The saints dignity and duty· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardness. /…The saints dignitie and dutie· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardnesse. /…

The last Use shall be a Use of Comfort to all the Saints and people of God, whose consciences can witness that they have laboured to walk in the uprightness of their heart as Abraham did. I have two or three words to speak to these.

The last Use shall be a Use of Comfort to all the Saints and people of God, whose consciences can witnesse that they have laboured to walk in the uprightnesse of their heart as Abraham did. I have two or three words to speak to these.

Be persuaded out of the Word of God, that your course is good, and go on with comfort, and the God of Heaven be with you; and be sure of it, that you that walk with Abraham shall be at rest with Abraham, and it shall never repent you of all the pains that you have taken. Happily it may seem painful and tedious to you; yet, what Abigail, said to David, let me say to you: Oh, saith she, let not my Lord do this: when the Lord shall have done to my Lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee Ruler over Israel, this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart, that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my Lord hath avenged himself, 1 Sam. 25.30, 31. My brethren, let me say so to you; You will find trouble and inconveniences, and hard measure at the hands of the wicked in this world; many Nabals and Chins will set themselves against you; but go on, and beat it patiently; know it is a troublesome way, but a true way, ⟨p. 186⟩it is grievous but yet good, and the end will be happy; it will never repent you, when the Lord hath performed all the good that he hath spoken concerning you. Oh! to see a man drawing his breath low and short, after he hath spent many hours and days in prayer to the Lord, grappling with his corruptions, and striving to pull down his base lusts, after he hath waited upon the Lord in a constant course of obedience; take but such a man, and ask him, now his conscience is opened, whether the ways of holiness and sincerity be not irksome to him, whether he be not grieved with himself for undergoing so much needless trouble (as the world thinks it) and his soul will then clear this matter; it is true, he hath had a tedious course of it, but now his death will be blessed; he hath striven for a Crown, and now behold a Crown; now he is beyond the waves; all the contempts, and imprisonments, and outrages of wicked men, are now too short to reach him; he is so far from repenting, that he rejoiceth and triumpheth in reflecting back upon all the pains, and care, and labour of love, whereby he hath loved the Lord Jesus, in submitting his heart unto him.