenly            
,christians2 but if we shew them their  
work1 and tell them1 they cannot have   
these delights on easier terms1 then    
they leave us1 as the young man left    

,christ sorrowful4 ,if thou art         
convinced1 reader1 that this work is    
necessary to thy comfort1 set upon it   
resolutely3 ,if thy heart draw back1    
force it on with the command of reason3 
,if thy reason begin to dispute1 produce
 the command of ,god1 and urge thy own  
necessity1 with the other considerations
 suggested in the former chapter4 ,let  
not such an incomparable treasure lie   
before thee1 with thy hand in thy bosom2
 nor thy life be a continual vexation1  
when it might be a continual feast1 only
 because thou wilt not exert thyself4   
,sit not still with a disconsolate      
spirit1 while comforts grow before thine
 eyes1 like a man in the midst of a     
garden of flowers1 that will not rise to
 get them1 and partake of their         
sweetness4 ,this ,i know1 ,christ is the
 fountain2 but the well is deep1 and    
thou must get forth this water before   
thou canst be refreshed with it4 ,i     
know1 so far as you are spiritual1 you  
need not all this striving and violence2

 but in part you are carnal1 and as long
 as it is so1 there is need of labor4   
,it was a custom of the ,parthians1 not 
to give their children any meat in the  
morning1 before they saw the sweat on   
their faces with some labor4 ,and you   
shall find this to be ,god's usual      
course1 not to give his children the    
taste of his delights1 till they begin  
to sweat in seeking after them4 ,judge  
therefore whether a heavenly life1 or   
thy carnal ease1 be better2 and as a    
wise man1 make thy choice accordingly4  
,yet let me add for thy encouragement1  
,thou needest not employ thy thoughts   
more than thou now dost2 it is only to  
fix them upon better and more pleasant  
objects4 ,employ but as many serious    
thoughts every day upon the excellent   
glory of the life to come1 as thou now  
dost on worldly affairs1 yea1 on        
vanities and impertinencies1 and thy    
heart will soon be at heaven4 ,on the   
whole1 it is the field of the slothful1 
that is all grown over with thorns and  

nettles2 and the desire of the slothful 
killeth his joys1 for his hands refuse  
to labor2 and it is the slothful man    
saith1 there is a lion in the way1 a    
lion in the streets4 ,as the door       
turneth upon its hinges1 so doth the    
slothful upon his bed4 ,the slothful    
hideth his hand in his bosom1 it        
grieveth him to bring it again to his   
mouth1#ccb though it be to feed himself 
with the food of life4 ,what is this but
 throwing away our own consolations1 and
 consequently the precious blood that   
bought them8 ,for he that is slothful in
 his work1 is brother to him that is a  
great waster4#ccc ,apply this to thy    
spiritual work1 and study well the      
meaning of it4  ,footnote #cca ,matthew 
xi1 #ab4  ,footnote #ccb ,proverbs xxvi1
 #cj4 #ca4 xxi1 #be4 xxvi1 #ac-ae4      
,footnote #ccc ,proverbs xviii1 #i4     
#h4 7#g47 ,contentment with the mere    
preparatives to this heavenly life1     
while we are utter strangers to the life
 itself1 is also a dangerous and secret 

hinderance4 ,when we take up with the   
mere study of heavenly things1 and the  
notions of them1 or the talking with one
 another about them2 as if this were    
enough to make us heavenly4 ,none are in
 more danger of this snare1 than those  
that are employed in leading the        
devotions of others1 especially         
preachers of the gospel4 ,o how easily  
may such be deceived6 while they do     
nothing so much as read and study of    
heaven2 preach1 and pray1 and talk of   
heaven2 is not this the heavenly life8  
,alas6 all this is but mere preparation3
 ,this is but collecting the materials1 
not erecting the building itself3 ,it is
 but gathering the manna for others1 and
 not eating and digesting it ourselves4 
,as he that sits at home may draw exact 
maps of countries1 and yet never see    
them1 nor travel toward them2 so may you
 describe to others the joys of heaven1 
and yet never come near it in your own  
hearts4 ,a blind man1 by learning1 may  
dispute of light and colors2 so may you 

set forth to others that heavenly light1
 which never enlightened your own souls1
 and bring that fire for the hearts of  
your people1 which never warmed your own
 hearts4 ,what heavenly passages had    
,balaam in his prophecies1 yet how      
little of it in his spirit8 ,nay1 we are
 under a more subtle temptation1 than   
any other men1 to draw us from this     
heavenly life4 ,studying and preaching  
of heaven more resembles a heavenly     
life1 than thinking and talking of the  
world does2 and the resemblance is apt  
to deceive us4 ,this is to die the most 
miserable death1 even to famish         
ourselves1 because we have bread on our 
tables2 and to die for thirst1 while we 
draw water for others1 thinking it      
enough that we have daily to do with it1
 though we never drink for the          
refreshment of our own souls4   #i4     
7,,ii47 ,having thus shewed thee what   
hinderances will resist thee in the     
work1 ,i expect that thou resolve       
against them1 consider them seriously1  

and avoid them faithfully1 or else thy  
labor will be in vain4 ,i must also tell
 thee1 that ,i here expect thy promise1 
as thou valuest the delights of these   
foretastes of heaven1 to make conscience
 of performing the following duties3 the
 reading of which1 without their        
constant practice1 will not bring heaven
 into thy heart4 ,particularly1 be      
convinced that heaven is the only       
treasure and happiness2--labor to know  
that it is thy own--and how near it     
is2--frequently and seriously talk of   
it2--endeavor to raise thy affections   
nearer to it in every duty2--to the same
 purpose improve every object and       
event2--be much in the angelical work of
 praise2 possess thy soul with believing
 thoughts of the infinite love of ,god2 
carefully observe and cherish the       
motions of the ,spirit of ,god2--nor    
even neglect the due care of thy bodily 
health4   #aj4 7#a47 ,be convinced that 
heaven is the only treasure and         
happiness1 and labor to know what a     

treasure and happiness it is4 ,if thou  
do not believe it to be the chief good1 
thou wilt never set thy heart upon it2  
and this conviction must sink into thy  
affections2 for if it be only a notion1 
it will have little efficacy4 ,if ,eve  
once supposes she sees more worth in the
 forbidden fruit1 than in the love and  
enjoyment of ,god1 no wonder if it have 
more of her heart than ,god4 ,if your   
judgment once prefers the delights of   
the flesh1 before the delights in the   
presence of ,god1 it is impossible your 
heart should be in heaven4 ,as it is    
ignorance of the emptiness of things    
below1 that makes men so over-value     
them2 so it is ignorance of the high    
delights above1 which is the cause that 
men so little mind them4 ,if you see a  
purse of gold1 and believe it to be but 
counters1 it will not entice your       
affections to it4 ,it is not the real   
excellence of a thing itself1 but its   
known excellence1 that excites desire4  
,if an ignorant man see a book1         

containing the secrets of arts or       
sciences1 he values it no more than a   
common piece1 because he knows not what 
is in it2 but he that knows it1 highly  
values it1 and can even forbear his     
meat1 drink1 and sleep to read it4 ,as  
the ,jews killed the ,messiah1 while    
they waited for him1 because they did   
not know him2 so the world cries out for
 rest1 and busily seeks for delight and 
happiness1 because they know it not2 for
 did they thoroughly know what it is1   
they could not so slight the everlasting
 treasure4   #aa4 7#b47 ,labor also to  
know that heaven is thy own happiness4  
,we may confess heaven to be the best   
condition1 though we despair of enjoying
 it2 and we may desire and seek it1 if  
we see the attainment but probable2 but 
we can never delightfully rejoice in it1
 till we are in some measure persuaded  
of our title to it4 ,what comfort is it 
to a man that is naked1 to see the rich 
attire of others8 ,what delight is it   
for a man that hath not a house to put  

his head in1 to see the sumptuous       
buildings of others8 ,would not all this
 rather increase his anguish1 and make  
him more sensible of his own misery8 ,so
 for a man to know the excellencies of  
heaven1 and not know whether ever he    
shall enjoy them1 may raise desire1 and 
urge pursuit1 but he will have little   
joy4 ,who will set his heart on another 
man's possessions8 ,if your houses1 your
 goods1 your cattle1 your children1 were
 not your own1 you would less mind them1
 and less delight in them4 ,o           
,christian6 rest not therefore1 till you
 can call this rest your own3 ,bring thy
 heart to the bar of trial3 ,set the    
qualifications of the saints on one     
side1 and of thy soul on the other1 and 
then judge how near they resemble4 ,thou
 hast the same word to judge thyself by 
now1 as thou must be judged by at the   
great day4 ,mistake not the ,scripture's
 description of a saint1 that thou      
neither acquit1 nor condemn thyself upon
 mistakes4 ,for as groundless hopes tend

 to confusion1 and are the greatest     
cause of most men's damnation2 so       
groundless doubts tend to1 and are the  
great cause of the saints perplexity and
 distress4 ,therefore lay thy foundation
 for trial safely1 and proceed in the   
work deliberately1 and resolutely1 nor  
give over till thou canst say1 either   
thou hast1 or hast not yet1 a title to  
this rest4 ,o6 if men did truly know1   
that ,god is their own ,father1 and     
,christ their own ,redeemer and ,head1  
and that those are their own everlasting
 habitations1 and that there they must  
abide and be happy for ever2 how could  
they choose but be transported with the 
forethoughts thereof8 ,if a ,christian  
could but look upon sun1 moon1 and      
stars1 and reckon all his own in        
,christ1 and say1 ,these are the        
blessings that my ,lord hath procured   
me1 and things incomparably greater than
 these2 what holy raptures would his    
spirit feel8   #ab4 ,the more do they   
sin against their own comforts1 as well 

as against the grace of the gospel1 who 
plead for their unbelief1 and cherish   
distrustful thoughts of ,god1 and       
injurious thoughts of their ,redeemer2  
who represent the covenant1 as if it    
were of works1 and not of grace2 and    
,christ as an enemy1 rather than a      
,savior2 as if he were willing they     
should die in their unbelief1 when he   
hath invited them so often1 and so      
affectionately1 and suffered the agonies
 that they should suffer4 ,wretches that
 we are6 to be keeping up jealousies of 
our ,lord1 when we should be rejoicing  
in his love4 ,as if any man could choose
 ,christ1 before ,christ hath chosen    
him1 or any man were more willing to be 
happy1 than ,christ is to make him      
happy4 ,away with these injurious1 if   
not blasphemous thoughts6 if ever thou  
hast harbored such thoughts in thy      
breast1 cast them from thee1 and take   
heed how thou ever entertainest them    
more4 ,god hath written the names of his
 people in heaven1 as you use to write  

your names1 or marks1 on your goods2 and
 shall we be attempting to raze them    
out1 and to write our names on the doors
 of hell8 ,but blessed be ,god1 whose   
foundation standeth sure2#ccd and who   
keepeth us by his power through faith   
unto salvation4#cce  ,footnote #ccd #b  
,timothy ii1 #ai4  ,footnote #cce #a    
,peter i1 #e4   #ac4 7#c47 ,labor to    
apprehend how near thy rest is4 ,what we
 think near at hand1 we are more        
sensible of1 than that which we behold  
at a distance4 ,when judgments or       
mercies are far off1 we talk of them    
with little concern2 but when they draw 
close to us1 we tremble at1 or rejoice  
in them4 ,this makes men think on heaven
 so insensibly1 because they conceit it 
at too great a distance2 they look on it
 as twenty1 thirty1 or forty1 years off4
 ,how much better were it to receive the
 sentence of death in ourselves1#ccf and
 to look on eternity as near at hand8   
,while ,i am thinking1 and writing of   
it1 it hasteth near1 and ,i am even     

entering into it before ,i am aware4    
,while thou art reading this1 whoever   
thou art1 time posteth on1 and thy life 
will be gone1 as a tale that is told4   
,if you verily believed you should die  
to-morrow1 how seriously would you think
 of heaven to-night8 ,when ,samuel had  
told ,saul1 ,to-morrow shalt thou be    
with me2 this struck him to the heart4  
,and if ,christ should say to a         
believing soul1 ,to-morrow shalt thou be
 with me2 this would bring him in spirit
 to heaven beforehand4 ,do but suppose  
that you are still entering into heaven1
 and it will greatly help you more      
seriously to mind it4  ,footnote #ccf #b
 ,corinthians i1 #i4   #ad4 7#d47 ,let  
thy eternal rest be the subject of thy  
frequent serious discourse2 especially  
with those that can speak from their    
hearts1 and are seasoned themselves with
 a heavenly nature4 ,it is pity         
,christians should ever meet together1  
without some talk of their meeting in   
heaven1 or of the way to it1 before they

 part3 ,it is pity so much time is spent
 in vain conversation1 and useless      
disputes1 and not a serious word of     
heaven among them4 ,methinks we should  
meet together on purpose1 to warm our   
spirits with discoursing of our rest4   
,to hear a ,christian set forth that    
blessed1 glorious state1 with life and  
power1 from the promises of the gospel2 
methinks should make us say1 ,did not   
our hearts burn within us1 while he     
opened to us the ,scriptures8#ccg ,if a 
,felix will tremble1 when he hears his  
judgment powerfully represented1 why    
should not the believer be revived1 when
 he hears his eternal rest described8   
,wicked men can be delighted in talking 
together of their wickedness2 and should
 not ,christians then be delighted in   
talking of ,christ8 and the heirs of    
heaven in talking of their inheritance8 
,this may make our hearts revive1 as it 
did ,jacob's to hear the message that   
called him to ,goshen1 and to see the   
chariots that should bring him to       

,joseph4 ,o that we were furnished with 
skill and resolution1 to turn the stream
 of men's common discourse to these more
 sublime and precious things6 ,and when 
men begin to talk of things             
unprofitable1 that we could tell how to 
put in a word for heaven1 and say1 as   
,peter of his bodily food1 ,not so1 for 
,i have never eaten any thing that is   
common or unclean6 ,o the good that we  
might both do and receive by this       
course6 ,had it not been to deter us    
from unprofitable conversation1 ,christ 
would not have talked of our giving an  
account of every idle word in the day of
 judgment4#cch ,say then1 as the        
,psalmist1 when you are in company1 ,let
 my tongue cleave to the roof of my     
mouth1 if ,i prefer not ,jerusalem above
 my chief joy4#cci ,then you shall find 
it true1 that a wholesome tongue is a   
tree of life4#cdj  ,footnote #ccg ,luke 
xxiv1 #cb4  ,footnote #cch ,matthew xii1
 #cf4  ,footnote #cci ,psalm cxxxvii1   
#f4  ,footnote #cdj ,proverbs xv1 #d4   

#ae4 7#e47 ,endeavor1 in every duty1 to 
raise thy affections nearer to heaven4  
,god's end in the institution of his    
ordinances was1 that they should be as  
so many steps to advance us to our rest1
 and by which1 in subordination to      
,christ1 we might daily ascend in our   
affections4 ,let this be thy end in     
using them1 and doubtless they will not 
be unsuccessful4 ,how have you been     
rejoiced by a few lines from a friend1  
when you could not see him face to face8
 ,and may we not have intercourse with  
,god in his ordinances1 though our      
persons be yet so far remote8 ,may not  
our spirits rejoice in reading those    
lines1 which contain our legacy and     
charter for heaven8 ,with what gladness 
and triumph may we read the expressions 
of ,divine love1 and hear of our        
celestial country1 though we have not   
yet the happiness to behold it8 ,men    
that are separated by sea and land1 can 
by letters carry on great and gainful   
trades2 and may not a ,christian1 in the

 wise improvement of duties1 drive on   
this happy trade for rest8 ,come then1  
renounce formality1 custom1 and         
applause1 and kneel down in secret or   
public prayer1 with hope to get thy     
heart nearer to ,god before thou risest 
up4 ,when thou openest the ,bible1 or   
other book1 hope to meet with some      
passage of ,divine truth1 and such      
blessing of the ,spirit with it1 as will
 give thee a fuller taste of heaven4    
,when thou art going to the house of    
,god1 say1 ,i hope to meet with somewhat
 from ,god to raise my affections1      
before ,i return2 ,i hope the ,spirit   
will give me the meeting1 and sweeten my
 heart with those celestial delights2 ,i
 hope ,christ will appear to me in that 
way1 and shine about me with light from 
heaven1 let me hear his instructing and 
reviving voice1 and cause the scales to 
fall from my eyes1 that ,i may see more 
of the glory than ,i ever yet saw4 ,i   
hope1 before ,i return1 my ,lord will   
bring my heart within the view of rest1 

and set it before his ,father's         
presence1 that ,i may return1 as the    
shepherds1 from the heavenly vision1    
glorifying and praising ,god for all the
 things ,i have heard and seen4 ,when   
the ,indians first saw that the ,english
 could converse together by letters1    
they thought there was some spirit      
enclosed in them4 ,so would by-standers 
admire1 when ,christians have communion 
with ,god in duties1 what there is in   
those ,scriptures1 in that sermon1 in   
this prayer1 that fills their hearts so 
full of joy1 and so transports them     
above themselves4 ,certainly ,god would 
not fail us in our duties1 if we did not
 fail ourselves4 ,remember1 therefore1  
always to pray for your minister1 that  
,god would put some ,divine message into
 his mouth1 which may leave a heavenly  
relish on your spirit4   #af4 7#f47     
,improve every object and every event1  
to mind thy soul of its approaching     
rest4 ,as all providences and creatures 
are means to our rest1 so they point us 

to that1 as their end4 ,god's sweetest  
dealings with us at the present1 would  
not be half so sweet as they are1 if    
they did not intimate some further      
sweetness4 ,thou takest but the bare    
earnest1 and overlookest the main sum1  
when thou receivest thy mercies1 and    
forgettest thy crown4 ,o that           
,christians were skilful in this art6   
,you can open your ,bibles2 learn to    
open the volumes of creatures and       
providences1 to read there also of ,god 
and glory4 ,thus we might have a fuller 
taste of ,christ and heaven in every    
common meal1 than most men have in a    
sacrament4 ,if thou prosper in the      
world1 let it make thee more sensible of
 thy perpetual prosperity4 ,if thou art 
weary with labor1 let it make the       
thoughts of thy eternal rest more sweet4
 ,if things go cross1 let thy desires be
 more earnest to have sorrows and       
sufferings for ever cease4 ,is thy body 
refreshed with food1 or sleep8 remember 
the unconceivable refreshment with      

,christ4 ,dost thou hear any good news8 
remember what glad tidings it will be1  
to hear the trump of ,god1 and the      
applauding sentence of ,christ4 ,art    
thou delighted with the society of the  
saints8 remember what the perfect       
society in heaven will be4 ,is ,god     
communicating himself to thy spirit8    
remember the time of thy highest        
advancement1 when both thy communion and
 joy shall be full4 ,dost thou hear the 
raging noise of the wicked1 and the     
confusions of the world8 think of the   
blessed harmony in heaven4 ,dost thou   
hear the tempest of war8 remember the   
day when thou shalt be in perfect peace1
 under the wings of the ,prince of peace
 for ever4 ,thus1 every condition1 and  
creature1 affords us advantages for a   
heavenly life1 if we had but hearts to  
improve them4   #ag4 7#g47 ,be much in  
the angelical work of praise4 ,the more 
heavenly the employment1 the more will  
it make the spirit heavenly4 ,praising  
,god is the work of angels and saints in

 heaven1 and will be our own everlasting
 work2 and if we were more in it now1 we
 should be liker to what we shall be    
then4 ,as desire1 faith1 and hope1 are  
of shorter continuance than love and    
joy2 so also preaching1 prayer1 and     
sacraments1 and all means for expressing
 and confirming our faith and hope1     
shall cease1 when our triumphant        
expressions of love and joy shall abide 
for ever4 ,the liveliest emblem of      
heaven that ,i know upon earth1 is1 when
 the people of ,god1 in the deep sense  
of his excellency and bounty1 from      
hearts abounding with love and joy1 join
 together both in heart and voice1 in   
the cheerful and melodious singing of   
his praises4 ,these delights1 like the  
testimony of the ,spirit1 witness       
themselves to be of ,god1 and bring the 
evidences of their heavenly parentage   
along with them4   #ah4 ,little do we   
know how we wrong ourselves by shutting 
out of our prayers the praises of ,god1 
or allowing them so narrow a room as we 

usually do1 while we are copious enough 
in our confessions and petitions4       
,reader1 ,i entreat thee1 remember this1
 let praises have a larger room in thy  
duties2 keep matter ready at hand to    
feed thy praise1 as well as matter for  
confession and petition4 ,to this end1  
study the excellencies and goodness of  
the ,lord1 as frequently as thy own     
wants and unworthiness2 the mercies thou
 hast received1 and those which are     
promised1 as often as the sins thou hast
 committed4 ,praise is comely for the   
upright4 ,whoso offereth praise1        
glorifieth ,god4 ,praise ye the ,lord1  
for the ,lord is good2 sing praises unto
 his name1 for it is pleasant4#cda ,let 
us offer the sacrifice of praise to ,god
 continually1 that is1 the fruit of our 
lips1 giving thanks to his name4#cdb    
,had not ,david a most heavenly spirit1 
who was so much in this heavenly work8  
,doth it not sometimes raise our hearts1
 when we only read the ,song of ,moses1 
and the ,psalms of ,david8 ,how much    

more would it raise and refresh us1 to  
be skilful and frequent in the work     
ourselves8 ,o the madness of youth1 that
 lay out their vigor of body and mind   
upon vain delights and fleshly lusts1   
which is so fit for the noblest work of 
man6 ,and ,o the sinful folly of many of
 the saints1 who drench their spirits in
 continual sadness1 and waste their days
 in complaints and groans1 and so make  
themselves1 both in body and mind1 unfit
 for this sweet and heavenly work6      
,instead of joining with the people of  
,god in his praises1 they are           
questioning their worthiness1 and       
studying their miseries2 and so rob ,god
 of his glory1 and themselves of their  
consolation4 ,but the greatest destroyer
 of our comfort in this duty1 is our    
taking up with the tune and melody1 and 
suffering the heart to be idle1 which   
ought to perform the principal part of  
the work1 and use the melody to revive  
and exhilarate itself4  ,footnote #cda  
,psalm xxxiii1 #a4 l1 #bc4 cxxxv1 #c4   

,footnote #cdb ,hebrews xiii1 #ae4      
#ai4 7#h47 ,ever keep thy soul possessed
 with believing thoughts of the infinite
 love of ,god4 ,love is the attractive  
of love4 ,few so vile1 but will love    
those that love them4 ,no doubt it is   
the death of our heavenly life1 to have 
hard thoughts of ,god1 to conceive of   
him as one that would rather damn1 than 
save us4 ,this is to put the blessed    
,god into the similitude of ,satan4     
,when our ignorance and unbelief have   
drawn the most deformed picture of ,god 
in our imaginations1 then we complain1  
that we cannot love him1 nor delight in 
him4 ,this is the case of many thousand 
,christians4 ,alas1 that we should thus 
blaspheme ,god1 and blast our own joys6 
,scripture assures us1 that ,god is     
love2#cdc that fury is not in him2#cdd  
that he hath no pleasure in the death of
 the wicked1 but that the wicked turn   
from his way and live4#cde ,much more   
hath he testified his love to his       
chosen1 and his full resolution         

effectually to save them4 ,o that we    
could always think of ,god1 as we do of 
a friend2 as of one that unfeignedly    
loves us1 even more than we do          
ourselves2 whose very heart is set upon 
us to do us good1 and hath therefore    
provided for us an everlasting dwelling 
with himself2 it would not then be so   
hard to have our hearts ever with him6  
,where we love most heartily1 we shall  
think most sweetly1 and most freely4 ,i 
fear most ,christians think higher of   
the love of a hearty friend1 than of the
 love of ,god2 and what wonder then if  
they love their friends better than     
,god1 and trust them more confidently   
than ,god1 and had rather live with them
 than with ,god8  ,footnote #cdc #a     
,john iv1 #af4  ,footnote #cdd ,isaiah  
xxvii1 #d4  ,footnote #cde ,ezekiel     
xxxiii1 #aa4   #bj4 7#i47 ,carefully    
observe and cherish the motions of the  
,spirit of ,god4 ,if ever thy soul get  
above this earth1 and get acquainted    
with this heavenly life1 the ,spirit of 

