The way to excel. Meditations, awakened by the death of the Reverend Mr. Joshua…

Indeed, we shall, as long as we Live in this World, come far short of the Original, when we go to Write after the Angelical Example. In this Present Evil World, we cannot approach near to the Holiness of the Good Angels: Much of Sin, and Fault, & Folly, will unavoidably cleave unto us: That Leprosy will never wholly out of the Walls, until the Clay-house be utterly demolished: There will be as much Distance between the Blessed Spirits and Us, as between Giants and Children, as between Stars and Glowworms, as between the Cedars of Lebanon, and the Hyssop that Grows out of the Wall; Thus it will be, until we come at length to dwell [And, Oh! Why do we no more Long for it!] with the Innumerable Company of Angels, in another World.

Indeed, we shall, as long as we Live in this World, come far short of the Original, when we go to Write after the Angelical Example. In this Present Evil World, we cannot approach near to the Holiness of the Good Angels: Much of Sin, and Fault, & Folly, will unavoidably cleave unto us: That Leprosy will never wholly out of the Walls, until the Clay-house be utterly demolished: There will be as much Distance between the Blessed Spirits and Us, as between Giants and Children, as between Stars and Gloworms, as between the Cedars of Lebanon, and the Hysop that Grows out of the Wall; Thus it will be, until we come at length to dwell [And, Oh! Why do we no more Long for it!] with the Innumerable Company of Angels, in another World.

However, to Attempt the Imitation, is the ready way to be Excellent. Particularly in the Ensuing Instances.

I. If a man could have his Eye upon the Face of God continually, would not that procure the Face of an Angel for him? It would make a man Look like an Angel, if he were Looking unto God, in the Lord Jesus Christ continually. Of the Angels there is that Account given, in