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

3. Yea, this choice of thine, though it be suffering ¹affliction, it is that thou shalt bless God for, to all eternity in the highest Heavens; it is such a great mercy, as this little, poor, span-long life of ours, is not sufficient to give God glory for it, therefore there is an eternity reserved to praise God for it; when thou shalt see what good comes of thy choice, then thou shalt bless God indeed. Certainly, God takes it ⟨p. 141⟩well at thy hands now. Jer. 2. 2. I remember the kindness of thy youth, and the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness. God takes it kindly, that men will choose him and his ways in affliction: if there were always prosperity in the ways of God, it were nothing, but when it is with affliction, it is so much the more an argument of thy love to God, and thy sincerity, and therefore he takes it so kindly. Bless God for it; and bless him the rather, because he hath begun with you betimes: If the Lord hath given you a heart when you are young to make this choice, what a great mercy is this? what abundance of sin does such a one prevent? If one that is young, goes on in the ways of Religion, though he suffers much in the family wherein he lives, his brethren scorn at him, and his Parents hate him; yet he hath cause to rejoice, and bless himself in the goodness of the Lord.

3. Yea, this choice of thine, though it be suffering ¹affliction, it is that thou shalt bless God for, to all eternity in the highest Heavens; it is such a great mercy, as this little, poor, span-long life of ours, is not sufficient to give God glory for it, therefore there is an eternity reserved to praise God for it; when thou shalt see what good comes of thy choice, then thou shalt bless God indeed. Certainly, God takes it ⟨p. 141⟩well at thy hands now. Jer. 2. 2. I remember the kindeness of thy youth, and the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness. God takes it kindely, that men will choose him and his ways in affliction: if there were always prosperity in the ways of God, it were nothing, but when it is with affliction, it is so much the more an argument of thy love to God, and thy sincerity, and therefore he takes it so kindely. Bless God for it; and bless him the rather, because he hath begun with you betimes: If the Lord hath given you a heart when you are yong to make this choice, what a great mercy is this? what abundance of sin does such a one prevent? If one that is yong, goes on in the ways of Religion, though he suffers much in the family wherein he lives, his brethren scorn at him, and his Parents hate him; yet he hath cause to rejoyce, and bless himself in the goodness of the Lord.