IF thou remembereft that the whole Race of Mankind are a Race of fallen Spirits, that pass through this World as an Arrow paffes through the Air, thou wilt foon perceive, that all Things here are equally great and equally little, and that there is no Wisdom or Happiness, but in getting a Way to the best Advantage.

IF thou remembereft that this Life is but a Vapour, that thou art in the Body, only to be holy, humble, and heavenlyminded, that thou ftandeft upon the Brinks of Death, Refurrection, and Judgment, and that these great Things will fuddenly come upon thee, like a Thief in the Night, thou wilt fee a Vanity in all the Gifts of Fortune, greater than any Words can exprefs.

Do but therefore know thy felf, as Religion has made thee known, do but fee thy felf in the Light, which Chrift has brought into the World, and then thou wilt fee that nothing concerns thee, but what concerns an everlasting Spirit that is going to God; and that there are no Enjoyments here that are worth a Thought, but fuch as may make thee more perfect in thofe holy Tempers which will carry thee to Heaven.

CHAP.

CHA P. II.

Christianity requires a Change of Nature, a new Life perfectly

devoted to God.

HRISTIANITY is not a School, for the teaching of moral Virtue, the polishing our Manners, or forming us to live a Life of this World with Decency and Gentility.

IT is deeper and more divine in its Defigns, and has much nobler Ends than thefe, it implies an entire Change of Life, a Dedication of our felves, our Souls and Bodies unto God, in the strictest and higheft Sense of the Words.

OUR bleffed Saviour came into the World not to make any Compofition with it, or to divide Things between Heaven and Earth, but to make War with every State of Life, to put an End to the Defigns of Flesh and Blood, and to fhew us,

that

that we muft either leave this World, to become Sons of God, or by enjoying it, take our Portion amongst Devils and damned Spirits.

DEATH is not more certainly a Separation of our Souls from our Bodies, than the Chriftian Life is a Separation of our Souls from worldly Tempers, vain Indulgences, and unneceffary Cares.

No fooner are we baptiz'd, but we are to confider our felves as new and holy Perfons, that are entered upon a new State of Things, that are devoted to God, and have renounced all, to be Fellowheirs with Chrift, and Members of his Kingdom.

THERE is no Alteration of Life, no Change of Condition, that implies half fo much, as that Alteration which Chriftianity introduceth.

Ir is a Kingdom of Iaven begun upon Earth, and by being made Members of it, we are entered into a new State of Goods and Evils.

ETERNITY altereth the Face and Nature of every thing in this World, Life is only a Trial, Profperity becometh Adverfity, Pleasure a Mischief, and nothing a Good, but as it increaseth our Hope, purifieth our Natures, and prepareth us to receive higher Degrees of Happiness.

LET

LET US now see what it is, to enter into this State of Redemption.

OUR Own Church in Conformity with Scripture, and the Practice of the pureft Ages, makes it neceffary for us to renounce the Pomps and Vanities of the World, before we can be receiv'd as Members of Chriftian Communion.

DID we enough confider this, we fhould find, that whenever we yield our felves up to the Pleasures, Profits, and Honours of this Life, that we turn Apoftates, break our Covenant with God, and go back from the exprefs Conditions, on which we were admitted into the Communion of Chrift's Church.

IF we confult either the Life or Doctrines of our Saviour, we fhall find that Christianity is a Covenant, that contains only the Terms of changing and refigning this World, for another, that is to come.

IT is a State of Things that wholly regards Eternity, and knows of no other Goods, and Evils, but fuch as relate to another Life.

IT is a Kingdom of Heaven, that has no other Interefts in this World, than as it takes its Members out of it, and when the Number of the Elect is compleat, this World will be confum'd with Fire, as having no other Reason of its Existence, than

the

the furnishing Members for that bleffed Society which is to last for ever.

I CANNOT here omit obferving the Folly and Vanity of human Wisdom, which full of imaginary Projects, pleases it self with its mighty Profperities, its lafting Establishments in a World doom'd to Deftruction, and which is to laft no longer, than till a fufficient Number are redeem'd out of it.

DID we fee a Number of Animals haftening to take up their Apartments, and contending for the best Places, in a Building that was to be beat down, as soon as its old Inhabitants were got fafe out, we fhould fee a Contention full as wife, as the Wisdom of worldly Ambition.

To return. Chriftianity is therefore a Course of holy Discipline, folely fitted to the Cure and Recovery of fallen Spirits, and intends fuch a Change in our Nature, as may raise us to a nearer Union with God, and qualify us for fuch high Degrees of Happiness.

IT is no Wonder therefore, if it makes no Provifion for the Flefh, if it condemns the Maxims of human Wisdom, and indulges us in no worldly Projects, fince its very End, is, to redeem us from all the Vanity, Vexation, and Mifery, of this State of Things, and to place us in a Con

dition,