A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

(1.) There must be this Exercise before we come to Heaven. We do not leap into Heaven without any Preparation: The Vessels of Glory must first be seasoned with Grace; Col. 1.12. Who hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. First we are qualified and seasoned, then filled brim-full. As when the Virgins were chosen for Ahasuerus, they were to accomplish their Months of Purification; so we must have a Time of purifying and cleansing from Corruption, before we can get to Heaven. Balaam would die the Death of the Righteous, but not live his Life; Numb. 23.10. Let me die the Death of the Righteous, and let my last End be like his. As it is said of the Snake, that when it is stricken with Death, stretcheth out it self straight, though crooked before; at oportuit sic vixisse, you should have so lived: You should be sober, righteous and godly. Enoch before his Translation had this Testimony, that he pleased God, Heb. 11.5. Some-thing must be done here; there is no Triumph without a Warfare. 2 Tim. 2.5. If a Man strive for Masteries, yet is he not crowned unless he strive lawfully; that is, according to the Laws of the Race or Exercise: so we cannot expect to die in the Lord, unless we live in the Lord; Rev. 14.13. Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord, from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their Labours, and their Works do follow them. Your Works die not when you die; Eccles. 11.3. If the Tree fall toward the South, or toward the North; in the Place where the Tree falleth, there it shall be. In the time of the Law there was nothing to be gathered upon the Sabbath-Day, but a double Portion to be gathered before; those that provide nothing on the sixth Day, had nothing on the Sabbath-Day. The Sabbath is a Figure of Heaven, of that eternal Rest we shall have there; if we do not make Provision during the time of Life, there can be nothing done afterwards.