Therefore, if thou meet with the cross in thy journey, in what manner soever it be, be not daunted and say, Alas! what shall I do now?  But rather take courage, knowing that by the cross is the way to the kingdom.  Can a man believe in Christ, and not be hated by the devil?  Can he make a profession of this Christ, and that sweetly, and convincingly, and the children of Satan hold their tongue?  Can darkness agree with light?  Or the devil endure that Christ Jesus should be honored both by faith and a heavenly conversation, and let that soul alone at quiet?  Did you never read that the Dragon persecuted the woman? and that Christ saith, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.”

THE NINTH DIRECTION.—­Beg of God that he would do these two things for thee:  First, enlighten thine understanding:  and secondly, inflame thy will.  If these two be but effectually done, there is no fear but what thou wilt go safe to heaven.

One of the great reasons why men and women do so little regard the other world, is, because they see so little of it.  And the reason why they see so little of it, is, because they have their understanding darkened.  And therefore, saith Paul, Do not you, believers walk as do other Gentiles, even “in the vanity of their minds; having their understandings darkened; being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance (or foolishness) that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”  Walk not as those; run not with them.  Alas! poor souls, they have their understandings darkened, their hearts blinded, and that is the reason they have such undervaluing thoughts of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the salvation of their souls.  For when men do come to see the things of another world, what a God, what a Christ, what a heaven, and what an eternal glory there is to be enjoyed; also when they see that it is possible for them to have a share in it; I tell you it will make them run through thick and thin to enjoy it.  Moses, having a sight of this, because his understanding was enlightened, feared not the wrath of the king, but chose rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.  He refused to be called the son of the king’s daughter; accounting it wonderful riches to be accounted worthy so much as to suffer for Christ, with the poor, despised saints; and that was because he saw him who is invisible, and had respect unto the recompense of reward.  And this is that which the apostle usually prayeth for in his epistles for the saints, namely, That they might, know what is the hope of God’s calling, and the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints; and that they might be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.