be insufferable, were there nothing better to be hoped for in another. If this were true, Christians would be then of all creatures the most miserable. But our religion has abundantly assured us to the contrary. And this assurance made the first Christians embrace the greatest sufferings with cheerfulness; glory in tribulation, and take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that in heaven they had a better and more enduring substance.

4. A fourth effect, which the consideration of heaven ought to have upon us is, to make us sincere in all our professions, words, and actions. Did we firmly believe the rewards of another world, our religion would not be only in show, but in reality. No man would put on a form of godliness, who was destitute of the power of it; we should do nothing for the opinion of others, but all with regard to God and our own consciences: for in the next life we shall not be rewarded for what we seem to be in this, but for what we really are. Therefore whatever we think, or speak, or do, we should always remember, that the day of revelation is coming, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, when all disguises shall be laid aside, and all our actions and designs shall be brought upon the public stage, and exposed to the view of men and angels. There is nothing now hidden which shall not then be revealed, nor secret which shall not be made known.

5. A fifth effect which the consideration of

heaven should have upon us is, to arm us against the fears of death. Death is terrible to nature, and the dread of it is infinitely increased by the apprehensions of what may follow it; but the comfortable hopes of a blessed immortality strangely relieve the fainting spirits of dying men; and are able to reconcile us to death.

We, certainly, have never more need of comfort than when we are struggling with this last enemy; and there is no such consolation to a departing soul as the hopes of a happy eternity.

He who looks upon death only as a passage to glory, may welcome the messengers of it, as bringing him the most joyful news that ever came to him; and no one can stay in this world with half the comfort that this man leaves it.

And now I have done with the two things implied in this phrase of having our conversation in heaven, to wit, the serious thoughts and considerations of heaven; and the effects of these upon our hearts and lives: I shall conclude with some reflections upon what has been delivered concerning the happiness of good men after this life. I am very sensible how much all that I have said comes short of the greatness and dignity of the subject, so that I could almost begin again and make a new attempt. And indeed, who would not

be loth to be taken off from so delightful a theme? Methinks it is good for us to let our minds dwell upon these considerations: we are unworthy of heaven, and unfit to partake of so great a glory, if we cannot take pleasure in the contemplation of those things now, the possession whereof shall be our happiness for

ever.

With what joy then should we think of those great and glorious things which God hath prepared for them that love him; of that inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, which fadeth not away, reserved for us in the heavens? How should we welcome the thoughts of that happy hour, when we shall make our escape out of these prisons, out of this howling wilderness into the promised land; when we shall be removed from all the troubles and temptations of a wicked and ill-natured world; when we shall be past all storms, secured from all further danger of shipwreck, and safely landed in the regions of bliss and immortality?

O blessed time! when all tears shall be wiped from our eyes, and death and sorrow shall be no more, when mortality shall be swallowed up of life, and we shall enter into possession of all that happiness and glory which God has promised, our faith has believed, and our hopes raised us to expect! When we shall be eased of all our pains, resolved of all our doubts, purged from all our sins, freed from all our

fears, and blessed beyond all our hopes, and have all this happiness secured to us beyond the power of time and change! when we shall know God and other things without study, love him and one another without measure, serve and praise him without weariness, and obey his will without reluctance; and shall be more and more delighted in knowing, loving, praising, and obeying him to all eternity!

How should these thoughts affect us, and what a mighty influence ought they to have upon our lives? The great disadvantage of the arguments fetched from another world, is, that those things are at a distance from us, and not sensible to us; and therefore are not apt to affect us so strongly, and to work so powerfully upon us. Now to make amends for this disadvantage, we should often revive these considerations in our minds, and press upon ourselves the reality and certainty of these things, together with the infinite weight and importance of them. We should reason thus with ourselves; if good men shall be so unspeakably happy, and consequently wicked men so extremely miserable in another world; if these things be true, and will one day be found to be so, why should they not be to me, as if they were already present? Why should not I be as much afraid to commit any sin as if hell were naked before me, and I saw the astonishing miseries of the damned? And why should

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not I be as careful to serve God and keep his commands, as if heaven were open to my view?

The lively apprehensions of the nearness of death and eternity are apt to make men's thoughts more quick and piercing; and, according as we think ourselves prepared for our future state, to transport us with joy, or amaze us with horror. For he that is fully satisfied of his future bliss is already entered into heaven, has begun to take possession of glory, has, as it were, his blessed Saviour in his arms, and may say with Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. But the thoughts of death must be very terrible to him, who is doubtful or despairing of his future condition. It would daunt the stoutest man that ever breathed, to look upon death, when he can see nothing but hell beyond it. When the apparition at Endor told Saul, To-morrow thou and thy sons shall be with me, he was struck to the heart, so that he fell down to the ground, and there was no more strength left in him. It is as certain that we shall die, as if an express messenger should come to every one of us from the other world, and tell us so. Why should we not then always live as those that must die, and as those that hope to be happy after death? To have these apprehensions vigorous and lively upon our minds, this is to have our conversation in