It is for this reason that we are exhorted to work out our salvation with _fear_ and _trembling_; because unless our _heart_ and _passions_ are eagerly bent upon the work of our salvation, unless _holy fears_ animate our endeavours, and keep our consciences tender about every part of our duty, constantly examining how we live, and how fit we are to die, we shall in all probability sit down in such a course of life, as will never carry us to the rewards of heaven. And he that considers, that a just God can only make such allowances as are suitable to his justice, that our works are all to be examined by fire, will find _fear_ and _trembling_ are proper tempers for those that are drawing near to so great a trial. Now this is not intended to possess people’s minds with a scrupulous anxiety; but to fill them with a just fear of living in the neglect of such virtues as they will want at the day of judgment. It is only desiring them to be so apprehensive of their state, so earnest after higher degrees of piety, and so fearful of falling short of happiness, as the great apostle St. _Paul_ was, when he thus wrote to the _Philippians_. _Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect;――but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of |God| in Christ Jesus._ And then he adds, _Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded_. But if the apostle thought it necessary for those who were in his state of perfection to be _thus minded_; thus labouring, pressing, and aspiring after some degrees of holiness, to which they were not then arrived; surely it is much more necessary for us, _to be thus minded_; thus earnest and striving after such degrees of a holy life, as we have not yet attained. 7. The best way for any one to know how much he ought to aspire after holiness, is to ask himself, how much he thinks will make him easy at the hour of death. Now any man that dares put this question to himself, will be forced to answer, that at death, every one will wish, he had been as perfect as human nature can be. Is not this sufficient to put us, not only upon wishing, but labouring after all that perfection which we shall then lament the want of? Is it not excessive folly to be content with such a course of piety as we already know cannot content us, at a time when we shall so want it, as to have nothing else to comfort us? How can we carry a severer condemnation against ourselves, than to believe, that at the hour of death, we shall want the virtues of the _saints_, and wish that we had been among the first servants of God, and yet take no methods of arriving at their height of piety, whilst we are alive?