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

To that I answer, Here is a mighty commendation ¹to the pleasantness of the ways of Religion, notwithstanding the hardest, and sorest things a godly heart meets with; there is that delight in the ways of godliness, as upholds the heart under all, and carries the heart sweetly on. What commendation was it to the grace in the hearts of the Martyrs, that did uphold their hearts, and carry their hearts sweetly in the enduring of such hard things?

1. 1Answ.

Secondly, these being hard to flesh and blood, ¹hinder not the pleasure of a gracious heart; it is the highest improvement of all our estates that can be, the highest testimony of giving your respect to God, whereby the soul enjoys most of God all times: The Spirit of God and glory resteth upon the soul while it is enduring such things. And how opposite is thy heart, and what difference between Christs heart and thine? Christ bids you leap for joy, when you meet with such things, and you think they take away all joy.

1. 12.

But we see it in experience contrary; when people come into the ways of godliness, they do not find ¹that delight and joy you speak of, their spirits are heavy, ²and lumpish, and sad.