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

The difference of Conditions in the present World is very great: as in Pharaoh's Dream, some Ears of Corn were so full and weighty that they bended with their weight; others so thin and blasted, that they were as Stubble for the Fire. Thus some abound in all Felicities possible in this Life, others are chastened every Morning, under various and continual Afflictions. Now this infallible Principle being planted in the Heart, that all present things are to be improved with respect to our future Happiness, will moderate the Affections in Prosperity, so to use the World that we may enjoy God, and make us not only patient, but pleased in Adversities, as they are preparatory for Heaven.

The Original of all the Sins and Misery of Men,¹ is their perverse abuse of things, by turning the Means into the End, setting their Affections of Love, Desire, and Joy upon sensible things, as their proper Happiness, with inconsiderate neglect of the spiritual eternal state, to which all other things should be subservient. As if one diseased and sickly in a Foreign Country, that could not possibly recover Health but ⟨p. 389⟩in his Native Air, in his return thither, invited by the pleasantness of the way, should take up his residence in it, and never arrive to his own Country. Among the West Indians some are ^*reported to be so swift in running, that no Horse can keep pace with them, and they have a constant rule in their Diet, to eat of no Beast, or Bird, or Fish that is slow in motion, fancying it would transfuse a sluggishness in them. The Christian Life is by the Apostle compared to a Race, and earthly things by an inseparable property of Nature load and depress the Soul, that it cannot with vigour run the Race set before it. The Believer therefore who intends for the high price of his Calling, and is true to his End, will be temperate in all things. Nay, he will not only be circumspect, lest they should check with his great Design, but wisely manages them in subserviency to it. St. Paul charges them that are rich in this World, to do good,