The saints everlasting rest

Let me entreat thee then, if thou be a man that is haunted with temptation (as doubtless thou art, if thou be a man) if thou perceive thy danger, and wouldst fain escape it; use much this powerful remedy, keep close with GOD by a heavenly mind; and when the temptation comes, go straight to heaven, and turn thy thoughts to higher things; thou shalt find this a surer help than any other. Follow your business above with Christ, and keep your thoughts to their heavenly employment, and you sooner will this way vanquish the temptation, than if you argued or talked it out with the tempter.

4. Consider, the diligent keeping of your hearts on heaven, will preserve the vigour of all your graces, and put life into your duties. It is the heavenly christian, that is the lively christian: it is our strangeness to heaven that makes us so dull: it is the end that quickens all the means; and the more frequently and clearly this end is beheld, the more vigorous will all our motions be. How doth it make men unweariedly labour, and fearlessly venture, when they do but think of the gainful prize! How will the soldier hazard his life, and the mariner pass through storms and waves! How cheerfully do they compass sea and land, when they think of an uncertain perishing treasure! O what life then would it put into a christian's endeavours, ⟨p. 289⟩if he would frequently think of his everlasting treasure! We run so slowly, and strive so lazily, because we so little mind the prize. When a christian hath been tasting the hidden manna, and drinking of the streams of the paradise of GOD, what life doth this put into him! How fervent will his spirit be in prayer, when he considers that he prays for no less than heaven!

4. Consider, the diligent keeping of your hearts on heaven, will preserve the vigour of all your graces, and put life into your duties. It is the heavenly christian, that is the lively christian: it is our strangeness to heaven that makes us so dull: it is the end that quickens all the means; and the more frequently and clearly this end is beheld, the more vigorous will all our motions be. How doth it make men unweariedly labour, and fearlessly venture, when they do but think of the gainful prize! How will the soldier hazard his life, and the mariner pass through storms and waves! How cheerfully do they compass sea and land, when they think of an uncertain perishing treasure! O what life then would it put into a christian's endeavours,