The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…

It is most agreeable to our apprehensions of the vanity of this present state, and our expectations for the future, that we commit our selves to him. That with entire trust and love, devotedness and subjection, we give our selves up to his happy conduct, to be led by him to God, and instated into that eternal blessedness which we look for.

It is most agreeable to our apprehensions of the vanity of this present state, and our expectations for the future, that we commit our selves to him. That with intire trust and love, devotedness and subjection, we give our selves up to his happy conduct, to be led by him to God, and instated into that eternal blessedness which we look for.

His Kingdom is not of this world (as we profess not to be). We cannot be innocently ignorant, that its constitution and frame, its laws and ordinances, its aspect and tendency in its self, and the whole course of its administration, are directed to that other state. He hath overcome death, and him that had the power of it; hath brought life and immortality to light, is the first begotten from the dead, and the first fruits of them that slept; hath opened Heaven to us, ⟨p. 139⟩and is himself ascended, and entered as our victorious triumphant Captain and Fore-runner. He is adorned with highest Power, and hath set up an Universal Kingdom, extended to the utmost bounds of this apostate World, and the vaster Regions of innocent and constantly loyal Spirits. His Proclamations are issued out, his Ensigns displayed, to invite and call in whosoever are weary of the sin and vanity of this wretched world, of their alienation from the life of God, of living in the midst of death; to join themselves to Him, the Prince and Lord of Life; and be led by Him to the immortal state. If the present state of things appear dismal to us; if we reckon it a woeful spectacle to behold sin and death reigning, wickedness and mortality acting their combined parts, to waste the world, and lay it desolate; If we would deliver our selves, and escape from the common ruin; are seriously designing for Heaven,