A discourse concerning the Redeemer's dominion over the invisible world, and the entrance thereinto

•hese endowments designed for the Propagation of the Christian Faith, and for the stopping Mouths of gainsayers, must in the use and exercise, at least, by the cessation of the objects, and occasions, ⟨p. 157⟩fail, and cease, and vanish away, 1 Cor. 13.8. The like may be said of courage and fortitude to contend against prevailing wickedness; skill, ability, with external advantages, to promote the impugned interest of Christ, and Christian Religion; of all these there will be no further use in that other World. They are all to be considered as means to the end. But how absurd were it to reckon the means of greater importance than the end it self? The whole present constitution of Christs Kingdom on Earth, is but preparatory and introductive to the Celestial Kingdom. And how absurd were it to prefer this Temporary Kingdom to the Eternal one, and present serviceableness to this, to perpetual service in the other?

'Tis true, that service to God and our Redeemer in this present state, is necessary in its own kind, highly acceptable to God, and justly much valued by good Men. And we ought our selves willingly to submit to serve God in a meaner capacity in this World, while it is his pleasure we shall do so, especially if God should have given any signification of his mind, concerning our abode in the Flesh, some longer time, as 'tis likely he had done to the Apostle Paul, Phil. 1.24. because he says, he was confident, and did know that so it should be, ver. 25. we should be abundantly satisfied with it, as he was. But to suppose an abode here, to be simply, and universally more eligible, is very groundless, and unreasonable. And were a like case, as if a person of very extraordinary abilities and accomplishments, ⟨p. 159⟩because he was useful in some obscure Country Village, is to be looked upon as lost, because his Prince, being informed of his great worth, calls him up to his Court, and finding him every way fit, employs him in the greatest affairs of State!