143 The Fourth BooK Воок Of the Saints Eternal Felicity; e CHAP. I. That in Heaven are True Joys. P and Aradife is a name of Pleafure; Signifying the sweeteft Garden, Enclosure of Greens, and Flowers, and Fruits, fitted for Recreation, and all manner of Satisfaction. In the Earthly Paradife, we are told, Gen. 1. 9. The Lord God made to grow every Tree, that was Pleafant to the Eye, and good for Food. And from this Name, we may now take occafion to explicate (what we can) the Pleasures and Joys of the Bleed in Heaven. Which, if I miftake not, will be a Contemplation of fingular Ufe, for the the Raifing of our Minds, to Seek the things Above; and engaging us, fo to frame our Life, that when we must go off the prefent Stage, (thro' God's help,) It may not be to Darkness and Sorrow; but to Light and Joy everlafting. Moft men are drawn by Pleafure, more than by any other Good whatfoever. And in one of our Collects we are taught to Pray, That our Hearts may furely there be fixt, where true Joys are to be found. 6 с , "True Joys are worth our clofeft Search< es, and utmoft Purfuits. But no fuch thing has this World for us, with all its mighty Promises to us. For Pleasures ' of Sin, and Carnal Sweets, are falfe Dreams, and but mere Cheats: They are Beauty in the Eye, and Honey in the Mouth: When nothing but Clogs upon the Stomach, Gravel in the Guts, and Stings to pierce the Heart. We 'think our felves very Witty, with all Eagernefs, to Catch and Engrofs 'em ; And as foon as we have made Experiment of 'em, We are afham'd of the Abuse, fo < put upon our felves; To be mock'd and feduc'd into a Fool's Paradife by 'em. They flush our Fancies with high Expectations of Heavenly Delights: But in the Iffue, We feel 'em Torture our Minds with Hellifh Gripes. So that if ' we'll honeftly caft up our Accounts, what 6 • do keep in a direct Line strait on to the Mark; without Deviating to the Right or Left. Thus for Inftance, In Loving my Neighbour as my felf, I Run directly to the Prize. But in Loving him, to the Contempt of God, and fetting him up as my Idol, I mifs my way, and Warp afide on the Right. And the more Ado I make, in Adoring that Perfon, and heaping Benefits unreasonably upon him, the more still I am out, and mifs my Way. Again, If I Love him less than I fhould, Seeing my Brother have Need, and shutting up my Bowels of Compaffion from him; I Deviate then to the Left, and am in no fair Tendency to the Prize, Tho' I do fome Good Works; Becaufe I Love not my Neighbour as I fhould: i. e. Not doing, as I, in his cafe, would reasonably Expect. And the fame Rule will hold alfo in other Virtues, which have all their Extremes on both fides; and as far as we Warp to either, fo far we are out of our Way to the Prize. II. Another Requifite here, is to make Haft, and Perfever in our Course. Now to Love much, is in this cafe, To make much Haft. Pfal. 112. 1. Bleffed is the man that Feareth the Lord, that Delights greatly in his Commands: and is Fervent in Spirit, Serving the Lord. Rom. 1o. ix. M 'When , • When our Hearts are fo Set upon it Then we are like to make fomewhat ' of it. And to Perfever is not to Flag ' and Ceafe, But Endure to the End, that Mat. 10. 22. Tho' we may be Saved. this founds Hard, To make fuch Haft, and yet not be Tir'd out: For they that Run very Swift, are us❜d quickly to have enough of it, and glad to Reft. True it is: And therefore, fo Few do Obtain. But he that will Win the Prize, muft both make Speed, and alfo Hold on: When so much is to be done, and fo fhort a While, wherein to do it. Now here, in order to Succeed, Take Pattern by them that Run, Tho' but for a poor perishing Reward: They Lay afide every Weight, and ftrip off their Cloaths, that they may be Expedite and nimble for the purpose. Thus are Chriftians much more Concern'd to Manage themselves, for Gaining a far more Exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory; To throw by the Cumber of their Worldly Cares, and throw off the Garments of their Carnal Lufts,and Lay down all the Inordinate Affection for things on Earth. After this, Not to Glory in their own Ability; But Hope in the Lord: And then, Let 'em complain, If in making fuch Haft they are Weary of Well-doing; or if they find not the Accomplishment of that Promife, Ifa. 40. Laft Laft Ver. Waiting on the Lord, to Renew their strength; to Run and not be Weary ;To Walk, and not Faint. ''Tis not here, To Throw away what we have of the World: But to fit Loofe to it, and little Care for it: And C. to Poffefs it, as if it were none of our Own And upon every good Call, and proper Occafion, be very Ready to Part with it: And (Like the Apoftles and firft Followers of our Lord,) Willing to let all Go: That we may make fure of Him, and find Acceptance with him. III. Seeing, in a Race all Run, but one Receiveth the Prize; And that One is the Holy One, who Rejoiceth as a Strong man, to Run a Race, Pfal. 19. 15. No Man has Afcended up to Heaven, but be that came down from Heaven; faith our Lord, Job. 3. 13. No man, but with Him, and by Him; in his Strength, and thro' his Help; who makes all the true and Living Members of his Body, One with Himfelf, their Glorious Head; Therefore, in vain fhall they Labour who Run, Tho' they bestow all their Goods to feed the Poor, and their Bodies to the Fire; If they be not Joined to Chrift, by Faith and Love.. Without whom they can do Nothing. Job. 15. 5. And in whom, they are made One with the FaM 2 ther |