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