Advice to a friend Repr Author:Simon Patrick Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: f turn my eyes towards it. Stir me up hereby to prepare myself with diligence ind care, by a lively resemblance of the Lord Jesus, for the day of his appear- ng:... more » and to wait with patience for that tlessed Hope, when I shall not see, as now, through a Glass darkly, but face to face; and be made completely like him, by seeing him as he is. Enable me always to live upon this Hope, and according to it; that, growing in all goodness, by a cheerful obedience to his holy commands, I may be found of him in peace, and be so happy as to hear at last those gracious words of his, Well done, good and faithful Servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Amen. I NEED say no more to excite one of your virtue, to the frequent exercise of such Meditations as these, which are no less delightful than they are useful. Let me next unto this advise you to study the truest notions of God and of Reli- jiflH, the love of which is the way to that transcendent bliss and happiness, of which 1 have spoken. As you must believe things unseen, and persuade yourself thoroughly that they are; so it is necessary you should inform your mind aright what they are. And, in particular lookupon Religion as a most pleasant thing, and represent it to yourself with a face as fair and beautiful as you can. If it seem cloudy, dark and melancholy, it will make you to be of the same complexion : but if it have a lovely and cheerful aspect, it will incline you always to smile upon it. The poor Norwegian, whom stories tell of, was afraid to touch Roses when he first saw them, for fear they should bum his Fingers. He much wondered to see that Trees (as he thought) should put forth flames and blossoms of Fire: before which he held up his hands to warm himself, not daring to approach any nearer. But as he, you may be sure, was h...« less