All that have an apprehension of a future state of happiness do agree in this matter, that it contains in it, or is accompanied with, a deliverance and freedom from all that is evil. But in what is so, they are not agreed. Many esteem only those things that are grievous, trouble- some, wasting and destructive unto nature to be so ; that is, what is penal, in pain, sickness, sorrow, loss, poverty, with all kind of outward troubles, and death itself, are evil. Wherefore they suppose that the future state of blessedness will free them from all these things, if they can attain unto it. This they will lay in the balance against the troubles of life, and sometimes it may be against the pleasures of it, which they must forego. Yea, persons profane and profli- gate, will, in words at least, profess, that heaven will give them rest from all their troubles. But it is no place of rest for such persons.
Unto all others also, unto believers themselves, these things are evil, such as they expect a deliverance, from in heaven and glory. And there is no doubt, but it is lawful for us, and meet that we should contemplate on them, as those which will give us a deliverance from all outward troubles, death itself and all that leads thereunto. Heaven is promised ' as rest \nito them that are troubled ;' 2 Thess. i. 7. It is our duty, under all our sufferings, re- proaches, persecutions, troubles, and sorrows, to raise up our minds unto the contemplation of that state, wherein we shall be freed from them all. It is a blessed notion of heaven, * that God shall therein wipe away all tears from our eyes'. Rev. vii. 17. or remove far from us all causes of sorrow. And it would be unto our advantage, if we did accustom our minds more unto this kind of relief than we do ; if upon the incursion of fears, dangers, sorrows, we did mure readily retreat unto thoughts of that state wherein we sihall be freed from them all ; even this most inferior con- sideration of it, would render the thoughts of it more
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familiar, and the thing iteelf more useful unto us. Much better it were, than on such occasions to be exercised with heartless complaints, uncertain hopes, and fruitless contri- vances.
But there is that which unto them who are truly spiritually minded, hath more evil in it than all these things together, and that is sin. Heaven is a state of deliverance from sin, from all sin, in all the causes, con- comitants, and effects of it. He is no true believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden, sorrow, and trouble. Other things, as the loss of dear relations, or extraordinay pains, may make deeper impressions on the mind by its natural affections at some seasons, than ever our sins did at any one time, in any one instance. So a man may have a greater trouble in sense of pain, by a fit of the tooth ache, which will be gone in an hour, than in a hectic fever or consumption, which will assuredly take away his life. But take in the whole course of our lives, and all the actings of our souls in spiritual judgment, as well as natural affection, and I do not understand how a man can be a sincere be- liever, unto whom sin is not the greatest burden and sorrow.
Wherefore, in the first place, it belongs unto the true notion of heaven, that it is a state wherein we shall be eternally freed from sin, and all the concernments of it, but only the exaltation of the glory of God's grace in Christ, by the pardon of it. He that truly hates sin and abhors it, whose principal desire and design of life is to be freed from it, so far as it is possible ; who walks in self abasement through a sense of his many disappointments, when he hoped it should act in him no more, cannot, as I judge, but frequently betake himself for refreshment unto thoughts of that state wherein he shall be freed from it and triumph over it unto eternity. This is a notion of heaven that is easily apprehended and fixed on the mind, which we may dwell upon, unto the great advantage and satisfaction of our souls.
Frequent thoughts and meditations of heaven under this notion, do argue a man to be spiritually minded. For it is a convining evidence that sin is a burden unto him, that he longs to be delivered from it and all its consequents ; that
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no thoughts are more welcome unto him, than those of that state wherein sin shall be no more. And although men are troubled about their sins, and would desirously be freed from them, so far as they perplex their minds, and make their consciences uneasy ; yet if they are not much in the prospect of this relief, if they find not refreshment in it, I fear their trouble is not such as it ought to be. Where- fore, when men can so wrangle and wrestle with their convic- tions of sin, and yet take up the best of their relief in hopes that it will be better with them at some time or other in this world, without longing desires after that state wherein sin shall be no more, they can give no evidence that they are spiritually minded.