Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

Secondly, hence we see cause much to bless God that reveals such things to us, to carry us through ¹sufferings; though godliness brings much suffering, yet it brings that which will strengthen against sufrishing ⟨p. 622⟩still: It is the dew of Heaven, the hope of the glory of Heaven that keeps our root moist, and so we shall hold out in the time of suffering: It is given as the cause of the seed in the stony ground not come to perfection, Luke 8. 6. Because it wanted moisture; many froward people in Religion prove like the stony ground, they have not moisture, this dew of Heaven lies not at their hearts: And the reason why many do not hold out, is because they want the Anchor of hope: In a tempest if there be not an Anchor well fastened, the ship will be carried upon the rocks or the sands: Now Hope is the Anchor that must hold the soul in all affliction, if that hold, let storms and winds be never so loud, yet the heart will be kept from being split upon the rocks, and swallowed up in the sands: but many have but a paper Anchor, a conceited hope, not a strong hope fastened upon the infallibility of God in his word and promises, and therefore they cannot hold out in the time of danger. To conclude all, we see what will do it, what will carry us through sufferings.

Secondly, hence we see cause much to bless God that reveals such things to us, to carry us through ¹sufferings; though godliness brings much suffering, yet it brings that which will strengthen against sufrishing ⟨p. 622⟩still: It is the dew of Heaven, the hope of the glory of Heaven that keeps our root moist, and so we shall hold out in the time of suffering: It is given as the cause of the seed in the stony ground not come to perfection, Luke 8. 6. Because it wanted moisture; many froward people in Religion prove like the stony ground, they have not moisture, this dew of Heaven lies not at their hearts: And the reason why many do not hold out, is because they want the Anchor of hope: In a tempest if there be not an Anchor well fastened, the ship will be carried upon the rocks or the sands: Now Hope is the Anchor that must hold the soul in all affliction, if that hold, let storms and winds be never so loud, yet the heart will be kept from being split upon the rocks, and swallowed up in the sands: but many have but a paper Anchor, a conceited hope, not a strong hope fastned upon the infallibility of God in his word and promises, and therefore they cannot hold out in the time of danger. To conclude all, we see what will do it, what will carry us through sufferings.