a Calling 1. Let the consideration of your espousals to the Royal Bridegroom Jesus Christ be a holy check to your Affections that they do not inordinately run out after any strange Lovers 2. As you are a Child of God a Son or Daughter of the King of Heaven let it be your care to Love Honour and Obey your Father make addresses to him with a Child-like Confidence with a holy and humble Boldness actual dependance upon him for a supply of all Wants Bodily and Spiritual for this Life and that which is to come 3. As your Body is honoured to be a Temple for the Holy Ghost see that no sinful uncleanness or pollution be found upon it 1 Cor. 6.19 and 3.17 he that defileth the Temple of God him shall God destroy 4. As you are listed among the Lamb's followers look to the great Captain of your Salvation Heb. 2.10 Write after his Copy and follow his Example wherein it is imitable acquit your self as a good Soldier having on the whole Armour of God Ephes 6. for it is not with Flesh and Blood but with Principalities and Powers and spiritual Wickednesses in high Places you wrestle 5. As you have enter'd your self under the Tutorage of the great Prophet Jesus Christ be still taking out new Lessons from his Word and Spirit 6. As he is the High Priest of your Profession make use of him to lead you by the Hand into the Holy of Holies as often as you have occasion to go thither Ephes 2.13 18. Hebrews 2 end and 4 end 7. As you are a Subject of so glorious a Kingdom swear Fealty and Allegiance to your Sovereign be true and loyal to him keep the King's Laws for in so doing you may expect spiritual Peace Gal. 6.16 Psal 119.165 and protection from all Enemies 1 Pet. 3.13 Who is he that will harm you if ye are followers of that which is good 8. As you are a Fellow Citizens with the Saints Ephes 2.19 Let your Heart be united in the strictest Bond of Christian Love and Charity to all Heaven-born Ones Be not ashamed to own for your Equals and Companions such as are of the same Blood-royal with your self Psal 16.3 David though a Prince counted it no disparagement to familiarize himself with such whose Fellowship was with the Father and the Son Psal 119.63 9. As you are elected and redeemed from among Men Revel 14.3 4. be careful to keep you Garments clean from the pollutions of the World James 1.27 Be not partaker of other Mens Sins 1 Tim. 5.22 Shun all unnecessary converse with them that are visibly wicked Evil Communication corrupts good Manners 1 Cor. 15.33 10. As you are an Heir of Glory Born to an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and such as fadeth not away reserved for you in the Heavens 1 Pet. 1.3 4. mind Heavenly and not Earthly things set your Affections on things above not on Sublunaries Col. 3.1 Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1.17 1 John 3.3 Every one that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as God is pure 2 Pet. 3.11 12 13 14. Wherefore Brethren seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless and be crucified to the World through the Cross of Christ looking upon all its perishing Glory to be but a Toy and Trifle not worthy once to be named in comparison of that Glory to be revealed Seventhly consider more particularly what the special Duties are which you owe unto God unto others and in respect of your Self studying faithfulness and conscionableness in the performance and practice of each of them the Summary of all is comprehended in that of Tit. 2.12 Holiness towards God Righteousness towards others and Sobriety in respect of your self To enlarge here according to the amplitude of the Subject might prove too teedious study the Decalogue or Ten Commands exactly reading Divine Dod's Exposition upon them with two other small pieces call'd The Marrow of modern Divinity and there you will find much more than I can in a few Lines in such a Compend as this communicate I 'le only give you a brief hint of things The main things you owe to God are Worship Service Suffering with what else his Word and Works of Providence do require His Worship is either inward spiritual and moral and so 1. You are bound to study the Knowledge of God Why do you think did the Lord create the World but that the Heavens might declare his Glory and the Firmament shew forth his Praise Psal 19.1 What were the Scriptures written for but that in Judah God might be known and his Name great in Israel Psal 76.1 What did Christ come from the Bosom of God for but to give forth Declarations of the Father John 1.18 and 14.6 7. What is the Law written in our Hearts for Rom. 2.15 and what is the Spirit promised for but that thereby we might attain to the Knowledge of the Almighty John 14.26 And has not the Gospel brought Life and Immortality to Light 2 Tim. 1.10 All things considered your ignorance of God now will be inexcusable and Knowledge is an indispensable requisite 2. You are to fear God having a high reverential esteem of him in your Heart dreading to offend him not only because of his greatness and justice but also and especially because of his goodness and Mercy Hos 3.5 Levit. 