Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

What hast thou, after impartial self-examination, as in the sight of God, found •o thy self, which the word of God determines to be a sure evidence of his right to eternal life, who is possessed of it? Numbers of men are […] with such hopes as stand unsupported by scripture-evidence. Men are fond and tenacious of these hopes; but death will throw them down and leave the self-deceiver hopeless. Lastly, Beware of that hope of heaven, which doth not prepare and dispose you for heaven, which •er makes your soul more holy, 1 John iii. 3. Every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure The hope of the most part of men is, rather a hope to be free of pain and torment in another life; than a hope of true happiness, the nature whereof is not understood and discerned: and therefore it stakes down in sloth and indolence, and does not excite to mortification and a heavenly life.. So far are they from hoping aright for heaven; that they […] own, if they speak their genuine sentiments, removing out of this world into any other place whatsoever, is rather their fear than their hope. The glory of the heavenly city does not at all draw their hearts upwards towards it; nor do they lift up their heads with joy, in the prospect of arriving at it. If they had the true hope of the marriage-day, they would, as the bird, the Lamb's wife, be making themselves ready for it, Rev xix. 7. But their hopes are produced by their sloth, and their sloth is nourished by their hopes Oh! Sirs, as ye would not be driven away hopeless in your death, beware of these hopes. Raze them now, and build on a new foundation; lest death leave not one stone of them upon another, and ye never be able to hope any more.

What hast thou, after impartial self-examination, as in the sight of God, found •o thy self, which the word of God determines to be a sure evidence of his right to eternal life, who is possessed of it? Numbers of men are 〈…〉 with such hopes as stand unsupported by scripture-evidence. Men are fond and tenacious of these hopes; but death will throw them down and leave the self-deceiver hopeless. Lastly, Beware of that hope of heaven, which doth not prepare and dispose you for heaven, which •er makes your soul more holy,