,god must be to thee1 as the chariot to 
,elijah2 yea1 the very living principle 
by which thou must move and ascend4 ,o  
then1 grieve not thy guide1 quench not  
thy life1 knock not off thy chariot     
wheels6 ,you little think how much the  
life of all your graces1 and the        
happiness of your souls1 depend upon    
your ready and cordial obedience to the 
,spirit4 ,when the ,spirit urges thee to
 secret prayer2 or forbids thee thy     
known transgressions2 or points out to  
thee the way in which thou shouldst go3 
and thou wilt not regard1 no wonder if  
heaven and thy soul be strange4 ,if thou
 wilt not follow the ,spirit1 while it  
would draw thee to ,christ and thy duty2
 how should it lead thee to heaven1 and 
bring thy heart into the presence of    
,god8 ,what supernatural help1 what bold
 access1 shall the soul find in its     
approaches to the ,almighty1 that       
constantly obeys the ,spirit8 ,and how  
backward1 how dull1 how ashamed1 will he
 be in these addresses1 who hath often  

broke away from the ,spirit that would  
have guided him8 ,christian reader1 dost
 thou not feel sometimes a strong       
impression to retire from the world1 and
 draw near to ,god8 ,do not disobey1 but
 take the offer1 and hoist up thy sails 
while this blessed gale may be had4 ,the
 more of the ,spirit we resist1 the     
deeper will it wound2 and the more we   
obey1 the speedier will be our pace4    
#ba4 7#aj47 ,i advise thee as a farther 
help to this heavenly life1 not to      
neglect the due care of thy bodily      
health4 ,thy body is an useful servant1 
if thou give it its due1 and no more    
than its due2 but it is a most devouring
 tyrant1 if thou suffer it to have what 
it unreasonably desires2 and it is as a 
blunted knife1 if thou unjustly deny it 
what is necessary to its support4 ,when 
we consider1 how frequently men offend  
on both extremes1 and how few use their 
bodies aright1 we cannot wonder if they 
be much hindered in their converse with 
heaven4 ,most men are slaves to their   

appetite1 and can scarce deny any thing 
to the flesh1 and are therefore         
willingly carried by it to their sports1
 or profits1 or vain companions1 when   
they should raise their minds to ,god   
and heaven4 ,as you love your souls1    
make not provision for the flesh1 to    
fulfil the lusts thereof2#cdf but       
remember1 to be carnally minded1 is     
death2 because the carnal mind is enmity
 against ,god1 for it is not subject to 
the law of ,god1 neither indeed can be4 
,so then they that are in the flesh     
cannot please ,god4 ,therefore1         
brethren1 we are debtors1 not to the    
flesh1 to live after the flesh4 ,for if 
ye live after the flesh1 ye shall die2  
but if ye through the ,spirit do mortify
 the deeds of the body1 ye shall        
live4#cdg ,there are a few1 who much    
hinder their heavenly joy1 by denying   
the body its necessaries1 and so making 
it unable to serve them3 ,if such       
wronged their flesh only1 it would be no
 great matter2 but they wrong their     

souls also2 as he that spoils the house1
 injures the inhabitants4 ,when the body
 is sick1 and the spirits languish1 how 
heavily do we move in the thoughts and  
joys of heaven4  ,footnote #cdf ,romans 
xiii1 #ad4  ,footnote #cdg ,romans viii1
 #f-h1 #ab1 #ac4     ,,chap4 ,,xiii4    
,the ,nature of heavenly ,contemplation2
 with the ,time1 ,place1 and ,temper    
fittest for it4    #a4 ,the duty of     
heavenly contemplation is recommended to
 the reader2   #b4 ,and defined  #c-f4  
7,i47 ,the definition is illustrated3   
#g4 7,,ii47  ,the time fittest for it is
 represented1 as1  #h4 7#a47 ,stated2   
#i-ab4  7#b47 ,frequent2  #ac4 and 7#c47
 ,seasonable1 every day1 and            
particularly  every ,lord's day2        
#ad-ag4 ,but more especially1 when our  
hearts are  warmed with a sense of      
,divine things2 or when we are afflicted
 or  tempted2 or when we are near death3
  #ah4 7,,iii47 ,the fittest place for  
it1 is the most retired2  #ai4 7,,iv47  
,and the fittest temper for it1 is1     

#bj4 7#a47 ,when our minds are most     
clear of the world2  #ba4 7#b47 ,and    
most solemn and serious4    #a4 ,once   
more ,i entreat thee1 reader1 as thou   
makest conscience of a revealed duty1   
and darest not wilfully resist the      
,spirit2 as thou valuest the high       
delights of a saint1 and the            
soul-ravishing exercise of heavenly     
contemplation2 that thou diligently     
study1 and speedily and faithfully      
practise1 the following directions4 ,if1
 by this means1 thou dost not find an   
increase of all thy graces1 and dost not
 grow beyond the stature of common      
,christians1 and art not made more      
serviceable in thy place1 and more      
precious in the eyes of all discerning  
persons1 if thy soul enjoy not more     
communion with ,god1 and thy life be not
 fuller of comfort1 and hast it not     
readier by thee at a dying hour2 then   
cast away these directions1 and exclaim 
against me for ever as a deceiver4   #b4
 ,the duty which ,i press upon thee so  

earnestly1 and in the practice of which 
,i am now to direct thee1 is1 ,the set  
and solemn acting of all the powers of  
thy soul in meditation upon thy         
everlasting rest4 ,more fully to explain
 the nature of this duty1 ,i will       
here--illustrate a little the           
description itself1--then point out the 
fittest time1--place1--and temper of    
mind for it4   #c4 7,i47 ,it is not     
improper to illustrate a little the     
manner in which we have described this  
duty of meditation1 or the considering  
and contemplating of spiritual things4  
,it is confessed to be a duty by all1   
but practically denied by most4 ,many   
that make conscience of other duties1   
easily neglect this2 they are troubled  
if they omit a sermon1 a fast1 or a     
prayer in public or private2 yet were   
never troubled that they have omitted   
meditation perhaps all their lifetime to
 this very day2 though it be that duty1 
by which all other duties are improved1 
and by which the soul digesteth truths  

for its nourishment and comfort4 ,it was
 ,god's command to ,joshua1 ,this book  
of the law shall not depart out of thy  
mouth1 but thou shalt meditate therein  
day and night1 that thou mayest observe 
to do according to all that is written  
therein4#cdh ,as digestion turns food   
into chyle and blood1 for vigorous      
health2 so meditation turns the truths  
received and remembered into warm       
affection1 firm resolution1 and holy    
conversation4  ,footnote #cdh ,joshua i1
 #h4   #d4 ,this meditation is1 the     
acting of all the powers of the soul4   
,it is the work of the living1 and not  
of the dead4 ,it is the work of all     
others the most spiritual and sublime1  
and therefore not to be well performed  
by a heart that is merely carnal and    
earthly4 ,they must necessarily have    
some relation to heaven1 before they can
 familiarly converse there4 ,i suppose  
them to be such as have a title to rest1
 when ,i persuade them to rejoice in the
 meditations of rest4 ,and supposing    

thee to be a ,christian1 ,i am now      
exhorting thee to be an active          
,christian4 ,and it is the work of the  
soul ,i am setting thee to1 for bodily  
exercise doth here profit but little4   
,and it must have all the powers of the 
soul1 to distinguish it from the common 
meditation of students2 for the         
understanding is not the whole soul1 and
 therefore cannot do the whole work4 ,as
 in the body1 the stomach must turn the 
food into chyle1 and prepare for the    
liver2 the liver and spleen turn it into
 blood1 and prepare for the heart and   
brain2 so in the soul1 the understanding
 must take in truths1 and prepare them  
for the will1 and that for the          
affections4 ,christ and heaven have     
various excellencies1 and therefore ,god
 hath formed the soul with different    
powers for apprehending those           
excellencies4 ,what the better had we   
been for odoriferous flowers1 if we had 
no smell8 ,or what good would language  
or music have done us1 if we could not  

hear8 ,or what pleasure should we have  
found in meats and drinks1 without the  
sense of taste8 ,so1 what good could all
 the glory of heaven have done us1 or   
what pleasure should we have had in the 
perfections of ,god himself1 if we had  
been without the affections of love and 
joy8 ,and what strength or sweetness    
canst thou possibly receive by thy      
meditations on eternity1 while thou dost
 not exercise those affections of the   
soul1 by which thou must be sensible of 
the sweetness and strength8 ,it is the  
mistake of ,christians1 to think that   
meditation is only the work of the      
understanding and memory2 when every    
school-boy can do this1 or persons that 
hate the things which they think of4 ,so
 that you see1 there is more to be done 
than barely to remember and think of    
heaven2 as some labors not only stir a  
hand1 or a foot1 but exercise the whole 
body1 so doth meditation the whole soul4
 ,as the affections of sinners are set  
on the world1 are turned to idols1 and  

fallen from ,god1 as well as their      
understanding2 so must their affections 
be reduced to ,god1 as well as the      
understanding2 and as their whole soul  
was filled with sin before1 so the whole
 must be filled with ,god now4 ,see     
,david's description of the blessed man1
 ,his delight is in the law of the      
,lord1 and in his law doth he meditate  
day and night4#cdi  ,footnote #cdi      
,psalm i1 #b4   #e4 ,this meditation is 
set and solemn4 ,as there is solemn     
prayer1 when we set ourselves wholly to 
that duty2 ejaculatory prayer1 when in  
the midst of other business1 we send up 
some short request to ,god1 so also     
there is solemn meditation1 when we     
apply ourselves wholly to that work2 and
 transient meditation1 when in the midst
 of other business we have some good    
thoughts of ,god in our minds4 ,and as  
solemn prayer is either set in a        
constant course of duty2 or occasional1 
at an extraordinary season2 so also is  
meditation4 ,now1 though ,i would       

persuade you to that meditation1 which  
is mixed with your common labors1 and   
also that which special occasions direct
 you to2 yet ,i would have you likewise 
make it a constant standing duty1 as you
 do by hearing1 praying1 and reading the
 ,scriptures2 and no more intermix other
 matters with it1 than you would with   
prayer1 or other stated solemnities4    
#f4 ,this meditation is upon thy        
everlasting rest4 ,i would not have you 
cast off your other meditations2 but    
surely1 as heaven hath the pre-eminence 
in perfection1 it should have it also in
 our meditation4 ,that which will make  
us most happy when we possess it1 will  
make us most joyful when we meditate    
upon it4 ,other meditations are as      
numerous as there are lines in the      
,scriptures1 or creatures in the        
universe1 or particular providences in  
the government of the world4 ,but this  
is a walk to mount ,sion2 from the      
kingdoms of this world1 to the kingdom  
of saints2 from earth to heaven2 from   

time to eternity2 it is a walking upon  
sun1 moon1 and stars1 in the garden and 
paradise of ,god4 ,it may seem far off2 
but spirits are quick2 whether in the   
body or out of the body1 their motion is
 swift4 ,you need not fear like the men 
of the world1 lest these thoughts should
 make you mad4 ,it is heaven1 and not   
hell1 that ,i persuade you to walk in4  
,it is joy1 and not sorrow1 that ,i     
persuade you to exercise4 ,i urge you to
 look on no deformed objects1 but only  
upon the ravishing glory of saints1 and 
the unspeakable excellencies of the ,god
 of glory1 and the beams that stream    
from the face of his ,son4 ,will it     
distract a man to think of his only     
happiness8 ,will it distract the        
miserable to think of mercy1 or the     
prisoner to foresee deliverance1 or the 
poor to think of approaching riches and 
honor8 ,methinks it should rather make a
 man mad1 to think of living in a world 
of woe1 and abiding in poverty and      
sickness1 among the rage of wicked men2 

than to think of living with ,christ in 
bliss4 ,but wisdom is justified of all  
her children4#cej ,knowledge hath no    
enemy but the ignorant4 ,this heavenly  
course was never spoke against by any1  
but those that never knew it1 or never  
used it4 ,i fear more the neglect of men
 that approve it1 than the opposition or
 arguments of any against it4  ,footnote
 #cej ,luke viii1 #ce4   #g4 7,,ii47 ,as
 to the fittest time for this heavenly  
contemplation1 let me only advise1 that 
it be1--stated1--frequent1--and         
seasonable4   #h4 7#a47 ,give it a      
stated time4 ,if thou suit thy time to  
the advantage of the work1 without      
placing any religion in the time itself1
 thou hast no need to fear superstition4
 ,stated time is a hedge to duty1 and   
defends it against many temptations to  
omission4 ,some have not their time at  
command1 and therefore cannot set their 
hours2 and many are so poor1 that the   
necessities of their families deny them 
this freedom2 such persons should be    

watchful to redeem time as much as they 
can1 and take their vacant opportunities
 as they fall1 and especially join      
meditation and prayer1 as much as they  
can1 with the labors of their callings4 
,yet those that have more time to spare 
from their worldly necessities1 and are 
masters of their time1 ,i still advise1 
to keep this duty to a stated time4 ,and
 indeed1 if every work of the day had   
its appointed time1 we should be better 
skilled1 both in redeeming time1 and in 
performing duty4   #i4 7#b47 ,let it be 
frequent1 as well as stated4 ,how oft it
 should be1 ,i cannot determine1 because
 men's circumstances differ4 ,but in    
general1 ,scripture requires it to be   
frequent1 when it mentions meditating   
day and night4 ,for those1 therefore1   
who can conveniently omit other         
business1 ,i advise1 that it be once a  
day at least4 ,frequency in heavenly    
contemplation is particularly important4
   #aj4 ,to prevent a shyness between   
,god and thy soul4 ,frequent society    

breeds familiarity1 and familiarity     
increases love and delight1 and makes us
 bold in our addresses4 ,the chief end  
of this duty is1 to have acquaintance   
and fellowship with ,god1 and therefore 
if thou come but seldom to it1 thou wilt
 keep thyself a stranger still4 ,when a 
man feels his need of ,god1 and must    
seek his help in a time of necessity1   
then it is great encouragement to go to 
a ,god we know1 and are acquainted with4
 ,o6 saith the heavenly ,christian1 ,i  
know both whither ,i go and to whom4 ,i 
have gone this way many a time before   
now4 ,it is the same ,god that ,i daily 
converse with3 and the way has been my  
daily walk4 ,god knows me well enough1  
and ,i have some knowledge of him4 ,on  
the other side1 what a horror and       
discouragement will it be to the soul1  
when it is forced to fly to ,god in     
straits1 to think1 ,alas6 ,i know not   
whither to go4 ,i never went the way    
before4 ,i have no acquaintance at the  
court of heaven4 ,my soul knows not that

 ,god that ,i must speak to1 and ,i fear
 he will not know my soul4 ,but         
especially when we come to die1 and must
 immediately appear before this ,god1   
and expect to enter into his eternal    
rest1 then the difference will plainly  
appear2 then what a joy will it be to   
think1 ,i am going to the place that ,i 
daily conversed in2 to the place from   
whence ,i tasted such frequent delights2
 to that ,god whom ,i have met in my    
meditation so often4 ,my heart hath been
 at heaven before now1 and hath often   
tasted its reviving sweetness2 and if my
 eyes were so enlightened1 and my       
spirits so refreshed1 when ,i had but a 
taste1 what will it be when ,i shall    
feed on it freely8 ,on the contrary1    
what a terror will it be to think1 ,i   
must die1 and go ,i know not whither2   
from a place where ,i am acquainted1 to 
a place where ,i have no familiarity or 
knowledge6 ,it is inexpressible horror  
to a dying man1 to have strange thoughts
 of ,god and heaven4 ,i am persuaded the

 neglect of this duty so commonly makes 
death1 even to godly men1 unwelcome and 
uncomfortable4 ,therefore ,i persuade to
 frequency in this duty4 ,and as it will
 prevent shyness between thee and ,god1 
so also1   #aa4 ,it will prevent        
unskilfulness in the duty itself4 ,how  
awkwardly do men set their hands to a   
work they are seldom employed in8       
,whereas frequency will habituate thy   
heart to the work1 and make it more easy
 and delightful4 ,the hill which made   
thee pant and blow at first going up1   
thou mayest easily run up1 when thou art
 once accustomed to it4   #ab4 ,thou    
wilt also prevent the loss of that heat 
and life thou hast obtained4 ,if thou   
eat but once in two or three days1 thou 
wilt lose thy strength as fast as it    
comes4 ,if in holy meditation thou get  
near to ,christ1 and warm thy heart with
 the fire of love1 and then come but    
seldom1 thy former coldness will soon   
return2 especially as the work is so    
spiritual1 and against the bent of      

depraved nature4 ,it is true1 the       
intermixing of other duties1 especially 
secret prayer1 may do much to the       
keeping thy heart above2 but meditation 
is the life of most other duties1 and   
the view of heaven is the life of       
meditation4   #ac4 7#c47 ,choose also   
the most seasonable time4 ,all things   
are beautiful and excellent in their    
season4 ,unseasonableness may lose the  
fruit of thy labor1 may raise           
difficulties in the work1 and may turn a
 duty to a sin4 ,the same hour may be   
seasonable to one1 and unseasonable to  
another4 ,servants and laborers must    
take that season which their business   
will best afford3 either while at work1 
or in travelling1 or when they lie awake
 in the night4 ,such as can choose what 
time of the day they will1 should       
observe1 when they find their spirits   
most active and fit for contemplation1  
and fix upon that as the stated time4 ,i
 have always found that the fittest time
 for myself is1 the evening1 from       

sun-setting to the twilight4 ,i the     
rather mention this1 because it was the 
experience of a better and wiser man2   
for it is expressly said1 ,isaac went   
out to meditate in the field at the     
eventide4#cea ,the ,lord's day is       
exceeding seasonable for this exercise4 
,when should we more seasonably         
contemplate our rest1 than on that day  
of rest which typifies it to us8 ,it    
being a day appropriated to spiritual   
duties1 methinks we should never exclude
 this duty which is so eminently        
spiritual4 ,i verily think this is the  
chief work of a ,christian ,sabbath1 and
 most agreeable to the design of its    
positive institution4 ,what fitter time 
to converse with our ,lord1 than on the 
,lord's day8 ,what fitter day to ascend 
to heaven1 than that on which he arose  
from earth1 and fully triumphed over    
death and hell4 ,the fittest temper for 
a true ,christian1 is1 like ,john1 to be
 in the ,spirit on the ,lord's day4#ceb 
,and what can bring us to this joy in   

the ,spirit1 but the spiritual beholding
 of our approaching glory8 ,take notice 
of this1 you that spend the ,lord's ,day
 only in public worship2 your allowing  
no time to private duty1 and therefore  
neglecting this spiritual duty of       
meditation1 is very hurtful to your     
souls4 ,you also that have time on the  
,lord's ,day for idleness1 and vain     
discourse1 were you but acquainted with 
this duty of contemplation1 you would   
need no other pastime2 you would think  
the longest day short enough1 and be    
sorry that the night had shortened your 
pleasure4 ,christians1 let heaven have  
more share in your ,sabbaths1 where you 
must shortly keep your everlasting      
,sabbath4 ,use your ,sabbaths as steps  
to glory1 till you have passed them all1
 and are there arrived4 ,especially you 
that are poor1 and cannot take time in  
the week as you desire1 see that you    
well improve this day2 as your bodies   
rest from their labors1 let your spirits
 seek after rest from ,god4  ,footnote  

#cea ,genesis xxiv1 #fc4  ,footnote #ceb
 ,revelation i1 #aj4   #ad4 ,besides the
 constant seasonableness of every day1  
and particularly every ,lord's day1     
there are also more peculiar seasons for
 heavenly contemplation4 ,as for        
instance1   #ae4 ,when ,god hath more   
abundantly warmed thy spirit with fire  
from above4 ,then thou mayest soar with 
greater freedom4 ,a little labor will   
set thy heart a going at such a time as 
this2 whereas1 at another time2 thou    
mayest take pains to little purpose4    
,observe the gales of the ,spirit1 and  
how the ,spirit of ,christ doth move thy
 spirit4 ,without ,christ we can do     
nothing2 and therefore let us be doing1 
while he is doing2 and be sure not to be
 out of the way1 nor asleep when he     
comes4 ,when the ,spirit finds thy      
heart1 like ,peter1 in prison1 and in   
irons1 and smites thee1 and says1 ,arise
 up quickly and follow me2 be sure thou 
then arise1 and follow1 and thou shalt  
find thy chains fall off1 and all doors 

will open1 and thou wilt be at heaven   
before thou art aware4   #af4 ,another  
peculiar season for this duty is1 when  
thou art in a suffering1 distressed1 or 
tempted state4 ,when should we take our 
cordials1 but in times of fainting8     
,when is it more seasonable to walk to  
heaven1 than when we know not in what   
corner of earth to live with comfort8   
,or when should our thoughts converse   
more above1 than when they have nothing 
but grief below8 ,where should ,noah's  
dove be but in the ark1 when the waters 
cover all the earth1 and she cannot find
 rest for the sole of her foot8 ,what   
should we think on1 but our ,father's   
house1 when we have not even the husks  
of the world to feed upon8 ,surely ,god 
sends thy afflictions to this very      
purpose4 ,happy art thou1 poor man1 if  
thou make this use of thy poverty6 and  
thou that art sick1 if thou so improve  
thy sickness6 ,it is seasonable to go to
 the promised land1 when our burdens are
 increased in ,egypt1 and our straits in

 the wilderness4 ,reader1 if thou       
knewest what a cordial to thy griefs the
 serious views of glory are1 thou       
wouldst less fear these harmless        
troubles1 and more use that preserving1 
reviving remedy4 ,in the multitude of my
 troubled thoughts within me1 saith     
,david1 thy comforts delight my         
soul4#cec ,i reckon1 saith ,paul1 that  
the sufferings of this present time1 are
 not worthy to be compared with the     
glory which shall be revealed in us4#ced
 ,for which cause we faint not1 but     
though our outward man perish1 yet the  
inward man is renewed day by day4 ,for  
our light affliction1 which is but for a
 moment1 worketh for us a far more      
exceeding and eternal weight of glory1  
while we look not at the things which   
are seen1 but at the things which are   
not seen2 for the things which are seen1
 are temporal2 but the things which are 
not seen1 are eternal4#cee  ,footnote   
#cec ,psalm xciv1 #ai4  ,footnote #ced  
,romans viii1 #ah4  ,footnote #cee #b   

,corinthians iv1 #af-ah4   #ag4 ,and    
another season peculiarly fit for this  
heavenly duty1 is1 when the messengers  
of ,god summon us to die4 ,when should  
we most frequently sweeten our souls    
with the believing thoughts of another  
life1 than when we find that this is    
almost ended8 ,no men have greater need 
of supporting joys than dying men2 and  
those joys must be fetched from our     
eternal joy4 ,as heavenly delights are  
sweetest1 when nothing earthly is joined
 with them2 so the delights of dying    
,christians are oftentimes the sweetest 
they ever had4 ,what a prophetical      
blessing had dying ,isaac1 and ,jacob1  
for their sons8 ,with what a heavenly   
song1 and ,divine benediction1 did      
,moses conclude his life8 what heavenly 
advice and prayer had the disciples from
 their ,lord1 when he was about to leave
 them8 ,when ,paul was ready to be      
offered up1 what heavenly exhortations  
and advice did he give the ,philippians1
 ,timothy1 and the ,elders of ,ephesus8 

,how near to heaven was ,john in        
,patmos1 but a little before his        
translation thither8 ,it is the general 
temper of the saints1 to be then most   
heavenly1 when they are nearest to      
heaven4 ,if it be thy case1 reader1 to  
perceive thy dying time draw on1 ,o     
where should thy heart now be1 but with 
,christ6 ,methinks thou shouldst even   
behold him standing by thee and shouldst
 bespeak him as thy father1 thy husband1
 thy physician1 thy friend4 ,methinks   
thou shouldst1 as it were1 see the      
angels about thee1 waiting to perform   
their last office to thy soul2 even     
those angels1 which disdained not to    
carry into ,abraham's bosom the soul of 
,lazarus1 nor will think much to conduct
 thee thither4 ,look upon thy pain and  
sickness1 as ,jacob did on ,joseph's    
chariots1 and let thy spirit revive     
within thee1 and say1 ,it is enough1    
,christ is yet alive2 because he lives1 
,i shall live also4#cef ,dost thou need 
the choicest cordials8 ,here are choicer

 than the world can afford2 here are all
 the joys of heaven1 even the vision of 
,god1 and ,christ1 and whatsoever the   
blessed there possess2 these dainties   
are offered thee by the hand of ,christ1
 he hath written the receipt in the     
promises of the gospel2 he hath prepared
 the ingredients in heaven2 only put    
forth the hand of faith1 and feed upon  
them1 and rejoice1 and live4 ,the ,lord 
saith to thee1 as to ,elijah1 ,arise1   
and eat1 because the journey is too     
great for thee4 ,though it be not long1 
yet the way is miry2 therefore obey his 
voice1 arise and eat1 and in the        
strength of that meat thou mayest go to 
the mount of ,god2 and1 like ,moses1 die
 in the mount whither thou goest up2 and
 say1 as ,simeon1 ,lord1 now lettest    
thou thy servant depart in peace2 for   
mine eye of faith hath seen thy         
salvation4#ceg  ,footnote #cef ,john    
xiv1 #ai4  ,footnote #ceg ,luke ii1 #bi1
 #cj4   #ah4 7,,iii47 ,concerning the   
fittest place for heavenly              

contemplation1 it is sufficient to say1 
that the most convenient is some private
 retirement4 ,our spirits need every    
help1 and to be freed from every        
hinderance in the work4 ,if in private  
prayer1 ,christ directs us to enter into
 our closet1 and shut the door1 that our
 ,father may see us in secret1#ceh so   
should we do in this meditation4 ,how   
often did ,christ himself retire to some
 mountain1 or wilderness1 or other      
solitary place8 ,i give not this advice 
for occasional meditation1 but for that 
which is set and solemn4 ,therefore     
withdraw thyself from all society1 even 
the society of godly men1 that thou     
mayest awhile enjoy the society of thy  
,lord4 ,if a student cannot study in a  
crowd1 who exerciseth only his invention
 and memory2 much less shouldst thou be 
in a crowd1 who art to exercise all the 
powers of thy soul1 and upon an object  
so far above nature4 ,we are fled so far
 from superstitious solitude1 that we   
have even cast off the solitude of      

contemplative devotion4 ,we seldom read 
of ,god's appearing by himself1 or by   
his angels1 to any of his prophets or   
saints in a crowd2 but frequently when  
they were alone4 ,but observe for       
thyself1 what place best agrees with thy
 spirit2 whether within doors1 or       
without4 ,isaac's example in going out  
to meditate in the field1 will1 ,i      
believe best suit with most4 ,our ,lord 
so much used a solitary garden1 that    
even ,judas1 when he came to betray him1
 knew where to find him3 ,and though he 
took his disciples thither with him1 yet
 he was withdrawn from them for more    
secret devotions3#cei ,and though his   
meditations be not directly named1 but  
only his praying1 yet it is very clearly
 implied2 for his soul is first made    
sorrowful with the bitter meditations on
 his sufferings and death1 and then he  
poureth it out in prayer4#cfj ,so that  
,christ had his accustomed place1 and   
consequently accustomed duty1 and so    
must we2 he hath a place that is        

solitary1 whither he retireth himself1  
even from his own disciples1 and so must
 we2 his meditations go further than his
 thoughts1 they affect and pierce his   
heart and soul1 and so must ours4 ,only 
there is a wide difference in the       
object2 ,christ meditates on the        
sufferings that our sins had deserved1  
so that the wrath of his ,father passed 
through all his soul3 ,but we are to    
meditate on the glory he hath purchased1
 that the love of the ,father1 and the  
joy of the spirit1 may enter at our     
thoughts and revive our affections1 and 
overflow our souls4  ,footnote #ceh     
,matthew vi1 #f4  ,footnote #cei ,john  
xviii1 #b4 ,luke xxii1 #da4  ,footnote  
#cfj ,mark xiv1 #ce4   #ai4 7,,iv47 ,i  
am next to advise thee concerning the   
preparations of thy heart for this      
heavenly contemplation4 ,the success of 
the work much depends on the frame of   
thy heart4 ,when man's heart had nothing
 in it to grieve the ,spirit1 it was    
then the delightful habitation of his   

