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

O get then the lovely Image of the future glory into your minds, keep it ever before your eyes. Make it familiar to your thoughts. Imprint daily there these words. I shall behold ⟨p. 425⟩thy face, I shall be satisfied with thy likeness. And see that your souls be enriched with that righteousness, Have inwrought into them that holy rectitude, that may dispose them to that blessed state. Then will you dye with your own consent, and go away, not driven, but allured, and drawn. You will go, as the redeemed of the Lord, with everlasting joy upon their heads. As those that know whether you go, even to a state infinitely worthy of your desires, and choice, and where 'tis best for you to be. You will part with your souls, not by a forcible separation, but a joyful surrender and resignation. They will dislodge from this earthly Tabernacle, rather as putting it off, then having it rent and torn away.

O get then the lovely Image of the future glory into your minds, keep it ever before your eyes. Make it familiar to your thoughts. Imprint daily there these words. I shall behold ⟨p. 425⟩thy face, I shall be satisfied with thy likeness. And see that your souls be inrich't with that righteousness, Have inwrought into them that holy rectitude, that may dispose them to that blessed state. Then will you dye with your own consent, and go away, not driven, but allur'd, and drawn. You will go, as the redeemed of the Lord, with everlasting joy upon their heads. As those that know whether you go, even to a state infinitely worthy of your desires, and choice, and where 'tis best for you to be. You will part with your souls, not by a forcible separation, but a joyful surrender and resignation. They will dislodge from this earthly Tabernnacle, rather as putting it off, then having it rent and torn away.

Loosen your selves from this body by degrees, as we do any thing we would remove from a place where it sticks fast. Gather up your spirits into themselves. Teach them to look upon themselves, as distinct thing. Inure them to the thoughts of a dissolution. Be continually as taking leave. Cross, and disprove the common maxim; and let your hearts, which they use to say, are wont to dye last, dye first. Prevent death, and be mortified towards every earthly thing beforehand; that death may have nothing to kill but your body. And that you may not die a double death in one hour; and suffer the death of your body, and of your love to it, both at once. Much less that this should survive, to your greater (and even incurable) misery.