to find little Favour, but rather eternal Mifery, The wife King that prevents this calamity, is every one which in this life, according to the Counsel of Chrift, doth feek to lay up Treasure in Heaven against the day of their Death, when they must be banished hence naked, as all the Princes of that City were. At which time if their good deeds follow them, as God promifs, then hall they be happy men, and placed in much more Glory than ever this World was able to give them. But if they come without Oyl in their Lamps, then there is nothing for them to expect but this, I know you not.

The Sum of Mony is not fo much our good deeds, as the forgiveness of our manifold offences, the amendment of our finful lives, the Godly and Religious care of the Life to come. That which we are fo greatly in love withal; the Apostle counfels us againft, Love not the World, neither the things that are in the World, 1. Joh. 2. He addeth the Reafon, because the World paffes away. But he that doth the Will of God abideth for ever. Heaven is not in this Life, and we must look to be weaned from this World if we ever look to attain it.

The joys of Heaven and the defire of the World, are quite contrary; worldly pleasures hinder us from mounting up fo high. And herein for the most part we may be refembled to the Grafhopper, which is born and bred, liveth and dyeth in the fame ground.

The Grafhopper hath wings, and hoppeth

up

up a little, but prefently falleth down again : Sɔ many of us have often good motions unto Godliness, and the Life to come, ard again all is gone in a moment, and we return to our old Affections to this World, as though all our Portion were only in this Life.

Thofe Fowls that feed grofly, never flie high, and they which feed their hearts with things below, cannot have their Affections in Heaven; the joys of Heaven being fo excellent, and won derful, that they might remove our heavy, lumpish and grovelling defire after this World. The carel-fs, earthly and worldly Mind, hath no Sight, nor Senfe, nor Feeling of thefe Joys. But as the Ox is fatted in the pafture, and the Bird fingeth fweetly, and feederh without fear, and fuddenly the one is driven to the flaughter, and the other is taken in the fare; fo they that be Worldly minded are lulled afleep in fecurity, until the time that Death ftriketh with his dart,and endless destruction overwhelm them. But where is that Man or Woman which can fay with the Apoftle, I defire to be diffolved and to be with Chrift, which is beft of all. For they that fay fuch things, declaré plainly that they Jeek a Country, Heb. 11. 16. Defiring a better Country than is to be found in this World, that is, a Heavenly Country, and for them bath God prepared a City, Heb. 13. 14. For here we have no continuing City, no continuing Habitation: Let us therefore feek this new. Habitation to come, which is of longer continuance, and free from a 1 miferies. The next fruit is, that the rem inbrauce

remembrance of thefe joys teach us patience in afflictions, troubles and diftreffes. And if we defire to attain this heavenly place, we muft forfake this earthly Tabernacle, and while we live here on Earth, we muft pafs thro' affliction, and be carried into Heaven by a fiery Chariot, that our Earthly minds may be purged; that is, the black line of our fins which must be purged both out of our Mind and out of our Hearts. Chrift he was not free from Affliction, for he cryed out, My God,my God,why haft theu for faken me? We mult go first to Mount Calvary, tetore we can come to Mount Olivet, that is, from a Crofs to a Crown, from Earth to Heaven: Our Graves are but fo many Folds, which Death brings us into, and keeps our Bodies till the Morning Sun of our Refur rection (hall appear; which is the day of our general Refurrection, for Death is but a Door of Entrance to a Crown of Glory, which fhall never be taken from us. For how troublefome foever this Life is here, yet there fhall all troubles,griefs and wrongs be abundantly recompenced and the Apofiles fpeaketh truly, Rom. 18. 8. The Afflictions of this prefent time, are not worthy of the Glory which shall be fhewed unto us. In the 126 Pl. ver. 5. They that fow in tears, faith the Pfal mift shall reap in joy.And he that nowgoeth on his way weeping, and bearing precious feed; fhall doubtlefs come and bring his Sheaves with hip Wo be to you, faith Chrift, that now laugh, for you shall weep, and therefore happy fhall they be in another World, who have in good caufes fuffered wrongs, commiting themfelves unto God."

This time of heavenly joys is compared unto Harveft: and what care doth every one take to provide good and choice Seed, that their har veft may prove good? Thy Seed is thy Thoughts, thy Words, thy Deeds and Converfation. There fore let me exhort you, as the Apoftle doth, Gal. 6. 7. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man foweth that shall be alfo reap for he that foweth to the Flesh, fball of the Flesh reap corruption; but he that foweth to the Spirit, fhall of the Spirit reap Life everlafting: Look how we fow, fo fhall we reap; fuch as our Seed is, fuch alfo fhall be our harveft. The date of this our Life is but short, but the Remembrance of a Life well led, shall be comfortable for ever, and this shall for ever and ever be an endless harveft, ftill gathering, ftill in creafing, never diminishing.

The last thing in the aforefaid 21 Chapter of Rev. is, that there fhall enter in this heavenly Jerufalem no unclean thing. And as the Prophe fie of Zachariah, 14. 21. In that day there shall be no more the Canaanites in the Houfe of the Lord of Hofts.

The Canaanites were a lewd people, and for the fame were driven out of the Land; and if they were not worthy to dwell on Earth, much lefs fhall they be worthy to be received into Heaven. Dearly Beloved, faith the Apoftle St. Peter, Epift. 2. 11. Abstain from fleshly Lufts, bridle them, keep them under, for they war against the Soul, Colof. 3. 1. If then If then ye be rifen with Chrift, Seek thofe things which are above, where

ཚན་

Chrift fitteth at the Right Hand of God. Set your Affections on things above, and not on things on the earth, and mortifie your immoderate affedions and evil concupifcence. Remember this peremptory Word, No unclean thing fhall enter in there, Mat. 5. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they fhail fee God. Heb. 12. 14. Follow holiness, without which no man can fee God.

And God grant us this Wedding Garment of holinefs, that we may go in with the Bridegroom; for we know what befl him that wanted it, Phil. 2. 12. Let us work our own Salvation with fear and trembling; being defirous to receive a Kingdom which cannot be fhaken: Let us pray for Grace, to ferve God, that we miy pleafe him with Reverence and Godly Fear. And feeing we have precious promifes, 2 Pet. 1. 4. And that more fure than the Heaven and the Earth, 2 Corin. 7. 1. Let us cleanse our felves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, perfelling bolinefs in the fear of God. For as they that thus do bis Will, fhall enter thro' the Gates into the City, and their right shall be to the Tree of Life; Jo without are Dogs, and all unclean Perfons, Rev. 22. 14. Let not my laft exhortation be forgotten among you, Enter in at the firait Gate; for it is the wide Gate, and broad way that leadeth to deftruction, and many there be which go in therear. Because the Gate is firait and the way narrow that leadeth to life, and few there be that find it.

To add to thefe, one of the greatest joys of all, is God's mercy, whereof we have a fweet tafte

in