1 Cor.xiii. 12.

Vol. II. are fown in Corruption will be rais'd in Incorruption, that are sown in Weakness will be v. 42. c. rais'd in Power, that are fown in Dibonour will be rais'd in Glory, thofe Bodies finally that are fown natural ones will be rais'd Spiritual ones: And if the overflowing of the Divine Spirit do thus exalt our Bodies, how much more must it exalt our Souls? Then therefore we shall know even as alfo we are known, and fee as we are feen, and Love as we are Lov'd, and in one Word our Fruition will be as Immortal and Perfect as our Beings. What can enkindle our Defire, what can awaken and excite our Diligence, what can ftrengthen and confirm our Obedience and Vertue, if the Profpect of such a Heaven cannot? What Temptation can there be in the deceitful and empty things of this World, that can be balanced against fuch a Reward as this? Alas, every thing here below is as far from being fatisfactory, as it is from being lafting and perpetual. Our Defires and Expectations are no lefs baffled and difappointed by the Emptiness and Worthlefnefs of the things we are fond of, than by the Mixture and Adherence of Evil that is infeparable from them. Vanity of Vanities is the Result of the greateft, and the most engaging things the World can

present

prefent us with. In fhort the most defi- Ser.IV. rable Objects of this World do but delude and cheat, not fatisfie us; nay 'tis well, if they have not fomething in them that creates us Uneafinefs, Difquiet and Torment. How ftupid must we then be, if we fuffer our felves to be cheated and fool'd out of a Heaven by these Vanities and Trifles?

4ly. This Reward is certain. I have in my first Difcourfe on this Text, proved the Certainty of our Refurrection from the Resurrection of Christ. I might to this Argument add these two others.

Heb. vi.

1. That Heaven is the express Promise of God, that this Promife is founded in the Blood of the Crofs, and ratify'd by an Oath of God, Wherein God willing more abundantly to fhew unto the Heirs of Promife the Immutability of his Counsel, confirm'd it by an Oath: That by two immutable things 17. c. in which it was impoffible for God to lie, we might have a strong Confolation, who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope fet before us, which Hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul, both fure and stedfaft, and which entereth into that within the Vail, whither the Forerunner is for us enter'd, even Jefus made an high Priest for ever after the Order of Melchifedec.

Eph. i. 14.

Vol. II. 2. Another Proof of the Certainty of our Future Blessedness may be this; the Spirit of Love and Holiness, which God bestows upon true Chriftians is a Pledge of his Favour, a Seal of their Adoption, and an Earneft of their Future Inheritance. By this they are Renew'd and Regenerated after the Image of God, by this they are made the Children and Heirs of God, by this they are made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, and therefore shall no doubt be made Partakers of it. On this is founded the Reafoning of the Apostle through the whole 8th Chapter to the Romans, particularly ver. 11. If the Spirit of him that rais'd up Jefus from the Dead, dwell in you: He that rais'd up Chrift from the Dead, fhall alfo qnicken your Mortal Bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Eccles. ix.

11.

Here then is all the Certainty that can be with respect to Heavenly things; but as toEarthly ones, all is full of Uncertainty. All things are fubject to Time and Chance, the Race is not to the Swift, nor the Battel to the Strong, neither yet Bread to the Wife, not yet Riches to Men of Understanding, nor yet Favour to Men of Skill, but Time and Chance happeneth to them all. 'Tis uncertain whether we fhall gain what we aim at, and if we do 'tis uncertain whether we shall enjoy it. 'Tis uncertain whether

whether we shall fucceed in our Designs, Ser. IV. and if we do, 'tis not certain but that we may Repent of our very Success.

And now after all this, will it not be a Shame and Reproach even to our common Senfe, if we be strongly mov'd and affected by the Hope of Earthly things, but coldly and weakly by the Hope of Heavenly ones? It is obferv'd in History, that when any Prognofticks of Greatness accompanied the Birth of any, or befell them in any other Season of Life, they fill'd them with great and bold Thoughts, and fpur'd them on to Daring and Generous Attempts, fo that thofe little Omens feem'd to Infpire the Greatness they did but doubtfully Portend, and to bestow the Crown they did but darkly promise. We have a Heaven, a Crown and Kingdom in view, an Incorruptible Crown, a Kingdom which cannot be mov'd, Heb. xii. and our Hope of it, is built not upon Fan- 28. taftick Signs and doubtful Omens, but upon the exprefs Promises of God, founded on the Death of Chrift, ratified by an Oath, confirm'd by the Refurrection of Jefus, and by the Earneft of the Holy Spirit. What Influence ought fuch a Hope as this to have upon us? How easy is it for every one of you thus to apply G 2 what

Vol. II. what I have faid? We are Chriftians wi.e. A chofen Generation, a Royal Prieft1 Pet. 29. hood; an Holy Nation, a Peculiar People.

Unless we betray our own Interest by Sloth and Luxury, we fhall be the Darlings of God. Heaven is not the BirthRight of the First-born, nor the Prerogative of the Rich and Great: 'Tis not the Prey of the Cunning and Ambitious, nor the Largefs of a Blind and Capricious Fortune; he that dares be Vertuous fhall be fure to be Great; he that can ferve his God in Meekness and Patience, fhall when this fhort and foolish Life is at an End shine as the Angels, who are Bright with their own Glory and PerfeEtion. How low foever we be now, we fhall when Time is at an End dwell with Cherubim and Seraphim, and ftand upon the fame level with Angels. Lord I Believe; help thou mine Unbelief. I acknowledge that thou haft given me in this Precious Promife all things that pertain untoLife and Godliness. I care not by what uneasie Steps of Shame and Poverty, of Watchfulness and Patience, I arrive at this Region of Reft and Glory. While I keep my Eye faften'd upon the Glorious Profpect of a Heaven, I fhall be able to March on thither, o'er a Crucified Body and a Conquer'd World, o'er trampled

Wealth,