O my Lord, it is no little thing thou hast given me in hand. I am already come to mount Zion, and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, and to God the Judge of all, and unto the spirits of just men made perfect, and unto Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and unto the blood of sprinkling. My heart reviveth as Jacob's, when I behold the tokens which thou hast sent me, the spirit of adoption, the pardon of my sins, my patent for heaven, the chain of thy graces, the Son of thy bosom, the new testament in his blood, and the letters of his love. My Lord hath said that he will love me, and manifest himself unto me; and that the Father will love me, and both will come unto me, and make their abode in me. But is it true indeed? Will the Lord dwell on earth? Or if he will, shall so foul a stable, so unclean a place as my heart hath been, shall this be the place that the Lord of life will take up his lodging and keep his court in? Will he indeed come with all his train of graces, and live and walk in me? How can these things be? But he hath said it, and I do, and I will believe it.

Yet all this is but the earnest of what is to come. O how great is thy goodness laid up for them that fear thee! Yet a little, and my warfare shall be accomplished, and the heavens must receive me till the time of the restitution of all things. It is but for a short term that I shall dwell in this flesh, in an earthen tabernacle. My Lord hath showed me, that

where he is, there shall his servant be. Now the living is tied to the dead, and my soul is a stage of strife and a field of war.

ment, and that which is

Yet, it is but a little moperfect shall come: perfect

holiness and perfect peace, eternal serenity and a serene eternity.

O my sins, I am going where you cannot comewhere no unclean thing shall enter, nor any thing that defileth. Methinks I see all my afflictions and temptations, all my infirmities and corruptions, falling off me, as Elijah's mantle at his translation.

O my soul, dost thou not see the chariots of fire, and the horses of fire, come to take thee up? Be thou as poor as Lazarus, yet God will not disdain to send a party of angels to conduct thee home. How canst thou doubt of a ready reception, that hast such a Friend in court, who will lead thee with boldness into his Father's presence? If there was joy in Pharaoh's court when it was said, Joseph's brethren are come, surely it will be welcome news in heaven, when it is told, Jesus' brethren are come.

My soul, fear not to enter, though the Lord be clothed with terror and majesty'; for thy Redeemer will procure thee favor, and plead thy right. I am sure of welcome, for the Father himself loveth me. I have tasted and tried his love; and when I had played the wicked prodigal, yet he despised not my rags, but fell on my neck and kissed me, and heaven itself rejoiced over me. Much more will he receive me gladly, and let out his love upon me, when presented to him by his Son, in his perfect likeness, as a fit

object for his everlasting delight. Fear not, O my soul, as if thou wert going to a strange place. Why, heaven is thy country and thy home: wilt thou doubt of admission, or fear of welcome, when it is thine own home? Why, my soul, thou wast born from above, and here is thy kindred and thy Father's house, and therefore thou shalt surely be admitted. And then shall I see the glorious preparations of eternal love, and the blissful mansions of the heavenly inhabitants.

Doubtless it will be thus. These are not sick men's dreams, nor children's hopes. The living God cannot deceive me: and may not I certainly promise myself what the Lord hath promised me? I will sooner think that all my senses are deluded, and what I see and feel and taste is but a fancy, than think that the living God will deceive me, or that his unchangeable covenant will fail. Now I am a son of God, and it doth not yet appear what I shall be; but this I know, I shall be like him, and see him as he is.

I know it shall be thus. Why, what security should I ask of God? He hath given me all assurance in his word. And though the word of God be enough, yet he, willing to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, I might have strong consolation. O unreasonable unbelief! What, shall not the oath of God put an end to thy strife? O my God, I am satisfied; it is enough.

Now I may be bold without presumption, and boast without pride; and will no more call my duty arrogance, nor my faith a fancy.

O my soul, there is but a short life between thee and glory, where holy angels and glorified saints shall be my associates, and love and praise my only employment. Methinks I hear already how the morning stars sing together, and all the sons of God shout for joy. O that I could come in! But it was said unto me, that I should rest yet for a little season, and I shall stand in my lot at the end of the days. It is well; Lord, thy word is enough; thy bond is as good as ready payment. The Holy Ghost tells me, that life and glory abide me; that what day I loose from the body, the same day I shall be landed in paradise. Amen. It is as I would have it.

But this is not all.

When my body hath slept a short nap in the dust, Christ will call to it, Come up hither. Ah, true yoke-fellow, it will be a hard parting, but a welcome meeting. I could not leave thee, but to live with Christ. But he will raise thee a glorious temple; and when he shall appear, will bring me with himself in glory; and then I shall reënter thee as a royal mansion, wherein I shall abide with the Lord for ever. For as we have served our Redeemer together, so we must be glorified together with him. And when the Lord hath married us together again, then will he marry us both unto himself. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the last day upon the earth. And though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my

flesh I shall see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me. My Lord hath

already told me how it shall be. He hath set down the time, and showed me the robes of immortality, and the crown of life, that I must put on; and the throne of glory, and the seat of judgment that I must sit in. He hath told me the manner in which I shall be presented to him, and espoused by him. He hath told me where he will set me, and what he will say to me, and how he will acknowledge my mean services, and remember what I have forgotten; how he will praise the works that I have been ashamed of, and reward me openly for what I have buried in secrecy, and not forget the poorest alms that I have given for his name. Then will he confess me before his Father, and before the angels of God. Thus saith the true and faithful Witness, and we know that his testimony is true.

Ah, my soul, see that thou make not God a liar. 1 John, 5:10. O my God, I have believed thy report, and do look for all these things, according to thy promise. I know thou intendest me but for a very little while in this lower region. This world is but the house of my pilgrimage, and my soul now is but like a bird in the shell; but when the shell is cracked, then shall she take wings like a dove, and soar aloft to thee, and fly away and be at rest. Yet I doubt not thy care for my despicable dust. nothing will be lost: I know not where they will lay me; but thy wakeful eye observeth, and will not have

I know that