changed, and thou bearest God's image, which consists in righteousness and true holiness, Eph. iv. 24. Thy soul is reconciled to the whole law of God, and at war with all known sin. In vain do they pretend to the holy kingdom, who are not holy in heart and life; for, "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord," Heb, xii. 14. If heaven is a rest, it is for spiritual labourers, and not for loiterers. If it is an eternal triumph, they are not in the way to it, who avoid the spiritual warfare, and are in no care to subdue corruption, resist tempta tion, and to cut their way to it, through the opposition made by the devil, the world, and the flesh. (3.) The treasure in heaven is the chief in thy esteem and desire, for it is your treasure; and, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," Matth. vi. 21. If it is not the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen, which thy heart is in greatest care and concern to obtain; if thou art driving a trade with heaven, and thy chief business lies there; it is a sign thy treasure is there, for thy heart is there. But if thou art of these who wonder why so much ado, about heaven and eternal life, as if less might serve the turn; thou art like to have nothing to do with it at all. Carnal men value themselves most on their treasures upon earth; with them, the things that are seen, are weighed down by the things that are not seen; and no losses do so much affect them as earthly losses: but the heirs of the crown of glory, will value themselves most on their treasures in heaven, and will not put their private estate in the balance with their kingdom; nor will the loss of the former go so near their hearts, as the thoughts of the loss of the latter. Where these first fruits of heaven are to be found, the eternal weight of glory will surely follow after; while the want of them must be admitted, according to the word, to be incontestible evidence of an heir of wrath.

Secondly, Let the heirs of the kingdom behave them. selves suitable to their character and dignity. Live as having the faith and hope of this glorious kingdom: let your conversation be in heaven, Phil. iii. 20. Let your souls delight in communion with God, while ye are on earth, since ye look for your happiness in communion with him in heaven; let your speech and actions savour

of heaven: and, in your manner of life, look like the country to which ye are going; that it may be said of you, as of Gideon's brethren, Judges viii. 28. each one resembled the children of a king. Maintain a holy contempt of the world, and of the things of the world. ALthough others whose earthly things are their best things, do set their hearts upon them; yet it becomes you to set your feet on them, since your best things are above. This world is but the country, through which lies your road to Immanuel's land; therefore pass through it as pilgrims and strangers, and dip not into the incumbrances of it, so as to retard you in your journey. It is unworthy of one born to a palace, to set his heart on a cottage, to dwell there; and of one running for a prize of gold, to go off his way, to gather the stones of the brook; but much more is it unworthy of an heir of the kingdom of heaven, to be hid among the stuff of this world, when he should be going on to receive his crown. The prize set before you, challengeth your utmost zeal, activity and diligence ; and holy courage, resolution, and magnanimity, become those who are to inherit the crown. Ye cannot come at it, without fighting your way to it, through difficulties from without, and from within; but the kingdom before you is sufficient to balance them all, though ye should be called to resist, even unto blood. Prefer Christ's cross before the world's crown; and wants in the way of duty before ease and wealth in the way of sin; "Choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," Heb. xi. 25. In a com mon inn, strangers (perhaps) fare better than the chil dren; but here lies the difference, the children are to pay nothing for what they have got, but the strangers get their bill, and must pay completely for all they have had. Did we consider the wicked's after-reckoning, for all the smiles of common providence they meet with in the world, we would not grudge them their good things here; nor take it amiss that God keeps our best things last. Heaven will make up all the saints losses, and all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes there.

It is worth observing, that there is such a variety of scripture-notions of heaven's happiness, as may suit every afflicted case of the saints. Are they oppressed?

The day cometh, in which they shall have the dominion, Is their honour laid in the dust? A throne to sit upon, a crown on their head, and a sceptre in their hand, will raise it up again. Are they reduced to poverty? Hea ven is a treasure. If they are forced to quit their own habitations, yet Christ's Father's house is ready for them. Are they driven to the wilderness? There is a city prepared for them. Are they banished from their native country? They shall inherit a better country. If they are deprived of public ordinances, the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple there, whither they are going; a temple the doors of which none can shut. If their life be full of bitterness, heaven is a paradise of pleasure. If they groan under the remains of spiritual bondage, there is a glorious liberty abiding them. Do their defiled garments make them ashamed? The day cometh, in which their robes shall be white, pure and spotless. The battle against flesh and blood, principali ties and powers, is indeed sore; but a glorious triumph is awaiting them. If the toil and labours of the Christian life be great, there is an everlasting rest for them in heaven. Are they judged unworthy of society in the world? They shall be admitted into the society of angels in heaven. Do they complain of frequent interruptions of their communion with God? There they shall go no more out, but shall see his face for evermore. If they are in darkness here, eternal light is there. If they grapple with death, there they shall have everlasting life. And to sum up all in one word, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things," Rev. xxi 7. He shall have peace and plenty, profit and pleasure, every thing desirable: full satisfaction to his most enlarged desires. Let the expectants of heaven, then, lift up their heads with joy, gird up their loins, and so run as they may obtain ; trampling on every thing that may hinder them, in the way to the kingdom. Let them never think any duty too hard, nor any cross too heavy, nor any pains too much, so as they may obtain the crown of glory.

Lastly, Let those who have no right to the kingdom of heaven, be stirred up to seek it with all diligence. Now is the time, wherein the children of wrath may become heirs of glory; and when the way to everlasting

happiness is opened, it is no time to sit still and loiter. Raise up your hearts towards the glory that is to be revealed; and do not always lie along on this perishing earth. What can all your worldly enjoyments avail you, while you have no solid ground to expect heaven, after this life is gone? These riches and honours, profits and pleasures, that must be buried with us, and cannot accompany us into another world, are but a wretched portion, and will leave men comfortless at long-run. Ah! why are men so fond, in their life-time to receive their good things! why are they not rather in care, to secure an interest in the kingdom of heaven, which would never be taken from them, but afford them a portion, to make them happy through the ages of eternity! If you desire honour, there you may have the highest honour, and which will last, when the world's honours are laid in the dust: if riches, heaven will yield you a treasure; and there are pleasures for evermore. O! be not despisers of the pleasant land, neither judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life; but marry the heir, and heaven shall be your dowry; close with Christ, as he is offered to you in the gospel, and ye shall inherit all things. Walk in the way of holiness, and it will lead you to the kingdom. Fight against sin and satan, and ye shall receive the crown. Forsake the world, and the doors of heaven will open to receive you.

HEAD VI.

HELL,

MAT. XXV. 41.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

WER

ERE there no other place of eternal lodging but heaven, I should here have closed my discourse of man's eternal state: But seeing in the other world, there is a prison for the wicked, as well as a palace for the saints, we must also enquire into that state of everlasting misery; the which the worst of men may well bear with, without crying, Art thou come to torment us before the time? Since there is yet access to fly from the wrath to come; and all that can be said of it comes short of what the damned will feel; for who knoweth the power of God's anger?

The last thing our Lord did, before he left the earth was, He lifted up his hands and blessed his disciples, Luke xxiv. 50, 51. But the last thing he will do, before he leave the throne, is to curse and condemn his enemies : as we learn from the text, which contains the dreadful sentence, wherein the everlasting misery of the wicked is wrapt up. In which three things may be taken notice of. First, The quality of the condemned, ye cursed. The Judge finds the curse of the law upon them as transgressors, and sends them away with it, from his presence into hell, there to be fully executed upon them. Secondly, The Punishment which they are adjudged to, and to which

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