nor Hear without your Ears; but also it is further neceffary, that those Parts and Organs fhould be duly Qualified, and rightly Difpofed. For though you have Eyes in your Head; yet if the Tunicles of the Eye are diforder'd, and the Humours of it are vitiated, the Eye doth either not See; or elfe, not in a due and right Manner. And thus it is with the rest of the Senfes. When the Parts and Organs are defective, there is no true Sensation.

And as Bodily Parts and Organs are thus neceffary to receive Bodily Pleafures, in like manner, a peculiar Temper and Di: fpofition of Soul, is as neceffary to partake of Spiritual Pleafures.

Hence the Apostle doth admonifh us, To give thanks unto the !! Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of

the

the Saints in Light. Col. 1. 12. Intimating, That as there is a glorious Inheritance; an Inheri tance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, referved in heaven for you; So, this Inhe ritance can only be enjoyed, by fuch Perfons as are meet, that is, fuch as are fitted, Qualified and Difposed to be Partakers of it.

.

But now what. Difpofition, and what Temper of Soul is neceffary, to make us capable of this future Happiness, is best known to the DivineWifdom and Goodness. And therefore we ought thankfully to comply with God's Methods, by obferving thofe Precepts and Directions he hath given us in his holy Go fpel.

Your chief Work and Bufi, nefs whilst you continue in this World is to prepare for the next. It is, in the Apostle's lan guage, to work out your own Sal

vation.

vation. And if you comply with the Divine Methods, God hath promised to Work in you; that is, To help and affift you. Confider therefore, and be encouraged, poor afflicted diftreffed Soul, who art wearied with Sickness, and oppreffed with Pain: God is now working in you. For this light Affliction, which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor

4. 17.

But how is it that it worketh for us? Not by way of Merit and Satisfaction; For as when ye Aball have done all those things which are commanded you, fay, we are unprofitable Servants: we have done that which was our Duty to do. Luk. 17. 10. In like manner, When fhall have Suffered the very utmost that you can, you must still confefs; You are unprofitable Servants.

you

There

There is therefore no more Merit in Suffering, than in Doing.

But, I fay, this light and momentany Affliction worketh for your Good; By Fitting and Difpofing, by Qualifying and Preparing your Soul, for the enjoyment of a far more exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory. From this Confideration, we may be inftructed in the true Reafon; Why good and pious Men are fo often, and fo highly Afflicted in this World."

As to Matter of Fact: That Good Men have been always thus Afflicted, is a general Obfervation and Complaint.

Not only Heathens, but Jews and Chriftians have been ofteri perplext about this Matter. And have found it difficult, to reconeile the Providence of God, with the Sufferings of Good Men.

Το

To fay; That the Sufferings of Good Men in this World, are an undeniable Proof of another Life after this, wherein they shall be fully recompenfed, for all their prefent Afflictions; is indeed a true, but not a full Anfwer.

For it may easily be Replyed; Why are not Good Men happy in this World, as well as in the next? Why are they not Tranflated from one Happiness to another? Why are not they as much at Eafe, as Healthful, and as Profperous as other Men? Why are they fo often in Sicknefs and in Pain, in Poverty and Difgrace? Are not they as capable of Worldly Eafe and Happinefs; cannot they relish thefe Outward Satisfactions as well as Others? Have not they the fame Senfes, the fame Inclinations to be Gratified What Reafon therefore can be affigned; Why Almighty God, who truly Loves

"

them,