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

In short then; that vile temper of Spirit against which I professedly bend my self in the following discourse is; when men, not out of any sense of duty towards God, or solicitude for their own Souls, but of a mere sordid ⟨p. 401⟩love to the body, and affixedness of heart to the Earth, and terrene things, cannot endure the thoughts of dying. And that, which I persuade to, is, That having the true prospect of the future blessedness before our eyes, and our hearts possest with the comfortable hope of attaining to it, we shake off our earthly inclinations; and expect with desire and joy the time of our dismission hence, that we may enjoy it, which is the design of what was promised in the next place. Viz.

In short then; that vile temper of Spirit against which I professedly bend my self in the following discourse is; when men, not out of any sense of duty towards God, or sollicitude for their own Souls, but of a meer sordid ⟨p. 401⟩love to the body, and affixedness of heart to the Earth, and terrene things, cannot endure the thoughts of dying. And that, which I perswade to, is, That having the true prospect of the future blessedness before our eyes, and our hearts possest with the comfortable hope of attaining to it, we shake off our earthly inclinations; and expect with desire and joy the time of our dismission hence, that we may enjoy it, which is the design of what was promised in the next place. Viz.

2. The enforcement of this instruction; Suffer we therefore our selves to be reasoned with about this matter. And let us consider whether we can in good earnest think such an aversation, as we discover, to our blessed translation hence, an excusable, a tolerable temper; or whether it be not highly reasonable, that we should entertain the thoughts, at least, with more content, and patience (if not with more fervent desire) of our departure hence, and introduction into that other state.