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

3. It urgeth to Care, Diligence and Constancy in Obedience. Hope is the great Spring that sets the Wheels a-going; Phil. 3.13, 14.—Forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forward towards those things that are before, I press towards the Mark, for the Prize of the High-calling of God in Christ. What is the Reason Paul was so earnest, that a little Grace would not content him, but he was striving for more so earnestly and zealously? he was called to enjoy a high Prize, a glorious Reward. There is an excellent Glory set before us, this Race is not for Trifles: ⟨p. 109⟩Christians are the more cold and careless in the spiritual Life, because they do not oftener think of Heaven. The End quickens to the Use of Means; as it is the measure of the Means, so it sweetens the Means, notwithstanding all Difficulty: Why? because it will bring us to such an End; 1 Cor. 15.58. Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the Work of the Lord; forasmuch as you know your Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. You can never do enough for the Lord: Why? Your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. This will make you to be instant and earnest, and to hold out to the End in the midst of Difficulties; Heaven will pay for all. You have no cause to begrudge God any Service; though it put the Body to Pains and Labours, do not spare it, Christ will honour it sufficiently. The Apostle hath an Expression, 2 Thess. 1.10. That Christ will be glorified in his Saints, and admired in all them that believe. The Soul will remember the Body, as Pharaoh's Butler did Joseph: How? in Prayer and Fasting, and holy Exercises. And when Christ comes to raise the Body, he will put so much Glory and Clarity upon it, that the Angels shall stand wondering what Christ is about to do with a poor Creature, that is but newly crept out of Dust and Rottenness. Before a Feast we use to take a Walk. There is a World of Glory provided for us in Heaven: though the Work of God be painful, yet it is very fruitful: God will reward you as much as you can desire; and this makes you to be earnest and zealous, and to labour in the spiritual Life. We compare the Pains of Duty with the Pleasure of Sin, but the Comparison is not rightly made; you should compare the Pleasure of Sin with the Reward. I confess you may compare Christ's Worst with the World's Best; the Pains of Duty with the Pleasure of Sin;