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of Angels, for their Wisdom in having seen through, and Rejected all the Deceitful Temptations of Sin, in the former Tranfient State, for the fake of that Everlasting Reward which is now to be Immediately bestowed upon them? O Bleffed Reception! Bleffed Confummation! Who can forbear spending his whole Life in making Provifion for it?

5. Let us entertain our minds with Daily Thoughts of Happiness in Heaven. It muft needs be, that This World will engage our Affections, whilft we do not fuffer it to be rival'd by the Other; It must needs be, that we fhall purfue Temporal Satisfactions, whilft no Other Satisfactions are so much as Thought of. But if we can perfuade our felves to rouze our Thoughts, and carry them up into a Survey of that Heavenly Countrey, which is Revealed and tendred to us in the Gospel, Comparing the Happiness of That State with the Enjoyment of This, we shall eafily and presently be convinced, that Common Prudence obligeth us, to govern our Lives by the Rules of Religion. For in fuch a Comparison, it will unde

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undeniably appear, that Things present have the Advantage over Future Happiness, in no Other refpect but This, That they Are present. Whereas all the Other advantages, which lie on the Other Side, do so strongly bear down this One, that 'tis of very little or no Weight, and Unworthy of our Regard. Though worldly Satisfactions are prefent, yet the Vanity of them is such, that indeed they should not even be Compared with the Bliss of Heaven, if our Folly did not make fuch a Comparison Neceffary, to prevent our running into Fatal Mistakes.

And if Temporal Happiness were not, in its Nature, fo Empty and Unsatisfying as it is; yet the Duration of it is fo very Short, that it does not deferve our Notice, any Otherwise, than that our taking of

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may ferve to render it Little and Contemptible in our Sight. For what Efteem can be due to those enjoyments, which Flie from us, as foon as ever we Overtake them; which Appear and Vanish in one and the fame moment, never failing to Leave us, at least as Unfatisfied as they Found us.

But the Duration of Future
Happiness

Happiness, is equal to the other perfections of it. "Tis an Eternal, as well as an Exceeding Weight of Glory. But Here we must not Attempt Defcription; for Words cannot reach the conceptions of Eternity. Surprizing Eternity of Blifs! In all Good men, at once the Parent of Holy Admiration, and Ineffable Joy! Can any man's Spirits fail him, in running the Race fet before him, whilft he maintains in his Thoughts, a Distinct View of the Incorruptible and Eternal Crown of Glory prepared for him?

But as to This, and the Other Meditations which I have been propofing to you, give me leave to intreat you, that Every one of them may be Frequent and Habitual; for the Efficacy and all the great Benefits arifing from them depend, chiefly, upon our being Conftant, as well as Attentive in the Exercife of Them. And if an account could be taken of all the Souls, now in a ftate of Mifery; not any One perhaps could be found There, but who had neglected to exercise himself Habitually, with Thefe, or the like Meditations, and to Implore the DiE e vine

vine Affiftance, that they might be crown'd with Succefs. For 'tis not to be Imagin'd, that the Habitual Exercife of Them, attended with proper Applications to the Throne of Grace, fhould confift with an Habitual Course of Sin, and Final Impenitency. Therefore

6. Laftly, To our Meditations, and all other means of accomplishing a Converfation becoming the Gospel of Chrift, let us add Conftant and Fervent Prayer for the Directions and Aids of the Holy Spirit; That he may enlighten us with a most Affecting Senfe of all the Revelations made from Heaven; That he may fufficiently Quicken us in Discerning, and Strengthen us in Refifting all the Powers of Temptation; That He may Inflame us with an Ardency of the Love and Defire of Spiritual and Heavenly Things; and, that His Continual Motions and Influences upon us, in all Circumftances, may Effectually enable us to make our Calling and Election fure. Many and clear are the Encouragements and Promises in the Scripture, that God will give the Holy Spirit to them that afk him. And if the Fervency

Fervency of our Prayers be but Equal to the Greatnefs of our Wants; Our Prayers will Ever be Graciously received, and our Wants Abundantly Supplied.

There are many other Particulars, nearly relating to the Argument before us; which cannot be taken into the Narrow compass of this Difcourfe. The Time will not allow me to enlarge the Obfervations and Directions, which I have been preffing upon you, as Neceffary to your Edification; as the best Testimonies I can give of my Gratitude, for your Kind Acceptance and Encouragement of my Imperfect Labours amongst you; and as the Effects of my Earneft Defire, that You may be ever Truly mindful of the Conditions, and Faithful in ufing the Means of Your Salvation, under the two General Heads of Evangelical Duty, Faith and Obedience; Which I have, from the many Years of my Duty and Ministry in this Place, ftudied to Represent and Enforce, under the Many Particulars contain'd in Them, for Your Improvement in Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding.

I have frequently used my utmost Endeavours,

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