,maker4 ,god did not quit his residence 
there1 till man expelled him by unworthy
 provocations4 ,there was no shyness or 
reserve1 till the heart grew sinful1 and
 too loathsome a dungeon for ,god to    
delight in4 ,and was this soul reduced  
to its former innocency1 ,god would     
quickly return to his former habitation2
 yea1 so far as it is renewed and       
repaired by the ,spirit1 and purged from
 its lusts1 and beautified with his     
image1 the ,lord will yet acknowledge it
 as his own2 ,christ will manifest      
himself unto it1 and the ,spirit will   
take it for his temple and residence4   
,so far as the heart is qualified for   
conversing with ,god1 so far it usually 
enjoys him4 ,therefore1 with all        
diligence keep thy heart1 for out of it 
are the issues of life4#cfa ,more       
particularly1  ,footnote #cfa ,proverbs 
iv1 #bc4   #bj4 7#a47 ,get thy heart as 
clear from the world as thou canst4     
,wholly lay by the thoughts of thy      
business1 troubles1 enjoyments1 and     

every thing that may take up any room in
 thy soul4 ,get it as empty as thou     
possibly canst1 that it may be the more 
capable of being filled with ,god4 ,if  
thou couldst perform some outward duty  
with a piece of thy heart1 while the    
other is absent1 yet this duty above all
 ,i am sure thou canst not4 ,when thou  
shalt go into the mount of              
contemplation1 thou wilt be like the    
covetous man at the heap of gold1 who1  
when he might take as much as he could1 
lamented that he was able to carry no   
more2 so thou wilt find as much of ,god 
and glory as thy narrow heart is able to
 contain1 and almost nothing to hinder  
thy full possession1 but the incapacity 
of thy own spirit4 ,then thou wilt      
think1 ,o that this understanding1 and  
these affections1 could contain more6   
,it is more my unfitness than any thing 
else1 that even this place is not my    
heaven4 ,god is in this place and ,i    
know it not4 ,this mount is full of     
chariots of fire1 but mine eyes are     

shut1 and ,i cannot see them1 ,o the    
words of love ,christ hath to speak1 and
 wonders of love he hath to shew1 but ,i
 cannot bear them yet6 ,heaven is ready 
for me1 but my heart is unready for     
heaven4 ,therefore1 reader1 seeing thy  
enjoyment of ,god in this contemplation 
much depends on the capacity and        
disposition of thy heart1 seek him here1
 if ever1 with all thy soul4 ,thrust not
 ,christ into the stable1 and the       
manger1 as if thou hadst better guests  
for the chief rooms4 ,say to all thy    
worldly business and thoughts1 as       
,christ to his disciples1 ,sit ye here1 
while ,i go and pray yonder4 ,or as     
,abraham to his servants1 when he went  
to offer ,isaac1 ,abide ye here1 and ,i 
will go yonder and worship1 and come    
again to you4 ,even as the priests      
thrust king ,uzziah out of the temple1  
where he presumed to burn incense1 when 
they saw the leprosy upon him2 so do    
thou thrust those thoughts from the     
temple of thy heart1 which have the     

badge of ,god's prohibition upon them4  
#ba4 7#b47 ,be sure to set upon this    
work with the greatest solemnity of     
heart and mind4 ,there is no trifling in
 holy things4 ,god will be sanctified in
 them that come nigh him4#cfb ,these    
spiritual1 excellent1 soul-raising      
duties1 are if well used1 most          
profitable2 but when used unfaithfully1 
most dangerous4 ,labor therefore to have
 the deepest apprehensions of the       
presence of ,god1 and his               
incomprehensible greatness4 ,if queen   
,esther must not draw near1 till the    
king hold out the sceptre2 think1 then1 
with what reverence thou shouldst       
approach ,him1 who made the worlds with 
the word of his mouth1 who upholds the  
earth as in the palm of his hand1 who   
keeps the sun1 moon1 and stars in their 
courses1 and who sets bounds to the     
raging sea4 ,thou art going to converse 
with ,him1 before whom the earth will   
quake1 and ,devils do tremble1 and at   
whose bar thou and all the world must   

shortly stand1 and be finally judged4 ,o
 think6 ,i shall then have lively       
apprehensions of ,his ,majesty4 ,my     
drowsy spirits will then be awakened1   
and my irreverence be laid aside2 and   
why should ,i not now be roused with the
 sense of his greatness1 and the dread  
of his name possess my soul8 ,labor also
 to apprehend the greatness of the work 
which thou attemptest1 and to be deeply 
sensible both of its importance and     
excellency4 ,if thou wast pleading for  
thy life at the bar of an earthly judge1
 thou wouldst be serious2 and yet that  
would be a trifle to this4 ,if thou wast
 engaged in such a work as ,david       
against ,goliath1 on which the welfare  
of a kingdom depended2 in itself        
considered1 it were nothing to this4    
,suppose thou wast going to such a      
wrestling as ,jacob's1 or to see the    
sight which the three disciples saw in  
the mount2 how seriously1 how           
reverently1 wouldst thou both approach  
and behold6 ,if but an angel from heaven

 should appoint to meet thee1 at the    
same time and place of thy              
contemplations2 with what dread wouldst 
thou be filled8 ,consider then1 with    
what a spirit thou shouldst meet the    
,lord1 and with what seriousness and awe
 thou shouldst daily converse with him4 
,consider also the blessed issue of the 
work1 if it succeed3 it will be thy     
admission into the presence of ,god1 and
 the beginning of thy eternal glory on  
earth2 a means to make thee live above  
the rate of other men1 and fix thee in  
the next room to the angels themselves1 
that thou mayest both live and die      
joyfully4 ,the prize being so great1 thy
 preparations should be answerable4     
,there is none on earth live such a life
 of joy and blessedness1 as those that  
are acquainted with this heavenly       
conversation4 ,the joys of all other men
 are but like a child's play1 a fool's  
laughter1 or a sick man's dream of      
health4 ,he that trades for heaven is   
the only gainer1 and he that neglects it

 is the only loser4 ,how seriously1     
therefore1 should this work be done8    
,footnote #cfb ,leviticus x1 #c4        
,,chap4 ,,xiv4  ,what use heavenly      
contemplation makes of consideration1   
affections1 soliloquy1 and prayer4      
#a4 ,the reader is invited to engage in 
heavenly contemplation2  #b4  ,and to   
that end is1 7,i47 ,directed in the use 
of consideration2  #c-h4  ,the great    
influence of which over the heart is    
represented in several  instances3  #i4 
,then 7,,ii47 it is shewn how heavenly  
contemplation is  promoted by the       
affections2 particularly1  #aj-ab4 7#a47
 ,by ,love2  #ac4  7#b47 ,desire2  #ad4 
7#c47 ,hope2  #ae4 7#d47 ,courage or    
,boldness2  #af-ah4  and 7#e47 ,joy4    
#ai4 ,a caution is added concerning this
 exercise of the  affections4  #bj-bb4  
7,,iii47 ,the chapter concludes with    
some account of  the usefulness of      
soliloquy and prayer1 in heavenly       
contemplation4    #a4 ,having set thy   
heart in tune1 we now come to the music 

itself4 ,having got an appetite1 now    
approach to the feast1 and delight thy  
soul1 as with marrow and fatness4 ,come1
 for all things are now ready4 ,heaven1 
and ,christ1 and the exceeding weight of
 glory1 are before you4 ,do not make    
light of this invitation1 nor begin to  
make excuses2 whatever thou art1 rich or
 poor1 though in alms-houses and        
hospitals1 though in highways and       
hedges1 my commission is1 if possible1  
to compel you to come in2 and blessed is
 he that shall eat bread in the kingdom 
of ,god6 ,the manna lieth about your    
tents1 walk out1 gather it up1 take it  
home1 and feed upon it4 ,in order to    
this1 ,i am only to direct you--how to  
use your consideration1--and            
affections1--your soliloquy1--and       
prayer4   #b4 7,i47 ,consideration is   
the great instrument by which this      
heavenly work is carried on4 ,this must 
be voluntary1 and not forced4 ,some men 
consider unwillingly2 so ,god will make 
the wicked consider their sins1 when he 

shall set them in order before their    
eyes1#cfc so shall the damned consider  
of the excellency of ,christ1 whom they 
once despised1 and of the eternal joys  
which they have foolishly lost4 ,great  
is the power which consideration hath   
for moving the affections1 and          
impressing things on the heart2 as will 
appear by the following particulars4    
,footnote #cfc ,psalm l1 #ba1 #bb4   #c4
 7#a47 ,consideration1 as it were1 opens
 the door between the head and the      
heart4 ,the understanding having        
received truths1 lays them up in the    
memory1 and consideration conveys them  
from thence to the affections4 ,what    
excellency would there be in much       
learning and knowledge1 if the          
obstructions between the head and the   
heart were but opened1 and the          
affections did but correspond to the    
understanding8 ,he is usually the best  
scholar1 whose apprehension is quick1   
clear1 and tenacious2 but he is usually 
the best ,christian1 whose apprehension 

is the deepest1 and most affectionate1  
and who has the readiest passages1 not  
so much from the ear to the brain1 as   
from that to the heart4 ,and though the 
,spirit be the principal cause2 yet1 on 
our part1 this passage must be opened by
 consideration4   #d4 7#b47             
,consideration presents to the          
affections those things which are most  
important4 ,the most delightful object  
does not entertain where it is not seen1
 nor the most joyful news affect him    
that does not hear it2 but consideration
 presents to our view those things which
 were as absent1 and brings them to the 
eye and ear of the soul4 ,are not       
,christ and glory affecting objects8    
,would they not work wonders upon the   
soul1 if they were but clearly          
discovered1 and our apprehensions of    
them were in some measure answerable to 
their worth8 ,it is consideration that  
presents them to us3 ,this is the       
,christian's perspective1 by which he   
can see from earth to heaven4   #e4     

7#c47 ,consideration also presents the  
most important things in the most       
affecting way4 ,consideration reasons   
the case with a man's own heart4 ,when a
 believer would reason his heart to     
heavenly contemplation1 how many        
arguments offer themselves from ,god and
 ,christ1 from each of the ,divine      
perfections1 from our former and present
 state1 from promises1 from present     
sufferings and enjoyments1 from hell and
 heaven8 ,every thing offers itself to  
promote our joy1 and consideration is   
the hand to draw them all out3 it adds  
one reason to another1 till the scales  
turn3 ,this it does1 when persuading to 
joy1 till it hath silenced all your     
distrust and sorrows1 and your cause for
 rejoicing lies plain before you4 ,if   
another's reasoning is powerful with us1
 though we are not certain whether he   
intends to inform1 or deceive us2 how   
much more should our own reasoning      
prevail with us1 when we are so well    
acquainted with our own intentions8     

,nay1 how much more should ,god's       
reasoning work upon us1 which we are    
sure cannot deceive1 or be deceived8    
,now consideration is but the reading   
over1 and repeating ,god's reasons to   
our hearts4 ,as the prodigal had many   
and strong reasons to plead with        
himself1 why he should return to his    
father's house2 so have we to plead with
 our affections1 to persuade them to our
 ,father's everlasting mansions4   #f4  
7#d47 ,consideration exalts reason to   
its just authority4 ,it helps to deliver
 it from its captivity to the senses1   
and sets it again on the throne of the  
soul4 ,when reason is silent1 it is     
usually subject2 for when it is asleep1 
the senses domineer4 ,but consideration 
awakens our reason1 till1 like ,sampson1
 it rouses up itself1 and breaks the    
bonds of sensuality1 and bears down the 
delusions of the flesh4 ,what strength  
can the lion exert while asleep8 ,what  
is a king1 when deposed from his throne1
 more than another man8 ,spiritual      

reason1 excited by meditation1 and not  
fancy or fleshly sense1 must judge of   
heavenly joys4 ,consideration exalts the
 objects of faith1 and comparatively    
disgraces the objects of sense4 ,the    
most inconsiderate men are the most     
sensual4 ,it is too easy and common to  
sin against knowledge2 but against      
sober1 strong1 persevering              
consideration1 men seldom offend4   #g4 
7#e47 ,consideration makes reason strong
 and active4 ,before1 it was as a       
standing water1 but now as a stream1    
which violently bears down all before   
it4 ,before1 it was as the stones in the
 brook1 but now like that out of        
,david's sling1 which smites the        
,goliath of our unbelief in the         
forehead4 ,as wicked men continue       
wicked1 because they bring not reason   
into action and exercise2 so godly men  
are uncomfortable1 because they let     
their reason and faith lie asleep1 and  
do not stir them up to action by this   
work of meditation4 ,what fears1        

sorrows1 and joys1 will our very dreams 
excite8 ,how much more then would       
serious meditation affect us8   #h4     
7#f47 ,consideration can continue and   
persevere in this rational employment4  
,meditation holds reason and faith to   
their work1 and blows the fire till it  
thoroughly burns4 ,to run a few steps   
will not get a man heat1 but walking an 
hour may2 and though a sudden1          
occasional thought of heaven will not   
raise our affections to any spiritual   
heat1 yet meditation can continue our   
thoughts till our hearts grow warm4     
,thus you see the powerful tendency of  
consideration to produce this great     
elevation of the soul in heavenly       
contemplation4   #i4 7,,ii47 ,let us    
next see how this heavenly work is      
promoted by the particular exercise of  
the affections4--,it is by consideration
 that we first have recourse to the     
memory1 and from thence take those      
heavenly doctrines1 which we intend to  
make the subject of our meditation2 such

 as1 promises of eternal life1          
descriptions of the saint's glory1 the  
resurrection1 c4 c4 c4 ,we then present 
them to our judgment1 that it may       
deliberately view them over1 and take an
 exact survey1 and determine uprightly  
concerning the perfection of our        
celestial happiness1 against all the    
dictates of flesh and sense1 and so as  
to magnify the ,lord in our hearts1 till
 we are filled with a holy admiration4  
,but the principal thing is to exercise1
 not merely our judgment1 but our faith 
in the truth of our everlasting rest2 by
 which ,i mean1 both the truth of the   
promises1 and of our own personal       
interest in them1 and title to them4 ,if
 we did really and firmly believe1 that 
there is such a glory1 and that within a
 few days our eyes shall behold it1 ,o  
what passions would it raise within us6 
,what astonishing apprehensions of that 
life would it produce6 ,what love1 what 
longings1 would it excite within us6 ,o 
how would it actuate every affection6   

,how it would transport us with joy1    
upon the least assurance of our title6  
,never expect to have love and joy move1
 when faith stands still1 which must    
lead the way4 ,therefore daily exercise 
faith1 and set before it the freeness of
 the promise1 ,god's urging all to      
accept it4 ,christ's gracious           
disposition1 all the evidences of the   
love of ,christ1 his faithfulness to his
 engagements1 and the evidences of his  
love in ourselves2 lay all these        
together1 and think1 whether they do not
 testify the good will of the ,lord     
concerning our salvation1 and may not   
properly be pleaded against our         
unbelief4 ,thus1 when the judgment hath 
determined1 and faith hath apprehended1 
the truth of our happiness1 then may our
 meditation proceed to raise our        
affections1 and                         
particularly1--love1--desire1--hope1--co
urage or boldness1--and joy4   #aj4     
7#a47 ,love is the first affection to be
 excited in heavenly contemplation4 ,the

 object of it is goodness4 ,here1       
,christian1 is the soul-reviving part of
 thy work4 ,go to thy memory1 thy       
judgment1 and thy faith1 and from them  
produce the excellencies of thy rest2   
present these to thy affection of love1 
and thou wilt find thyself1 as it were1 
in another world4 ,speak out1 and love  
can hear4 ,do but reveal these things1  
and love can see4 ,it is the brutish    
love of the world that is blind2 ,divine
 love is exceeding quick-sighted4 ,let  
thy faith take hold of thy heart1 and   
shew it the sumptuous buildings of thy  
eternal habitation1 and the glorious    
ornaments of thy ,father's house1 even  
the mansions ,christ is preparing1 and  
the honors of his kingdom2 let thy faith
 lead thy heart into the presence of    
,god1 and as near as thou possibly      
canst1 and say to it1 ,behold the       
,ancient of ,days1 the ,lord ,jehovah1  
whose name is1 ,i ,,am3 ,this is he1 who
 made all worlds with his word1 who     
upholds the earth1 who rules the        

nations1 who disposes of all events1 who
 subdues his foes1 who controls the     
swelling waves of the sea1 who governs  
the winds1 and causes the sun to run its
 race1 and the stars to know their      
courses3 ,this is he1 who loved thee    
from everlasting1 formed thee in the    
womb1 gave thee this soul1 brought thee 
forth1 shewed thee the light1 and ranked
 thee with the chief of his earthly     
creatures1 who endued thee with thy     
understanding1 and beautified thee with 
his gifts1 who maintains thy life and   
all its comforts1 and distinguishes thee
 from the most miserable and vilest of  
men4 ,o here is an object worthy thy    
love6 ,here shouldst thou even pour out 
thy soul in love6 ,here it is impossible
 for thee to love too much6 ,this is the
 ,lord who hath blessed thee with his   
benefits1 spread thy table in the sight 
of thine enemies1 and made thy cup      
overflow6 ,this is he whom angels and   
saints praise1 and the heavenly host for
 ever magnify6 ,thus do thou expatiate  

on the praises of ,god1 and open his    
excellencies to thine heart1 till the   
holy fire of love begins to kindle in   
thy breast4   #aa4 ,if thou feelest thy 
love not yet burn1 lead thy heart       
farther1 and shew it the ,son of the    
living ,god1 whose name is1 ,wonderful1 
,counsellor1 the mighty ,god1 the       
everlasting ,father1 the ,prince of     
,peace2 shew it the ,king of saints on  
the throne of his glory1 the ,first and 
the ,last2 who is1 and was1 and is to   
come2 who liveth1 and was dead1 and     
behold1 he lives for evermore2 who hath 
made thy peace1 by the blood of his     
cross1 and hath prepared thee with      
himself an habitation of peace2 ,his    
office is the great ,peace-,maker2 ,his 
kingdom is the kingdom of peace2 ,his   
gospel is the tidings of peace2 ,his    
voice to thee now is the voice of peace3
 ,draw near and behold him4 ,dost thou  
not hear his voice8 ,he that bid ,thomas
 come near1 and see the print of the    
nails1 and put his finger into his      

wounds2 ,he it is that calls to thee1   
,come near and view the ,lord thy       
,savior1 and be not faithless1 but      
believing2 ,peace be unto thee1 fear    
not1 it is ,i4 ,look well upon him4     
,dost thou not know him8 ,it is he that 
brought thee up from the pit of hell1   
reversed the sentence of thy damnation1 
bore the curse which thou shouldst have 
born1 restored thee to the blessing thou
 hadst forfeited1 and purchased the     
advancement which thou must inherit for 
ever4 ,and dost thou not yet know him8  
,his hands were pierced1 his head1 his  
side1 his heart were pierced1 that by   
these marks thou mightest always know   
him4 ,dost thou not remember when he    
found thee lying in thy blood1 and took 
pity on thee1 and dressed thy wounds1   
and brought thee home1 and said unto    
thee1 ,live8 ,hast thou forgotten since 
he wounded himself to cure thy wounds1  
and let out his own blood to stop thy   
bleeding8 ,if thou knowest him not by   
the face1 the voice1 the hands1 thou    

mayest know him by the heart2 that soul 
pitying heart is his2 it can be none but
 his3 ,love and compassion are its      
certain signatures3 ,this is he1 who    
chose thy life before his own2 who      
pleads his blood before his ,father1 and
 makes continual intercession for thee4 
,if he had not suffered1 what hadst thou
 suffered8 ,there was but a step between
 thee and hell1 when he stept in1 and   
bore the stroke4 ,and is not here fuel  
enough for thy love to feed on8 ,doth   
not thy throbbing heart stop here to    
ease itself1 and1 like ,joseph1 seek for
 a place to weep in8 ,or do not the     
tears of thy love bedew these lines8 ,go
 on then1 for the field of love is      
large2 it will be thy eternal work to   
behold and love2 nor needest thou want  
work for thy present meditation4   #ab4 
,how often hath thy ,lord found thee1   
like ,hagar1 sitting1 and weeping1 and  
giving up thy soul for lost1 and he     
opened to thee a well of consolation1   
and also opened thine eyes to see it8   

,how often1 in the posture of ,elijah1  
desiring to die out of thy misery1 and  
he hath spread thee a table of          
unexpected relief1 and sent thee on his 
work refreshed and encouraged8 ,how     
often1 in the case of the prophet's     
servant1 crying out1 ,alas6 what shall  
we do1 for an host doth encompass us2   
and he hath opened thine eyes to see    
more for thee1 than against thee8 ,how  
often1 like ,jonah1 peevish1 and weary  
of thy life1 and he hath mildly said1   
,dost thou well to be angry with me1 or 
murmur against me8 ,how often hath he   
set thee on watching and praying1       
repenting and believing1 and when he    
hath returned1 hath found thee asleep1  
and yet hath covered thy neglect with a 
mantle of love1 and gently pleaded for  
thee1 that the spirit is willing1 but   
the flesh is weak4 ,can thy heart be    
cold1 when thou thinkest of this8 ,can  
it contain1 when thou rememberest those 
boundless compassions8 ,thus1 reader1   
hold forth the goodness of ,christ to   

thy heart2 plead thus with thy frozen   
soul1 till1 with ,david1 thou canst say1
 ,my heart was hot within me2 while ,i  
was musing1 the fire burned4 ,if this   
will not rouse up thy love1 thou hast   
all ,christ's personal excellencies to  
add1 all his particular mercies to      
thyself1 all his sweet and near         
relations to thee1 and the happiness of 
thy everlasting abode with him4 ,only   
follow them close to thy heart4 ,deal   
with it1 as ,christ did with ,peter1    
when he thrice asked him1 ,lovest thou  
me8 till he was grieved1 and answers1   
,lord1 thou knowest that ,i love thee4  
,so grieve and shame thy heart out of   
its stupidity1 till thou canst truly    
say1 ,i know1 and my ,lord knows1 that  
,i love him4   #ac4 7#b47 ,the next     
affection to be exercised in heavenly   
contemplation1 is desire4 ,the object of
 it is goodness considered as absent1 or
 not yet attained4 ,if love be hot1     
desire will not be cold4 ,think with    
thyself1 ,what have ,i seen8 ,o the     

incomprehensible glory6 ,o the          
transcendant beauty6 ,o blessed souls   
that now enjoy it6 who see a thousand   
times more clearly1 what ,i have seen at
 a distance1 and through dark           
interposing clouds4 ,what a difference  
between my state and theirs6 ,i am      
sighing1 and they are singing4 ,i am    
offending1 and they are pleasing ,god4  
,i am a spectacle of pity1 like a ,job1 
or a ,lazarus1 but they are perfect1 and
 without blemish4 ,i am here entangled  
in the love of the world1 while they are
 swallowed up in the love of ,god4 ,they
 have none of my cares and fears2 they  
weep not in secret2 they languish not in
 sorrows2 these tears are wiped away    
from their eyes4 ,o happy1 a thousand   
times happy souls6 ,alas1 that ,i must  
dwell in sinful flesh1 when my brethren 
and companions dwell with ,god6 ,how far
 out of sight and reach of their high   
enjoyments do ,i here live8 ,what poor  
feeble thoughts have ,i of ,god8 ,what  
cold affections toward him8 ,how little 

have ,i of that life1 that love1 that   
joy1 in which they continually live8    
,how soon doth that little depart1 and  
leave me in thicker darkness8 ,now and  
then a spark falls upon my heart1 and   
while ,i gaze upon it1 it dies1 or      
rather my cold heart quenches it4 ,but  
they have their light in his light1 and 
drink continually at the spring of joys4
 ,here we are vexing each other with    
quarrels1 when they are of one heart and
 voice1 and daily sound forth the       
hallelujahs of heaven with perfect      
harmony4 ,o what a feast hath my faith  
beheld1 and what a famine is yet in my  
spirit6 ,o blessed souls6 ,i may not1 ,i
 dare not envy your happiness2 ,i rather
 rejoice in my brethren's prosperity1   
and am glad to think of the day when ,i 
shall be admitted into your fellowship4 
,i wish not to displace you1 but to be  
so happy as to be with you4 ,why must ,i
 stay1 and weep1 and wait8 ,my ,lord is 
gone2 ,he hath left this earth1 and is  
entered into his glory2 my brethren are 

gone2 my friends are there2 my house1 my
 hope1 my all is there4 ,when ,i am so  
far distant from my ,god1 wonder not    
what aileth me1 if ,i now complain2 an  
ignorant ,micah will do so for his idol1
 and shall not my soul do so for the    
living ,god6 ,had ,i no hope of         
enjoyment1 ,i would go hide myself in   
the deserts1 and lie and howl in some   
obscure wilderness1 and spend my days in
 fruitless wishes2 but since it is the  
land of my promised rest1 and the state 
,i must myself be advanced to1 and my   
soul draws near1 and is almost at it1 ,i
 will love and long1 ,i will look and   
desire1 ,i will be breathing1 ,how long1
 ,lord6 how long wilt thou suffer this  
soul to pant and groan1 and not open to 
him who waits1 and longs to be with     
thee6 ,thus1 ,christian ,reader1 let thy
 thoughts aspire1 till thy soul longs1  
as ,david1 ,o that one would give me to 
drink of the wells of salvation6 ,and   
till thou canst say as he did1 ,i have  
longed for thy salvation1 ,o ,lord6#cfd 

