procure his favour and blessing to us the rest of our lives, and turn greatly to our account another day.

But perhaps some will be apt to say, this is a thing exceeding hard to be done, and will make life a very troublesome and uneasy thing, to be always upon our guard against committing any sin, and to be striving continually against our natural inclinations, and endeavour to overcome them by mortification and self-denial: and then, by endeavouring to do good to others, we may oftentimes put ourselves to a great deal of unnecessary trouble; and perhaps get no thanks for it afterwards.

It is possible, indeed, that these things will occasion us some trouble and uneasiness in our lives; but then we should remember, that this life is a warfare; which implies that something that is troublesome and uneasy is to be undergone by us in it. We should consider too, that nothing which is excellent can be done without some pains and trouble: and we may observe likewise, that the grace of GoD, joined with our hearty endeavours, has oftentimes made things more easy to us, than we could at first have imagined. And besides, the good providence of GOD oftentimes satisfieth with good things, to allay the difficulties of a sincerely good and religious life: and gives men abundantly more real pleasure in it, than all the ways of wickedness can possibly afford to those that are engaged in it.

This all the generous and holy souls that ever have been in the world, have experienced, and have found infinite satisfaction in living a virtuous and righteous life, in the fear of GOD, and in doing good to others; and so may we certainly do, if we will be so wise as to follow their most excellent examples. And if this be not enough to engage us to follow them, let us still farther consider, that to do good is to be like GOD himself, who takes great pleasure therein. And surely it is worth some pains to imitate the best Bp. Greene's Discourses.

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a few days be quite forgotten, as if they had never been.

And when we are safely landed in our own country, with what pleasure shall we look back upon those rough and boisterous seas which we have escaped? And to be sure, when we are come to our father's house, we shall find from him so much the kinder welcome, by how much the greater the difficulties and troubles have been, which we have gone through in our journey to him. So the Apostle St. Paul assures us, that " our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," 2 Cor. iv. 17. And then what great matter is it, though we do suffer awhile in this world, if we can but escape the endless and unspeakable torments of the next? If we have not our good things in this life, we may rest satisfied that infinitely greater and better things are reserved for us, in that which is to come; for thus our religion does abundantly assure us that it shall be.

And this it was which made the holy saints and martyrs among the primitive Christians, to undergo their sufferings with so much cheerfulness, and even to glory in tribulation, and to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that in Heaven they had a better and more enduring substance.

Since such is to be the happy lot of all good men hereafter, let them not be cast down and despond under the short afflictions they may at any time meet withal in this world; but let them submit with patience to whatever God is pleased to ordain for them here; and, then, looking beyond this dark cloudy scene of things, let them lift up their heads with joy to behold that bright and glorious day, which will shortly break forth upon them, when they shall never more be liable to storms and tempests, but shall find all things serene, and calm, and beautiful, and joyous in Heaven to all eternity.

Lastly, The consideration of the foregoing particulars, should help to arm us against the fear of death. The vast alteration which death makes in the condition of all men, whereby we are assured that some do pass from this transitory life into a state of eternal happiness, and some into a state of eternal misery, may well create in men a great anxiety and solicitude for themselves, when they see it approaching towards them: especially when, from their behaviour in this world, they are any ways doubtful and uncertain to which of these two estates it may consign them. Nay, even to good men themselves, who have taken care by a holy life to prepare themselves for this great change, the thoughts of death are oftentimes very dismal, through their own natural fears of it; and they have never more need of comfort and encouragement, than when they are going to conflict with this last enemy.

Now the best relief against those fears, are the comfortable hopes which God has given us in his holy word, of a blessed immortality, which is to follow at the conclusion of this life. These, good men may ordinarily assure themselves of, from the gracious promise of GOD; though it may sometimes happen, through their own timorous nature, that they may not receive that full benefit of them at that time, which might be expected. But where these have their full force, nothing can be desired more effectual to relieve the fainting spirits of dying men, and to reconcile them to death, and in a great measure to take away the terror of it. For he that has good reason to hope, that his death will be a passage only to a future happy state to all eternity, may joyfully welcome the messenger of it; as bringing him the best news which he ever received in all his life; and no man can stay behind in this life, with half the comfort that this man leaves it.

For the man that is fully satisfied of his future bliss, is already in a manner entered into Heaven, has begun

to take possession of glory, and has, as it were, his blessed Saviour in his arms; and may say with old Simeon, LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." O blessed are the souls that are in such a case! Who would not wish to be one of that happy number? The way to be so, is to live holily, and so to be well prepared for that happy change, whenever it shall please GOD to call us to enter upon it. Then may we think with joy on those great and glorious things which God has prepared for them that love him; and please ourselves with the delightful hopes of being one day admitted to be partakers "of that inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, which fadeth not away, reserved for us in the Heavens."

Let us therefore frequently think on this, that it is as certain we shall die, as if an express messenger should come to every one of us from the other world and tell us so. And if we would be happy after death, let us always live as those who must die. That so when the time of our departure shall come, we may not dread it, but meet it with joy and transport; and say of it, as a most excellent person did, on this occasion, with which I shall conclude:

'O blessed time! when all tears shall be wiped away from our eyes, and death and sorrow shall be no more; when mortality shall be swallowed up of life, and we shall enter upon the possession of all that happiness and glory, which God has promised, and our faith hath believed, and our hopes have raised us to the expectation of: when we shall be eased of our pains, and resolved of all our doubts, and be purged from all our sins, and be freed from all our fears, and be happy beyond all our hopes, and have all that happiness secured to us, beyond the power of time and change; when we shall know GOD and other things without study, and love him and one another without measure, and serve and praise him without weariness, and obey his will without the least reluctancy: and

shall still be more and more delighted in the knowing, and loving, and praising, and obeying of GOD to all eternity!'

Which happiness may we be all partakers of through the infinite merits of our blessed Saviour JESUS CHRIST! to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, three Persons, but one GOD, be all honour, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. Amen. Amen.

Prayers for the Enjoyment of Happiness in
Heaven.

O GOD, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass men's understanding; pour into my heart such love towards thee, that I, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that I can desire, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

O Almighty and most merciful LORD GOD, who didst send thy dear Son, our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, into the world, to be made man, that by the shedding of his most precious blood upon the cross, he might atone for all the sins of mankind, and purchase eternal salvation in Heaven for us; grant that I may never forfeit that inestimable blessing, by leading a vicious and ungodly life; but may daily endeavour, by the assistance of thy Holy Spirit, to live so righteously, soberly, and godly, in this present world, as may secure thy favour to me, so long as thou shalt continue me in this mortal state: that so when thou shalt please, in thy wise and good providence, to put an end to my being here, I may be prepared for that happy, glorious, and immortal one, which is above, with thee in Heaven, where I