19.14 Deut. 6.13 Psal 2.11 Isa 8.13 Heb. 12.28 3. Love him with all your Soul Strength and Mind Matth. 22.37 he will admit of no Rivals or Co-partners in your Affections he and he alone must have your Heart the whole of your Heart and that in the most intense Degrees and always 4. Give a credential assent to every Tittle that proceeds out of his Mouth relying also upon and trusting in him as one in whom there is everlasting Strength Isa 26.4 Psal 2.8 and 11.1 5. Thankfulness for every Mercy and Patience under all Afflictions is that which you owe unto God 1 Thess 5.18 Psal 107.1 Luke 21.19 Heb. 10.36 Ephes 5.20 James 1.4 6. Sincerity of Heart and Zeal for his Glory are Duties indispensable what you do in matters of Religion must not be to be seen in Men or for any other base sinister selfish ends but do all for the Glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Phil. 2.3 11. 7. Be cloathed with Humility having always a low esteem of your self notwithstanding of Honours Riches Birth Beauty Breeding Parts Perfections Priviledges Performances Gifts Graces Experiences Enjoyments Doing and Suffering Rom. 12.2 Coll. 2.12 8. Perseverance in the Faith and way of Well doing is an ingredient of this inward Spiritual Worship you must not begin in the Spirit and end in the Flesh for then your last Estate will be worse than the Beginning 2 Pet. 1.20 21. So run that you may obtain 1. Cor. 9.24 Rev. 2.7 11 17 26 27 28. and 3.5 10 12 21. Or 2dly His Worship
THE Christian Directed IN HIS RACE to HEAVEN OR A Short ACCOUNT of that Knowledge and Practice that leads thither By JAMES FORBES Minister of the Gospel at Glocester LONDON Printed by J. Brudenell for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three-Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1700. THE CHRISTIAN Directed IN HIS Race to HEAVEN FIRST Consider often the Great End of your Creation and Redemption by Christ The great Jehovah was no more a Debtor to you than to the most worthless Worm that creeps upon the Earth the Distinguishing you from Brutes Sensitive and Imanimate Creatures is a meer Act of Favour in Furnishing you with such an Excellent Immaterial Immortal Spiritual and Divine Substance the Soul consisting of Understanding Will Conscience Memory and Affections whereby you are capable of the Knowledge of and Communion with the High and Lofty One that Inhabits Eternity Your Body is also wonderfully framed Ps 139.14 and fitted by the hand of an infinite Skilful Artificer both for Services and Sufferings I beseech you therefore by the Mercies of God that you Consecrate your selves Souls and Bodies a Living Holy and acceptable Sacrifice to the Author of your Being which is your Reasonable Service Rom. 12.1 And Glorify him with both as knowing you are not your own you are Bought with a Price 1. Cor. 6.20 O remember you were sent into the World for Higher Ends than meerly to Eat Drink Sleep and satisfy the Lusts of the Flesh Study to Answer the Ends of your Creation and Redemption The Second Thing I commend to you is in the Words of the Wise Man Prov. 2.3 4 5 6. If thou Cryest after Knowledge and liftest up thy Voice for Understanding if thou seekest her as Silver and searchest for her as for hid Treasures then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the Knowledge of God For the Lord giveth Wisdom out of his Mouth cometh Knowledge and Understanding Be well Grounded in the Infallible Assurance of a Deity s being the first Letter in the Alphabet of Christianity Believe that there is a God Heb. 11.6 Give Credit to Scripture-revelations concerning him that he is such a one as is there Described and let the Knowledge of his Incomprehensible Perfections leave some suitable Impresses upon you Spirits Contemplate often the Infathomable depth of the Divine Glory of his Attributes and you will find it to be an Exercise both Pleasing and Profitable John 17.3 This is Life Eternal to know God 1. Look upon him as an Eternal Being which knew no beginning and shall have no end the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last Gen. 21.33 Isa 44.6 and 57.15 Rom. 1.20 Revel 1.8 Such an Antiquity as is Eternity is truly Honourable This will make you have an undervaluing Esteem of the Choicest Creatures which are of Yesterday and at best but Breathing nothings in Comparison of him Ps 103.15 16. As for Man his Days are as Grass as a Flower of the Field so he flourisheth for the Wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more but the Mercy of the Lord is from Everlasting to Everlasting to them that fear him and his Righteousness