,and as the mother and brethren of      
,christ1 when they could not come at him
 because of the multitude1 sent to him1 
saying1 ,thy mother and brethren stand  
without1 desiring to see thee2 so let   
thy message to him be1 and he will own  
thee2 for he hath said1 ,they that hear 
my word1 and do it1 are my mother1 and  
my brethren4#cfe  ,footnote #cfd ,psalm 
cxix1 #agd4  ,footnote #cfe ,luke viii1 
#bj1 #ba4   #ad4 7#c47 ,another         
affection to be exercised in heavenly   
contemplation1 is hope4 ,this helps to  
support the soul under sufferings1      
animates it to the greatest             
difficulties1 gives it firmness in the  
most shaking trials1 enlivens it in     
duties1 and is the very spring that sets
 all the wheels a-going4 ,who would     
believe or strive for heaven1 if it were
 not for the hope that he hath to obtain
 it8 ,who would pray1 but for the hope  
to prevail with ,god8 ,if your hope     
dies1 your duties die1 your endeavors   
die1 your joys die1 and your souls die4 

,and if your hope be not in exercise1   
but asleep1 it is next to dead4         
,therefore1 ,christian ,reader1 when    
thou art winding up thy affections to   
heaven1 forget not to give one lift to  
thy hope4 ,think thus1 and reason thus  
with thy own heart2 ,why should ,i not  
confidently and comfortably hope1 when  
my soul is in the hands of so           
compassionate a ,savior8 ,and when the  
kingdom is at the disposal of so        
bountiful a ,god8 ,did he ever discover 
the least backwardness to my good1 or   
inclination to my ruin8 hath he not     
sworn1 that he delights not in the death
 of him that dieth1 but1 rather that he 
should repent and live8 ,have not all   
his dealings witnessed the same8 ,did he
 not mind me of my danger1 when ,i never
 feared it1 because he would have me    
escape it8 ,did he not mind me of my    
happiness1 when ,i had no thoughts of   
it1 because he would have me enjoy it8  
,how often hath he drawn me to himself1 
and his ,christ1 when ,i have drawn     

backward8 ,how hath his ,spirit         
incessantly solicited my heart8 ,and    
would he have done all this1 if he had  
been willing that ,i should perish8     
,should ,i not hope1 ,if an honest man  
had promised me something in his power8 
,and shall ,i not hope1 when ,i have the
 covenant and oath of ,god8 ,it is true1
 the glory is out of sight2 we have not 
beheld the mansions of the saints2 but  
is not the promise of ,god more certain 
than our sight8 ,we must not be saved by
 sight1 but by hope1 and hope that is   
seen is not hope2 for what a man seeth1 
why doth he yet hope for8 ,but if we    
hope for that we see not1 then do we    
with patience wait for it4#cff ,i have  
been ashamed of my hope in the arm of   
flesh1 but hope in the promise of ,god  
maketh not ashamed4#cfg ,in my greatest 
sufferings ,i will say1 ,the ,lord is my
 portion1 therefore will ,i hope in him2
 the ,lord is good unto them that wait  
for him1 to the soul that seeketh him4  
,it is good that a man should both hope 

and quietly wait for the salvation of   
the ,lord4 ,for the ,lord will not cast 
off for ever4 ,but though he cause      
grief1 yet will he have compassion1     
according to the multitude of his       
mercies4#cfh ,though ,i languish and    
die1 yet will ,i hope2 for the righteous
 hath hope in his death4#cfi ,though ,i 
must lie down in the dust and darkness1 
yet there my flesh shall rest in        
hope4#cgj ,and when my flesh hath       
nothing to rejoice in1 yet will ,i hold 
fast the rejoicing of the hope firm unto
 the end2#cga for the hope of the       
righteous shall be gladness4#cgb        
,indeed1 ,if ,i was to satisfy ,divine  
justice1 then there had been no hope2   
but ,christ hath brought in a better    
hope1 by the which we draw nigh unto    
,god4#cgc ,or1 if ,i had to do with a   
feeble creature1 there were small hope2 
for how could he raise this body from   
the dust1 and lift me above the sun8    
,but what is this to the ,almighty      
,power1 which made the heavens and the  

earth out of nothing8 ,cannot that power
 which raised ,christ from the dead1    
raise me8 and that1 which hath glorified
 the head1 glorify also the members8    
,doubtless1 by the blood of his         
covenant1 ,god will send forth his      
prisoners out of the pit1 wherein is no 
water2 therefore will ,i turn to the    
stronghold1 as a prisoner of hope4#cgd  
,footnote #cff ,romans vii1 #bd1 #be4   
,footnote #cfg ,romans v1 #e4  ,footnote
 #cfh ,lamentations iii1 #bd-bf1 #ca1   
#cb4  ,footnote #cfi ,proverbs xiv1 #cb4
  ,footnote #cgj ,psalm xvi1 #i4        
,footnote #cga ,hebrews iii1 #f4        
,footnote #cgb ,proverbs x1 #bh4        
,footnote #cgc ,hebrews vii1 #ai4       
,footnote #cgd ,zechariah ix1 #aa1 #ab4 
#ae4 7#d47 ,courage or boldness is      
another affection to be exercised in    
heavenly contemplation4 ,it leadeth to  
resolution and concludeth in action4    
,when you have raised your love1 desire1
 and hope1 go on1 and think thus with   
yourself2 ,will ,god indeed dwell with  

men8 ,and is there such a glory within  
the reach of hope8 ,why then do ,i not  
lay hold upon it8 ,where is the cheerful
 vigor of my spirit8 ,why do ,i not gird
 up the loins of my mind8#cge ,why do   
not ,i set upon my enemies on every     
side1 and valiantly break through all   
resistance8 ,what should stop me1 or    
intimidate me8 ,is ,god with me1 or     
against me in the work8 ,will ,christ   
stand by me1 or will he not8 ,if ,god   
and ,christ be for me1 who can be       
against me#cgf ,in the work of sin1     
almost all things are ready to help us1 
and only ,god and his servants are      
against us1 yet how ill doth that work  
prosper in our hands8 ,but in my course 
to heaven1 almost all things are against
 me1 but ,god is for me2 and therefore  
how happily doth the work succeed8 ,do  
,i set upon this work in my own         
strength1 or rather in the strength of  
,christ my ,lord8 and cannot ,i do all  
things through him that strengthens     
me8#cgg ,was he ever foiled by an enemy8

 ,he hath indeed been assaulted1 but was
 he ever conquered8 ,why then doth my   
flesh urge me with the difficulties of  
the work8 ,is any thing too hard for    
,omnipotence8 ,may not ,peter boldly    
walk on the sea1 if ,christ gives the   
word of command8 ,if he begin to sink1  
is it from the weakness of ,christ1 or  
the smallness of his faith8 ,do ,i not  
well deserve to be turned into hell1 if 
mortal threats can drive me thither8 ,do
 ,i not well deserve to be shut out of  
heaven1 if ,i will be frighted from     
thence with the reproach of tongues8    
,what if it were father1 or mother1 or  
husband1 or wife1 or the nearest friend 
,i have in the world1 7if they may be   
called friends that would draw me to    
damnation7 should not ,i forsake all    
that would keep me from ,christ8 ,will  
their friendship countervail the enmity 
of ,god1 or be any comfort to my        
condemned soul8 ,shall ,i be yielding to
 the desires of men1 and only harden    
myself against the ,lord8 ,let them     

beseech me upon their knees1 ,i will    
scorn to stop my course to behold them2 
,i will shut my ears to their cries3    
,let them flatter1 or frown2 let them   
draw out tongues or swords against me2  
,i am resolved in the strength of       
,christ to break through1 and look upon 
them as dust3 ,if they would entice me  
with preferment1 even with the kingdoms 
of the world1 ,i will no more regard    
them than the dung of the earth4 ,o     
blessed rest6 ,o glorious state6 ,who   
would sell thee for dreams and shadows8 
,who would be enticed or affrighted from
 thee8 ,who would not strive1 and fight1
 and watch1 and run1 and that with      
violence1 even to the last breath1 in   
order to obtain thee8 ,surely none but  
those that know thee not1 and believe   
not thy glory4  ,footnote #cge #a ,peter
 i1 #ac4  ,footnote #cgf ,romans viii1  
#ca4  ,footnote #cgg ,philippians iv1   
#ac4   #af4 7#e47 ,the last affection to
 be exercised in heavenly contemplation 
is joy4 ,love1 desire1 hope1 and        

courage1 all tend to raise our joy4     
,this is so desirable to every man by   
nature1 and so essentially necessary to 
constitute our happiness1 that ,i hope1 
,i need not say much to persuade you to 
any thing that would make your life     
delightful4 ,supposing you therefore    
already convinced1 that the pleasures of
 the flesh are brutish and perishing1   
and that your solid and lasting joy must
 be from heaven1 instead of persuading1 
,i will proceed in directing4 ,reader1  
if thou hast managed well the former    
work1 thou art got within sight of thy  
rest2 thou believest the truth of it2   
thou art convinced of its excellency1   
thou art fallen in love with it2 thou   
longest after it2 thou hopest for it2   
and thou art resolved to venture        
courageously for obtaining it4 ,but is  
here any work for joy in this8 ,we      
delight in the good we possess2 it is   
present good that is the object of joy2 
and thou wilt say1 ,alas6 ,i am yet     
without it4 ,but think a little farther 

with thyself4 ,is it nothing to have a  
deed of gift from ,god8 ,are his        
infallible promises no ground of joy8   
,is it nothing to live in daily         
expectation of entering into the        
kingdom8 ,is not my assurance of being  
hereafter glorified1 a sufficient ground
 for inexpressible joy8 ,is it not a    
delight to the heir of a kingdom1 to    
think of what he must soon possess1     
though at present he little differ from 
a servant8 ,have we not both command1   
and example1 for rejoicing in hope of   
the glory of ,god4#cgh  ,footnote #cgh  
,romans v1 #b4 xii1 #ab4   #ag4 ,here1  
then1 ,reader1 take thy heart once more1
 and carry it to the top of the highest 
mount2 shew it the kingdom of ,christ1  
and the glory of it1 and say to it1 ,all
 this will thy ,lord give thee who hast 
believed in him1 and been a worshipper  
of him4 ,it is the ,father's good       
pleasure to give thee this kingdom4#cgi 
,seest thou this astonishing glory which
 is above thee8 ,all this is thy own    

inheritance4 ,this crown is thine1 these
 pleasures are thine2 this company1 this
 beautiful place1 all are thine2 because
 thou art ,christ's1 and ,christ is     
thine2 when thou wast united to him1    
thou hadst all these with him4 ,thus    
take thy heart into the land of promise2
 shew it the pleasant hills and fruitful
 vallies2 shew it the clusters of grapes
 which thou hast gathered1 to convince  
it that it is a blessed land1 flowing   
with better than milk and honey2 ,enter 
the gates of the ,holy ,city1 walk      
through the streets of the new          
,jerusalem2 walk about ,sion1 and go    
round about her2 tell the towers        
thereof2 mark well her bulwarks2        
consider her palaces2 that thou mayest  
tell it to thy soul4#chj ,hath it not   
the glory of ,god1 and is not her light 
like unto a stone most precious1 even   
like a jasper stone1 clear as crystal8  
,see the twelve foundations of her      
walls1 and in them the names of the     
twelve apostles of the ,lamb4 ,and the  

building of the walls of it are of      
jasper2 and the city is pure gold1 like 
unto clear glass2 and the foundations   
are garnished with all manner of        
precious stones4 ,and the twelve gates  
are twelve pearls1 every several gate is
 of one pearl2 and the street of the    
city is pure gold1 as it were           
transparent glass4 ,there is no temple  
in it2 for the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 and
 the ,lamb are the temple of it4 ,it    
hath no need of the sun1 neither of the 
moon in it2 for the glory of ,god doth  
lighten it1 and the ,lamb is the light  
thereof2 and the nations of them which  
are saved1 shall walk in the light of   
it4 ,these sayings are faithful and     
true3 ,and the ,lord ,god of the holy   
prophets sent his angels and his own    
,son1 to shew unto his servants the     
things which must shortly be done4#cha  
,say now to all this1 ,this is thy rest1
 ,o my soul6 ,and this must be the place
 of thy everlasting habitation4 ,let all
 the sons of ,sion rejoice1 let the     

daughters of ,jerusalem be glad2 for    
great is the ,lord1 and greatly to be   
praised in the city of our ,god1 in the 
mountain of his holiness4 ,beautiful for
 situation1 the joy of the whole earth  
is ,mount ,sion4 ,god is known in her   
palaces for a refuge4#chb  ,footnote    
#cgi ,luke xii1 #cb4  ,footnote #chj    
,psalm xlviii1 #ab1 #ac4  ,footnote #cha
 ,revelation xxi1 #aa-bd4 xxii1 #f4     
,footnote #chb ,psalm xlviii1 #aa1 #a-c4
   #ah4 ,yet proceed on4 ,the soul that 
loves1 ascends frequently1 and runs     
familiarly through the streets of the   
heavenly ,jerusalem1 visiting the       
,patriarchs and prophets1 saluting the  
apostles1 and admiring the armies of    
martyrs3 ,so do thou lead on thy heart  
as from street to street2 bring it into 
the palace of the ,great ,king2 lead it1
 as it were1 from chamber to chamber4   
,say to it2 ,here must ,i lodge2 here   
must ,i live2 here must ,i praise2 here 
must ,i love1 and be beloved4 ,i must   
shortly be one of this heavenly choir1  

and be better skilled in the music4     
,among this blessed company must ,i take
 up my place1 my voice must join to make
 up the melody4 ,my tears will then be  
wiped away2 my groans be turned to      
another tune2 my cottage of clay be     
changed to this palace2 my prison-rags  
to these splendid robes2 and my sordid  
flesh shall be put off1 and such a      
sun-like spiritual body be put on3 ,for 
the former things are here passed       
away4#chc ,glorious things are spoken of
 thee1 ,o city of ,god6#chd ,when ,i    
look upon this glorious place1 what a   
dunghill and dungeon1 methinks is earth8
 ,o what difference betwixt a man       
feeble1 pained1 groaning1 dying1 rotting
 in the grave1 and one of these         
triumphant1 shining saints8 ,here shall 
,i drink of the river of pleasures1 the 
streams whereof make glad the city of   
,god4#che ,must ,israel1 under the      
bondage of the law1 serve the ,lord with
 joyfulness1 and with gladness of heart1
 for the abundance of all things4#chf   

,surely ,i shall serve him with         
joyfulness and gladness of heart1 for   
the abundance of glory4 ,did persecuted 
saints take joyfully the spoiling of    
their goods8#chg ,and shall not ,i take 
joyfully such a full reparation of all  
my losses8 ,was it a celebrated day     
wherein the ,jews rested from their     
enemies1 because it was turned unto them
 from sorrow to joy1 and from mourning  
into a good day8#chh ,what a day then   
will that be to my soul1 whose rest and 
change will be unconceivably greater8   
,when the wise men saw the star that led
 to ,christ1 they rejoiced with         
exceeding great joy4#chi ,but ,i shall  
shortly see him1 who is himself the     
bright and morning star4#cij ,if the    
disciples departed from the sepulchre   
with great joy1 when they had but heard 
that their ,lord was risen from the     
dead2#cia what will be my joy1 when ,i  
see him reigning in glory1 and myself   
raised to a blessed communion with him8 
,then shall ,i indeed have beauty for   

ashes1 the oil of joy for mourning1 and 
the garment of praise for the spirit of 
heaviness2 and ,sion shall be made an   
eternal excellency1 a joy of many       
generations4#cib ,why then do ,i not    
rise from the dust1 and cease my        
complaints8 ,why do ,i not trample on   
vain delights1 and feed on the foreseen 
delights of glory8 ,why is not my life a
 continual joy1 and the savor of heaven 
perpetually upon my spirit8  ,footnote  
#chc ,revelation xxi1 #d4  ,footnote    
#chd ,psalm lxxxvii1 #c4  ,footnote #che
 ,psalm xxxvi1 #h4 xlvi1 #d4  ,footnote 
#chf ,deuteronomy xxviii1 #dg4          
,footnote #chg ,hebrews x1 #cd4         
,footnote #chh ,esther ix1 #bb4         
,footnote #chi ,matthew ii1 #aj4        
,footnote #cij ,revelation1 xxii1 #af4  
,footnote #cia ,matthew xxviii1 #g1 #h4 
,footnote #cib ,isaiah lxi1 #c4 lx1 #ae4
   #ai4 ,let me here observe1 that there
 is no necessity to exercise these      
affections1 either exactly in this      
order1 or all at one time4 ,sometimes   

one of thy affections may need more     
exciting1 or may be more lively than the
 rest2 or1 if thy time be short1 one may
 be exercised one day1 and another upon 
the next2 all which must be left to thy 
prudence to determine4 ,thou hast also  
an opportunity1 if inclined to make use 
of it1 to exercise opposite and more    
mixed affections2 such as--hatred of    
sin1 which would deprive thy soul of    
these immortal joys2--godly fear1 lest  
thou shouldst abuse thy mercy2--godly   
shame and grief1 for having abused      
it2--unfeigned                          
repentance2--self-indignation2--jealousy
 over thy heart2--and pity for those who
 are in danger of losing these immortal 
joys4   #bj4 7,,iii47 ,we are also to   
take notice1 how heavenly contemplation 
is promoted by soliloquy and prayer4    
,though consideration be the chief      
instrument in this work1 yet1 by itself1
 it is not so likely to affect the      
heart4 ,in this respect contemplation is
 like preaching1 where the mere         

explaining of truths and duties is      
seldom attended with such success1 as   
the lively application of them to the   
conscience2 and especially when a       
,divine blessing is earnestly sought to 
accompany such application4   #ba4 7#a47
 ,by soliloquy1 or a pleading the case  
with thyself1 thou must in thy          
meditation quicken thy own heart4 ,enter
 into a serious debate with it4 ,plead  
with it in the most moving and affecting
 language1 and urge it with the most    
powerful and weighty arguments4 ,it is  
what holy men of ,god have practised in 
all ages4 ,thus ,david1 ,why art thou   
cast down1 ,o my soul6 ,and why art thou
 disquieted within me8 ,hope thou in    
,god1 for ,i shall yet praise him1 who  
is the health of my countenance1 and my 
,god4#cic ,and again1 ,bless the ,lord1 
,o my soul6 and all that is within me1  
bless his holy name4 ,bless the ,lord1  
,o my soul6 and forget not all his      
benefits1#cid c4 ,this soliloquy is to  
be made use of according to the several 

affections of the soul1 and according to
 its several necessities4 ,it is a      
preaching to one's self3 ,for as every  
good master or father of a family is a  
good preacher to his own family2 so     
every good ,christian is a good preacher
 to his own soul4 ,therefore the very   
same method which a minister should use 
in his preaching to others1 every       
,christian1 should endeavor after in    
speaking to himself4 ,observe the matter
 and manner of the most heart-affecting 
minister2 let him be as a pattern for   
your imitation2 and the same way that he
 takes with the hearts of his people1 do
 thou also take with thy own heart4 ,do 
this in thy heavenly contemplation2     
explain to thyself the things on which  
thou dost meditate2 confirm thy faith in
 them from ,scripture2 and then apply   
them to thyself1 according to their     
nature1 and thy own necessity4 ,there is
 no need to object against this1 from a 
sense of thy own inability4 ,doth not   
,god command thee to teach the          

,scriptures diligently unto thy         
children1 and talk of them when thou    
sittest in thine house1 and when thou   
walkest by the way1 and when thou liest 
down1 and when thou risest up8#cie ,and 
if thou must have some ability to teach 
thy children1 much more to teach        
thyself2 and if thou canst talk of      
,divine things to others1 why not also  
to thine own heart8  ,footnote #cic     
,psalm xliii1 #aa4  ,footnote #cid      
,psalm ciii1 #a-e4  ,footnote #cie      
,deuteronomy vi1 #g4   #bb4 7#b47       
,heavenly contemplation is also         
promoted1 by speaking to ,god in prayer2
 as well as by speaking to ourselves in 
soliloquy4 ,ejaculatory prayer may very 
properly be intermixed with meditation1 
as a part of the duty4 ,how often do we 
find ,david1 in the same ,psalm1        
sometimes pleading with his soul1 and   
sometimes with ,god8 ,the apostle bids  
us speak to ourselves in psalms1 and    
hymns1 and spiritual songs2#cif and no  
doubt we may also speak to ,god in them4

