2. It reproveth those that cherish a carnal Rejoicing. A Believer should rejoice in Christ Jesus. Luke 10. 19, 20. Behold, I give unto you Power to tread on Serpents, and Scorpions, and over all the Power of the Enemy, &c. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the Spirits are subject unto ⟨p. 94⟩you: but rather rejoice, because your Names are written in Heaven. Rejoice not in this, that you are in Dignity and Honour; This is not your Felicity, nor the direct way to your Felicity; the higher you climb, your Station is the more dangerous: They are safer that stand on the Ground, than those that are on a Pinnacle: Rejoice not, in that you have abundance of earthly Riches, but that you have a taste of higher and better things: Be not affected so deeply with lower Mercies, as to overlook the special Mercies that accompany Salvation: Rejoice not in this, that you have convenient Habitations in this World; but in that you have a Building of God, an House not made with Hands, Eternal in the Heavens: In that you have comely Bodies, but that you have hopes of a better Resurrection, when this mortal shall put on Immortality. Not in the Nobility of your Birth, but that you are born of the Spirit. John 1. 12, 13. To as many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name: which were born, not of Blood, nor of the Will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God. Rejoice not in that you have ⟨p. 95⟩great Friends to stand by you; but that in the New Covenant you are made a Friend of God, as Abraham was. Not in that you have costly Accommodations to please the Flesh: No, this may be the bane of your Souls: Rom. 8. 13. They that live after the Flesh, shall die. And, Luke 16. 25. Son, Remember that thou in thy Lifetime receivedst thy good things. (Dives fared deliciously every day, and Lazarus was full of Sores, and desirous to be fed with the Crumbs which fell from the Rich Man's Table): Thou hast received thy good Things, and Lazarus evil Things: but now he is Comforted, and thou art Tormented.
2. It reproveth those that cherish a carnal Rejoicing. A Believer should rejoice in Christ Jesus. Luke 10. 19, 20. Behold, I give unto you Power to tread on Serpents, and Scorpions, and over all the Power of the Enemy, &c. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the Spirits are subject unto ⟨p. 94⟩you: but rather rejoice, because your Names are written in Heaven. Rejoice not in this, that you are in Dignity and Honour; This is not your Felicity, nor the direct way to your Felicity; the higher you climb, your Station is the more dangerous: They are safer that stand on the Ground, than those that are on a Pinacle: Rejoice not, in that you have abundance of earthly Riches, but that you have a taste of higher and better things: Be not affected so deeply with lower Mercies, as to overlook the special Mercies that accompany Salvation: Rejoice not in this, that you have convenient Habitations in this World; but in that you have a Building of God, an House not made with Hands, Eternal in the Heavens: In that you have comely Bodies, but that you have hopes of a better Resurrection, when this mortal shall put on Immortality. Not in the Nobility of your Birth, but that you are born of the Spirit. John 1. 12, 13. To as many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name: which were born, not of Blood, nor of the Will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God. Rejoice not in that you have ⟨p. 95⟩great Friends to stand by you; but that in the New Covenant you are made a Friend of God, as Abraham was. Not in that you have costly Accommodations to please the Flesh: No, this may be the bane of your Souls: Rom. 8. 13. They that live after the Flesh, shall die. And, Luke 16. 25. Son, Remember that thou in thy Lifetime receivedst thy good things. (Dives fared deliciously every day, and Lazarus was full of Sores, and desirous to be fed with the Crumbs which fell from the Rich Man's Table): Thou hast received thy good Things, and Lazarus evil Things: but now he is Comforted, and thou art Tormented.
