5. *From what has been said we may, thirdly, learn, That none is truly _led by the Spirit_, unless that _Spirit bear witness with his spirit, that he is a child of_ God: unless he sees the prize and the crown before him, and _rejoices in hope of the glory of_ God: so greatly have they erred, who have taught that in serving God, we ought not to have a view to our own happiness. Nay, but we are often and expresly taught of God, to have respect _unto the recompence of reward_; to balance the toil with the _joy set before us_, these _light afflictions_ with that _exceeding weight of glory_. Yea, we are _aliens to the covenant of promise_, we are _without_ God _in the world_, until God _of his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again, unto a living hope, of the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away_. 6. But if these things are so, ’tis high time for those persons to deal faithfully with their own souls, who are so far from finding in themselves this joyful assurance, that they fulfil the terms and shall obtain the promises of that covenant, as to quarrel with the covenant itself, and blaspheme the terms of it: to complain, “They are too severe, and that no man ever did, or shall live up to them!” What is this, but to reproach God, as if he were an hard master, requiring of his servants more than he enables them to perform; as if he had mocked the helpless works of his hands, by binding them to impossibilities; by commanding them to overcome, where neither their own strength, nor his grace was sufficient for them? 7. *These blasphemers might almost persuade those, to imagine themselves guiltless, who in the contrary extreme, hope to fulfil the commands of God, without taking any pains at all. Vain hope! that a child of _Adam_ should ever expect, to see the kingdom of _Christ_ and of God, without striving, without _agonizing_ first, _to enter in at the strait gate_! That one who was _conceived and born in sin_, and whose _inward parts are very wickedness_, should once entertain a thought, of being _purified as his_ Lord _is pure_, unless he _tread in his steps_, and _take up his cross daily_; unless he _cut off his right-hand_, and _pluck out the right-eye and cast it from_ him; that he should ever dream of shaking off his old opinions, passions, tempers, of being _sanctified throughout in spirit, soul, and body_, without a constant and continued course of general self-denial!