 ,this keeps the soul sensible of the   
,divine presence1 and tends greatly to  
quicken and raise it4 ,as ,god is the   
highest object of our thoughts1 so our  
viewing of him1 speaking to him1 and    
pleading with him1 more elevates the    
soul1 and excites the affections1 than  
any other part of meditation4 ,though we
 remain unaffected1 while we plead the  
case with ourselves2 yet1 when we turn  
our speech to ,god1 it may strike us    
with awe2 and the holiness and majesty  
of ,him whom we speak to1 may cause both
 the matter and words to pierce the     
deeper4 ,when we read1 that ,isaac went 
out to meditate in the field1 the margin
 says1 to pray2 for the ,hebrew word    
signifies both4 ,thus in our            
meditations1 to intermix soliloquy and  
prayer2 sometimes speaking to our own   
hearts1 and sometimes to ,god1 is1 ,i   
apprehend1 the highest step we can      
advance to in this heavenly work4 ,nor  
should we imagine1 it will be as well to
 take up with prayer alone1 and lay     

aside meditation4 ,for they are distinct
 duties1 and must both of them be       
performed4 ,we need one as well as the  
other1 and therefore shall wrong        
ourselves by neglecting either4 ,besides
 the mixture of them1 like music1 will  
be more engaging2 as the one serves to  
put life into the other4 ,and our       
speaking to ourselves in meditation1    
should go before our speaking to ,god in
 prayer4 ,for want of attending to this 
due order1 men speak to ,god with far   
less reverence and affection than they  
would speak to an angel1 if he should   
appear to them2 or to a judge1 if they  
were speaking for their lives4 ,speaking
 to the ,god of heaven in prayer1 is a  
weightier duty than most are aware of4  
,footnote #cif ,ephesians v1 #ai4       
,,chap4 ,,xv4  ,heavenly contemplation  
assisted by sensible objects1 and       
guarded against a treacherous heart4    
#a4 ,as it is difficult to maintain a   
lively impression of heavenly  things1  
therefore1  #b4 7,i47 ,heavenly         

contemplation may be assisted by        
sensible objects2  #c4 7#a47 ,if we draw
 strong suppositions from sense2  and1  
#d-aa4 7#b47 ,if we compare the objects 
of sense with the objects  of faith1    
several instances of which are produced4
  #ab4 7,,ii47 ,heavenly  contemplation 
may also be guarded against a           
treacherous heart1 by  considering1     
#ac1 #ad4 7#a47 ,the great backwardness 
of the heart to this  duty2  #ae4 7#b47 
,its trifling in it2  #af4 7#c47 ,its   
wandering from it2  and1  #ag4 7#d47    
,its too abruptly putting an end to it4 
#a4 ,the most difficult part of heavenly
 contemplation1 is to maintain a lively 
sense of heavenly things upon our       
hearts4 ,it is easier1 merely to think  
of heaven a whole day1 than to be lively
 and affectionate in those thoughts a   
quarter of an hour4 ,faith is imperfect1
 for we are renewed but in part2 and    
goes against a world of resistance2 and1
 being supernatural1 is prone to decline
 and languish1 unless it be continually 

excited4 ,sense is strong1 according to 
the strength of the flesh2 and being    
natural1 continues while nature         
continues4 ,the objects of faith are far
 off2 but those of sense are nigh4 ,we  
must go as far as heaven for our joys4  
,to rejoice in what we never saw1 nor   
ever knew the man that did see1 and this
 upon a mere promise in the ,bible2 is  
not so easy1 as to rejoice in what we   
see and possess4 ,it must therefore be a
 point of spiritual prudence1 to call in
 sense to the assistance of faith4 ,it  
will be a good work1 if we can make     
friends of these usual enemies1 and make
 them instruments for raising us to     
,god1 which are so often the means of   
drawing us from him4 ,why hath ,god     
given us either our senses1 or their    
common objects1 if they might not be    
serviceable to his praise8 ,why doth the
 ,holy ,spirit describe the glory of the
 ,new ,jerusalem1 in expressions that   
are grateful to the flesh8 ,is it that  
we might think heaven to be made of gold

 and pearl8 or that saints and angels   
eat and drink8 ,no1 but to help us to   
conceive of them as we are able1 and to 
use these borrowed phrases as a glass1  
in which we must see the things         
themselves imperfectly represented1 till
 we come to an immediate and perfect    
sight4 ,and besides shewing how heavenly
 contemplation may be assisted by       
sensible objects1--this chapter will    
also shew how it may be preserved from a
 wandering heart4   #b4 7,i47 ,in order 
that heavenly contemplation may be      
assisted by sensible objects1 let me    
only advise--to draw strong suppositions
 from sense1--and to compare the objects
 of sense with objects of faith4   #c4  
7#a47 ,for the helping of thy affections
 in heavenly contemplation1 draw as     
strong suppositions as possible from thy
 senses4 ,think on the joys above1 as   
boldly as ,scripture hath expressed     
them4 ,bring down thy conceptions to the
 reach of sense4 ,both love and joy are 
promoted by familiar acquaintance4 ,when

 we attempt to think of ,god and glory1 
without the ,scripture-manner of        
representing them1 we are lost1 and have
 nothing to fix our thoughts upon2 we   
set them so far from us1 that our       
thoughts are strange1 and we are ready  
to say1 what is above us1 is nothing to 
us4 ,to conceive of ,god and glory1 only
 as above our conception1 will beget but
 little love2 or as above our love1 will
 produce little joy4 ,therefore put     
,christ no farther from you1 than he    
hath put himself1 lest the ,divine      
nature be again inaccessible4 ,think of 
,christ1 as in our own glorified nature4
 ,think of glorified saints1 as men made
 perfect4 ,suppose thyself a companion  
with ,john in his survey of the new     
,jerusalem1 and viewing the thrones1 the
 ,majesty1 the heavenly hosts1 the      
shining splendor1 which he saw4 ,suppose
 thyself his fellow-traveller into the  
celestial kingdom1 and that thou hadst  
seen all the saints in their white      
robes1 with palms in their hands2 and   

that thou hadst heard those ,songs of   
,moses1 and of the ,lamb4 ,if thou hadst
 really seen and heard these things1 in 
what a rapture wouldst thou have been8  
and the more seriously thou puttest this
 supposition to thyself1 the more will  
thy meditation elevate thy heart4 ,do   
not1 like the papists1 draw them in     
pictures2 but get the liveliest picture 
of them in thy mind that thou possibly  
canst1 by contemplating the             
,scripture-account of them1 till thou   
canst say1 ,methinks ,i see a glimpse of
 glory6 methinks ,i hear the shouts of  
joy and praise1 and even stand by       
,abraham and ,david1 ,peter and ,paul1  
and other triumphant souls6 ,methinks ,i
 even see the ,son of ,god appearing in 
the clouds1 and the world standing at   
his bar to receive their doom2 and hear 
him say ,come ye blessed of my ,father2 
and see them go rejoicing into the joy  
of their ,lord6 ,my very dreams of these
 things have sometimes greatly affected 
me1 and should not these just           

suppositions much more affect me8 ,what 
if ,i had seen1 with ,paul1 those       
unutterable things6 ,or1 with ,stephen1 
had seen heaven opened1 and ,christ     
sitting at the right hand of ,god8      
,surely that one sight was worth his    
storm of stones4 ,what if ,i had seen1  
as ,isaiah did1 the ,lord sitting upon  
his throne1 and all the host of heaven  
standing on his right hand and on his   
left8 ,such things did these men of ,god
 see2 and ,i shall shortly see far more 
than ever they saw1 till they were      
loosed from flesh1 as ,i must be4 ,thus 
you see how it excites our affections in
 this heavenly work1 if we make strong  
and familiar suppositions from our      
bodily senses1 concerning the state of  
blessedness1 as the ,spirit hath in     
condescending language expressed it4    
#d4 7#b47 ,the other way in which our   
senses may promote this heavenly work1  
is by comparing the objects of sense    
with the objects of faith4 ,as for      
instance3--,you may strongly argue with 

your hearts from the corrupt delights of
 sensual men1 to the joys above4 ,think 
with yourselves2 ,is it such a delight  
to a sinner to do wickedly8 ,and will it
 not be delightful indeed to live with  
,god8 ,hath the drunkard such delight in
 his cups1 that the fears of damnation  
will not make him forsake them8 ,will   
the whore-master rather part with his   
credit1 estate1 and salvation1 than with
 his brutish delight8 ,if the way to    
hell can afford such pleasure1 what then
 are the pleasures of the saints in     
heaven8 if the covetous man hath so much
 pleasure in his wealth1 and the        
ambitious man in places of power and    
titles of honor2 what then have the     
saints in everlasting treasures1 and in 
heavenly honors1 where we shall be set  
above principalities and powers1 and be 
made the glorious spouse of ,christ8    
,how delightfully will the voluptuous   
follow their recreations from morning to
 night1 or sit at their cards and dice1 
nights and days together8 ,o the delight

 we shall have1 when we come to our     
rest1 in beholding the face of the      
living ,god1 and in singing forth       
praises to him and the ,lamb6--,compare 
also the delights above1 with the lawful
 and moderate delights of sense4 ,think 
with thyself1 ,how sweet is food to my  
taste when ,i am hungry2 especially if  
it be1 as ,isaac said1 such as ,i love1 
which my temperance and appetite incline
 to8 ,what delight then must my soul    
have in feeding upon ,christ1 the living
 bread1 and in eating with him at his   
table in his kingdom8 ,was a mess of    
pottage so sweet to ,esau in his hunger1
 that he would buy it at so dear a rate 
as his birth-right8 ,how highly then    
should ,i value this never-perishing    
food8 ,how pleasant is drink in the     
extremity of thirst1 scarcely to be     
expressed2 enough to make the strength  
of ,sampson revive8 ,o how delightful   
will it be to my soul to drink of that  
fountain of living water1 which whoso   
drinketh it shall thirst no more8 ,how  

delightful are grateful odors to the    
smell2 or music to the ear2 or beautiful
 sights to the eye8 ,what fragrance then
 hath the precious ointment which is    
poured on the head of our glorified     
,savior1 and which must be poured on the
 head of all his saints1 and will fill  
all heaven with its odor8 ,how          
delightful is the music of the heavenly 
host8 ,how pleasing will be those real  
beauties above8 ,how glorious the       
building not made with hands1 the house 
that ,god himself dwells in1 the walks  
and prospects in the city of ,god2 and  
the celestial paradise6   #e4 ,compare  
also the delights above1 with those we  
find in natural knowledge4 ,these are   
far beyond the delights of sense2 but   
how much farther are the delights of    
heaven8 ,think then1 ,can an ,archimedes
 be so taken up with his mathematical   
invention1 that the threats of death    
cannot disengage him1 but he will die in
 the midst of his contemplations8       
,should ,i not be much more taken up    

with the delights of glory1 and die with
 these contemplations fresh upon my     
soul2 especially when my death will     
perfect my delights1 while those of     
,archimedes die with him8 ,what         
exquisite pleasure is it to dive into   
the secrets of nature1 and find out the 
mystery of arts and sciences2 especially
 if we make a new discovery in any one  
of them8 ,what high delights are there  
then in the knowledge of ,god and       
,christ8 ,if the face of human learning 
be so beautiful1 as to make sensual     
pleasures appear base and brutish2 how  
beautiful then is the face of ,god8     
,when we meet with some choice book1 how
 could we read it day and night1 almost 
forgetful of meat1 drink1 or sleep8     
,what delights are there then at ,god's 
right hand1 where we shall know in a    
moment all that is to be                
known8--,compare also the delights      
above1 with the delights of morality1   
and of the natural affections4 ,what    
delight had many sober heathens in the  

rules and practice of moral duties1 so  
that they took him alone for an honest  
man1 who did well through the love of   
virtue1 and not merely for fear of      
punishment2 yea1 so much valued was this
 moral virtue1 that they thought man's  
chief happiness consisted in it8 ,think 
then ,what excellency will there be in  
our heavenly perfection and in that     
uncreated perfection of ,god which we   
shall behold8 ,what sweetness is there  
in the exercise of natural love1 whether
 to children1 parents1 yoke-fellows1 or 
intimate friends8 ,does ,david say of   
,jonathan1 thy love to me was wonderful1
 passing the love of women8 ,did the    
soul of ,jonathan cleave to ,david8 ,had
 ,christ himself one disciple whom he   
especially loved1 and who was wont to   
lean on his breast8 ,if then the        
delights of close and cordial friendship
 be so great1 what delight shall we have
 in the friendship of the ,most ,high1  
and in our mutual intimacy with ,jesus  
,christ1 and in the dearest love of the 

saints8 ,surely this will be a stricter 
friendship1 and these more lovely and   
desirable friends1 than ever the sun    
beheld2 and both our affections to our  
,father and ,savior1 and especially     
theirs to us1 will be such as we never  
knew here4 ,if one angel could destroy  
an host1 the affections of spirits must 
also be proportionably stronger1 so that
 we shall then love a thousand times    
more ardently than we can now4 ,as all  
the attributes and works of ,god are    
incomprehensible1 so is this of love3   
,he will love us infinitely beyond our  
most perfect love to him4 ,what then    
will there be in this mutual love8   #f4
 ,compare also the excellencies of      
heaven1 with those glorious works of    
creation which our eyes now behold4     
,what wisdom1 power1 and goodness1 are  
manifested therein8 ,how does the       
majesty of the ,creator shine in this   
fabric of the world8 ,his works are     
great1 sought out of all them that have 
pleasure therein4 ,what ,divine skill in

 forming the bodies of men or beasts8   
,what excellency in every plant8 ,what  
beauty in flowers8 ,what variety and    
usefulness in herbs1 fruits1 and        
minerals8 ,what wonders are contained in
 the earth and its inhabitants2 the     
ocean of waters1 with its motions and   
dimensions2 and the constant succession 
of spring and autumn1 of summer and     
winter8 ,think then1 ,if these things1  
which are but servants to sinful man1   
are so full of mysterious worth1 what is
 that place where ,god himself dwells1  
and which is prepared for just men made 
perfect with ,christ8 ,what glory is    
there in the least of yonder stars8     
,what a vast resplendent body is yonder 
moon1 and every planet8 ,what an        
inconceivable glory hath the sun8 ,but  
all this is nothing to the glory of     
heaven4 ,yonder sun must there be laid  
aside as useless4 ,yonder is but        
darkness to the lustre of my ,father's  
house4 ,i shall myself be as glorious as
 that sun4 ,this whole earth is but my  

,father's footstool4 ,this thunder is   
nothing to his dreadful voice4 ,these   
winds are nothing to the breath of his  
mouth4 ,if the sending rain1 and making 
the sun to rise on the just1 and on the 
unjust1 be so wonderful2 how much more  
wonderful and glorious will that sun be1
 which must shine on none but saints and
 angels8--,compare also the enjoyments  
above1 with the wonders of ,providence  
in the church and world4 ,would it not  
be an astonishing sight to see the sea  
stand as a wall on the right hand and on
 the left1 and the dry land appear in   
the midst1 and the people of ,israel    
pass safely through1 and ,pharaoh and   
his host drowned8 or to have seen the   
ten plagues of ,egypt8 or the rock      
gushing forth streams8 or manna and     
quails rained from heaven8 or the earth 
opening and swallowing up the wicked8   
,but we shall see far greater things    
than these2 not only sights more        
wonderful1 but more delightful3 ,there  
shall be no blood1 nor wrath1           

intermingled2 nor shall we cry out1 as  
the men of ,bethshemesh1 ,who is able to
 stand before this holy ,lord ,god8 ,how
 astonishing1 to see the sun stand still
 in the firmament2 or the dial of ,ahaz 
go back ten degrees8 ,but we shall see  
when there shall be no sun2 or rather   
shall behold forever a sun of infinitely
 greater brightness4 ,what a life should
 we live1 if we could have drought or   
rain at our prayers2 or have fire from  
heaven to destroy our enemies1 as       
,elijah had2 or raise the dead1 as      
,elisha2 or miraculously cure diseases1 
and speak all languages1 as the         
,apostles8 ,alas1 these are nothing to  
the wonders we shall see and possess    
with ,god2 and all of them wonders of   
goodness and love8 ,we shall ourselves  
be the subjects of more wonderful       
mercies than any of these4 ,jonah was   
raised but from a three day's burial in 
the belly of a fish2 but we shall be    
raised from many years rottenness and   
dust2 and that dust exalted to the glory

 of the sun2 and that glory perpetuated 
through eternity4 ,surely1 if we observe
 but common providences2 as1 the motion 
of the sun2 the tides of the sea2 the   
standing of the earth2 the watering it  
with rain1 as a garden2 the keeping in  
order a wicked confused world2 with many
 others2 they are all admirable4 ,but   
what are these to the ,sion of ,god1 the
 vision of the ,divine ,majesty1 and the
 order of the heavenly hosts8--,add to  
these those particular providences which
 thou hast thyself enjoyed and recorded 
through thy life1 and compare them with 
the mercies thou shalt have above4 ,look
 over the mercies of thy youth and riper
 age1 of thy prosperity and adversity1  
of thy several places and relations2 are
 they not excellent and innumerable1    
rich and engaging8 ,how sweet was it to 
thee1 when ,god resolved thy doubts2    
scattered thy fears2 prevented the      
inconveniences into which thy own       
counsel would have cast thee2 eased thy 
pains2 healed thy sickness2 and raised  

thee up1 as from death and the grave8   
,think then1 ,are all these so sweet and
 precious1 that without them my life    
would have been a perpetual misery8     
,hath his providence on earth lifted me 
so high1 and his gentleness made me     
great8 ,how sweet then will his glorious
 presence be8 ,how high will his eternal
 love exalt me8 and how great shall ,i  
be made in communion with his greatness8
 ,if my pilgrimage and warfare have such
 mercies1 what shall ,i find in my home1
 and in my triumph8 ,if ,god            
communicates so much to me while ,i     
remain a sinner2 what will he bestow    
when ,i am a perfected saint8 ,if ,i    
have had so much at such a distance from
 him2 what shall ,i have in his         
immediate presence1 where ,i shall ever 
stand before his throne8   #g4 ,compare 
the joys above1 with the comforts thou  
hast here received in ordinances4 ,hath 
not the ,bible been to thee as an open  
fountain1 flowing with comforts day and 
night8 ,what suitable promises have come

 into thy mind2 so that with ,david1    
thou mayest say1 ,unless thy law had    
been my delight1 ,i should then have    
perished in mine affliction8 ,think     
then1 ,if his word be so full of        
consolations1 what overflowing springs  
shall we find in ,god himself8 ,if his  
letters are so comfortable1 what will   
the glories of his presence be8 ,if the 
promise is so sweet1 what will the      
performance be8 ,if the testament of our
 ,lord1 and our charter for the kingdom1
 be so comfortable1 what will be our    
possession of the kingdom               
itself8--,think farther1 ,what delights 
have ,i also found in the word preached8
 ,when ,i have sat under a heavenly1    
heart-searching teacher1 how hath my    
heart been warmed8 ,methinks ,i have    
felt myself almost in heaven4 ,how often
 have ,i gone to the congregation       
troubled in spirit1 and returned joyful8
 ,how often have ,i gone doubting1 and  
,god hath sent me home persuaded of his 
love in ,christ8 ,what cordials have ,i 

met with to animate me in every         
conflict8 ,if but the face of ,moses    
shine so gloriously1 what glory is there
 in the face of ,god8 ,if the feet of   
them that publish peace1 that bring good
 tidings of salvation1 be beautiful2 how
 beautiful is the face of the ,prince of
 ,peace8 ,if this treasure be so        
precious in earthen vessels2 what is    
that treasure laid up in heaven8        
,blessed are the eyes that see what is  
seen there1 and the ears that hear the  
things that are heard there4 ,there     
shall ,i hear ,elijah1 ,isaiah1         
,jeremiah1 ,john1 ,peter1 ,paul2 not    
preaching to gainsayers1 in             
imprisonment1 persecution1 and reproach2
 but triumphing in the praises of him   
that hath raised them to honor and      
glory4 ,think also1 ,what joy is it to  
have access and acceptance in prayer2   
that ,i may always go to ,god1 and open 
my case1 and unbosom my soul to him1 as 
to my most faithful friend8 ,but it will
 be a more unspeakable joy1 when ,i     

shall receive all blessings without     
asking1 and all my necessities and      
miseries will be removed1 and when ,god 
himself will be the portion and         
inheritance of my soul4 ,as for the     
,lord's supper1 ,what a privilege is it 
to be admitted to sit at his table1 to  
have his covenant sealed to me there8   
,but all the life and comfort there1 is 
to assure me of the comforts hereafter4 
,o the difference between the last      
supper of ,christ on earth1 and the     
marriage-supper of the ,lamb at the     
great day6 ,then his room will be the   
glorious heavens2 his attendants1 all   
the hosts of angels and saints2 no      
,judas1 no unfurnished guest1 comes     
there2 but the humble believers must sit
 down by him1 and their feast will be   
their mutual loving and rejoicing4      
,concerning the communion of saints1    
think with thyself1 ,what a pleasure is 
it to live with intelligent and heavenly
 ,christians8 ,david says of such1 they 
were all his delight4 ,o what a         

delightful society then shall ,i have   
above8 ,had ,i but seen ,job on the     
dunghill1 what a mirror of patience8 and
 what will it be to see him in glory8   
,how delightful to have heard ,paul and 
,silas singing in the stocks8 ,how much 
more to hear them sing praises in       
heaven8 ,what melody did ,david make on 
his harp8 ,but how much more melodious  
to hear that sweet singer in the        
heavenly choir8 ,what would ,i have     
given for an hour's free converse with  
,paul1 when he was just come down from  
the third heaven8 ,but ,i must shortly  
see those things myself1 and possess    
what ,i see4 ,once more1 think of       
praising ,god in concert with his       
saints4 ,what if ,i had been in the     
place of those shepherds1 who saw1 and  
heard the heavenly host singing1 ,glory 
to ,god in the highest1 and on earth    
peace1 good will towards men8 ,but ,i   
shall see and hear more glorious things4
 ,how blessed should ,i have thought    
myself1 had ,i heard ,christ in his     

thanksgivings to his ,father8 ,how much 
more1 when ,i shall hear him pronounce  
me blessed8 ,if there was such joy at   
bringing back the ark1 or at rebuilding 
the temple2 what will there be in the   
,new ,jerusalem8 ,if the earth rent1    
when the people rejoiced at ,solomon's  
coronation2 what a joyful shout will    
there be at the appearing of the ,king  
of the church8 ,if1 when the foundations
 of the earth were laid1 the morning    
stars sang together1 and all the sons of
 ,god shouted for joy2 what a joyful    
song will there be1 when the world of   
glory is both founded and finished1 when
 the top-stone is laid1 and when the    
holy city is adorned as the bride1 the  
,lamb's wife8   #h4 ,compare the joy    
thou shalt have in heaven1 with what the
 saints have found in the way to it1 and
 in the foretastes of it4 ,when did ,god
 ever reveal the least of himself to any
 of his saints1 but the joy of their    
hearts was answerable to the revelation8
 ,in what an ecstacy was ,peter on the  

mount of transfiguration8 ,master1 says 
he1 it is good for us to be here2 let us
 make three tabernacles6 one for thee1  
and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias4 
,as if he had said1 ,o let us not go    
down again to yonder persecuting rabble2
 let us not return to our mean and      
suffering state4 ,is it not better to   
stay here now we are here8 ,is not here 
better company1 and sweeter pleasure8   
,how was ,paul lifted up with what he   
saw8 ,how did the face of ,moses shine1 
when he had been talking with ,god8     
,these were all extraordinary           
foretastes2 but little to the full      
beatifical vision4 ,how often have we   
read and heard of dying saints1 who have
 been as full of joy as their hearts    
could hold2 and when their bodies have  
felt the extremity of sickness and pain1
 have had much of heaven in their       
spirits1 and their joy hath far exceeded
 their sorrows8 ,if a spark of this fire
 be so glorious1 even amidst the sea of 
adversity2 what then is glory itself8 ,o

 the joy that the martyrs have felt in  
the flames6 ,they were flesh and blood1 
as well as we2 it must therefore be some
 excellent thing that filled their      
spirits with joy while their bodies were
 burning4 ,think1 reader1 in thy        
meditations1 ,sure it must be some      
wonderful foretaste of glory that made  
the flames of fire easy1 and the king of
 terrors welcome4 ,what then is glory   
itself4 ,what a blessed rest1 when the  
thoughts of it made ,paul desire to     
depart and be with ,christ2 and makes   
the saints never think themselves well1 
till they are dead8 ,shall ,saunders    
embrace the stake1 and cry ,welcome     
cross8 ,and shall not ,i more           
delightfully embrace my blessedness1 and
 cry1 ,welcome crown8 ,shall ,bradford  
kiss the faggot8 ,and shall not ,i kiss 
the ,savior8 ,shall another poor martyr 
rejoice to have her foot in the same    
hole of the stocks1 in which ,mr4       
,philpot's had been before her8 ,and    
shall not ,i rejoice1 that my soul shall

 live in the same place of glory1 where 
,christ and his apostles are gone before
 me8 ,shall fire and faggot1 prisons and
 banishment1 cruel mockings and         
scourgings1 be more welcome to others1  
than ,christ and glory to me8 ,god      
forbid4   #i4 ,compare the glory of the 
heavenly kingdom1 with the glory of the 
church on earth1 and of ,christ in his  
state of humiliation4 ,if ,christ       
suffering in the room of sinners had    
such excellency1 what is ,christ at his 
,father's right hand8 ,if the church    
under her sins and enemies have so much 
beauty1 what will she have at the       
marriage of the ,lamb8 ,how wonderful   
was the ,son of ,god in the form of a   
servant8 ,when he is born1 a new star   
must appear1 and conduct the strangers  
to worship him in a manger2 heavenly    
hosts with their songs must celebrate   
his nativity2 while a child1 he must    
dispute with doctors2 when he enters    
upon his office1 he turns water into    
wine2 feeds thousands with a few loaves 

and fishes2 cleanses the lepers1 heals  
the sick1 restores the lame1 gives sight
 to the blind1 and raises the dead4 ,how
 wonderful then is his celestial glory8 
,if there be such cutting down of       
boughs1 and spreading of garments1 and  
crying ,hosanna1 for one that comes into
 ,jerusalem riding on an ass2 what will 
there be when he comes with his angels  
in his glory8 ,if they that heard him   
preach the gospel of the kingdom1       
confess1 ,never man spake like this man2
 they then that behold his majesty in   
his kingdom1 will say1 ,there was never 
glory like this glory4 ,if1 when his    
enemies came to apprehend him1 they fell
 to the ground2 if when he is dying1 the
 earth quakes1 the veil of the temple is
 rent1 the sun eclipsed1 the dead bodies
 of the saints arise1 and the           
standers-by acknowledge1 ,verily this   
was the ,son of ,god8 ,o what a day will
 it be1 when the dead must all arise1   
and stand before him2 when he will once 
more shake1 not the earth only1 but the 

heavens also2 when this sun shall be    
taken out of the firmament1 and be      
everlastingly darkened with his glory2  
and when every tongue shall confess him 
to be ,lord and ,king6 ,if1 when he rose
 again1 death and the grave lost their  
power2 if angels must roll away the     
stone1 terrify the keepers till they are
 as dead men1 and send the tidings to   
his disciples2 if he ascend to heaven in
 their sight2 what power1 dominion1 and 
glory1 is he now possessed of1 and which
 we must for ever possess with him6     
,when he is gone1 can a few poor        
fishermen and tent-makers cure the lame1
 blind1 and sick1 open prisons1 destroy 
the disobedient1 raise the dead1 and    
astonish their adversaries8 ,what a     
world will that be1 where every one can 
do greater works than these6 ,if the    
preaching of the gospel be accompanied  
with such power as to discover the      
secrets of the heart2 humble the proud  
sinner1 and make the most obdurate      
tremble2 if it can make men burn their  

