IGnorantly thankfull Creature, thou begg’st in such a way, that by what would appear an antedated Gratitude, if it were not a designless Action, the manner of thy Petitioning, before-hand rewards the Grant of thy Request; thy Addresses and Recompence being so made and order’d, that the Meat I cast thee may very well feed Religion in me. For, but observe this Dogg, I hold him out Meat, and my inviting Voice loudly encourages and invites him to take it: ‘Tis held indeed higher than he can Leap; and yet, if he Leap not at it, I do not give it him; but if he do, I let it fall half way into his Mouth. Not unresemblingly deals God with us; He shews and holds forth to us (the Soul’s true Aliment) Eternal Glory, and his most Gracious Word summons and animates us to attempt it. Alas! it is far above the reach of our Endeavours, and our Deserts, and yet if we aspire not to it, and strive not for it, in vain do we expect it; but if we faithfully do what in us lies, and our Endeavours strain themselves to their utmost, God mercifully allows the VVill for the Effect, measures our performances by what they aim’d at, and favourably accepting what we can do, for what we should do, He supplies the imperfections of our faint, but yet aspiring Attempts, by stooping Condescentions; and what our Endeavours want of reaching up to, his Grace and Acceptation brings down. Piety is the condition, though not the price, of Heaven; and (like the VVedding Garment in the Parable) though it give us not a Right to the Beatifick Feast, is, yet, that without which none shall be admitted as a duely qualify’d Guest: For though we cannot reach Heaven by our good Works, we shall not obtain it without them.
← The Discourse, Section 4, Chapter 5 · Contents · Reflections, Section 1, Reflection. II →