The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

CHAP. II. Use of Exhortation.

CHAP. II. Ʋse of Exhortation.

What now remains but that you come into the light and beg of God, as the Prophet for his servant, 2 King 6.17. to open your eyes, that you may see the things that would do so much [That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of revelation, in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints, Ephes. 1.17, 18.] O set those things continually before your eyes, that must forever be before them! Look seriously into the infallible word; and whatsoever that fore-tells, believe it as if it were come to pass. The unbelief of Gods threatenings, and penal Laws, is the perdition of souls, as well as the unbelief of Promises. God giveth not false fire, when he dischargeth the Canons of his terrible comminations: If you fall not down, you shall find that the lightening is attended with the thunder, and execution will be done before you are aware. If there were any doubt of the things unseen, yet you know it is past all doubt, that there's nothing else that's durable and worthy of your estimation and regard: You must be Knights and Gentlemen but a little while: speak but a few words more, and you'll have spoke your last. When you have slept a few nights more, you must sleep till the Resurrection awake you (as to the flesh.) Then where are your pleasant habitations and contents? your honours and attendance? Is a day that is spent, or a life that is extinct, any thing, or nothing? Is there any sweetness in a feast that was eaten, or drink that was drunk, or time that ⟨p. 57⟩was spent in sports and mirth, a year ago? Certainly a known vanity should not be preferred before a probable endless joy: But when we have certainty as well as excellency and eternity, to set against certain, transitory vanity, what room is left for further deliberation? whether we should prefer the Sun before a squib, or a flash of lightening that suddenly leaves us in the dark, one would think should be an easy question to resolve.