A New Years Gift, Section 13
SECT. XIII.
What Influence the Conſideration of Eternity would have upon our Hearts and Lives, if ſoundly believed and conſidered; eſpecially, if the ſuppoſition of Dying this year be annexed to it.
WIth what Humility, Mortification, and Self-denial, what Seriouſneſs, Watchfulneſs, and reſolved Conſtancy, would every Chriſtian Live on Earth, did he act always under the influence and power of a confirmed Faith, concerning the Life to come? We ſhould not then grudge at a little labour, or boggle at a few difficulties in our Way. What tho' I meet with injuries and affronts, hardſhips and inconveniences, being now in a Forreign Country, and every day I live, one Days journey nearer my Eternal Home! Shall I not patiently bear momentany Sorrows, while I believe I am haſtening to Eternal Joy? Did I look more to the Everlaſting World, ſhould not I make the pleaſing of God, in order to my Eternal welfare, the great buſineſs of my Life? Should I not ſerve the Lord with more fervency of Spirit, and be better fortified againſt the fears of Man, who can but hurt and kill the Body, nor that neither, without the permiſſion of God? Shuld I not order all my affairs, anſwer all Temptations, mortifie inward Luſts, live in the Exerciſe of Grace, and in circumſpect perſevering Obedience, in order to it? Should I not watch more over my Heart, and Lips, and Ways, be more diligent to trim my Lamps, more crucified to this world, more careful to call my ſelf frequently to an account, and renew my Repentance? Would not my Converſe be more uſeful and edifying, my Diſcourſes more ſavory and full of Religion, my Prayers to God more humble and earneſt, my Charity to Men more unfeigned and extenſive, and my Preparations every way more ſuitable to ſuch a Faith, and to ſuch Apprehenſions of an Everlaſting State? Could we carry the thoughts of Eternity about with us every day, and often admit them in our civil and ſecular affairs, did we repeat it frequently to our ſelves, at leaſt every Morning, as ſoon as we are awake, that we are near Eternity; this grain of Incenſe would perfume the whole Temple, and be an Antidote againſt inward Luſt, and impure thoughts, againſt the infection and defilement of bad Company, and the ſnares of worldly Buſineſs, and do much to prevent vain and ſenſual actions, and to cure vain affections.
Did we believe it, and believe it near, ſhould we not take as much pains to ſecure Eternal Life, as we ſee Men do to get riches? Should we not uſe the ſame diligence, care, and circumſpection, the ſame prudent foreſight, watchfulneſs, and perſeverance, to prevent Everlaſting Deſtruction as others do to provide againſt Poverty, and to live in Plenty a little while on Earth? Should we not rejoyce as much in the promiſe and hopes of it, as others do in the proſpect and expectation of ſome Earthly Advantage? Lord! I confeſs and bewail the weakneſs of my Faith. How often have I concluded, and ſaid, that Heaven alone is the place of Happineſs, and yet my carnal Heart is too much affected with Earthly Things! How often have I rereſolved, (upon the conviction of the certainty of the Eternal World,) to mind this leſs, and to affect and ſeek it no more, as I have done! and yet my fooliſh Heart is hankering after it ſtill. O crucifie my Affections to things below! and let the believing Thoughts of the next Life, render me victorious over all the Temptations of this. Pardon and cure the ſtaggering trembling Thoughts of an unbelieving Heart, by greater meaſures of a lively Faith. That my deſires may be ſtrong and urgent, and my diligence and ſtedfaſtneſs in the way of Truth, be ſome way correſpondent to this important Article. Let me live only for Eternity, hope for nothing but Eternity, deſign and intend nothing as my chief end, but Eternity, and ſeek and mind nothing in compariſon with Eternity! Did we believe it, how would every thing in this World be lookt upon as eligible, or fit to be refuſed, as it is like to be an help, or an hindrance, with reference to Eternity! we ſhould then endeavour to do nothing unbecoming ſuch an Expectation. Conſidering this World as our Paſſage, and the inviſible future World as our abiding Country, where we are to dwell for ever; whatever we meet with here, whether ſweet or bitter, eaſy or troubleſome, pleaſing or ungrateful, we ſhould not much matter, but as it relates to hereafter.
And were I certain I ſhould have no longer time of Trial in order to this Eternal State, than this one year, which is now begun: If a Meſſenger from God ſhould convincingly aſſure me of it; what would I not do to prepare for Death, and ſecure the intereſts of Eternity? With what remorſe and deep Repentance ſhould I reflect on the Follies of my paſt Life? What what importunate cries ſhould I beg Forgiveneſs? How patiently ſhould I bear Calamity, for ſo ſhort a time? How little ſhould I value the favours or frowns of Men? How circumſpect, to improve every Seaſon of doing and receiving good? How careful to avoid Temptation, and how reſolute in reſiſting it? Did I verily believe I had no longer time to live on Earth, than this one Year at moſt; How inſipid would be the offer of carnal Mirth, vain Paſtime, ſenſual Diverſions, idle Company? &c. How ſhould I value every Hour, every inch of my little Time, under the Apprehenſion that Eternity is at hand? O my Soul! Shall I make no proviſion againſt the Poſſibility of ſuch a caſe? Is not my change as certain, as if it were this year, as if it were to Morrow? Tho' I am not certain it is ſo near, nor certain but it may be. Let me then ſeek firſt the Kingdom of God and his Righteouſneſs: Let me fix it well, and make it clear, that I have ſecured my great Concern, and am ready for a ſudden ſummons.