books1 sell their lands1 bring in the   
price and lay it down at the preacher's 
feet2 if it can convert thousands1 and  
turn the world upside down2 if its      
doctrine1 from the prisoner at the bar1 
can make the judge on the bench tremble2
 if ,christ and his saints have this    
power and honor in the day of their     
abasement1 and in the time appointed for
 their suffering and disgrace2 what then
 will they have in their absolute       
dominion1 and full advancement in their 
kingdom of glory8   #aj4 ,compare the   
glorious change thou shalt have at last1
 with the gracious change which the     
,spirit hath here wrought on thy heart4 
,there is not the smallest sincere grace
 in thee1 but is of greater worth than  
the riches of the ,indies2 not a hearty 
desire and groan after ,christ1 but is  
more to be valued than the kingdoms of  
the world4 ,a renewed nature is the very
 image of ,god2 ,christ dwelling in us2 
and the ,spirit of ,god abiding in us3  
,it is a beam from the face of ,god2 the

 seed of ,god remaining us2 the only    
inherent beauty of the rational soul3   
,it ennobles man above all nobility2    
fits him to understand his ,maker's     
pleasure1 do his will1 and receive his  
glory4 ,if this grain of mustard seed be
 so precious1 what is the tree of life  
in the midst of the paradise of ,god8   
,if a spark of life1 which will but     
strive against corruptions1 and flame   
out a few desires and groans1 be of so  
much worth2 how glorious then is the    
fountain of this life8 ,if we are said  
to be like ,god1 when we are pressed    
down with a body of sin2 sure we shall  
be much more like ,god1 when we have no 
such thing as sin within us4 ,is the    
desire after1 and love of heaven so     
excellent2 what then is the thing       
itself8 ,is our joy in foreseeing and   
believing so sweet2 what will be the joy
 of full possession6 ,how glad is a     
,christian when he feels his heart begin
 to melt and be dissolved with the      
thoughts of sinful unkindness8 ,even    

this sorrow yields him joy4 ,o what then
 will it be1 when we shall know1 and    
love1 and rejoice1 and praise in the    
highest perfection8 ,think with thyself1
 ,what a change was it1 to be taken from
 that state wherein ,i was born1 and in 
which ,i was rivetted by custom1 when   
thousands of sins lay upon my score1 and
 if ,i had so died1 ,i had been damned  
forever8 ,what an astonishing change1 to
 be justified from all these enormous   
crimes1 and freed from all these fearful
 plagues1 and made an heir of heaven8   
,how often1 when ,i have thought of my  
regeneration1 have ,i cried out1 ,o     
blessed day6 and blessed be the ,lord   
that ever ,i saw it6 ,how then shall ,i 
cry out in heaven1 ,o blessed eternity6 
and blessed be the ,lord that brought me
 to it6 ,did the angels of ,god rejoice 
to see my conversion8 ,surely they will 
congratulate my felicity in my          
salvation4 ,grace is but a spark raked  
up in the ashes1 covered with flesh from
 the sight of the world1 and sometimes  

covered with corruption from my own     
sight2 but my everlasting glory will not
 be so clouded1 nor my light be under a 
bushel1 but on a hill1 even upon ,mount 
,sion1 the ,mount of ,god4   #aa4 ,once 
more1 compare the joys which thou shalt 
have above1 with those foretastes of it 
which the ,spirit hath given thee here4 
,hath not ,god sometimes revealed       
himself extraordinarily to thy soul1 and
 let a drop of glory fall upon it8 ,hast
 thou not been ready to say1 ,o that it 
might be thus with my soul continually8 
,didst thou never cry out with the      
martyr1 after thy long and mournful     
expectations1 ,he is come1 ,he is come8 
,didst thou never1 under a lively sermon
 of heaven1 or in thy retired           
contemplations on that blessed state1   
perceive thy drooping spirits revive1   
and thy dejected heart lift up the head1
 and the light of heaven dawn on thy    
soul8 ,think with thyself1 ,what is this
 earnest to the full inheritance8 ,alas1
 all this light1 that so amazeth and    

rejoiceth me1 is but a candle lighted   
from heaven1 to lead me thither through 
this world of darkness3 ,if some godly  
men have been overwhelmed with joy1 till
 they have cried out1 ,hold1 ,lord1 stay
 thy hand2 ,i can bear no more3 ,what   
then will be my joys in heaven1 when my 
soul shall be so capable of seeing and  
enjoying ,god1 that though the light be 
ten thousand times greater than the sun1
 yet my eyes shall be able for ever to  
behold it8 ,or1 if thou hast not yet    
felt these sweet foretastes1 7for every 
believer hath not felt them17 then make 
use of such delights as thou hast felt1 
in order the better to discern what thou
 shalt hereafter feel4   #ab4 7,,ii47 ,i
 am now to shew how heavenly            
contemplation may be preserved from a   
wandering heart4 ,our chief work is here
 to discover the danger1 and that will  
direct to the fittest remedy4 ,the heart
 will prove the greatest hinderance in  
this heavenly employment2 either1 by    
backwardness to it2--or1 by trifling in 

it2--or1 by frequent excursions to other
 objects2--or1 by abruptly ending the   
work before it is well begun4 ,as you   
value the comfort of this work1 these   
dangerous evils must be faithfully      
resisted4   #ac4 7#a47 ,thou wilt find  
thy heart as backward to this1 ,i think1
 as to any work in the world4 ,o what   
excuses will it make6 ,what evasions    
will it find out6 ,what delays and      
demurs1 when it is ever so much         
convinced6 either it will question1     
whether it be a duty or not1 or1 if it  
be so to others1 whether to thyself4 ,it
 will tell thee1 ,this is a work for    
ministers1 that have nothing else to    
study2 or for persons that have more    
leisure than thou hast4 ,if thou be a   
minister1 it will tell thee1 ,this is   
the duty of the people2 it is enough for
 thee to meditate for their instruction1
 and let them meditate on what they have
 heard4 ,as if it was thy duty only to  
cook their meat1 and serve it up1 and   
they alone must eat it1 digest it1 and  

live upon it4 ,if all this will not do1 
thy heart will tell thee of other       
business1 or set thee upon some other   
duty2 for it had rather go to any duty  
than this4 ,perhaps it will tell thee1  
,other duties are greater1 and therefore
 this must give place to them1 because  
thou hast no time for both4 ,public     
business is more important2 to study and
 preach for the saving of souls1 must be
 preferred before these private         
contemplations4 ,as if thou hadst not   
time to care for thy own salvation1 for 
looking after that of others4 ,or thy   
charity to others were so great1 that it
 obliges thee to neglect thy own eternal
 welfare4 ,or as if there were any      
better way to fit us to be useful to    
others1 than making this proof of our   
doctrine ourselves4 ,certainly heaven is
 the best fire to light our candle at1  
and the best book for a preacher to     
study2 and if we would be persuaded to  
study that more1 the church would be    
provided with more heavenly lights2 and 

when our studies are divine1 and our    
spirits divine1 our preaching will also 
be divine1 and we may be called divines 
indeed4 ,or1 if thy heart have nothing  
to say against the work1 it will trifle 
away the time in delays1 and promise    
this day and the next1 but still keep   
off from the business4 ,or1 it will give
 thee a flat denial1 and oppose its own 
unwillingness to thy reason4 ,all this  
,i speak of the heart1 so far as it is  
still carnal2 for ,i know1 so far as it 
is spiritual1 it will judge this the    
sweetest work in the world4   #ad4 ,what
 is now to be done8 ,wilt thou do it1 if
 ,i tell thee8 ,wouldst thou not say in 
a like case1 ,what should ,i do with a  
servant that will not work8 or with a   
horse that will not travel8 ,shall ,i   
keep them to look at8 ,then faithfully  
deal thus with thy heart2 persuade it to
 the work2 take no denial2 chide it for 
its backwardness2 use violence with it4 
,hast thou no command of thy own        
thoughts8 ,is not the subject of thy    

meditations a matter of choice1         
especially under this conduct of thy    
judgment8 ,surely ,god gave thee1 with  
thy new nature1 some power to govern thy
 thoughts4 ,art thou again become a     
slave to thy depraved nature8 ,resume   
thy authority4 ,call in the ,spirit of  
,christ to thine assistance1 who is     
never backward to so good a work1 nor   
will deny his help in so just a cause4  
,say to him1 ,lord1 thou gavest my      
reason the command of my thoughts and   
affections2 the authority ,i have       
received over them is from thee2 and now
 behold1 they refuse to obey thine      
authority3 ,thou commandest me to set   
them to the work of heavenly meditation1
 but they rebel and stubbornly refuse   
the duty4 ,wilt thou not assist me to   
exercise that authority which thou hast 
given me8 ,o send down thy ,spirit1 that
 ,i may enforce thy commands1 and       
effectually compel them to obey thy     
will6 ,thus thou shalt see thy heart    
will submit1 its resistance be overcome1

 and its backwardness be turned into    
cheerful compliance4   #ae4 7#b47 ,thy  
heart will also be likely to betray thee
 by trifling1 when it should be         
effectually meditating4 ,perhaps1 when  
thou hast an hour for meditation1 the   
time will be spent before thy heart will
 be serious4 ,this doing of duty1 as if 
we did it not1 ruins as many as the     
omission of it4 ,here let thine eye be  
always upon thy heart4 ,look not so much
 to the time it spends in the duty1 as  
to the quantity and quality of the work 
that is done4 ,you can tell by his work1
 whether a servant hath been diligent4  
,ask yourself1 ,what affections have    
been yet exercised8 ,how much am ,i yet 
got nearer to heaven8 ,think not1 since 
thy heart is so trifling1 it is better  
to let it alone3 for1 by this means1    
thou wilt certainly banish all spiritual
 obedience2 because the best hearts1    
being but sanctified in part1 will      
resist1 so far as they are carnal4 ,but 
rather consider well the corruption of  

thy nature2 and that its sinful         
indispositions will not supersede the   
commands of ,god2 nor one sin excuse for
 another2 and that ,god has appointed   
means to excite our affections4 ,this   
self-reasoning1 self-considering duty of
 heavenly meditation1 is the most       
singular means1 both to excite and      
increase love4 ,therefore stay not from 
the duty1 till thou feelest thy love    
constrain thee2 any more than thou      
wouldst stay from the fire1 till thou   
feelest thyself warm2 but engage in the 
work1 till love is excited1 and then    
love will constrain thee to further     
duty4   #af4 7#c47 ,thy heart will also 
be making excursions from thy heavenly  
meditation to other objects4 ,it will be
 turning aside1 like a careless servant1
 to talk with every one that passeth by4
 ,when there should be nothing in thy   
mind but heaven1 it will be thinking of 
thy calling1 or thy afflictions1 or of  
every bird1 or tree1 or place thou      
seest4 ,the cure is here the same as    

before2 use watchfulness and violence4  
,say to thy heart1 ,what1 did ,i come   
hither to think of my worldly business1 
of persons1 places1 news1 or vanity1 or 
of any thing but heaven1 be it ever so  
good8 ,canst thou not watch one hour8   
,wouldst thou leave this world1 and     
dwell for ever with ,christ in heaven1  
and not leave it one hour to dwell with 
,christ in meditation8 ,is this thy love
 to thy friend8 ,dost thou love ,christ1
 and the place of thy eternal1 blessed  
abode1 no more than this8 ,if the       
ravening fowls of wandering thoughts    
devour the meditations intended for     
heaven1 they devour the life and joy of 
thy thoughts3 ,therefore drive them away
 from thy sacrifice1 and strictly keep  
thy heart to the work4   #ag4 7#d47     
,abruptly ending thy meditation before  
it is well begun1 is another way in     
which thy heart will deceive thee4 ,thou
 mayest easily perceive this in other   
duties4 ,in secret prayer1 is not thy   
heart urging thee to cut it short1 and  

frequently making a motion to have done8
 ,so in heavenly contemplation1 thy     
heart will be weary of the work1 and    
will stop thy heavenly walk before thou 
art well warm4 ,but charge it in the    
name of ,god to stay1 and not do so     
great a work by halves4 ,say to it1     
,foolish heart6 if thou beg a while1 and
 goest away before thou hast thy alms1  
is not thy begging a lost labor8 ,if    
thou stoppest before the end of thy     
journey1 is not thy travel lost8 ,thou  
camest hither in hope to have a sight of
 the glory which thou must inherit2 and 
wilt thou stop when thou art almost at  
the top of the hill1 and turn back      
before thou hast taken thy survey8 ,thou
 camest hither in hope to speak with    
,god1 and wilt thou go before thou hast 
seen him8 ,thou camest to bathe thyself 
in the streams of consolation1 and to   
that end didst unclothe thyself of thy  
earthly thoughts1 and wilt thou only    
touch the bank and return8 ,thou camest 
to spy out the land of promise2 go not  

back without one cluster of grapes1 to  
shew thy brethren for their             
encouragement4 ,let them see that thou  
hast tasted of the wine1 by the gladness
 of thy heart2 and that thou hast been  
anointed with the oil1 by the           
cheerfulness of thy countenance3 and    
hast fed of the milk and honey1 by the  
mildness of thy disposition1 and the    
sweetness of thy conversation4 ,this    
heavenly fire would melt thy frozen     
heart1 and refine and spiritualize it2  
but it must have time to operate4 ,thus 
pursue the work till something be done1 
till thy graces be in exercise1 thy     
affections raised1 and thy soul         
refreshed with the delights above2 or if
 thou canst not obtain these ends at    
once1 be the more earnest at another    
time4 ,blessed is that servant1 whom his
 ,lord1 when he cometh1 shall find so   
doing4     ,,chap4 ,,xvi4  ,heavenly    
contemplation exemplified1 and the whole
 ,work concluded4    #a4 ,the reader's  
attention excited to the following      

example of  meditation4  #b4 ,the       
excellencies of heavenly rest4  #c4 ,its
 nearness1   #d4 ,dreadful to sinners   
#e4 ,and joyful to saints2  #f4 ,its    
dear  purchase2  #g4 ,its difference    
from earth4  #h4 ,the heart pleaded     
with4   #i4 ,unbelief banished4  #aj4 ,a
 careless world pitied4  #aa-ac4        
,heavenly rest the object of love1      
#ad-ba4 ,and joy4  #bb4 ,the heart's    
backwardness to heavenly joy lamented4  
#bc-bg4 ,heavenly rest the  object of   
desire4  #bh4 ,such meditations as this 
urged upon the  reader3  #bi4 ,the      
mischief of neglecting it3  #cj4 ,the   
happiness of  pursuing it4  #ca4 ,the   
,author's concluding prayer for the     
success of  his work4    #a4 ,and now   
reader1 according to the above          
directions1 make conscience of daily    
exercising thy graces in meditation1 as 
well as prayer3 ,retire into some secret
 place1 at a time the most convenient to
 thyself1 and laying aside all worldly  
thoughts1 with all possible seriousness 

and reverence1 look up toward heaven1   
remember there is thine everlasting     
rest1 study its excellency and reality1 
and rise from sense to faith1 by        
comparing heavenly with earthly joys3   
,then mix ejaculations with thy         
soliloquies2 till having pleaded the    
case reverently with ,god1 and seriously
 with thy own heart1 thou hast pleaded  
thyself from a clod to a flame1 from a  
forgetful sinner1 and a lover of the    
world1 to an ardent lover of ,god1 from 
a fearful coward1 to a resolved         
,christian1 from an unfruitful sadness1 
to a joyful life3 ,in a word1 till thou 
hast pleaded thy heart from earth to    
heaven1 from conversing below to walking
 with ,god2 and till thou canst lay thy 
heart to rest1 as in the bosom of       
,christ1 by some such meditation of thy 
everlasting rest as is here added for   
thy assistance4   #b4 ,rest6 ,how sweet 
the sound6 ,it is melody to my ears6 ,it
 lies as a reviving cordial at my heart1
 and from thence sends forth lively     

spirits1 which beat through all the     
pulses of my soul6 ,rest1--not as the   
stone that rests on the earth1 nor as   
the flesh shall rest in the grave1 nor  
such a rest as the carnal world desires4
 ,o blessed rest6 ,when we rest not day 
and night1 saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy    
,lord ,god ,almighty6 ,when we shall    
rest from sin1 but not from worship2    
from suffering and sorrow1 but not from 
joy6 ,o blessed day6 ,when ,i shall rest
 with ,god6 ,when ,i shall rest in the  
bosom of my ,lord6 ,when ,i shall rest  
in knowing1 loving1 rejoicing1 and      
praising6 ,when my perfect soul and body
 shall together perfectly enjoy the most
 perfect ,god6 ,when ,god1 who is love  
itself1 shall perfectly love me1 and    
rest in his love to me1 as ,i shall rest
 in my love to him2 and rejoice over me 
with joy1 and joy over me with singing1 
as ,i shall rejoice in him6   #c4 ,how  
near is that most blessed1 joyful day6  
,it comes apace4 ,he that shall come1   
will come1 and will not tarry4 ,though  

my ,lord seems to delay his coming1 yet 
a little while and he will be here4     
,what is a few hundred years1 when they 
are over8 ,how surely will his sign     
appear8 ,how suddenly will he seize upon
 the careless world1 even as the        
lightning cometh out of the east1 and   
shineth unto the west8 ,he who is gone  
hence shall so come4 ,methinks ,i hear  
his trumpet sound6 ,methinks ,i see him 
coming with clouds2 with his attending  
angels in majesty and glory6   #d4 ,o   
secure sinners6 ,what now will you do8  
,where will you hide yourselves8 ,what  
shall cover you8 mountains are gone2 the
 heavens and the earth1 which were1 are 
passed away2 the devouring fire hath    
consumed all1 except yourselves1 who    
must be the fuel for ever4 ,o that all  
could consume as soon as the earth2 and 
melt away as did the heavens6 ,ah1 these
 wishes are now but vain6 ,the ,lamb    
himself would have been your friend2 he 
would have loved you1 and ruled you1 and
 now have saved you2 but you would not  

then1 and now it is too late4 ,never cry
 ,lord1 ,lord2 too late1 too late1 man4 
,why dost thou look about8 ,can any save
 thee8 ,whither dost thou run8 ,can any 
hide thee8 ,o wretch1 that hast brought 
thyself to this6   #e4 ,now1 blessed    
saints1 that have believed and obeyed6  
,this is the end of faith and patience4 
,this is it for which you prayed and    
waited4 ,do you now repent your         
sufferings and sorrows1 your            
self-denying and holy walking8 ,are your
 tears of repentance now bitter or      
sweet6 ,see how the ,judge smiles upon  
you2 there is love in his looks2 the    
titles of ,redeemer1 ,husband1 ,head1   
are written in his amiable1 shining     
face4 ,hark1 he calls you1 he bids you  
stand here on his right-hand2 fear not1 
for there he sets his sheep4 ,o joyful  
sentence6 ,come1 ye blessed of ,my      
,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared   
for you from the foundation of the      
world4 ,he takes you by the hand1 the   
door is open1 the kingdom is his1 and   

therefore yours2 there is your place    
before his throne2 the father receives  
you as the spouse of his ,son1 and bids 
you welcome to the crown of glory4 ,ever
 so unworthy1 you must be crowned4 ,this
 was the project of free redeeming      
grace1 the purpose of eternal love4 ,o  
blessed grace6 ,o blessed love6 ,o how  
love and joy will rise6 but ,i cannot   
express it1 ,i cannot conceive it4   #f4
 ,this is that joy which was produced by
 sorrow1 that crown which was procured  
by the cross4 ,my ,lord wept1 that now  
my tears might be wiped away2 ,he bled1 
that ,i might now rejoice2 he was       
forsaken1 that ,i might not now be      
forsook2 he then died1 that ,i might now
 live4 ,o free mercy1 that can exalt so 
vile a wretch6 ,free to me though dear  
to ,christ6 ,free grace1 that hath      
chosen me1 when thousands were forsaken6
 ,when my companions in sin must burn in
 hell1 ,i must here rejoice in rest6    
,here must ,i live with all these       
saints6 ,o comfortable meeting of my old

 acquaintance1 with whom ,i prayed1 and 
wept and suffered1 and spoke often of   
this day and place6 ,i see the grave    
could not detain you2 the same love hath
 redeemed and saved you also4   #g4     
,this is not like our cottages of clay1 
our prisons1 our earthly dwellings4     
,this voice of joy is not like our old  
complaints1 our impatient groans and    
sighs2 nor this melodious praise like   
the scoffs and revilings1 or the oaths  
and curses1 which we heard on earth4    
,this body is not like that we had1 nor 
this soul like the soul we had1 nor this
 life like the life we lived4 ,we have  
changed our place and state1 our clothes
 and thoughts1 our looks1 language1 and 
company4 ,before1 a saint was weak and  
despised2 so proud and peevish1 we could
 often scarce discern his graces3 but   
now how glorious a thing is a saint6    
,where is now their body of sin1 which  
wearied themselves and those about them8
 ,where are now our different judgments1
 reproachful names1 divided spirits1    

exasperated passions1 strange looks1    
uncharitable censures8 ,now we are all  
of one judgment1 of one name1 of one    
heart1 house1 and glory4 ,o sweet       
reconciliation6 ,happy union6 ,now the  
gospel shall no more be dishonored      
through our folly4 ,no more1 my soul1   
shalt thou lament the sufferings of the 
saints1 or the church's ruins1 nor mourn
 thy suffering friends1 nor weep over   
their dying beds1 or their graves4 ,thou
 shalt never suffer thy old temptations 
from ,satan1 the world1 or thy own      
flesh4 ,thy pains and sicknesses are all
 cured2 thy body shall no more burden   
thee with weakness and weariness2 thy   
aching head and heart1 thy hunger and   
thirst1 thy sleep and labor1 are all    
gone4 ,o what a mighty change is this6  
,from the dunghill1 to the throne6 from 
persecuting sinners1 to praising saints6
 ,from a vile body1 to this which shines
 as the brightness of the firmament6    
,from a sense of ,god's displeasure1 to 
the perfect enjoyment of him in love6   

,from all my doubts and fears1 to this  
possession1 which puts me out of doubt6 
,from all my fearful thoughts of death1 
to this joyful life6 ,blessed change6   
,farewell1 sin1 and sorrow1 for ever3   
,farewell1 my rocky1 proud1 unbelieving 
heart2 my worldly1 sensual1 carnal      
heart3 ,and welcome now my most holy1   
heavenly nature4 ,farewell1 repentance1 
faith1 and hope2 and welcome1 love1 and 
joy1 and praise4 ,i shall now have my   
harvest1 without ploughing or sowing2 my
 joy without a preacher1 or a promise2  
even all from the face of ,god himself4 
,whatever mixture is in the streams1    
there is nothing but pure joy in the    
,fountain4 ,here shall ,i be encircled  
with eternity and ever live1 and ever1  
ever praise the ,lord4 ,my face will not
 wrinkle1 nor my hair be grey2 for this 
corruptible shall have put on           
incorruption1 and this mortal           
immortality1 and death shall be         
swallowed up in victory4 ,o death1 where
 is now thy sting8 ,o grave1 where is   

thy victory8 ,the date of my lease will 
no more expire1 nor shall ,i trouble    
myself with thoughts of death1 nor lose 
my joys through fear of losing them4    
,when millions of ages are passed1 my   
glory is but beginning2 and when        
millions more are passed1 it is no      
nearer ending4 ,every day is all noon1  
every month is harvest1 every year is a 
jubilee1 even age is full manhood1 and  
all this is one eternity4 ,o blessed    
eternity6 ,the glory of my glory6 the   
perfection of my perfection6   #h4 ,ah  
drowsy1 earthly heart6 ,how coldly dost 
thou think of this reviving day8 ,hadst 
thou rather sit down in dirt1 than walk 
in the palace of ,god8 ,art thou now    
remembering thy worldly business1 or    
thinking of thy lusts1 earthly delights 
and merry company8 ,is it better to be  
here1 than above with ,god8 ,is the     
company better8 ,are the pleasures      
greater8 ,come away2 make no excuse1 nor
 delay2 ,god commands1 and ,i command   
thee2 gird up thy loins2 ascend the     

mount2 look about thee with faith and   
seriousness4 ,look not back upon the way
 of the wilderness2 except it be to     
compare the kingdom with that howling   
desert1 more sensibly to perceive the   
wide difference4 ,yonder is thy         
,father's glory2 yonder1 ,o my soul6    
must thou remove1 when thou departest   
from this body2 and when the power of   
thy ,lord hath raised it again1 and     
joined thee to it1 yonder must thou live
 with ,god for ever4 ,there is the      
glorious new ,jerusalem1 the gates of   
pearl1 the foundations of pearl1 the    
streets and pavement of transparent     
gold4 ,that sun1 which lighteth all this
 world1 will be useless there2 even     
thyself shall be as bright as yonder    
shining sun2 ,god will be the sun1 and  
,christ the light1 and in his light     
shalt thou have light4   #i4 ,o my soul6
 dost thou stagger at the promise of    
,god through unbelief8 ,i much suspect  
thee1 didst thou believe indeed thou    
wouldst be more affected with it4 ,is it

 not under the hand1 and seal1 and oath 
of ,god8 ,can ,god lie8 ,can he that is 
truth itself be false8 ,what need hath  
,god to flatter or deceive thee8 ,why   
should he promise thee more than he will
 perform8 ,dare not to charge the wise1 
almighty1 faithful ,god with this4 ,how 
many of the promises have been performed
 to thee in thy conversion8 ,would ,god 
so powerfully concur with a feigned     
word8 ,o wretched heart of unbelief8    
,hath ,god made thee a promise of rest1 
and wilt thou come short of it8 ,thine  
eyes1 thy ears1 and all thy senses1 may 
prove delusions1 sooner than a promise  
of ,god can delude thee4 ,thou mayest be
 surer of that which is written in the  
word1 than if thou see it with thine    
eyes1 or feel it with thine hands4 ,art 
thou sure thou art alive1 or that this  
is earth thou standest on1 or that thine
 eyes see the sun8 ,as sure is all this 
glory to the saints2 as sure shall ,i be
 higher than yonder stars1 and live for 
ever in the holy city1 and joyfully     