to Childrens Children And 102.25 26 27. Of old hast thou laid the Foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the Work of thy Hands they shall Perish but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall wax Old like a Garment as a Vesture shalt thou Change them and they shall be Changed but thou art the same and thy Years shall have no End The Children of thy Servants shall continue and their Seed shall be established before thee 2. Survey his Glory as he is the being of beings both as to their original and continuance Acts 17.24 25. The Apostle there brings a practical inference from this Position that seeing God is the Being of Beings all acts of Adoration should be sutable to so glorious a Being God that made the World and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in Temples made with Hands neither is Worshipped with Mens Hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all Life and Breath and all things v. 29. For as much then as we are the Offspring of God we ought not to think that the God-head is like unto Gold or Silver or Stone graven by Art and Mans device John 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and in truth 3. Take some view of the Infiniteness of his Wisdom Prov. 3.19 20. The Lord by Wisdom hath founded the Earth by Understanding hath he established the Heavens by his knowledge the Depths are broken up and the Clouds drop down the Dew Such a Survey will cause a Soul-humbling reflection upon your own folly and ignorance Prov. 30.2 3. Surely I am more brutish than any Man I neither learned Wisdom not have the knowledge of the Holy Who hath ascended up to Heaven or descended Who hath gathered the wind in his fists Who hath bound the waters in a garment Who hath established all the ends of the Earth What is his name and what is his Sons name if thou canst tell This will make thee believe that he can make thee wise unto Salvation notwithstanding of all that darkness and folly that 's upon you Job 12.13 With him is wisdom and strength he hat counsel and understanding And you must needs break forth into admiration Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the Riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! And into that Apostolical Doxologie 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King Eternal Immortal Invisible the only wise God be Honour and Glory forever and ever Amen Jude 25. 4. Survey him in the Glory of his Immensity Ubiquity Omnipresence and Omniscience And your great care will be at all times and in all places to walk as under his All-seeing eye saying with the Psalmist Psal 139.2 3. Thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising thou understandest my thought afar off whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence If I say surely the darkness shall cover me even the Night shall be light about me yea the darkness hideth not from thee but the Night seemeth as the Day the darkness and the light are both alike unto thee 1 Sam. 16.7 1 Chron. 28.9 The Lord searches all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts Psal 7.10 Heb. 4.13 Acts 17.27 28. God is not far from e-every one of us for in him we live This also would much heighten your apprehensions of God in all addresses to him as being one that filleth Heaven and Earth Jer. 23.24 1 King 8.27 Will God indeed dwell on the Earth Behold the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee how much less this House that I have built Is 66.1 with Acts 7.49 Thus saith the Lord the Heaven is my Throne the Earth is my Footstool
raised from the Dead according to my Gospel wherein I suffer as an evil-doer even unto bonds but the word of God is not bound Therefore I endure all things for the elects sake that they may also obtain the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal Glory Phil 2.17 Yea and if I be offered up upon the Sacrifice and service of your Faith I joy and rejoyce with you all 1 Tim. 12 13 14. 2 Tim. 1.8 Be not ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the Power of God Are you now Members of a Gospel-Church and in Communion with Saints Consider the Duties of this relation 1. In Reference to God and the dignity of a Church state 2. To those that are over you in the Lord. 3. One to another Duties of the first sort are these 1. God hath made over himself by a most solemn covenant-engagement unto you put a high estimate upon this more than ordinary privilege and make a due improvement thereof let the thoughtful remembrance of this overaw you to a constant walking in his Holy ways and observation of his Statutes Deut. 26.17 18 19 20. Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his ways and the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar People and that thou shouldest keep all his Commandments and to make thee high above all Nations in Praise and in Name and in Honour that thou mayest be a Holy People unto the Lord thy God Let the memory of this be always recent and fresh upon your Spirits and it will much influence persiverance in Holiness and prove an excellent Antidote against Apostasy 2. The Gospel Church is often called the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 3.2 and 5.19 and 11.12 and 13.14 and 16.19 And if God hath made you Members hereof it is a vertual declaration of his Mind and Counsel concerning your Election from Eternity and Salvation to all Eternity which calls aloud upon you for Spiritual Rejoycing more than if you had been made Earthly Kings and Queens Luke 10.20 In this rejjoyce not that the Spirits are Subject unto you but rather rejoyce because your Names are written in Heaven 2 Thes 2.13 14 15. We are bound to give thanks unto God alway for you Brethren Beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Ephes 1.4 5 6. 2 Tim. 1.9 10. 3. Though once ye were Darkness yet now ye are all the Children of Light and of the Day Therefore sleep not as others but watch and be sober 1 Thes 5.5 6 7. They that sleep sleep in the Night and they that are Drunken are Drunken in the Night but let us who are of the Day be sober putting one the Breast-plate of Faith and for a Helmet the hope of Salvation Rom. 13.12 13. The Night is far spent the Day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of Darkness and put on the armour of Light let us walk honestly as in the Day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the Flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof 1 Pet. 2.9 10. Ye are a chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood an Holy Nation a Peculiar People that ye should shew forth the praises of him that hath called you out of Darkness into his marvellous Light which in time past were not a People but are now the People of God which had not obtained mercy but have now obtained mercy Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from Fleshly Lusts which war against the Soul having your conversation honest among the Gentils that whereas they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works which they shall behold Glorifie God in the day of visitation Math. 5.16 4. You are made sharers and copartners with Christ in all the Privileges and Precious things which he has purchased with his Blood 1 Pet. 1.18 19 20. And wherein will you testifie your thankfulness to him Has he Died for you and will not love constrain you to live unto him 2 Cor. 2.5 14. As he Died for your sins so he Rose for your justification Rom. 4.25 And will not you Dye to Sin and ascend in your Hearts after him Will not you study to know the Power of his Resurrection and the Fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable to his Death Phil. 3.10 11 Rom. 6.10 11 12 13. In that he Died he Died unto sin once but in that he Liveth he Liveth unto God Likewise ye also reckon your selves to be Dead unto Sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord Let not Sin therefore reign in your Mortal Bodies that ye should obey it in the Lusts thereof neither yield your Members as Instruments of unrighteousness unto Sin but yield your selves unto God as those that are alive from the Dead and your Members as Instruments of Righteousness unto God He hath now broke the Serpents Head triumphed over Principalities and Powers taken away the Hand-Writing of the Old Covenant that was against you Nailing it to his Cross has conquered the World and delivered you from it Has made Death stingless and has swallowed up the Grave in victory has abolished the condemning Power of the Law himself being made a curse for you What hinders then but that you take up that Apostical Triumph Rom. 8. to the end Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that Died Yea rather that is risen again who is even at the Right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Who shall separate us from all the Love of Christ shall tribulation who are the Enemies and what are the evils which the Church redeemed with the Blood of God should be afraid of Heb. 10.19 21 22. Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he has consecrated for us though the Veil that is to say his flesh and having a high Priest over the House of God let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our Bodies washed with pure water with the thing it self that was signified by legal washings 5. God has reposed this great trust in you to be Instrumental conservators of his Truths and Ordinances Rom. 3.2 1 Tim. 3.15 Shew fidelity in preserving truth among your selves keeping your Understandings and Judgments untainted with errours and heresies Acts 20.19 30 31. Eph. 4.14 Heb. 13.9 Be not carried about with strange Doctrines
