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fort one is capable of in the world. If ye enquire, How ye may know whether ye have a right to heaven, or not? I answer, ye must know that, by the state ye are now in. If you are yet in your natural state, ye are children of wrath, and not children of this kingdom; for that state, to them who live and die in it, issues in eternal misery. If you be brought into the state of grace, you have a just claim to the state of glory; for grace will certainly issue in glory at length. This kingdom is an inheritance, which none but the children of God can justly claim; now we become the children of God, by regeneration and union with Christ his Son: "And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ," Rom. viii. 17. These then are the great points, upon which one's evidence for the state of glory do depend. And therefore I refer you to what is said on the state of grace, for clearing of you as to your right to glory.

If you be heirs of glory, the kingdom of God is within you, by virtue of your regeneration and union with Christ. (1.) The kingdom of heaven has the throne in thy heart, if thou hast a right to that kingdom: Christ is in thee, and God is in thee; and having chosen him for thy portion, thy soul has taken up its everlasting rest in him, and gets no kindly rest but in him; as the dove, until she came into the ark. To him the soul habitually inclines, by virtue of the new nature, the divine nature, which the heirs if glory are partakers of, Psal. lxxiii. 25. "Whom have I in heaven but thee. And there is none upon earth, that I desire besides thee." (2.) The laws of heaven are in thy heart, if thou art an heir of heaven, Heb. viii. 10. "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts." Thy mind is enlightened in the knowledge of the laws of the kingdom, by the Spirit of the Lord, the instructor of all the heirs of glory; for whoever may want instruction, sure an heir to a crown shall not want it. "It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God," John vi. 45. Therefore, though father and mother leave them early, or be in no concern about their Christian education, and they be soon put to work for their daily bread; yet they shall not lack teachings Withal thy heart is

changed, and thou bearest God's image, which consists in righteousness and true holiness, Eph. iv. 24. Thy soul is reconciled to the whole law of God, and at war with all known sin. In vain do they pretend to the holy kingdom, who are not holy in heart and life; for, "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord," Heb. xii. 14. If heaven is a rest, it is for spiritual labourers, and not for loiterers. If it is an eternal triumph, they are not in the way to it, who avoid the spiritual warfare, and are in no care to subdue corruption, resist temptation, and to cut their way to it, through the opposition made by the devil, the world, and the flesh. (3.) The treasure in heaven is the chief in thy esteem and desire, for it is your treasure; and, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," Matth. vi. 21. If it is not the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen, which thy heart is in greatest care and concern to obtain; if thou art driving a trade with heaven, and thy chief business lies there; it is a sign thy treasure is there, for thy heart is there. But if thou art of these who wonder why so much ado, about heaven and eternal life, as if less might serve the turn; thou art like to have nothing to do with it at all. Carnal men value themselves most on their treasures upon earth; with them, the things that are seen, are weighed down by the things that are not seen; and no losses do so much affect them as earthly losses: but the heirs of the crown of glory, will value themselves most on their treasures in heaven, and will not put their private estate in the balance with their kingdom; nor will the loss of the former go so near their hearts, as the thoughts of the loss of the latter. Where these first fruits of heaven are to be found, the eternal weight of glory will surely follow after; while the want of them must be admitted, according to the word, to be incontestible evidence of an heir of wrath.

Secondly, Let the heirs of the kingdom behave themselves suitable to their character and dignity. Live as having the faith and hope of this glorious kingdom: let your conversation be in heaven, Phil. iii. 20. Let your souls delight in communion with God, while ye are on earth, since ye look for your happiness in communion with him in heaven; let your speech and actions savour