sound forth the praise of my ,redeemer2 
if ,i be not shut out by this evil heart
 of unbelief1 causing me to depart from 
the living ,god4   #aj4 ,and is this    
rest so sweet1 and so sure8 ,then what  
means the careless world8 ,know they    
what they neglect8 ,did they ever hear  
of it1 or are they yet asleep1 or are   
they dead8 ,do they certainly know that 
the crown is before them1 while they    
thus sit still or follow trifles8       
,undoubtedly they are beside themselves1
 to mind so much their provision by the 
way1 when they are hasting so fast to   
another world1 and their eternal        
happiness lies at stake4 ,were there    
left one spark of reason1 they would    
never sell their rest for toil1 nor     
their glory for worldly vanities1 nor   
venture heaven for sinful pleasure4     
,poor men6 ,o that you would once       
consider what you hazard1 and then you  
would scorn these tempting baits6       
,blessed for ever be that love1 which   
hath rescued me from this bewitching    

darkness6   #aa4 ,draw yet nearer1 ,o my
 soul6 with thy most fervent love4 ,here
 is matter for it to work upon1         
something worth thy loving4 ,o see what 
beauty presents itself6 ,is not all the 
beauty in the world united here8 ,is not
 all other beauty but deformity8 ,dost  
thou now need to be persuaded to love8  
,here is a feast for thine eyes1 and all
 the powers of thy soul2 dost thou need 
entreaties to feed upon it8 ,canst thou 
love a little shining earth1 a walking  
piece of clay8 ,and canst thou not love 
that ,god1 that ,christ1 that glory1    
which is so truly and unmeasurably      
lovely8 ,thou canst love thy friend1    
because he loves thee2 and is the love  
of a friend like the love of ,christ8   
,their weeping or bleeding for thee1 do 
not ease thee1 nor stay the course of   
thy tears or blood3 ,but the tears and  
blood that fell from thy ,lord1 have a  
sovereign healing virtue4 ,o my soul6 if
 love deserves1 and should beget love1  
what incomprehensible love is here      

before thee8 ,pour out all the store of 
thy affections here1 and all is too     
little4 ,o that it were more2 ,o that it
 were many thousand times more6 ,let him
 be first served1 that served thee      
first4 ,let him have the first-born1 and
 strength of thy soul6 who parted with  
strength and life in love for thee4 ,o  
my soul6 ,dost thou love for excellency8
 ,yonder is the region of light2 this is
 a land of darkness4 ,yonder twinkling  
stars1 that shining moon1 and radiant   
sun1 are all but lanthorns hung out of  
thy ,father's house1 to light thee while
 thou walkest in this dark world3 ,but  
how little dost thou know the glory and 
blessedness that is within8--,dost thou 
love for suitableness8 ,what person more
 suitable than ,christ8 ,his godhead and
 humanity1 his fulness and freeness1 his
 willingness and constancy1 all proclaim
 him thy suitable friend4 ,what state   
more suitable to thy misery1 than mercy8
 ,or to thy sin and pollution1 than     
honor and perfection8 ,what place more  

suitable to thee than heaven8 ,does this
 world agree with thy desires2 hast thou
 not a sufficient trial of it8--,or dost
 thou love for interest and near        
relation8 ,where hast thou better       
interest than in heaven1 or nearer      
relation than there8   #ab4 ,dost thou  
love for acquaintance and familiarity8  
,though thine eyes have never seen thy  
,lord1 yet thou hast heard his voice1   
received his benefits1 and lived in his 
bosom2 ,he taught thee to know thyself  
and him2 he opened thee that first      
window through which thou sawest into   
heaven4 ,hast thou forgotten since thy  
heart was careless1 and he awakened it2 
hard1 and he softened it2 stubborn1 and 
he made it yield2 at peace1 and he      
troubled it2 whole1 and he broke it2 and
 broken1 till he healed it again8 ,hast 
thou forgotten the times when he found  
thee in tears2 when he heard thy secret 
sighs and groans1 and left all to come  
and comfort thee2 when he took thee1 as 
it were1 in his arms1 and asked thee1   

poor soul1 what ails thee8 ,dost thou   
weep1 when ,i have wept so much8 ,be of 
good cheer2 thy wounds are saving1 and  
not deadly2 ,it is ,i have made them1   
who mean thee no hurt2 though ,i let out
 thy blood1 ,i will not let out thy     
life4 ,i remember his voice4 ,how gently
 did he take me up8 ,how carefully did  
he dress my wounds8 ,methinks ,i hear   
him still saying to me1 poor sinner1    
though thou hast dealt unkindly with me1
 and cast me off2 yet ,i will not do so 
by thee4 ,though thou hast set light by 
me and all my mercies1 yet they and     
myself are all thine4 ,what wouldst thou
 have that ,i can give thee8 ,and what  
dost thou want that ,i cannot give thee8
 ,if any thing ,i have will pleasure    
thee1 thou shalt have it4 ,wouldst thou 
have pardon8 ,i freely forgive thee all 
thy debt4 ,wouldst thou have grace and  
peace8 ,thou shalt have them both4      
,wouldst thou have myself8 ,behold ,i am
 thine1 thy ,friend1 thy ,lord1 thy     
,brother1 ,husband1 and ,head4 ,wouldst 

thou have the ,father8 ,i will bring    
thee to him1 and thou shalt have him1 in
 and by me4 ,these were my ,lord's      
reviving words4 ,after all1 when ,i was 
doubtful of his love1 methinks ,i yet   
remember his overcoming arguments4 ,have
 ,i done so much1 sinner1 to testify my 
love1 and yet dost thou doubt8 ,have ,i 
offered thee myself and love so long and
 yet dost thou question my willingness  
to be thine8 ,at what dearer rate should
 ,i tell thee that ,i love thee8 ,wilt  
thou not believe my bitter passion      
proceeded from love8 ,have ,i made      
myself in the gospel a lion to thine    
enemies1 and a lamb to thee1 and dost   
thou overlook my lamb-like nature8 ,had 
,i been willing to let thee perish1 what
 need ,i have done and suffered so much8
 ,what need ,i follow thee with such    
patience and importunity8 ,why dost thou
 tell me of thy wants2 have ,i not      
enough for me and thee8 ,or of thy      
unworthiness2 for if thou wast thyself  
worthy1 what shouldst thou do with my   

worthiness8 ,did ,i ever invite1 or     
save1 the worthy and the righteous2 or  
is there any such upon earth8 ,hast thou
 nothing2 art thou lost and miserable1  
helpless and forlorn8 ,dost thou believe
 ,i am an all-sufficient ,savior1 and   
wouldst thou have me8 ,lo1 ,i am thine1 
take me2 if thou art willing1 ,i am2 and
 neither sin1 nor ,satan1 shall break   
the match4 ,these1 ,o these1 were the   
blessed words which his ,spirit from his
 gospel spoke unto me1 till he made me  
cast myself at his feet1 and cry out1   
,my ,savior1 and my ,lord1 thou hast    
broke1 thou hast revived my heart2 thou 
hast overcome1 thou hast won my heart2  
take it1 it is thine2 if such a heart   
can please thee1 take it2 if it cannot1 
make it such as thou wouldst have it4   
,thus1 ,o my soul6 ,mayest thou remember
 the sweet familiarity thou hast had    
with ,christ2 therefore1 if acquaintance
 will cause affection1 let out thy heart
 unto him4 ,it is he hath stood by thy  
bed of sickness1 hath eased thy pains1  

refreshed thy weariness1 and removed thy
 fears4 ,he hath been always ready1 when
 thou hast earnestly sought him8 hath   
met thee in public and private2 hath    
been found of thee in the congregation1 
in thy house1 in thy closet1 in the     
field1 in thy waking nights1 in thy     
deepest dangers4   #ac4 ,if bounty and  
compassion be an attractive of love1 how
 unmeasurably then am ,i bound to love  
him8 ,all the mercies that have filled  
up my life1 all the places that ever ,i 
abode in1 all the societies and persons 
,i have been conversant with1 all my    
employments and relations1 every        
condition ,i have been in1 and every    
change ,i have passed through1 all tell 
me1 that the fountain is overflowing    
goodness4 ,lord what a sum of ,love am  
,i indebted to thee8 ,and how does my   
debt continually increase8 ,how should  
,i love again for so much love8 ,but    
shall ,i dare to think of requiting     
thee1 or of recompensing all thy love   
with mine8 ,will my mite requite thee   

for thy golden mines2 my seldom wishes1 
for thy constant bounty1 mine which is  
nothing1 or not mine1 for thine which is
 infinite and thine own8 ,shall ,i dare 
to contend in love with thee8 or set my 
borrowed languid spark against the ,sun 
of love8 ,can ,i love as high1 as deep1 
as broad1 as long1 as ,love itself2 as  
much as he that made me1 and that made  
me love1 and gave me all that little    
which ,i have8 ,as ,i cannot match thee 
in the works of power1 nor make1 nor    
preserve1 nor rule the worlds2 no more  
can ,i match thee in love4 ,no1 ,lord1  
,i yield2 ,i am overcome4 ,o blessed    
conquest6 ,go on victoriously1 and still
 prevail1 and triumph in thy love4 ,the 
captive of love shall proclaim thy      
victory6 when thou leadest me in triumph
 from earth to heaven1 from death to    
life1 from the tribunal to the throne2  
myself1 and all that see it1 shall      
acknowledge thou hast prevailed1 and all
 shall say1 behold how he loved him6    
,yet let me love in subjection to thy   

love2 as thy redeemed captive1 though   
not thy peer4 ,shall ,i not love at all1
 because ,i cannot reach thy measure8 ,o
 that ,i could feelingly say1 ,i love   
thee1 even as ,i love my friend1 and    
myself6 ,though ,i cannot say1 as the   
,apostle1 ,thou knowest that ,i love    
thee2 yet ,i can say1 ,lord1 thou       
knowest that ,i would love thee2 ,i am  
angry with my heart1 that it doth not   
love thee2 ,i chide it1 yet it doth not 
mend2 ,i reason with it1 and would fain 
persuade it1 yet ,i do not perceive it  
stir2 ,i rub and chafe it in the use of 
thy ordinances1 and yet ,i feel it not  
warm within me4 ,unworthy soul6 ,is not 
thine eye now upon the only lovely      
object8 ,art thou not beholding the     
ravishing glory of the saints8 ,and dost
 thou not love8 ,art thou not a rational
 soul1 and should not reason tell thee1 
that earth is a dungeon to the celestial
 glory8 ,art thou not thyself a spirit1 
and shouldst thou not love ,god1 who is 
a spirit1 and the ,father of spirits8   

,why dost thou love so much thy         
perishing clay1 and love no more the    
heavenly glory8 ,shalt thou love when   
thou comest there2 when the ,lord shall 
take thy carcase from the grave1 and    
make thee shine as the sun in glory for 
ever and ever2 shalt thou then love1 or 
shalt thou not8 ,is not the place a     
meeting of lovers8 ,is not the life a   
state of love8 ,is it not the great     
marriage day of the ,lamb8 ,is not the  
employment there the work of love1 where
 the souls with ,christ take their fill8
 ,o then1 my soul1 begin it here6 ,be   
sick of love now1 that thou mayest be   
well with love there4 ,keep thyself now 
in the love of ,god2 and let neither    
life1 nor death1 nor any thing separate 
thee from it2 and thou shalt be kept in 
the fulness of love for ever1 and       
nothing shall embitter or abate thy     
pleasure2 for the ,lord hath prepared a 
city of love1 a place for communicating 
love to his chosen1 and they that love  
his name shall dwell therein4   #ad4    

,awake then1 ,o my drowsy soul6 ,to     
sleep under the light of grace is       
unreasonable1 much more in the approach 
of the light of glory4 ,come forth1 my  
dull congealed spirit1 thy ,lord bids   
thee rejoice and again rejoice4 ,thou   
hast lain long enough in thy prison of  
flesh1 where ,satan hath been thy       
jailor1 cares have been thy irons1 fears
 thy scourges1 and thy food the bread   
and water of affliction3 where sorrows  
have been thy lodging1 and thy sins and 
foes have made the bed1 and an          
unbelieving heart hath been the gates   
and bars that have kept thee in3 ,the   
angel of the covenant now calls thee1   
and strikes thee1 and bids thee1 arise  
and follow him4 ,up1 ,o my soul6 and    
cheerfully obey1 and thy bolts and bars 
shall all fly open2 follow the ,lamb    
whithersoever he goeth4 ,shouldst thou  
fear to follow such a guide8 ,can the   
sun lead thee to a state of darkness8   
,will he lead thee to death1 who died to
 save thee from it8 ,follow him1 and he 

will shew thee the paradise of ,god2 ,he
 will give thee a sight of the ,new     
,jerusalem1 and a taste of the tree of  
life4 ,come forth1 my drooping soul1 and
 lay aside thy winter-dress2 let it be  
seen by thy garments of joy and praise1 
that the spring is come1 and as thou now
 seest thy comforts green2 thou shalt   
shortly see them white and ripe for     
harvest1 and then thou shalt be called  
to reap1 and gather1 and take           
possession4 ,should ,i suspend and delay
 my joys till then8 ,should not the joys
 of the spring go before the joys of    
harvest8 ,is title nothing before       
possession8 ,is the heir in no better a 
state than a slave8 ,my ,lord hath      
taught me to rejoice in hope of his     
glory2 and how to see it through the    
bars of a prison2 for when ,i am        
persecuted for righteousness' sake1 he  
commands me to rejoice1 and be exceeding
 glad1 because my reward in heaven is   
great4 ,i know he would have my joys    
exceed my sorrows2 and as much as he    

delights in the humble and contrite he  
yet more delights in the soul that      
delights in him4 ,hath my ,lord spread  
me a table in this wilderness1 and      
furnished it with the promises of       
everlasting glory1 and set before me    
angels' food8 ,doth he frequently and   
importunately invite me to sit down1 and
 feed1 and spare not8 ,hath he1 to that 
end1 furnished me with reason1 and      
faith1 and a joyful disposition2 and is 
it possible that he should be unwilling 
to have me rejoice8 ,is it not his      
command1 to delight thyself in the      
,lord2 and his promise1 to give thee the
 desires of thine heart8 ,art thou not  
charged1 to rejoice evermore3 yea1 to   
sing aloud1 and shout1 for joy8 ,why    
should ,i then be discouraged8 ,my ,god 
is willing1 if ,i were but willing4 ,he 
is delighted in my delights4 ,he would  
have it my constant frame1 and daily    
business1 to be near him in my believing
 meditations1 and to live in the        
sweetest thoughts of his goodness4 ,o   

blessed employment1 fit for the sons of 
,god6 ,but thy feast1 my ,lord1 is      
nothing to me without an appetite3 ,thou
 hast set the dainties of heaven before 
me2 but1 alas6 ,i am blind1 and cannot  
see them2 ,i am sick1 and cannot relish 
them2 ,i am so benumbed1 that ,i cannot 
put forth a hand to take them4 ,i       
therefore humbly beg this grace1 that as
 thou hast opened heaven to me in thy   
word1 so thou wouldst open mine eyes to 
see it1 and my heart to delight in it2  
else heaven will be no heaven to me4 ,o 
thou ,spirit of life1 breathe upon thy  
graces in me2 take me by the hand1 and  
lift me from earth1 that ,i may see what
 glory thou hast prepared for them that 
love thee6   #ae4 ,away then1 ye        
soul-tormenting cares and fears1 ye     
heart-vexing sorrows3 ,at least forbear 
a little while2 stand by2 stay here     
below1 till ,i go up1 and see my rest4  
,the way is strange to me1 but not to   
,christ4 ,there was the eternal abode of
 his glorious ,deity2 and thither hath  

he also brought his glorified flesh4 ,it
 was his work to purchase it2 it is his 
to prepare it1 and prepare me for it1   
and bring me to it4 ,the eternal ,god of
 truth hath given me his promise1 his   
seal1 and oath1 that1 believing in      
,christ1 ,i shall not perish1 but have  
everlasting life4 ,thither shall my soul
 be speedily removed1 and my body very  
shortly follow4 ,and can my tongue say1 
that ,i shall shortly and surely live   
with ,god2 and yet my heart not leap    
within me8 ,can ,i say it with faith1   
and not with joy6 ,ah6 faith1 how       
sensibly do ,i now perceive thy         
weakness6 ,but though unbelief darken my
 light1 and dull my life1 and suppress  
my joys1 it shall not be able to        
conquer1 and destroy me2 though it envy 
all my comforts1 yet some in spite of it
 ,i shall even here receive2 and if that
 did not hinder1 what abundance might ,i
 have8 ,the light of heaven would shine 
into my heart2 and ,i might be almost as
 familiar there1 as ,i am on earth4     

,come away then1 my soul2 stop thine    
ears to the ignorant language of        
infidelity2 thou art able to answer all 
its arguments2 or if thou art not1 yet  
tread them under thy feet4 ,come away2  
stand not looking on that grave1 nor    
turning those bones1 nor reading thy    
lesson now in the dust2 those lines will
 soon be wiped out4 ,but lift up thy    
head1 and look to heaven1 and see thy   
name in golden letters1 written before  
the foundation of the world1 in the book
 of life of the ,lamb that was slain4   
,what if an angel should tell thee1 that
 there is a mansion in heaven prepared  
for thee1 that it shall certainly be    
thine for ever1 would not such a message
 make thee glad8 ,and dost thou make    
light of the infallible word of promise1
 which was delivered by the ,spirit1 and
 even by the ,son himself8 ,suppose thou
 hadst seen a fiery chariot come for    
thee1 and fetch thee up to heaven1 like 
,elijah2 would not this rejoice thee8   
,but thy ,lord assures thee1 that the   

soul of a ,lazarus hath a convoy of     
angels to carry it into ,abraham's      
bosom4 ,shall a drunkard be so merry    
among his cups1 or the glutton in his   
delicious fare1 and shall not ,i rejoice
 who must shortly be in heaven8 ,can    
meat and drink delight me when ,i hunger
 and thirst2 can ,i find pleasure in    
walks and gardens1 and convenient       
dwellings2 can beautiful objects delight
 mine eyes2 or grateful odors my smell2 
or melody my ears3 and shall not the    
forethought of celestial bliss delight  
me8 ,methinks among my books ,i could   
employ myself in sweet content1 and bid 
the world farewell1 and pity the rich   
and great that know not this happiness2 
what then will my happiness in heaven   
be1 where my knowledge will be perfect8 
,if the ,queen of ,sheba came from the  
utmost parts of the earth to hear the   
wisdom of ,solomon1 and see his glory2  
how cheerfully should ,i pass from earth
 to heaven1 to see the glory of the     
eternal ,majesty1 and attain the height 

of wisdom2 compared with which the most 
learned on earth are but fools and      
ideots8 ,what if ,god had made me       
commander of the earth2 what if ,i could
 remove mountains1 heal diseases with a 
word or a touch1 or cast out ,devils2   
should ,i not rejoice in such privileges
 and honors as these2 and shall ,i not  
much more rejoice that my name is       
written in heaven8 ,i cannot here enjoy 
my parents1 or my near and beloved      
friends1 without some delight2          
especially when ,i did freely let out my
 affection to my friend1 how sweet was  
that exercise of my love6 ,o what will  
it then be to live in the perpetual love
 of ,god6 ,for brethren to dwell        
together in unity here1 how good and how
 pleasant is it6 ,to see a family live  
in love1 husband and wife1 parents1     
children1 and servants1 doing all in    
love to one another2 to see a town live 
together in love1 without any envyings1 
brawlings or contentions1 law-suits1    
factions1 or divisions1 but every man   

loving his neighbor as himself1 thinking
 they can never do too much for one     
another1 but striving to go beyond each 
other in love2 how happy1 how delightful
 a sight is this6 ,o then1 what a       
blessed society will the family of      
heaven be1 and those peaceful           
inhabitants of the ,new ,jerusalem1     
where there is no division1 nor         
differing judgments1 no disaffection nor
 strangeness1 no deceitful friendship1  
no1 not one unkind expression1 nor any  
angry look or thought2 but all are one  
in ,christ1 who is one with the ,father1
 and all live in the love of him1 who is
 love itself6 ,the soul is not more     
where it lives1 than where it loves4    
,how near then will my soul be united to
 ,god1 when ,i shall so heartily1       
strongly1 and incessantly love him6 ,ah1
 wretched1 unbelieving heart1 that can  
think of such a day1 and work1 and life 
as this1 with such low and feeble joys6 
,but my future enjoying joys will be    
more lively6   #af4 ,how delightful is  

it to me to behold and study these      
inferior works of creation8 ,what a     
beautiful fabric do we here dwell in2   
the floor so dressed with herbs1 and    
flowers1 and trees1 and watered with    
springs and rivers2 the roof so wide    
expanded1 so admirably adorned6 ,what   
wonders do sun1 moon1 and stars1 seas1  
and winds1 contain6 ,and hath ,god      
prepared such a house for corruptible   
flesh1 for a soul imprisoned2 and doth  
he bestow so many millions of wonders   
upon his enemies6 ,o what a dwelling    
must that be1 which he prepares for his 
dearly beloved children2 and how will   
the glory of the new ,jerusalem exceed  
all the present glory of the creatures8 
,arise then1 ,o my soul1 in thy         
contemplation2 and let thy thoughts of  
that glory as far exceed in sweetness   
thy thoughts of the excellencies below6 
,fear not to go out of this body1 and   
this world1 when thou must make so happy
 a change2 but say1 as one did when he  
was dying1 ,i am glad1 and even leap for

 joy1 that the time is come in which    
that mighty ,,jehovah1 whose ,majesty1  
in my search of nature ,i have admired1 
whose goodness ,i have adored1 whom by  
faith ,i have desired and panted after1 
will now shew himself to me face to     
face4   #ag4 ,how wonderful also are the
 works of ,providence8 ,how delightful  
to see the great ,god interest himself  
in the safety and advancement of a few  
humble1 praying1 but despised persons2  
and to review those special mercies with
 which my own life hath been adorned and
 sweetened8 ,how often have my prayers  
been heard1 my tears regarded1 my       
troubled soul relieved8 ,how often hath 
my ,lord bid me be of good cheer8 ,what 
a support are these experiences1 these  
clear testimonies of my ,father's love1 
to my fearful unbelieving heart8 ,o     
then1 what a blessed day will that be1  
when ,i shall have all mercy1 perfection
 of mercy1 and fully enjoy the ,lord of 
mercy2 when ,i shall stand on the shore1
 and look back on the raging seas ,i    

have safely passed2 when ,i shall review
 my pains and sorrows1 my fears and     
tears1 and possess the glory which was  
the end of all8 ,if one drop of lively  
faith was mixed with these              
considerations1 what a heaven-ravishing 
heart should ,i carry within me8 ,fain  
would ,i believe2 ,lord1 help my        
unbelief4   #ah4 ,how sweet1 ,o my soul1
 have ordinances been to thee8 ,what    
delight hast thou had in prayer1 and    
thanksgiving1 under heavenly sermons1   
and in the society of saints1 and to see
 the ,lord adding to the church such as 
should be saved8 ,how can my heart then 
conceive the joy1 which ,i shall have to
 see the perfected church in heaven1 and
 to be admitted into the celestial      
temple1 and with the heavenly host      
praise the ,lord forever8 ,if the word  
of ,god was sweeter to ,job than his    
necessary food2 and to ,david1 than     
honey and the honey-comb2 and was the   
joy and rejoicing of ,jeremiah's heart2 
how blessed a day will that be1 when we 

fully enjoy the ,lord of this word1 and 
shall no more need these written        
precepts and promises1 nor read any book
 but the face of the glorious ,god8 ,if 
they that heard ,christ speak on earth1 
were astonished at his wisdom and       
answers1 and wondered at the gracious   
words which proceeded out of his mouth2 
how shall ,i then be affected to behold 
him in his majesty8   #ai4 ,can the     
prospect of this glory make others      
welcome the cross1 and even refuse      
deliverance2 and cannot it make thee    
cheerful under lesser sufferings8 ,can  
it sweeten the flames of martyrdom2 and 
not sweeten thy life1 or thy sickness1  
or thy natural death8 ,is it not the    
same heaven which they and ,i must live 
in8 ,is not their ,god1 their ,christ1  
their crown1 and mine the same8 ,and    
shall ,i look upon it with an eye so    
dim1 a heart so dull1 a countenance so  
dejected8 ,some small foretastes of it  
have ,i myself had2 and how much more   
delightful have they been1 than any     

earthly things ever were2 and what then 
will the full enjoyment be8   #bj4 ,what
 a beauty is there here in the imperfect
 graces of the ,spirit8 ,alas6 how small
 are these1 to what we shall enjoy in   
our perfect state8 ,what a happy life   
should ,i here live1 could ,i but love  
,god as much as ,i would2 could ,i be   
all love1 and always loving8 ,o my soul6
 what wouldst thou give for such a life8
 had ,i such apprehensions of ,god1 such
 knowledge of his word as ,i desire8    
could ,i fully trust him in all my      
straits2 could ,i be as lively as ,i    
would in every duty2 could ,i make ,god 
my constant desire and delight2 ,i would
 not envy the world their honors or     
pleasures4 ,what a blessed state1 ,o my 
soul6 wilt thou shortly be in1 when thou
 shalt have far more of these than thou 
canst now desire1 and shalt exercise thy
 perfected graces in the immediate      
vision of ,god1 and not in the dark1 and
 at a distance1 as now8   #ba4 ,is the  
sinning1 afflicted1 persecuted church of

