The new birthThe nevv birth

Represent unto thy self, the unutterable joys which are laid up for thee, and which thou canst no more be deprived of, then God himself can fail of truth and all-sufficiency: for he that hath promised is faithful, and will perform his promise. The children of God, whilst they frame their affections according to their present estate in the world, do walk heavily and discouragedly; at once wronging both God, that hath given them such excellent things to take comfort in, and themselves, that have received so certain assurance of such things. Doth it become thee, to whom God hath made over the royal inheritance of heaven, purchased with the blood of his own Son, to wear out thine heart with discontentment, and to mar thy face with carnal tears? Is not the fullness of celestial glory and riches, able to countervail thy mean and afflicted estate here? Cannot eternity outweigh this inch of time; and infinite blissfulness, the present sleighthy afflictions? surely the balances are too too unequal, wherein things of so great value, are not of sufficient weight, to pull down such trifles. It is nothing in the world, but our being led by sense, rather then by faith; which makes our hearts heavy, and our lives uncomfortable. Let us but clear up our eyes, dimmed with excessive, and causeless tears; and we shall find matter enough for glorious and unspeakable joys, even in these tribulations, ⟨p. 118⟩which feel most burdensome unto us. Be thou never so poor, never so despised, wronged, troubled; yet being regenerate, God is thy Father, Christ thine elder brother, heaven thine house and habitation, and the glory thereof thine inheritance. Can he be poor, that hath such riches? despised, that hath such honour? dejected, that hath such comforts belonging unto him? To every soul amongst you, that is able to approve his regeneration unto himself, I am to speak in the name of the Lord, and to say unto him in this wise; That he is not to lay the fault of his troublesome, and discontented life upon his estate, but alone upon his unbelief and inconsiderateness: for God hath given cause and means enough, of being full of hearty comfort and joy, in despite of all that the devil, and the world can do unto him. Dost thou not see, how frolic the foolish worldling is, if he have gotten a few thousand pounds together?

Represent vnto thy selfe, the vnutterable ioyes which are laid vp for thee, and which thou canst no more bee depriued of, then God himselfe can faile of truth and al-sufficiencie: for hee that hath promised is faithfull, and will performe his promise. The children of God, whilest they frame their affections according to their present estate in the world, doe walke heauily and discouragedly; at once wronging both God, that hath giuen them such excellent things to take comfort in, and themselues, that haue receiued so certaine assurance of such things. Doth it become thee, to whom God hath made ouer the royall inheritance of heauen, purchased with the bloud of his owne Sonne, to weare out thine heart with discontentment, and to marre thy face with carnall teares? Is not the fulnesse of celestiall glory and riches, able to counteruaile thy meane and afflicted estate here? Cannot eternitie outweigh this inch of time; and infinite blissefulnesse, the present sleighthy afflictions? surely the ballances are too too vnequall, wherein things of so great value, are not of sufficient weight, to pull downe such trifles. It is nothing in the world, but our being led by sense, rather then by faith; which makes our hearts heauy, and our liues vncomfortable. Let vs but cleare vp our eyes, dimmed with excessiue, and causelesse teares; and we shall find matter enough for glorious and vnspeakable ioyes, euen in these tribulations,