If this be so, 1let us not feed our selves with vain hopes: there are none of us, but we desire, at least we pretend that we desire heaven; but most men conceive it only as a place free from trouble and annoyance, and there are goodly things they hear of, kingdoms, crowns, and the like; but except thou have a holy, ⟨p. 129⟩gracious heart, and desirest heaven that thou mayest be free from si•ne, and to have communion with Christ, and his Saints, to have the image of God,2 the divine nature perfect in thee, thou art an hypocrite, thou carriest a presumptuous conceit of these things, thy hope will delude thee, it is a false hope. Every one that hath this hope, purgeth himself: Every one, he excludes none. Doest thou defile thy self, and live in sinful courses, and hast thou this hope? Thou hast a hope, but it is not this hope: for every one that hath this hope, purgeth himself. No, no, how ever in time of peace, and pleasure, and contentment that God follows ⟨p. 130⟩thee with in this world, thou hast a vain hope; yet in a little trouble, or sickness, &c. thy own conscience will tell thee another place is provided for thee, a place of torment, that neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard, nor hath entered into the heart of man to conceive the misery of it. There is not the greatest man living, when he is troubled, if he be a sinful man, whose greatness can content him: all his honour, and friends, cannot pacify that poor conscience of his; but Death,3 the King of Fears, will affright him: he thinks, I have some trouble in this world, but there is worse that remains, things that he is not able to conceive ⟨p. 131⟩of. Let us not therefore delude our selves, there is nothing will stand out but the new creature, that we find a change wrought by the Spirit of God; then we may without presumption, hope for the good things which neither eye hath seen, &c.
If this be so, 1let us not feed our selves with vaine hopes: there are none of us, but we desire, at least wee pretend that we desire heaven; but most men conceive it onely as a place free from trouble and annoyance, and there are goodly things they heare of, kingdomes, crownes, and the like; but except thou have a holy, ⟨p. 129⟩gracious heart, and desir•st heaven that thou mayest be free from si•ne, and to have communion with Christ, and his Saints, to have the image of God,2 the divine nature perfect in thee, thou art an hypocrite, thou carriest a presumptuous conceit of these things, thy hope will delude thee, it is a false hope. Every one that hath this hope, purgeth hims•lfe: Every one, hee excludes none. Doest thou defile thy selfe, and live in sinful courses, and hast thou this hope? Thou hast a hope, but it is not this hope: for every one that hath this hope, purgeth himselfe. No, no, how ever in time of peace, and pleasure, and contentment that God followes ⟨p. 130⟩thee with in this world, thou hast a vaine hope; yet in a little trouble, or sicknesse, &c. thy owne conscience will tell thee another place is provided for thee, a place of torment, that neither eye hath seene, nor eare heard, nor hath entred into the heart of man to conceive the misery of it. There is not the greatest man living, when hee is troubled, if he be a sinfull man, whose greatnesse can content him: all his honour, and friends, cannot pacifie that poore conscience of his; but Death,3 the King of Feares, wil affright him: he thinks, I have some trouble in this world, but there is worse that rem•ines, things that he is not able to conceive ⟨p. 131⟩of. Let us not therfore delude our selves, there is nothing will stand out but the new creature, that we finde a change wrought by the Spirit of God; then wee may without presumption, hope for the good things which neither eye hath seene, &c.
- 1Use.Vse.
- 2Take heed of vain hope.Take heed of vaine hope.
- 3Greatness nor honours can pacify conscienceG•eatnesse nor hono•s can pacifie conscience
