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but continueth throughout all successions of ages: there is no probability nor possibility of decay or end; for the immutable and eternal God hath assured us, that they fade not away, but are reserved in heaven, a secure place, beyond the reach of men or devils: it is not in the power of friend or foe to dispossess the children of God of this heavenly inheritance.

When I consider the happiness, the inconceivable felicity of the saints above, that are now possessors of this inheritance, that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that will never fade away, I am apt to say with Austin's mother, when she heard a discourse of the glory above, What do I here then? So am I reflecting, What do I here in this defiling world, sinning against, and offending God, when many are got safe beyond the reach of sin and sorrow, and are now possessors of this blessed inheritance?

We are told that it is reserved; but for whom? For those who are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.

Lord, it is thy work from first to last; it is thou that preparest this inheritance, and thou alone canst make thy people meet to be possessors of it. Let me find the comfortable effects of thy Almighty power, which may enable me, through faith, to attain salvation; that at the end of my days I may receive the salvation of my poor, precious, and immortal soul, for his sake, who I hope loved me, and washed me, and died for me, and is now at thy right hand, interceding for poor penitent sinners. Let me have a share of those benefits which he hath purchased for his elect people.

Do thou, O blessed Father, prepare heaven for me, and make me meet for it; and however thou dealest with me in this world, do not deny me heaven at last; the hopes of that alone doth sweeten my pilgrimage, and make my passage through this world tolerable: therefore I humbly beg that whatever I miss here, I may not be excluded from thy comfortable presence, but may be of the number of those blessed ones, for whom thou hast

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prepared an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance, which fadeth not away, but is reserved in heaven, for all those that infinite grace qualifies for, and makes meet to be partakers of.

PAPER VIII.

WHEN thy judgments, O Lord, are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants should learn righteousness. What is the lesson that I and all persons ought to learn by the late dreadful earthquake? Hath it not a voice? Doth it not cry aloud, and tell us, that our sins have reached heaven? that God is angry and displeased with us? and that, except we repent, we shall likewise perish? We are as grievous sinners as any, therefore have just cause to think God hath a controversy with us in this kingdom.

In a neighbouring nation God hath seen

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meet to lay his afflicting hand in a tremendous manner; he hath visited them with a sore, amazing, and dreadful judgment, in permitting thousands to be destroyed by a lamentable earthquake and inundation of water. And who, or what are we, that we should expect to be exempted from the same or worse judgments? We, whose sins have exceeded theirs, may rationally look to drink the dregs of their cup; for we in England have had more means of grace than they, but we have not improved them: we have had the gospel, but we have slighted it: we have had the offers of salvation, but we have rejected them: we have had sabbath upon sabbath, sermon upon sermon, and yet have not made a due improvement of these precious opportunities. So that it is but just with God to destroy us, and our habitations, in which we have too often dishonoured our good God, and brought a scandal on that holy profession which we have made: we have the name of Christians, but too many amongst us live like devils incarnate. How much

swearing, lying, stealing, killing, and filthy lewdness is to be found in this land and nation, and especially in this city? O the horrid oaths and imprecations that are every minute uttered, is dreadful to consider! What little conscience is made of keeping the sabbath, that is as a day of recreation to most; and those that spend it best, do too much think their own thoughts, and speak their own words, and do their own actions. So that every one must lay their hand upon their mouth, and cry, Guilty, Guilty. Have not we in this nation cause to expect great and amazing judgments, when in our land those sins are found, that a moral heathen would blush to commit? Our sins, as well as the Ninevites, have reached to heaven. that our repentance was as real, universal, and unfeigned as theirs; and then there might be still some hopes that God in judg ment would remember mercy, and would not stir up all his wrath, though we are an undeserving, ill-deserving, and hell-deserving people.

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