for it is a good thing that the Heart be established with Grace not with Merits which have not profited them that have been occupied therein 2 Cor. 2.11 2 3 4. I am zealous over you with a Godly jealousie for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ but I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his Subtilty so your Minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ For if he that cometh perceiveth another Jesus whom we have not prepared or if ye receive another Spirit which ye have not received or another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have Preached unto you let him be accursed Contend for the truth against all that shall corrupt or oppose it Jude 1. Let no Ordinance be lost or adulterated with your good will restore all to their primitive purity and keep them in it Let the word of the Lord also go forth from you unto others that you being the Lord 's Holy Mountain may be a rich Blessing to all places round about Ezek. 34.26 Psal 110.2 Think your selves of some expedient how to propagate the Gospel according to your capacities abilities and as present Providences will permit after the pattern of the Church of Thessalonica 1 Ep. 1 Chap. v. 6 7 8. Yea become followers of us and of the Lord having received the Word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost so that ye were examples to all that were at Macedonia and Achaia for from you sounded out the word of the Lord. 6. God has fenced you with many Hedges and strong Fortifications to wit with his own Power Providence Spirit Word Angels and other Creatures insomuch that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against you Let therefore Mount Zion be glad and the Daughters of Judah be glad walk about Zion go round about her tell the Towers thereof mark well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the Generations following for this God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide unto Death Ps. 48. to the end Isa 4.5 6. The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon the Assemblies a Cloud and Smoke by Day and shining of a Flaming Fire by Night for upon all the Glory shall be a defence and there shall be a Tabernacle for a Shadow in the Day-time from the Heat and for a place of Refuge and for a covert from the Storm and Rain And 41.10 11 12. Fear not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right Hand of my Righteousness behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded They shall be as nothing and they that strive with thee shall perish Thou shalt seek them and shalt not find them even them that contended with thee they that were against thee shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought 7. As God has made many Promises to you my indeed all Promises are Yea and Amen to you that believe 2 Cor. 1.20 So suck the Breasts of these Consolations and let the Word of Christ dwell Richly in you in all Wisdom Col. 3.16 Chuse Promises as a part of your Portion Psal 119.111 Acting Faith and Patience for the accomplishment thereof and comforting your selves therewith in all your Affictions Distresses and Tribulations Get some compendious Catalogue not only in your Heads but also in your Hearts of such promises especially which may afford you some comfortable relief against the temptations and troubles that do ordinarly attend a Church-state â—â—le instance in a few to shew you how to make improvement of the rest 1. Are you at any time under perturbation of Mind fearing the Rage and Rejection of the Men of the World for your separation not walking with them in the same way of visible Worship Let that of 2 Cor. 6.17 18. be ready at hand as a present remedy Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father to you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty It s true this Scripture is principally understood of separation from Idolatry and Idolaters but not exclusive of other separations where there is visible Righteousness and Unrighteousness Light and Darkness Christ and Belial Piety and Tolerated Profaness As you may see v. 14.15 2. Is the want of able Officers or being de prived of such as ye had your grief Make use of Ezek. 34.15 16. I will feed them in a good Pasture and upon the high Mountains of Israel shall the Fold be I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and will bind up that which was broken and strengthen that which was sick Jer. 3.14 15. I will take you one of a City and two of a Family and I will bring you to Zion and I will give you Pastores according to mine Heart which shall feed you with Knowledge and Understanding If it be for God's Glory and your good you may believe that some time or other that of Isa 30.20 21. shall be fulfilled I limit not the Holy One to Days Weeks Months or Years Though the Lord give you the Bread of Adversity and the Water of Affliction yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a Corner any more but thine Eyes shall see thy Teachers and thine Ears shall hear a Word behind thee saying this is the way walk ye in it when ye turn to the Right Hand and to the Left 3. Are you a reproach to Neighbours vile and contemptible in the Eyes of all that are round about See Isa 28.5 The Lord of Hosts shall be for a Crown of Glory and for a Diadem of Beauty to the residue of his People And 62.3 Thou shalt also be for a Crown of Glory in the Hand of the Lord and a Royal Diadem in the Hand of thy God 〈◊〉 Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken neither shall thy Land any more be termed desolate but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy Land Beulah for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be Married Isa 51.7 Hearken un to me ye that know Righteousness the Peoplâ— in whose Heart is my Law Fear ye not the reproach of Men neither be afraid of their Revilings for the Moth shall eat them up as a Garment and the Worm shall eat them as Wooll but my Righteousness shall be for ever and my Salvation from Generation to Generation Isa 54.4 5. Ezek. 36.15 â— 4. Is it so that Ordinances do you but little good your Souls are still Barren and Unfruitful
to an afflicted condition faying with Job Job 13.15 Tho' thou kill me I will trust in thee 8ly Sympathize with others in a suffering condition Rom. 12.15 Ninthly Study more to get good to your Souls by sufferings than simply to be rid of them that you may come forth as Gold refined seven times Zech. 13.9 In one word study exactness in this Divine Art of Knowledge how to use mercies aright when you have them that you may never sin them away any more and how to want them when Providence deprives you of them that you may Pray Repent and Believe them back again Eleventhly Live the Life of Faith at all times and in all conditions the Doctrine whereof teacheth us 1. Whatever God in his Word commands you to do and whatever by his Providence he calls you to suffer that do and suffer without any further dispute about self-damnifying events that may follow thereupon Secondly Let the sense of self-insufficiency put you upon fetching supplies every moment from Christ for enabling you both to do and suffer Thirdly Whatever Sense and Reason may suggest to the contrary Believe that to be best for you and others of the Lord's people which the infinitly wise God carveth out for you and them His way of ordering things his time and what else is his is best its best for me to be Sick now Poor now Persecuted now Fourthly Use no unlawful means for your deliverance how low sowever you are brought but wait upon God still Ps 37.34 and 27.14 believing that he both can and will work it for you when and by what means seems good to himself Fifthly Whatever promises God has made to Persons in your condition you may be as sure of the accomplishment thereof as if the thing were already done If you are such as seek God in his Ordinances and he has promised his presence there go with an expectation If you are such as walk uprightly and he has promised Grace and Glory to you Ps 8 4 to the end You may rest fully assured that he will not be worse than his word Men nor Devils shall not be able to deprive you of the promised and purchased Inheritance And so long as you are assured of God's presence here and Heaven's Glory hereafter you need not much value what you suffer in this World This is the proper work of Faith to support the Spirits of drooping Saints Ps 27.13 against all imaginable discouragements O acquaint your selves herewith and you are fit for any thing that can befall you Lastly Learn what it is to Dye-Daily that so the work may be facilitated and made easy to you before-hand Have frequent meditations of mortality in Health as well as in Sickness Live every Day as if it were to be your last Clear all accounts with your Judge be sure that your sins are pardoned your Persons justified your Natures sanctified your Hearts renewed that your conversation be according to the Gospel and as to your present temper that you be Spiritually and Heavenly minded ready to welcome the Lord if he should come at this very instant if the King of terrours were at the Door Let your House be set in order that you may have nothing to do but to Dye resigning up your Spirits into the Hands of your Heavenly Father that at your last Hour you may say with Hezekiah Isa 38.3 Remember now O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect Heart and have done that which is good in thy sight And with Paul 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have Fought a good Fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith hence forth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that Day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing FINIS