Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

The day of Death is to true Believers a day of Happiness and Joy: But it is much easier for them to think with joy on the coming of Christ, and the day of Judgement, because it is a day of fuller joy, and soul and body shall be conjoined in the blessedness; and there is nothing in it to be so great a stop to our desires, as Death is, which naturally is an enemy. God hath put a love of life, and fear of death into the nature of every sensible creature, as necessary for the preservation of themselves and others, and the orderly Government of the world: But what is there in the blessed day of Judgement, which a Justified child of God should be averse to. O if he were but sure that this would be the day, or week, or year of the coming of his Lord, how glad would the confirmed Christian be? and with what longings would he be looking up, to see that most desired sight.

The day of Death is to true Believers a day of Happiness and Joy: But it is much easier for them to think with joy on the coming of Christ, and the day of Judgement, because it is a day of fuller joy, and soul and body shall be conjoyned in the blessedness; and there is nothing in it to be so great a stop to our desires, as Death is, which naturally is an enemy. God hath put a love of life, and fear of death into the nature of every sensible creature, as necessary for the preservation of themselves and others, and the orderly Government of the world: But what is there in the blessed day of Judgement, which a Justified child of God should be averse to. O if he were but sure that this would be the day, or week, or year of the coming of his Lord, how glad would the confirmed Christian be? and with what longings would he be looking up, to see that most desired sight.

2. And the weak Christian is so far of the same mind, that he had rather come to God by Death and Judgement, than not at all: (except when temptations make him fear that he shall be condemned.) He hath fixedly made choice of that Felicity, which till then he cannot attain. He would not take all the pleasures of this world, for his hopes of the happiness of that day: But yet he thinketh not of it with so strong a faith, and great consolation, nor with such boldness and desire, as the confirmed Christian doth: but either with much more dull security, or more perplexity and fear. His thoughts of God and of the world to come, are much more dark and doubtful; and his fears