A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

much more if you saw the excellent nature and operations of that rational soul, that is the glory of all; you would then say that you had seen a more excellent sight, then the smooth and beauteous skin that covers it: The invisible soul is of greater excellency then all the visible beauties in the world. So also if you would know the excellencies of Religion, you must not stand without the doors, or judge of it by the skin and shell, but you must come near, and look into the inward Reasons of it, and think of the difference between the high employments of a Saint, and the poor and for did drudgery of the ungodly; between walking with God, in desire, and love, and in the spiritual use of his Ordinances and creatures, and conversing only with sinful men, and transitory vanities: between the life of faith and hope, which is daily maintained by the foresight of Everlasting Glory, and a life of mere nature and worldliness and sensuality, and idle complement and pomp, which are but the progenitors of sorrow, and end in endless desperation. Come near, and try the power of Gods Laws, and of the workings of his spirit; and think in good sadness of the place where you must live forever, and the glory you shall see; and the sweet enjoyment and employment you shall have in the presence of the eternal Majesty, and think well of all the sweet contrivances and discoveries of his love in Christ; and how freely all these are offered to you; and how certainly they may be your own; peruse the promises and sweet expressions of Love and Grace; and exercise your souls in serious meditation, prayer, thanksgiving, and praise; and withal remember, that none but these will be durable delights; and then tell me, whether a life of sport and pride, and worldliness, and flesh-pleasing, or a life of faith and Holiness, be the better, the sweeter, and more pleasant life.

much more if you saw the excellent nature and operations of that rational soul, that is the glory of all; you would then say that you had seen a more excellent sight, then the smooth and beauteous skin that covers it: The invisible soul is of greater excellencie then all the visible beauties in the world. So also if you would know the excellencies of Religion, you must not stand without the doors, or judge of it by the skin and shell, but you must come neer, and look into the inward Reasons of it, and think of the difference between the high imployments of a Saint, and the poor and for did drungery of the ungodly; between walking with God, in desire, and love, and in the spiritual use of his Ordinances and creatures, and conversing only with sinful men, and transitory vanities: between the life of faith and hope, which is daily maintained by the foresight of Everlasting Glory, and a life of meer nature and worldliness and sensuality, and idle complement and pompe, which are but the progenitors of sorrow, and end in endless desperation. Come neer, and try the power of Gods Laws, and of the workings of his spirit; and think in good sadness of the place where you must live forever, and the glory you shall see; and the sweet enjoyment and employment you shall have in the presence of the eternal Majesty, and think well of all the sweet contrivances and discoveries of his love in Christ; and how freely all these are offered to you; and how certainly they may be your own; peruse the promises and sweet expressions of Love and Grace; and exercise your souls in serious meditation, prayer, thanksgiving, and praise; and withall remember, that none but these will be durable delights; and then tell me, whether a life of sport and pride, and worldliness, and flesh-pleasing, or a life of faith and Holiness, be the better, the sweeter, and more pleasant life.