but Dress it up in fuch Metaphors as Regale the outward Senfe, and best fuit with our preSent Frame. Whereas Heaven indeed has nothing fo mean, as Gold and Pearl and Precious Stones. And when even the Life of Grace, now wrought in us, is yet much Hid den from us, Col. 3. 3; O how shall we comprehend the fo far Superior Life of Glory that waiteth for us? 'Tis even as far above. my Knowledge, as my Merits.

And what are all the finest Iconisms of Fancy, and all the bigbeft Entertainments of Senfe, all that chiefly Takes in the World, and gives the most agreeable Gratification to Flesh and Blood; All which makes the most celebrated Grandees upon Earth bug and value themfelves, as well as to be Admired or Maligned by others; Be it Money or Dignity, Houfes or Goods, Lands and Commands, State and Attendance, Dainties and Dreffes, Diverfions and Recreations, the Fat and the Sweet; and all the very utmost Attainments and Enjoyments, So much courted and applauded by the Men of this World? O what very obfcure and dull Shades of Heaven's Foys and Glories! What fat and faint Delineations of the Saint's Fruitions! While we go to frame a Judgment only by fuch kind of Objects as here we See and Feel, what do thofe Senfations and CompariJons but Cloud the Glories which they would fet off, and indeed rather Abuse than Instruct us? When the very Leaft Inheritor above looks not

down,

down, but with utmost Disdain upon all the largest Poffeffions here below: And even the Beggar in Abraham's Bosom has now a Spirit too big to take up with the Dominions of any Monarch in the World. Yea, whoever are there once Admitted and Advanc'd, ́ are quite out-grown all thofe Toys and Trifles that were the Play-things of their Nonage and Infant State; which yet do ftill take -up all the little Souls of this World's Children; who are fo wholly intent upon the present Life, that they count all's Loft together with it; and fhake their Heads, as much condoling the forlorn ftate of the Dead; tho' fuch as Dye in the Lord, and their Dying day be their Coronation day, which o' the fudden, prefers and raises em to fuch Fulness and Honour, compar'd with which, all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of 'em make but a very contemptible Figure. In a word, Heaven's Goods and Foys are extremely too big for all our Words: Yea, abundantly more and better than we can now tell how to Think. Nor can any of the Emblems and Figures by which we are taught to apprehend it, ever reach it.

The livelieft Defcription, in Miniature, may be that of the Eagle-ey'd Apostle, even there where he threw the Veil over it, as Infcrutable; that 1 Joh. 3. 2. We shall be Like him, for we fhall fee him as he is. Like him,] in Quality, tho' not Equality of Purity and Glory. Renewed and Refined after

the

the holy Image of the ever Bleffed. When we shall be ftript of all thofe defiled Garments, that now make us afham'd of our felves; and every thing that's Imperfect fhall be done away. When the poor Catachreftic Perfection of Viators fhall be foundConfummate in the Comprehenfors; Who will be fortify'd and embolden'd even to Look Divine Majefty in the Face ; which will fill and overwhelm 'em with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. I dare fay no more: I cannot. No! 'Tis only Heaven it felf must well and truly Inform us what Heaven is.

But when I Look for things fo much above all the brightest Ideas that I am able to form in my Mind; O my Soul, What manner of perfon ought I to be in all my Life? And what fhall I ever do for Him, who has made fuch wonderful Preparations for me? what can I offer to Advance, that shall any way anfwer fuch Riches of Grace, fuch Wonders of Love? King of Glory! I am utterly unworthy to Serve thee. Lord of Love.! I am not able fo much as to Think bow deeply and Eternally thou haft Oblig'd me. O bow poor and little is the All, that ever I have yet done! More and better ftill I would do. But what can I once imagine towards the Purchase of that Inheritance incorruptible and undefil'd, and that fadeth not away, referved in the Heavens for them who are kept by the Power of God through Faith to Salvation? 1 Pet.

I. 4, S.

i. 4, 5. Nothing but the Blood of the Son of God could ever be a Price to reach its Worth. When therefore I have done my Beft, Yet will I bumbly wait for Eternal Life, as the free Gift of God, through Jefus Chrift our Lord; And with all my Soul bless the Father of all Mercies, that has given me any good Hope through Grace: And the poor imperfect Life which now I live, fhall be, by the Faith of the Son of God, who Loved me and gave himself for me, Supported with the hopeful Expectation of that most boly and Happy Life, which hereafter I fhall Lead for ever

with the Lord.

He tells his Little Flock, Luk. 12. 32. It is your Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom. To Give you, ] for his Son's fake; Not Pay you, for your Work fake; that Kingdom,] which was never bought but once, and never will be fo again. And bis Apoftle is very exprefs, Eph. 2. 8. Ye are faved by Grace, through Faith; and that not of your felves: It is the Gift of God. Yet are there Babylonifh Merchants of another Opinion; Too high, to be there any Dealers, If they shall not put in as Purchasers. And why should the Key keepers stand without, when they have the Power in their own Hands, to Help themselves? Magis Honorificum (Said our Chapman) habere ex Merito, quam ex folâ Donatione. 'Tis more for the Saints Honour, to win it by their Defert, than

to

to take it of mere Courtefy. Never confulting God's Honour, To beftew it, (as he does) upon the Unworthy; and to let all that are Willing, come and take it freely. Rev. 22.

17.

But fhall I then fit ftill, folding my hands to Sleep, and do nothing, to work out my own Salvation? Far from me be that Refolution. Nor ever dare I fo Difobey my Lord and Savicur, when he bids me Strive to Enter, and Labour for that meat which endures to everlafting Life. No For ftill is the Queftion pertinent, What must I do to be Saved? Tho' never can I do any thing to the Purchase of it, yet still must I be Fitting up for it: And by patient Continuance in Well-doing, feek for Glory, Honour, and Immortali. ty; that God may render to me Eternal Life. For. Good works are ftill Via Regni, the ready Road to Glory. The Chrift bas merited fully, and God, for his fake, Gives Freely, Yet is my Obedience Nec fary; and as I hope to be Happy, I must be Buly, and full of care to Purify my felf, and Live Godly, Řighteously, and Soberly; yea, I have quite Loft my Way, when I am off this Duty.

For being one of thofe poor Labourers, to whom my Lord promifes the richest Donative, if I do but my Days work in the Vineyard; How Vain and Assuming should I be, to look for the Reward, without fetting my self about the Bufinefs? And yet no less Abfurd and Ar

rogant,