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God's love; if thou be not, though it will trouble thee at the present, yet it will<br />
tend to thy happiness, and at length lead thee to the assurance of that<br />
happiness. Is it not a desirable thing to know what shall befall us hereafter;<br />
especially what shall befall our souls and what place and state we must be in<br />
for ever? And as the very knowledge itself is desirable, how much greater<br />
will the comfort be of that certainty of salvation! What sweet thoughts wilt<br />
thou have of God! All that greatness and justice which is the terror of others,<br />
will be thy joy. How sweet may be thy thoughts of Christ, and the blood he<br />
hath shed, and the benefits he hath procured! How welcome will the word of<br />
God be to thee, and "how beautiful the very feet of those that bring it!" How<br />
sweet will be the promises when thou art sure they are thine own! <strong>The</strong> very<br />
threatenings will occasion thy comfort, to remember that thou hast escaped<br />
them. What boldness and comfort mayest thou then have in prayer, when<br />
thou canst say "Our Father" in full assurance? It will make the Lord's supper<br />
a refreshing feast to thy soul. It will multiply the sweetness of every common<br />
mercy. How comfortably mayest thou then undergo all afflictions! How will<br />
it sweeten thy forethoughts of death and judgment, of heaven and hell! How<br />
lively will it make thee in the work of the Lord, and how profitable to all<br />
around thee! What vigor will it infuse into all thy graces and affections! How<br />
will it kindle thy repentance, inflame thy love, quicken thy desires, and<br />
confirm thy faith; be a fountain of continual rejoicing, overflow thy heart<br />
with thankfulness, raise thee high in the delightful work of praise, help thee<br />
to be heavenly-minded, and render thee persevering in all! All these sweet<br />
effects of assurance would make thy life a heaven upon earth.<br />
Though I am certain these motives have weight of reason in them, yet I<br />
am jealous, reader, lest you lay aside the book as if you had no more to do,<br />
and never set yourself to the practice of the duty. <strong>The</strong> case in hand is of the<br />
greatest moment--whether thou shalt everlastingly live in heaven or hell. I<br />
here request thee, in behalf of thy soul; nay, I charge thee, in the name of the<br />
Lord, that thou defer no longer, but take thy heart to task in good earnest, and<br />
think with thyself, "Is it so easy, so common and so dangerous to be<br />
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