(I.)

(I.)

And now, Let all the persons thus privileged, with a Name written in the Book of Life, take the blessed Consolations that belong unto them, & Rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. O Rejoice, ye Redeemed of the Lord, Rejoice▪ In the Hope of the Glory of God! It is possible, that an abusive and a slanderous World, may throw many of your Names, into the Dirt; But, its no matter; as long as your Names are now written in Heaven, 'tis well enough? It may be you are little in the Books of People among whom ⟨p. 135⟩you dwell. What then? You are in Gods Book; and that's enough! A Name written in the Book of Life, will make a rich Compensation to some Great Saints, whose Names are now scandalously traduced in Books Written by some Wooden & partial Historians. Or, suppose, you have not, A Name of Sons and of Daughters, yet here is enough, to make amends for it; you have, saith the Lord, In my Book an Everlasting Name, that shall not be cut off. It was a Great Thing, which God bestowed upon David, whereof He said, I have made thee a Great Name, like unto the Name of the Great Men that are in the Earth. But it is a Greater Thing, that God has done for you, when He has given you a Name in his Book, among the Good Men that have a Name, in the Heaven of the Blessed. What tho' it be a Dying World, in which you are Sojourners before the Lord? You have your Names in the Book of Life, and so safe enough are you! How glad was Hezekiah, when he was told, I will add unto thy Days Fifteen Years! And how much more Glad may you be, that have your Names, in that Book of Life, where you have a better Life Ensured, for infinitely more then fifteen millions of Ages! Only let me leave this one Counsel with you; Take heed that you don't B••t your Evidences. It is the ⟨p. 136⟩wholesome Counsel in Eph. […] not the Holy Spirit of God, […] are Sealed unto the Day of Redemption. We may be Written for the Day of Redemption; but it is the special Office of the Holy Spirit, so to Enlighten us, that we shall be able to Read the Writing. If we give way to any grosser miscarriages, the Grieved Spirit of God will withdraw his Comforting Illuminations, and we shall see nothing but Blots instead of our Names. A true sense of, A Name written in the Book of Life, is not maintained without much Holiness, much Diligence, and exceeding Circumspection.