* All this a Man must earnestly and seriously consider, and remember also that Gdd had originally created him in such a fair and glorious Image , even in His own Likeness , in which He Himself would dwell. That He created him out of His Goodness for Man's own eternal Bliss and Glory, to the end that he -might dwell with the holy Angels and Children <?/God in great Happiness > Power and Qlory ; in the eternal Light ; in the praiseful and melodious Harmony of the Angelical and Divine Kingdom of Joy . Where he should rejoice continually with the Children of God without Fear of any End. Where no evil Thoughts could touch him, neither Care nor Trouble , neither Heat nor Cold. Where no Jfight is known ; where there is no Day or limited Time any more, but an everlasting Blessedness , wherein Soul and Body tremble for Joy . And where he himself should rejoice at the infinite Wonders and Virtues appearing in the Brightness of Colours, and the Variety of Splendour opened and displayed by the Omnipotent Powers and Glories of God, upon the new Chrystalline Earth, which shall be as transparent Qlass. And that he doth so wilfully lose all this eternal Glory and Happiness for the sake of so short and poor a Time , which even in this State of Vanity and Corruption, in the evil Life of the voluptuous Flesh, is full of Misery , Fear and utter Vexation ; and wherein it goeth with the wicked as with the righteous, as the one must die so must the other ; only the Death of the Saints is an Entrance into the eternal Rest, while the Death of the wicked is an Introduction into the eternal Anguish.
Eighthly , he must consider the Course of this World , that all Things in it are but a Play , wherewith he spendeth his Time in such Unquietness; and that it goeth with the Rich and Mighty ag with the Poor and the Beggar. That all of us equally live and move in the four Elements ; and that the hard-earned Morsel of the Poor is as relishing and savoury to him in his Labour , as the Dainties of the Rich are to him in his Cares . Also, that all of us subsist by one Breath, and that the rich Man hafch nothing but the Pleasures of the Palate and the Lust of the Eye for a little while, more than his poor Neighbour, for the End of both is the same. Yet for this short-lived Lusts Sake, many foolishly forego so inconceivable a Happiness, and bring themselves into so extreme*and eternal Misery.
In the deep Consideration of these weighty Truths, Man shall come to feel in his Heart and Mind, especially if he at the same Time represent and set before his Eyes his own End , a hearty sighing and longing after the Mercy of God, and will begin to
8 The Way to Qhrist .
bewail his, committed Sins ; and to be sorry he hath spent his Days so ill, and not observed or considered, that he standeth in this World as in a Field, in the growing to be a Fruity either in the Love or in the Anger of God. He will then first begin to find in himself that he hath not yet laboured at all in the Vine - yard of Christ , but that he is a dry fruitless Branch of the Vine. And thus in many a one, whom the Spirit of Christ touchfcth in such & Consideration, there ariseth abundant Sorrozu, Qnef of Heart , and imvard Lamentation over the Days of his Wickedness which he hath spent in Vanity, without any working in the Vineyard of Christ .
Such a Man whom the Spirit of Christ thus bringeth into Sorrow and Repentance , so that his Heart is opened bcAh to know and bewail his Sins, is very easily to be helped. He needeth but to draw to himself the Promise of Christ , viz,, That God willeth not the Death of a Sinner , but that He wisheth them all to come unto Him , and He will refresh them ; and that there is great Joy in Heaven for one Sinner that repentcth . Let such a one but lay hold on the Words of Christ , and wrap himself up into His Meritorious Passion and Death .
* All this a Man must earnestly and seriously consider, and remember also that Gdd had originally created him in such a fair and glorious Image , even in His own Likeness , in which He Himself would dwell. That He created him out of His Goodness for Man's own eternal Bliss and Glory, to the end that he -might dwell with the holy Angels and Children <?/God in great Happiness > Power and Qlory ; in the eternal Light ; in the praiseful and melodious Harmony of the Angelical and Divine Kingdom of Joy . Where he should rejoice continually with the Children of God without Fear of any End. Where no evil Thoughts could touch him, neither Care nor Trouble , neither Heat nor Cold. Where no Jfight is known ; where there is no Day or limited Time any more, but an everlasting Blessedness , wherein Soul and Body tremble for Joy . And where he himself should rejoice at the infinite Wonders and Virtues appearing in the Brightness of Colours, and the Variety of Splendour opened and displayed by the Omnipotent Powers and Glories of God, upon the new Chrystalline Earth, which shall be as transparent Qlass. And that he does so wilfully lose all this eternal Glory and Happiness for the sake of so short and poor a Time , which even in this State of Vanity and Corruption, in the evil Life of the voluptuous Flesh, is full of Misery , Fear and utter Vexation ; and wherein it goes with the wicked as with the righteous, as the one must die so must the other ; only the Death of the Saints is an Entrance into the eternal Rest, while the Death of the wicked is an Introduction into the eternal Anguish.
Eighthly , he must consider the Course of this World , that all Things in it are but a Play , wherewith he spends his Time in such Unquietness; and that it goes with the Rich and Mighty ag with the Poor and the Beggar. That all of us equally live and move in the four Elements ; and that the hard-earned Morsel of the Poor is as relishing and savoury to him in his Labour , as the Dainties of the Rich are to him in his Cares . Also, that all of us subsist by one Breath, and that the rich Man hafch nothing but the Pleasures of the Palate and the Lust of the Eye for a little while, more than his poor Neighbour, for the End of both is the same. Yet for this short-lived Lusts Sake, many foolishly forego so inconceivable a Happiness, and bring themselves into so extreme*and eternal Misery.
In the deep Consideration of these weighty Truths, Man shall come to feel in his Heart and Mind, especially if he at the same Time represent and set before his Eyes his own End , a hearty sighing and longing after the Mercy of God, and will begin to
8 The Way to Qhrist .
bewail his, committed Sins ; and to be sorry he has spent his Days so ill, and not observed or considered, that he stands in this World as in a Field, in the growing to be a Fruity either in the Love or in the Anger of God. He will then first begin to find in himself that he has not yet laboured at all in the Vine - yard of Christ , but that he is a dry fruitless Branch of the Vine. And thus in many a one, whom the Spirit of Christ touchfcth in such & Consideration, there arises abundant Sorrozu, Qnef of Heart , and imvard Lamentation over the Days of his Wickedness which he has spent in Vanity, without any working in the Vineyard of Christ .
Such a Man whom the Spirit of Christ thus brings into Sorrow and Repentance , so that his Heart is opened bcAh to know and bewail his Sins, is very easily to be helped. He needs but to draw to himself the Promise of Christ , viz,, That God wills not the Death of a Sinner , but that He wishes them all to come unto Him , and He will refresh them ; and that there is great Joy in Heaven for one Sinner that repentcth . Let such a one but lay hold on the Words of Christ , and wrap himself up into His Meritorious Passion and Death .
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