The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in…

The Qualities of this Choice are three.

1. It must be sincere and cordial. 2. Early, in our first and best Days. 3. Firm and constant.

1. It must be sincere and cordial. The most essential and active Desire in humane Nature is to Happiness; but there being two kinds of good Things ⟨p. 378⟩presented to the Will, that solicit the Affections, the Pleasures of Sense, and spiritual Joys, from hence it is that that which makes Men happy is the Object of Election. And although there is nothing more uniform and inviolable than the natural inclination to Happiness, yet the great distinction of Mankind arises from this source, the regular or perverse use of this Inclination, the wise or mistaking choice of Happiness. Now the sincerity of our Choice is discovered, when 'tis clear and entire, arising from a transcendent esteem of the Favour and Enjoyment of God as our chief Good, and absolutely requisite for us. And from hence it is evident that the Choice of true Happiness, necessarily includes the despising and rejecting of the false Happiness that stands in competition with it. There cannot be two reigning Principles in the Soul: for it cannot vigorously apply it self to two Objects at the same time. Our Saviour has decided it, No Man can serve two Masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or hold to the one and despise the other: ye cannot serve God and Mammon. The Masters are ⟨p. 379⟩irreconcilable, and their Commands are directly opposite. It was as possible to place upon the same Altar the Ark of God, and the Idol of the Philistines, as that Heaven and the World should compound and take equal shares in our Affections. Indeed, if the Conceptions in the Mind are but faint and floating of the universal satisfying Goodness of the Object proposed to make us happy, the Will remains in suspense; but when 'tis clearly and strongly represented, the Heart is drawn entirely to embrace it. Divine Grace, by the illumination of the Understanding, purifies and changes the depraved Will, and heals the distempered Affections. The wise Merchant that had a discerning Eye saw reason enough to part with all, that he might gain the Pearl of Price, the Grace and Glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Apostle declares his resolute contempt of the concurrence of all the Prerogatives either the Law or the World could afford him, that he might have an Interest in Christ, the Reconciler and Restorer of Man to the Favour and Fellowship of God. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss