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

The sight of Worldly Men so active and vigilant to prosecute their low Designs, should quicken us to seek with greater diligence and alacrity the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Righteousness thereof. A Carnal Wretch, urged by the sting of a brutish Desire, with what impatience doth he pursue the Pleasures of Sin that are but for a season? An ambitious Person, with what an intemperate height of Passion does he ⟨p. 385⟩chase a Feather? A covetous Man, how greedily does he pursue the Advantages of the present World that passes away, and the Lusts thereof? Ah! how do they upbraid our indifferent Desires, our dull Delays and cold Endeavours, when such a high Prize is set before us? Who is able to conceive the ravishing Pleasure of the Soul when it first enters through the beautiful Gate of the Celestial Temple, and sees the Glory of the Place, and hears a Voice from the Throne, Enter into thy Master's Joy, to be happy with him for ever? The serious belief of this, will draw forth all our active Powers in the Service of God.

3. The sincerity of our Heavenly Choice declares it self, in the temper and frame of our Hearts, with respect to all temporal Things in this World. For our main and happy End being established, that it consists not in secular Riches, and Honours, and the Pleasures of Sense, but in the clear Vision of God, the blessedness of the Spirit; it follows that all present things are in our use so far Good or Evil, and to be desired or not, as they are profitable or prejudicial to our obtaining ⟨p. 386⟩Salvation, as they conduct or divert us from Heaven. A wise Christian looks on temporal things not through the Glass of disordered Passions, that are impetuous and impatient for what is grateful to them, but with reference to his future Happiness. He considers the train of Temptations that attend an exalted Condition, and desires such a portion of these things, as may redound to the Glory of the Giver, and be improved for his own Salvation. This Purity of Affections our Saviour teaches us: For in his Divine Form of Prayer, the true Directory of our Desires, are set down in an admirable order all things we are to pray for. And they respect the End, or the Means. The End is the primary Object of our Desires, accordingly the two first Petitions concern our blessed End, as it respects God and our selves. We pray, Hallowed be thy Name, that is, by the reverence and adoration of all his Subjects: and, Thy Kingdom come, that is, for the manifestation of his Eternal Glory in the next World, that we may reign with him. The Means in order to this End are of two sorts. Some conduct to it by themselves, those