of heaven; and, in your manner of life, look like the country to which ye are going; that. it may be said of you, as of Gideon's brethren, Judges viii. 28. each one resembled the children of a king. Maintain a holy con tempt of the world, and of the things of the world. Although others whose earthly things are their best things, do set their hearts upon them; yet it becomes you to set your feet on them, since your best things are above. This world is but the country, through which lies your road to Immanuel's land; therefore pass through it as pilgrims and strangers, and dip not into the incumbrances of it, so as to retard you in your journey. It is unworthy of one born to a palace, to set his heart on a cottage, to dwell there; and of one running for a prize of gold, to go off his way, to gather the stones of the brook; but much more is it unworthy of an heir of the kingdom of heaven, to be hid among the stuff of this world, when he should be going on to receive his crown. The prize set before you, challengeth your utmost zeal, activity and diligence; and holy courage, resolution, and magnanimity, become those who are to inherit the crown. Ye cannot come at it, without fighting your way to it, through difficulties from without, and from within; but the kingdom before you is sufficient to balance them all, though ye should be called to resist, even unto blood. Prefer Christ's cross before the world's crown; and wants in the way of duty before ease and wealth in the way of sin; "Choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," Heb. xi. 25. In a common inn, strangers (perhaps) fare better than the children; but here lies the difference, the children are to pay nothing for what they have got, but the strangers get their bill, and must pay completely for all they have had. Did we consider the wicked's after-reckoning, for all the smiles of common providence they meet with in the world, we would not grudge them their good things here; nor take it amiss that God keeps our best things last. Heaven will make up all the saints losses, and all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes there.

It is worth observing, that there is such a variety of scripture-notions of heaven's happiness, as may suit every afflicted case of the saints. Are they oppressed?

The day cometh, in which they shall have the dominion. Is their honour laid in the dust? A throne to sit upon, a crown on their head, and a sceptre in their hand, will raise it up again. Are they reduced to poverty? Hea ven is a treasure. If they are forced to quit their own habitations, yet Christ's Father's house is ready for them. Are they driven to the 'wilderness? There is a city pre pared for them. Are they banished from their native country? They shall inherit a better country. If they are deprived of public ordinances, the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple there, whither they are going; a temple the doors of which none can shut. If their life be full of bitterness, heaven is a paradise of pleasure. If they groan under the remains of spiritual bondage, there is a glorious liberty abiding them. Do their defiled garments make them ashamed? The day cometh, in which their robes shall be white, pure and spotless. The battle against flesh and blood, principali ties and powers, is indeed sore; but a glorious triumph is awaiting them. If the toil and labours of the Chris tian life be great, there is an everlasting rest for them in heaven. Are they judged unworthy of society in the world? They shall be admitted into the society of angels in heaven. Do they complain of frequent interruptions of their communion with God? There they shall go no more out, but shall see his face for evermore. If they are in darkness here, eternal light is there. If they grapple with death, there they shall have everlasting life. And to sum up all in one word, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things," Rev. xxi 7. He shall have peace and plenty, profit and pleasure, every thing desirable: full satisfaction to his most enlarged desires. Let the expectants of heaven, then, lift up their heads with joy, gird up their loins, and so run as they may obtain; trampling on every thing that may hinder them, in the way to the kingdom. Let them never think any duty too hard, nor any cross too heavy, nor any pains too much, so as they may obtain the crown of glory.

Lastly, Let those who have no right to the kingdom of heaven, be stirred up to seek it with all diligence. Now is the time, wherein the children of wrath may be. come heirs of glory; and when the way to everlasting

happiness is opened, it is no time to sit still and loiter. Raise up your hearts towards the glory that is to be revealed; and do not always lie along on this perishing earth. What can all your worldly enjoyments avail you, while you have no solid ground to expect heaven, after this life is gone? These riches and honours, profits and pleasures, that must be buried with us, and cannot accompany us into another world, are but a wretched portion, and will leave men comfortless at long-run. Ah! why are men so fond, in their life-time to receive their good things! why are they not rather in care, to secure an interest in the kingdom of heaven, which would never be taken from them, but afford them a portion, to make them happy through the ages of eternity! If you desire honour, there you may have the highest honour, and which will last, when the world's honours are laid in the dust : if riches, heaven will yield you a treasure; and there are pleasures for evermore. O! be not despisers of the pleasant land, neither judge yourselves unworthy of eter nal life; but marry the heir, and heaven shall be your dowry; close with Christ, as he is offered to you in the gospel, and ye shall inherit all things. Walk in the way of holiness, and it will lead you to the kingdom. Fight against sin and satan, and ye shall receive the crown. Forsake the world, and the doors of heaven will open to receive you.

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