 ,christ1 so much more excellent than   
any particular gracious soul8 ,what then
 will the church be1 when it is fully   
gathered and glorified2 when it is      
ascended from the valley of tears to    
mount ,sion2 when it shall sin and      
suffer no more6 ,the glory of the old   
,jerusalem will be darkness and         
deformity to the glory of the new4 ,what
 cause shall we have then to shout for  
joy1 when we shall see how glorious the 
heavenly temple is1 and remember the    
meanness of the church on earth8   ,n4  
,b4 ,if this ,chapter seems too long to 
be read at once1 it may be  properly    
divided here4   #bb4 ,but alas6 what a  
loss am ,i at in the midst of my        
contemplations8 ,i thought my heart had 
all the while attended1 but ,i see it   
doth not4 ,what life is there in empty  
thoughts and words1 without affections8 
,neither ,god1 nor ,i1 find pleasure in 
them4 ,where hast thou been1 unworthy   
heart1 while ,i was opening to thee the 
everlasting treasures8 ,art thou not    

ashamed to complain so much of an       
uncomfortable life1 and to murmur at    
,god for filling thee with sorrows2 when
 he in vain offers thee the delights of 
angels8 ,hadst thou now but followed me 
close1 it would have made thee revive   
and leap for joy1 and forget thy pains  
and sorrows4 ,did ,i think my heart had 
been so backward to rejoice8   #bc4     
,lord1 thou hast reserved my perfect    
joys for heaven3 therefore1 help me to  
desire till ,i may possess1 and let me  
long when ,i cannot1 as ,i would        
rejoice4 ,o my soul1 thou knowest to thy
 sorrow1 that thou art not yet at thy   
rest4 ,when shall ,i arrive at that safe
 and quiet harbor1 where there are none 
of these storms1 waves1 and dangers2    
when ,i shall never more have a weary   
restless night or day6 ,then my life    
will not be such a mixture of hope and  
fear1 of joy and sorrow2 nor shall flesh
 and spirit be combatting within me2 nor
 faith and unbelief1 humility and pride1
 maintain a continual conflict4 ,o when 

shall ,i be past these soul-tormenting  
fears1 and cares1 and griefs8 ,when     
shall ,i be out of this                 
soul-contradicting1 ensnaring1 deceitful
 flesh2 this corruptible body1 this     
vain1 vexatious world6 ,alas1 that ,i   
must stand and see the church and cause 
of ,christ tossed about in contention1  
and made subservient to private         
interests1 or deluded fancies6 ,there is
 none of this disorder in the heavenly  
,jerusalem2 there ,i shall find an      
harmonious consent of perfected spirits1
 in obeying and praising their          
everlasting ,king4 ,o how much better to
 be a door-keeper there1 than the       
commander of this tumultuous world8 ,why
 am ,i no more weary of this weariness8 
,why do ,i so forget my resting place8  
,up then1 ,o my soul1 in thy most raised
 and fervent desires6 ,stay not till    
this flesh can desire with thee2 expect 
not that sense should apprehend thy     
blessed object1 and tell thee when and  
what to desire4 ,doth not the dulness of

 thy desires after rest1 accuse thee of 
most detestable ingratitude and folly8  
,must thy ,lord procure thee a rest at  
so dear a rate1 and dost thou no more   
value it8 ,must he go before to prepare 
so glorious a mansion for such a wretch1
 and art thou loth to go and possess it8
 ,shall the ,lord of ,glory be desirous 
of thy company1 and thou not desirous of
 his8 ,must earth become a very hell to 
thee1 before thou art willing to be with
 ,god8 ,behold the most lovely creature1
 or the most desirable state1 and tell  
me1 where wouldst thou be1 if not with  
,god8 ,poverty is a burden2 riches a    
snare2 sickness unpleasing2 health      
unsafe2 the frowning world bruises thy  
heel2 the smiling world stings thee to  
the heart2 so much as the world is loved
 and delighted in1 it hurts and         
endangers the lover2 and1 if it may not 
be loved1 why should it be desired8 ,if 
thou art applauded1 it proves the most  
contagious breath2 if thou art vilified1
 or unkindly used1 methinks this should 

not entice thy love4 ,if thy successful 
labors1 and thy godly friends1 seem     
better to thee than a life with ,god1 it
 is time for ,god to take them from     
thee4 ,if thy studies have been sweet1  
have they not also been bitter8 ,and at 
best1 what are they to the everlasting  
views of the ,god of truth8 ,thy friends
 here have been thy delight2 and have   
they not also been thy vexation and     
grief8 ,they are gracious1 and are they 
not also sinful8 ,they are kind1 and are
 they not soon displeased8 ,they are    
humble1 but1 alas1 how proud also8      
,their graces are sweet1 and their gifts
 helpful2 but are not their corruptions 
bitter1 and their imperfections hurtful8
 ,and art thou so loth to go from them  
to thy ,god8   #bd4 ,o my soul1 look    
above this world of sorrows6 ,hast thou 
so long felt the smarting rod of        
affliction1 and no better understood its
 meaning8 ,is not every stroke to drive 
thee hence8 ,is not its voice like that 
to ,elijah1 what dost thou here8 ,dost  

thou forget thy ,lord's prediction4 ,in 
the world ye shall have tribulation1 in 
me ye may have peace4 ,ah6 my dear      
,lord1 ,i feel thy meaning2 it is       
written in my flesh1 engraved in my     
bones4 ,my heart thou aimest at2 thy rod
 drives1 thy silken cord of love draws2 
and all to bring it to thyself4 ,lord1  
can such a heart be worth thy having8   
,make it worthy1 and then it is thine2  
take it to thyself1 and then take me4   
,this clod hath life to stir1 but not to
 rise4 ,as the feeble child to the      
tender mother1 it looketh up to thee1   
and stretcheth out the hands1 and fain  
would have thee take it up4 ,though ,i  
cannot say1 my soul longeth after thee2 
yet ,i can say1 ,i long for such a      
longing heart4 ,the spirit is willing1  
the flesh is weak4 ,my spirit cries1 let
 thy kingdom come1 or let me come to thy
 kingdom2 but the flesh is afraid thou  
shouldst hear my prayer1 and take me at 
my word4 ,o blessed be thy grace1 which 
makes use of my corruptions to kill     

themselves2 for ,i fear my fears1 and   
sorrow for my sorrows1 and long for     
greater longings2 and thus the painful  
means of attaining my desires increase  
my weariness1 and that makes me groan to
 be at rest4   #be4 ,indeed1 ,lord1 my  
soul itself is in a strait1 and what to 
choose ,i know not2 but thou knowest    
what to give3 to depart1 and be with    
thee1 is far better4 ,but to abide in   
the flesh seems needful4 ,thou knowest  
,i am not weary of thy work1 but of     
sorrow and sin2 ,i am willing to stay   
while thou wilt employ me1 and dispatch 
the work thou hast put into my hands3   
,but1 ,i beseech thee1 stay no longer   
when this is done2 and while ,i must be 
here1 let me be still amending and      
ascending2 make me still better and take
 me at the best4 ,i dare not be so      
impatient1 as to importune thee to cut  
off my time1 and snatch me hence        
unready2 because ,i know my everlasting 
state so much depends on the improvement
 of this life4 ,nor would ,i stay when  

my work is done2 and remain here        
sinning1 while my brethren are          
triumphing4 ,thy footsteps bruise this  
worm1 while those stars shine in the    
firmament of glory4 ,yet ,i am thy child
 as well as they2 ,christ is my ,head as
 well as theirs2 why is there then so   
great a distance8 ,but ,i acknowledge   
the equity of thy ways2 though we are   
all children1 yet ,i am the prodigal1   
and therefore more fit in this remote   
country to feed on husks1 while they are
 always with thee1 and possess thy      
glory4 ,they were once themselves in my 
condition1 and ,i shall shortly be in   
theirs4 ,they were of the lowest form1  
before they came to the highest2 they   
suffered1 before they reigned2 they came
 out of great tribulation1 who are now  
before thy throne2 and shall not ,i be  
content to come to the crown as they    
did2 and to drink of their cup2 before  
,i sit with them in the kingdom8 ,lord1 
,i am content to stay thy time1 and go  
thy way1 so thou wilt exalt me also in  

thy season1 and take me into thy barn1  
when thou seest me ripe4 ,in the mean   
time ,i may desire1 though ,i am not to 
repine2 ,i may believe and wish1 though 
not make any sinful haste3 ,i am willing
 to wait for thee1 but not to lose thee2
 and when thou seest me too contented   
with thine absence1 then quicken my     
languid desires1 and blow up the dying  
spark of love2 and leave me not till ,i 
am able unfeignedly to cry out1 ',as the
 hart panteth after the water-brooks1 so
 panteth my soul after thee1 ,o ,god4   
,my soul thirsteth for ,god1 for the    
living ,god2 when shall ,i come and     
appear before ,god8 ,my conversation is 
in heaven1 from whence ,i look for a    
,savior4 ,my affections are set on      
things above1 where ,christ sitteth1 and
 my life is hid4 ,i walk by faith1 and  
not by sight2 willing rather to be      
absent from the body1 and present with  
the ,lord4'   #bf4 ,what interest hath  
this empty world in me2 and what is     
there in it that may seem so lovely1 as 

to entice my desires from my ,god1 or   
make me loth to come away8 ,methinks1   
when ,i look upon it with a deliberate  
eye1 it is a howling wilderness1 and too
 many of its inhabitants are untamed    
monsters2 ,i can view all its beauty as 
deformity2 and drown all its pleasures  
in a few penitent tears2 or the wind of 
a sigh will scatter them away4 ,o let   
not this flesh so seduce my soul1 as to 
make it prefer this weary life before   
the joys that are about thy throne6 ,and
 though death itself be unwelcome to    
nature1 yet let thy grace make thy glory
 appear to me so desirable1 that the    
king of terrors may be the messenger of 
my joy6 ,let not my soul be ejected by  
violence1 and dispossessed of its       
habitation against its will2 but draw it
 to thyself by the secret power of thy  
love as the sunshine in the spring draws
 forth the creatures from their winter  
cells2 meet it half way and entice it to
 thee1 as the load-stone doth the iron1 
and as the greater flame attracts the   

less6 ,dispel therefore the clouds that 
hide thy love from me2 or remove the    
scales that hinder mine eyes from       
beholding thee2 for the beams that      
stream from thy face1 and the foretaste 
of thy great salvation1 and nothing else
 can make a soul unfeignedly say now let
 thy servant depart in peace6 ,but it is
 not thy ordinary discoveries that will 
here suffice2 as the work is greater1 so
 must thy help be4 ,o turn these fears  
into strong desires1 and this lothness  
to die into longings after thee6 ,while 
,i must be absent from thee1 let my soul
 as heartily groan1 as my body doth     
under its want of health6 ,if ,i have   
any more time to spend on earth1 let me 
live1 as without the world1 in thee1 as 
,i have sometime lived as without thee  
in the world6 ,while ,i have a thought  
to think1 let me not forget thee2 or a  
tongue to move1 let me mention thee with
 delight2 or a breath to breathe1 let it
 be after thee1 or for thee2 or a knee  
to bend1 let it daily bow at thy        

footstool2 and when by sickness thou    
confinest me1 do thou make my bed1      
number my pains1 and put all my tears   
into thy bottle6   #bg4 ,as my flesh    
desired what my spirit abhorred1 so now 
let my spirit desire that day which my  
flesh abhorreth2 that my friends may not
 with so much sorrow wait for the       
departure of my soul1 as my soul with   
joy shall wait for its own departure6   
,then let me die the death of the       
righteous1 and let my last end be like  
his2 even a removal to that glory that  
shall never end6 ,then let thy convoy of
 angels bring my departing soul among   
the perfected spirits of the just1 and  
let me follow my dear friends that have 
died in ,christ before me2 and while my 
sorrowing friends are weeping over my   
grave1 let my spirit be reposed with    
thee in rest2 and while my corpse shall 
lie rotting in the dark1 let my soul be 
in the inheritance of the saints in     
light6 ,o thou that numberest the very  
hairs of my head1 number all the days   

that my body lies in the dust2 and thou 
that writest all my members in thy book1
 keep an account of my scattered bones6 
,o my ,savior1 hasten the time of thy   
return2 send forth thy angels1 and let  
that dreadful1 joyful trumpet sound6    
,delay not1 lest the living give up     
their hopes2 delay not1 lest earth      
should grow like hell1 and thy church1  
by division1 be all crumbled to dust2   
delay not1 lest thy enemies get         
advantage of thy flock1 and lest pride1 
hypocrisy1 sensuality1 and unbelief     
prevail against thy little remnant1 and 
share amongst them thy whole            
inheritance1 and when thou comest1 thou 
find not faith on the earth2 delay not1 
lest the grave should boast of victory1 
and having learned rebellion of its     
guest1 should refuse to deliver thee up 
thy due6 ,o hasten that great           
resurrection day1 when thy command shall
 go forth1 and none shall disobey2 when 
the sea and earth shall yield up their  
hostages1 and all that sleep in the     

grave shall awake1 and the dead in      
,christ shall rise first2 when the seed 
which thou sowedst corruptible1 shall   
come forth incorruptible2 and graves    
that received rottenness and dust1 shall
 return thee glorious stars and suns6   
,therefore dare ,i lay down my carcass  
in the dust1 entrusting it1 not to a    
grave1 but to thee1 and therefore my    
flesh shall rest in hope1 till thou     
shalt raise it to the possession of     
everlasting rest4 ,return1 ,o ,lord1 how
 long8 ,o let thy kingdom come6 ,thy    
desolate bride saith1 ,come6 for thy    
,spirit within her saith1 ,come2 and    
teacheth her thus to pray with groanings
 which cannot be uttered2 yea1 the whole
 creation saith1 ,come1 waiting to be   
delivered from the bondage of corruption
 into the glorious liberty of the       
children of ,god2 thou thyself hast     
said1 ,surely ,i come quickly4 ,amen4   
,even so1 ,come ,lord ,jesus8   #bh4    
,thus1 reader1 ,i have given thee my    
best advice for maintaining a heavenly  

conversation1 ,if thou canst not thus   
meditate methodically and fully1 yet do 
it as thou canst3 only be sure to do it 
seriously and frequently4 ,be acquainted
 with this heavenly work1 and thou wilt1
 in some degree1 be acquainted with     
,god2 thy joys will be spiritual1       
prevalent1 and lasting1 according to the
 nature of their blessed object2 thou   
wilt have comfort in life and death3    
,when thou hast neither wealth1 nor     
health1 nor the pleasure of this world1 
yet wilt thou have comfort3 ,without the
 presence1 or help of any friend1       
without a minister1 without a book1 when
 all means are denied thee1 or taken    
from thee1 yet mayest thou have         
vigorous1 real comfort4 ,thy graces will
 be mighty1 active1 and vigorous2 and   
the daily joy1 which is thus fetched    
from heaven will be thy strength4 ,thou 
wilt be as one that stands on the top of
 an exceeding high mountain2 he looks   
down on the world as if it were quite   
below him2 fields and woods1 cities and 

towns1 seem to him but little spots4    
,thus despicably wilt thou look on all  
things here below4 ,the greatest princes
 will seem but as grashoppers2 the busy1
 contentious1 covetous world1 but as a  
heap of ants4 ,men's threatenings will  
be no terror to thee2 nor the honors of 
this world any strong enticement2       
temptations will be more harmless1 as   
having lost their strength2 and         
afflictions less grievous1 as having    
lost their sting2 and every mercy will  
be better known1 and relished4 ,it is   
now1 under ,god1 in thy own choice1     
whether thou wilt live this blessed life
 or not2 and whether all this pains ,i  
have taken for thee shall prosper1 or be
 lost4 ,if it be lost through thy       
laziness1 thou thyself wilt prove the   
greatest loser4 ,o man1 what hast thou  
to mind but ,god and heaven8 ,art thou  
not almost out of this world already8   
,dost thou not look every day1 when one 
disease or other will let out thy soul8 
,does not the grave wait to be thine    

house2 and worms to feed upon thy face  
and heart8 ,what if thy pulse must beat 
a few strokes more8 ,what if thou hast a
 little longer to breathe1 before thou  
breathe out thy last2 a few more nights 
to sleep1 before thou sleepest in the   
dust8 ,alas6 what will this be1 when it 
is gone8 ,and is it not almost gone     
already8 ,very shortly thou wilt see thy
 glass run out1 and say to thyself1 ,my 
life is done6 ,my time is gone6 ',tis   
past recalling6 ,there's nothing now but
 heaven or hell before me6 ,where then  
should thy heart be now1 but in heaven8 
,didst thou know what a dreadful thing  
it is1 to have a doubt of heaven when a 
man is dying it would rouse thee up4    
,and what else but doubt can that man   
then do1 that never seriously thought of
 heaven before8   #bi4 ,some there be   
that say1 ,it is not worth so much time 
and trouble1 to think of the greatness  
of the joys above2 so that we can make  
sure they are ours2 we know they are    
great4 ,but as these men obey not the   

command of ,god1 which requires them to 
have their conversation in heaven1 and  
to set their affections on things above2
 so they wilfully make their own lives  
miserable1 by refusing the delights     
which ,god hath set before them4 ,and if
 this were all1 it were a small matter2 
but see what abundance of other         
mischiefs follow the neglect of these   
heavenly delights4 ,this neglect--will  
damp1 if not destroy1 their love to     
,god2--will make it unpleasant to them  
to think or speak of ,god1 or engage in 
his service2--it tends to pervert their 
judgments concerning the ways and       
ordinances of ,god2--it makes them      
sensual and voluptuous2--it leaves them 
under the power of every affliction and 
temptation1 and is a preparative to     
total apostasy2--it will also make them 
fearful and unwilling to die4 ,for who  
would go to a ,god1 or a place1 he hath 
no delight in8 ,who would leave his     
pleasure here1 if he had not better to  
go to8 ,had ,i only proposed a course of

 melancholy and fear1 and sorrow1 you   
might reasonably have objected4 ,but you
 must have heavenly delights1 or none   
that are lasting4 ,god is willing you   
should daily walk with him1 and fetch in
 consolations from the everlasting      
fountain2 if you are unwilling1 even    
bear the loss2 and when you are dying1  
seek for comfort where you can get it1  
and see whether fleshly delights will   
remain with you2 then conscience will   
remember1 in spite of you1 that you was 
once persuaded to a way for more        
excellent pleasures1 pleasures that     
would have followed you through death1  
and have lasted to eternity4   #cj4 ,as 
for you1 whose hearts ,god hath weaned  
from all things here below1 ,i hope you 
will value this heavenly life1 and take 
one walk every day in the new           
,jerusalem4 ,god is your love1 and your 
desire1 you would fain be more          
acquainted with your ,savior2 and ,i    
know it is your grief1 that your hearts 
are not nearer to him1 and that they do 

not more feelingly love him1 and delight
 in him4 ,o try this life of meditation 
on your heavenly rest6 ,here is the     
mount1 on which the fluctuating ark of  
your souls may rest4 ,let the world see 
by your heavenly lives that religion is 
something more than opinions and        
disputes1 or a task of outward duties4  
,if ever a ,christian is like himself1  
and answerable to his principles and    
profession1 it is when he is most       
serious and lively in this duty4 ,as    
,moses before he died1 went up unto     
mount ,nebo1 to take a survey of the    
land of ,canaan2 so the ,christian      
ascends this mount of contemplation1 and
 by faith surveys his rest4 ,he looks   
upon the glorious mansions1 and says1   
,glorious things are deservedly spoken  
of thee1 thou city of ,god6 ,he hears1  
as it were1 the melody of the heavenly  
choir1 and says1 ,happy is the people   
that is in such a case2 yea1 happy is   
that people1 whose ,god is the ,lord6   
,he looks upon the glorified            

inhabitants1 and says1 ,happy art thou1 
,o ,israel2 who is like unto thee1 ,o   
people1 saved by the ,lord1 the shield  
of thy help1 and who is the sword of    
thine excellency6 ,when he looks upon   
the ,lord himself1 who is their glory1  
he is ready with the rest1 to fall down1
 and worship him1 that liveth for ever  
and ever1 and say1 ,holy1 holy1 holy    
,lord ,god ,almighty1 which was1 and is1
 and is to come6 ,thou art worthy1 ,o   
,lord1 to receive glory1 and honor1 and 
power6 ,when he looks on the glorified  
,savior1 he is ready to say1 ,amen1 to  
that new ,song1 ,blessing1 and honor1   
and glory1 and power1 be unto him that  
sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the   
,lamb for ever and ever3 ,for thou wast 
slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by  
thy blood1 out of every kindred1 and    
tongue1 and people1 and nation2 and hast
 made us1 unto our ,god1 kings and      
priests6 ,when he looks back on the     
wilderness of this world1 he blesses the
 believing1 patient1 despised saints2 he

 pities the ignorant1 obstinate1        
miserable world2 and for himself1 he    
says1 as ,peter1 ,it is good to be here2
 or as ,asaph1 ,it is good for me to    
draw near to ,god2 for lo1 they that are
 far from thee1 shall perish4 ,thus1 as 
,daniel1 in his captivity1 daily opened 
his window toward ,jerusalem1 though far
 out of sight1 when he went to ,god in  
his devotions2 so may the believing     
soul1 in this captivity of the flesh1   
look towards ,jerusalem which is above3 
,and as ,paul was to the ,colossians1 so
 may the believer be with the glorified 
spirits1 though absent in the flesh1 yet
 with them in the spirit1 joying and    
beholding their heavenly order4 ,and as 
the lark sweetly sings1 while she soars 
on high1 but is suddenly silenced when  
she falls to the earth2 so is the frame 
of the soul most delightful and divine1 
while it keeps in the views of ,god by  
contemplation3 ,alas1 we make there too 
short a stay1 fall down again1 and lay  
by our music6   #ca4 ,but1 ,o thou1 the 

merciful ,father of ,spirits1 the       
attractive of love1 and ocean of        
delights1 draw up these drossy hearts   
unto thyself1 and keep them there till  
they are spiritualized and refined2 and 
second thy servant's weak endeavors1 and
 persuade those that read these lines to
 the practice of this delightful1       
heavenly work6 ,o suffer not the soul of
 thy most unworthy servant to be a      
stranger to those joys1 which he        
describes to others2 but keep me1 while 
,i remain on earth1 in daily breathings 
after thee1 and in a believing1         
affectionate walking with thee6 ,and    
when thou comest1 let me be found so    
doing2 not serving my flesh1 nor asleep 
with my lamp unfurnished2 but waiting   
and longing for my ,lord's return6 ,let 
those who shall read these heavenly     
directions1 not merely read the fruit of
 my studies2 but the breathings of my   
active hope and love3 ,that1 if my heart
 were open to their view1 they might    
there read the same most deeply engraven

 with a beam from the face of the ,son  
of ,god2 and not find vanity1 or lust1  
or pride within1 when the words of life 
appear without2 that so these lines may 
not witness against me2 but1 proceeding 
from the heart of the writer1 may be    
effectual1 through thy grace1 upon the  
heart of the reader1 and so be the savor
 of life to both6 ,amen4   ,glory be to 
,god in the highest2 on earth peace2    
good will towards men4  ,,finis4        
,illustration3 ,,phillips   ,the        
,trustees of ,phillips ,academy1 to whom
 is committed the distribution of the   
pious bounty of the late ,lt4 ,gov4     
,,phillips wishing to co-operate in the 
same benevolent and useful design1      
affectionately recommend this           
inestimable book to the serious and     
careful perusal of every person into    
whose hands it may fall4  ,reader1      
whoever thou art1 the work before you is
 the production of one of the ablest and
 best of men1 whose praise is in all the
 churches4 ,though dead1 he is          

instructing thousands by his numerous   
and excellent practical writings1 which 
have survived him4 ,among these1 his    
,saints' ,rest1 has been most highly    
esteemed4 ,he wrote it in the near view 
of death1 when in feeble health1 and for
 his own immediate use2 and he testifies
 that he derived more benefit from it1  
than from all the other studies of his  
life4 ,few books have ever received     
higher commendations1 been translated   
into more languages1 passed through more
 numerous editions1 been more read1 or  
more useful in the ,christian church    
than this4 ,no person of a serious mind 
can read it without profit4  ,to allure 
our desires1 it unveils the sanctuary   
above1 and discovers the glories and    
joys of the blessed in the ,divine      
presence1 by a light so strong and      
lively1 that all the glittering vanities
 of this world vanish in the comparison1
 and a sincere believer will despise    
them1 as one of mature age does the toys
 and baubles of children4 ,to excite our

 fears1 he removes the screen1 and      
represents the tormenting passions of   
the damned in those dreadful colors1    
that1 if duly considered1 would check   
and control the unbridled licentious    
appetites of the most sensual#cig4      
,reader1 the book is in your hands1     
read1 meditate1 and then judge for      
yourself4 ,may the ,lord bless the      
instructions for your spiritual benefit4
 ,so will the good design of the pious  
donor be answered1 and the ,agents of   
his bounty have their desired reward4   
,footnote #cig ,dr4 ,bates4