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

I do therefore entreat you all that believe and hope for an everlasting Crown, that you will show the poor deceived world the preciousness of your faith and hopes, and the high prerogative of the Saints, in your unanswerable cheerfulness and joy, and live not with as dead and uncomfortable hearts as those that have nothing but a vexatious transitory world to comfort them: much less to be more dejected then these wretched souls. Do you not desire the conversion of your carnal friends, and all about you? would you not be glad if you could further it? O that you could try this pleasant way! and show them that you have found the unvaluable treasure! And as the Rich live in greater pomp, and at higher rates then the poor, so you that speak of the Riches of Grace, and live in the family of the Lord, O show the world the dignity of your state, by ⟨p. 359⟩your holy courage and comfortable behaviour, and by your living above the pleasures and griefs of unbelievers! When they glory in their prosperity, do you Glory in the Lord: When they boast themselves in their riches or reputation, do you imitate holy David who professeth, Psal. 34. 1, 2, 3. [I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in thy mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad: O magnify the Lord with me, and let •lt his name together.] And Psal. 44. 8. [In God will we boast […] the day long, and praise thy Name for ever.] By such spiritual joyfulness your lives would be a continued Sermon; and you might thus preach home more souls to Christ, then the most excellent preacher by bare persuasions. Poor sinners would begin to pity themselves that live so far below the Saints; and they would think with themselves [It is not for nothing that these men rejoice, and are comfortable even in the loss of all those things that we take all our comfort in!] For the honour of your dearest Lord, and for your own felicity, and for the sake of the miserable souls about you, I beseech you Christians do your best to reach this sweet and joyfullest life, and to avoid those inordinate troubles and despondencies which are like to cross these blessed ends.

I do therefore intreat you all that believe and hope for an everlasting Crown, that you will shew the poor deceived world the preciousness of your faith and hopes, and the high prerogative of the Saints, in your answerable cheerfulness and joy, and live not with as dead and uncomfortable hearts as those that have nothing but a vexatious transitory world to comfort them: much less to be more dejected then these wretched souls. Do you not desire the conversion of your carnal friends, and all about you? would you not be glad if you could further it? O that you could try this pleasant way! and shew them that you have found the unvaluable treasure! And as the Rich live in greater pompe, and at higher rates then the poor, so you that speak of the Riches of Grace, and live in the family of the Lord, O shew the world the dignity of your state, by