Mount Pisgah, or, A prospect of heaven being an exposition on the fourth chapter…Movnt Pisgah, or, A prospect of heaven being an exposition on the fourth chapter…

This Paper cometh to you, with a design to beg a larger draught of that discourse of yours, on 1 Thes. 4.14. whereof in the other days converse, you were pleased to give me a taste; and to beg it not for my self only, but a more common good; what more profitable Argument can you recommend to the World, than a discourse about those better things which are Reserved in Heaven for us? You know better than I, that all true Wisdom consisteth first in a fixed intention of the end; next, in a choice of apt means; lastly, in diligent pursuit; our great End and scope is, or should be, to be for ever with the Lord; which if men would more steadily fix and propound to themselves, they would sooner understand their way, for their End would shine to them all along their Course, and level and direct all their actions, yea, not only become a measure to them, but a motive to quicken them to seek what they hope for, with Industry, Vigilancy, and Self-denial, and so cast off those many Impertinences and Inconsistencies, with which we usually sill up our Conversations; and with all, the Labours, Sorrows, ⟨image 13⟩and difficulties of the way, would be the better overcome. Sir, what have we Ministers to do, but to Convince people of the Truth and worth of things unseen? We owe it to the inconsiderate part of the world; the far greatest part of mankind is sensual and brutish, and blind, and cannot see a-far off, therefore live as if they only came into the world to Eat, Drink, and Sleep, or to camber themselves with much serving. That they may do well here, We cannot enough awaken these sleepy Sensualists, that they may remember Home, and make earnest and serious preparation for the World to come. We owe it to the Afflicted part of the World, whose true and proper solaces, and supports, are to be drawn from the Everlasting Estate of the Blessed. Comfort one another with these words, saith your Apostle: Yea, we owe it to the better and more serious part of the World, who need continually to be warned to open the eye of Faith, and shut that of Sense, to overlook things seen, which are Temporal, but to have always in the eye of their Faith and Hope things unseen, which are Eternal and Glorious; how little would Temptations make Impressions upon us, could we learn to wink out both the Terribleness and Amiableness of the Creature?