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A51005 A divine and moral essay on the Christian pilgrim's conduct with some glances on that of the secular / by John Macqueen ... Mackqueen, John, d. 1734. 1699 (1699) Wing M225; ESTC R22482 53,913 158

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worldly Comforts without any expectation of a better Exchange Atheists and Libertines whose Felicity expires with their Breath may be forry to Die But how unaccountable is it that Christians should be so who believe that their light Affliction which is but for a Moment 1 Cor. 4.17 worketh for them a far more Sure and eternal Weight of Glory that Death is their Vehicle to this the Grave the Cradle of their Resurrection and the period of their weary troublesom Pilgrimage Has not the Captain of their Salvation and the whole Host of Pilgrims made their Entry by this Gate and so Consecrated and Facilitated the same to their Followers it argues they have little Affection to their heavenly Countrey or their Company when they are so loth to go hence to Enjoy it and their Society it discredits them who have gone before as if their practice had no Influence to make them trace their Steps with Alacrity and Resolution It disheartens their Familiars when they See and discourages them who come after when they Hear how Cowardly or Sadly such receive the Message of their Return or the News of their Delivery Let us all then who profess our selves Christian Pilgrims and pretend to be Travelling towards the heavenly Jerusalem let us for the Honour of Christ and Reputation of Heaven for the Credit of our Profession and Praise of divine Grace in our last Behaviour for Commendation of the Example that cloud of Witnesses which went before us have left us for the Comfort of those about us the Encouragement of them who come after us the Satisfaction of our Friends the Conviction of our Foes let us by looking to and considering these things be excited to disentangle our Hearts from terrene Objects to Banish all averseness of our Dissolution wherewith the flattering blandishments of Sin or the falacious affrightments of Death would possess us Heb. 12.1 and laying aside any Weight which may Lett us in running with patience our Race or at its End bow down our Spirits and hinder their flight to the Regions of Light and Life Luke 12.35 2 Pet. 2.12 let us with our Loins Girt and our Lamps burning wait for our Lords coming yea look for and hasten to the same And if we be thus prepared and qualified if we be thus ready and disposed we may cheerfully resign and commit the keeping of our Souls to God in well doing 1 Pet. 4.19 as to our faithful Creator And we may be sure his Arms are stretcht out to Embrace us the Gates of Heaven shall be set wide open to receive us and we shall be hois'd to Mount Sion Heb. 12.13 to the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem to an Innumerable Company of Angels to the General Assembly and Church of the first born to the Spirits of just Men made perfect and of those Heroick Pilgrims and Conquering Strangers now Triumphant Citizens in Glory Eph. 2.19 who all with Songs of Praise and Universal Acclamations of Joy will welcome us to our Home and everlasting Habitations Thus I have in some Common Topicks drawn some Lines by the Behaviour of the Secular for direction of the Spiritual Pilgrim to which I could have added from the Parallel some more Reflections no less Useful and Genuine but I presume not to say all that could or should be said on this Subject my own present Circumstances suggested these and such like Thoughts unto my Mind in my retir'd Walks while I am now absent from my Native Soil And if from them I have Copi'd out any good Plan or Form for the Reader 's or my own better deportment in our Estrangement mine from my Earthly and both of us from our heavenly Country I have my Intent let me then by way of Epilogue shut up all with this further Reflection When we pass through Foreign Parts this Reflection of being Strangers and Pilgrims wants not its own Auspicious Influence to Curb our Licentiousness to Hem in these Extravagancies we indulge our selves in in our Native Climate to pare off the Asperities of our Nature or the Blemishes of our unfortunate Education and to compose us to the best temper of Mind and habit of Body to exert the utmost Industry and Diligence for our Improvement in all worthy Endowments and it would have the like Efficacy to model us to a suitable Behaviour in Reference to our Spiritual State and the Relation we stand in to the World upon that Score as the place of our Peregrination where as in a Academy it would Engage us in all Divine Exercises in pursuit of such excellent Attainments as may qualifie us at our Return for more Noble Ministrations in these Courts of Honour and Mansions of glory above And it would never miss this Effect but that we are more careful of the Modes and Fashions of the paint and dress of our Exteriour than we are of adorning the Interiour Man with the Virtues and Graces so agreeable to its Divine Original and the necessary preparatory accomplishments for our acceptable Reception to our heavenly Countrey But I am afraid both the one and the other the Secular and Spiritual Traveller Rest too much here and the consideration of their common condition as Strangers affects them no farther than to frame them to some external discreet sort of Conduct It is matter of Regret that some Return from their Travels more fraught with Nauseous set Forms of Courtship and Superstitious observances of some punctilious Ceremonies of Civility than any Real advancement in Morals or Intellectuals It is to be feared many who walk with their faces towards Jerusalem are in the same Condemnation who tumble over some Prayers they have con'd by Rot and jog on in a certain Round of Customary performances Matth. 23.25 cleansing the out-side of the Platter without any serious endeavour to obtain any inward saving change wrought in their Souls And to what purpose is all this Diligence both of the one and the other but for some outward varnish to the Cabinet while the Jewel is Neglected a trimming of the Scabbard while the Blade is set at nought But what signifie these shews and shadows these little trifling Arts of insinuation and complaisant Methods whereby either of them fit themselves for the Gallantry of some Choice Conversation What are they but false blazes superficial flattering Scenes while their minds are not cultivated with any ingenuous Improvement Nor furnisht with any store of wholsome instructions or deckt with these useful qualities which may make them serviceable in their Stations comfortable to their Friends or profitable to the World I wish both the one and the other may consider the Weightier Matters Matth. 23.23 and take care of the better part to have their Souls Enrich'd with these Ornaments which may give lustre to the other that they may joyn inward purity with External Neatness a Sober Mind with a graceful Meen a sanctified heart and honest designes with an