The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

And let it be considered by thee, that the temper thou thinkest thy self innocent of [an habitual prevalent disaffection to the true blessedness of Saints] may, for ought thou knowest, be upon thee; while it appears, thou art so very near the borders of it; and it appears not, with such certainty, that thou partakest not in it. It is not so easy a matter, critically to distinguish, and conclude of the lowest degree (in Hypothesi, or with application to thy own case) of that desire, which is necessary to qualify thee for the enjoyment of this blessedness. And is it not a matter both of shame, and terror, that thou shouldst desire thy blessedness so faintly, as not to know, whether thou truly desire it at all? 'Tis true, that a certainty, amongst such as may be sincere, is very little common; but whence proceeds it, but from their too common indulged sloth; out of which all this is designed to awaken thee. And the commonness whereof doth as little detract from the reproach, and sinfulness, as from the danger of it? 'tis but a poor defence, for what is intrinsically evil in it self, that it is common.

And let it be considered by thee, that the temper thou thinkest thy self innocent of [an habitual prevalent disaffection to the true blesedness of Saints] may, for ought thou knowest, be upon thee; while it appears, thou art so very near the borders of it; and it appears not, with such certainty, that thou partakest not in it. It is not so easie a matter, critically to distinguish, and conclude of the lowest degree (in Hypothesi, or with application to thy own case) of that desire, which is necessary to qualifie thee for the enjoyment of this blessedness. And is it not a matter both of shame, and terrour, that thou should'st desire thy blessedness so faintly, as not to know, whether thou truly desire it at all? 'Tis true, that a certainty, amongst such as may be sincere, is very little common; but whence proceeds it, but from their too common induldulged sloth; out of which all this is designed to awaken thee. And the commonness whereof doth as little detract from the reproach, and sinfulness, as from the danger of it? 'tis but a poor defence, for what is intrinsically evil in it self, that it is common.

But further, as the case is, this is so reproachful a thing, even in common estimate, [not to desire Heaven, and Eternal Glory, or to desire it with very cold and careless desires] that there are few will profess it, or own it to be their temper, much fewer that will undertake to excuse, or justify it. 'Tis so evilly thought of, that among merely sober & rational men, it can never find an advocate, or any that will afford it Patronage. The generality pretend