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

Secondly, Let the heirs of the kingdom behave themselves suitable to their character and dignity. Live as having the faith and hope of this glorious kingdom: let your conversation be in heaven, Philip. iii. 20. Let your souls delight in communion with God while ye are on earth, since ye look for your happiness in communion with him in heaven. Let your speech and actions savour of heaven: and, in your manner of life, look like the country to which ye are going; that it may be said of you, as of Gideon's brethren, Judges viii. 18. Each one resembled the children of a king. Maintain a holy contempt of the world, and of the things of the world. Although others, whose earthly things are their best things, do set their hearts upon them; yet it becomes you to set your feet on them, since your best things are above. This world is but the country, through which lies your road to Immanuel's land; therefore pass through it as pilgrims and strangers; and dip not into the incumbrances of it, so as to retard you in your journey. It is unworthy of one born to a palace, to set his heart on a cottage, to dwell there: and of one running for a prize of gold, to go off his way, to gather the stones of the brook: but much more is it unworthy of an heir of the kingdom of heaven, to be hid among the stuff of this world, when he should be going on to rece••• his crown. The prize set before you, challengeth your outmost zeal activity and diligence; and holy courage, resolution, and magnanimity, become those who are to inherit the crown. Ye cannot come at it, without sighting your way to it, through difficulties from without, and from within: but the kingdom before you is sufficient to balance them all, tho' ye should be called to resist even unto blood. Prefer Christ's cross before the world's crown; and wants in the way of duty before ease and wealth in the way of sin; Choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, Heb. xi. 25. In a common inn, strangers (perhaps) fare better than the children: but here lies the difference, the children are to pay nothing for what they have got; but the strangers get their bill and must pay completely for all they have had. Did we consider the wicked's after-reckoning for all the smiles of common providence they meet with in the world, we would not grudge them their good things here;