O the hourly dangers that we here walk in! Every sense, and member, is a snare; every creature, every mercy, and every duty, is a snare to us. We can scarce open our eyes, but we are in danger of envying those above us, or despising those below us; of coveting the honors and riches of some, or beholding the rags and beggary of others with pride and unmercifulness. If we see beauty, 'tis a bait to lust; if deformity, to loathing and disdain. How soon do slanderous reports, vain jests, wanton speeches, creep into the heart! How constant and strong a watch does our appetite require! Have we comeliness and beauty? What fuel for pride! Are we deformed? What an occasion of repining! Have we strength of reason, and gifts of learning? O how prone to be puffed up, hunt after applause, and despise our brethren! Are we unlearned! How apt then to despise what we have not! Are we in places of authority? How strong is the temptation to abuse our trust, make our will our law, and cut out all the enjoyments of others by the rules and model of our own interest and policy! Are we inferiors? How prone to grudge at others' pre-eminence, and bring their actions to the bar of our judgment! Are we rich, and not too much exalted? Are we poor, and not discontented? Are we not lazy in our duties, or make a Christ of them? Not that God hath made all these things our snares; but through our own corruption they become so to us. Ourselves are the greatest snare to ourselves. This is our comfort, our rest will free us from all these. As Satan hath no entrance there, so neither hath any thing to serve his malice! but all things there shall join with us in the high praises of our great Deliverer.—As we rest from the temptations, we shall likewise from _the abuses and persecutions of the world_. The prayers of _the souls under the altar_ will then be answered, and God will _avenge their blood on them that dwell on the earth_.[169] _This_ is the time for crowning with thorns; _that_ for crowning with glory. _Now, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution_;[170] _then_ they _that suffered with him_, shall _be glorified with him_.[171] _Now_ we must _be hated of all men for Christ's name's sake_.[172] _Then_ Christ will _be admired in his saints_ that were thus hated.[173] _We are_ here _made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men; as the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things_;[174] _men separate us from their company, and reproach us, and cast out our names as evil_:[175] But we shall then be as much gazed at for our glory; and they will be shut out of the church of the saints, and separated from us, whether they will or not. We can now scarce pray in our families, or sing praises to God, but our voice is a vexation to them: how must it torment them then, to see us praising and rejoicing, while they are howling and lamenting! You, brethren, who can now attempt no work of God, without losing the love of