Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

As touching Promises of eternal good things in Heaven, where there are Plenitudes of Joy and Rivers of Pleasure in the Presence of Him who is All in All, the completion of these is in another World; nevertheless the Believer hath an experimental taste thereof here. Whilst his Hope hangs upon them, he finds strength and comfort come into his Heart; whilst the weary World is tossing with troubles, O what a refreshing is it to look into Eternity! Hope, Entering within the veil, is an Anchor to the Soul; and so stablishes it, that it doth not roll about with the wheelings of this changeable World, nor centre its happiness in any or all the Creatures. Let the World come in all its Fancies and glittering appearances of ⟨p. 350⟩Good, it cannot call off the Believers Heart from Heaven, but it will be ready to point that way; or let it come with storms of terror and troubles, it cannot loosen the Anchorhold: the Believer will rather part with all the World, and his Life too, then let go his hold of Heaven: Ye took with joy the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your selves, that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance, saith the Apostle, Hebr. 10.34. Or, as the Words are in the Original; Knowing that ye have in your selves a better and abiding substance in Heaven. He speaks as if they had carried Heaven in and about them, and in part they did so; for as Beza hath it on this place, Fide possidemus quod est in Coelis, By Faith we possess that which is in Heaven. All our Graces are [Greek or Hebrew], Heb. 6.9. Things having or containing Salvation; No parts or pieces of this World, but such as Heaven dawns and begins here below. The holy Spirit is as the First Fruits to assure us of the whole Crop in Heaven, and as the earnest of the total Sum of Glory which shall be paid above. The Believer here hath so much of Heaven as to make him strive, wrestle, run, work, watch and wait with his Loins girt and Lamps burning; and as the twelve Tribes to serve God instantly, Acts 26.7. [Greek or Hebrew]; running with full speed, and stretching out himself in the Race, that he may come to the Crown of Life; and surely, his Hope, if fastened about a nullity, would not put forth such ⟨p. 351⟩