The new birthThe nevv birth

but withal were assured, that at the years end he should surely come out of prison, and be made a great Prince for all the rest of his life, which should endure for the space of forty or fifty years after: he would scarce feel any trouble in that restraint, any grief in those wants, any discontent in that bad usage: yea so much familiarity would his thoughts have, with the wealth, and honour, wherein he should live so long a time after his enlargement, that the imprisonment would seem nothing unto him; and he would rather wish to lie in prison upon those terms, then to live in his house without those hopes. My brethren, such, and none other is your condition. This world is your present prison; and for some of Gods children it cannot be denied, but that they do find in it somewhat course entertainment; but it is certain, that after a little time (perhaps less then half a year, it is (sure) not many years), they shall be enlarged; and after their enlargement advanced to a kingdom so far excelling all earthly kingdoms, in the honour, wealth, joys thereof, as gold excels dirt. And this kingdom they shall be sure to enjoy; not for forty or fifty, nor for so many thousands or millions of years: but even for all eternity world without end. What do you then souring and embittering your hearts with thinking upon the tediousness of your imprisonment, and refusing to take comfort to your ⟨p. 122⟩selves in the consideration of your kingdom? It is therefore (as I said above) long only and merely of your carnalness•, in not pondering of the good that God offers unto your souls; which makes you lie mourning under the pressure of your afflictions. Wherefore settle your selves to resist carnal sorrow, and to embrace spiritual joys; you shall find your labours this way void of difficulty, and full of success. When thy worldly heart would thrust thee into the pit of worldly sorrow, by telling thee of thine hard fare, thy poor house, thy little means, thy debts, thy wrongs, thine enemies. Stay thou thy self up by opposing to all these, the consideration of thy new birth, whereby thou art instated into an heavenly kingdom; wherein thou shalt abound with all fullness of joys for evermore; and wherein thou shalt be more happy and blessed, then thine own heart can possibly conceive of, and that for evermore:

but withal were assured, that at the yeeres end he should surely come out of prison, and be made a great Prince for all the rest of his life, which should endure for the space of fortie or fiftie yeeres after: hee would scarce feele any trouble in that restraint, any griefe in those wants, any discontent in that bad vsage: yea so much familiarity would his thoughts haue, with the wealth, and honor, wherin he should liue so long a time after his enlargement, that the imprisonment would seeme nothing vnto him; and hee would rather wish to lie in prison vpon those termes, then to liue in his house without those hopes. My brethren, such, and none other is your condition. This world is your present prison; and for some of Gods children it cannot be denied, but that they doe finde in it somewhat course entertainment; but it is certaine, that after a little time (perhaps lesse then halfe a yere, it is (sure) not many yeers), they shall be inlarged; and after their inlargement aduanced to a kingdome so farre excelling all earthly kingdomes, in the honour, wealth, ioyes thereof, as gold excells dirt. And this kingdome they shall be sure to enioy; not for fortie or fiftie, nor for so many thousands or millions of yeeres: but euen for all eternity world without end. What doe you then sowring and imbittering your hearts with thinking vpon the tediousnesse of your imprisonment, and refusing to take comfort to your