The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan…

But yet whatever Fools think, Godliness is great gain, ⟨p. 44⟩1 Tim. 6. 6. It is our only profit. Nothing can truly be counted our profit, but that which is, or contributes to our happiness. Wilt thou call that thy profit, which when thou hast it, thou art like to be never the better for it? neither the honester man nor the happier man? Nothing can be accounted our happiness? or conducing to it, but that which either will abide by us, or do us good when it is gone. Holiness will abide by us, and the exercises of Holiness will do us good, when they are over and past. In such times, when through sickness and weakness, or some other invincible hindrances, we cannot pray, or hear, or labour in the work of our souls, 'twill then be a great comfort to us, that we have prayed, and heard, and laid up against such a time of need, when we had ability. The fruits of praying will remain, and the very remembrance of our faithfulness to God will be a comfort to us in our greatest weaknesses and distresses. Sinners when their estates are gone, their labours are done, their pleasures are over; then they will know whether these things be their happiness or no.

But yet whatever Fools think, Godliness is great gain, ⟨p. 44⟩1 Tim. 6. 6. It is our onely profit. Nothing can truely be counted our profit, but that which is, or contributes to our happiness. Wilt thou call that thy profit, which when thou hast it, thou art like to be never the better for it? neither the honester man nor the happier man? Nothing can be accounted our happiness? or conducing to it, but that which either will abide by us, or do us good when it is gone. Holiness will abide by us, and the exercises of Holiness will do us good, when they are over and past. In such times, when through sickness and weakness, or some other invincible hindrances, we cannot pray, or hear, or labour in the work of our souls, 'twill then be a great comfort to us, that we have prayed, and heard, and laid up against such a time of need, when we had ability. The fruits of praying will remain, and the very remembrance of our faithfulness to God will be a comfort to us in our greatest weaknesses and distresses. Sinners when their estates are gone, their labours are done, their pleasures are over; then they will know whether these things be their happiness or no.