A sound belief in things unseen will cause practical estimation of them, and that above all earthly things.

A glimpse of the heavenly glory as in a glass will cause the soul deliberately to say, “This is the chief desirable felicity; this is the crown, the pearl, the treasure; nothing but this can serve my turn.”

It will debase the greatest pleasures, or riches, or honors of the world in your esteem

How contemptible will they seem while you see God stand by, and heaven as it were set open to your view. You will see there is little cause to envy the prosperity of the servants of the world. You will pity them, as miserable in their mirth, and bound in the fetters of their folly and concupiscence, and as strangers to all solid joy and honor. You will be moved with some compassion to them in their misery, when they are braving it among men, and domineering for a little while. You will think, “Alas! Poor man! Is this all your glory? Do you have no better wealth, no higher honor, no sweeter pleasures than these husks?”

With such a practical judgment as you value gold above dirt, and jewels above common stones, you will value heaven above all the riches and pleasures of this world, if you have indeed a living, saving faith.

—Richard Baxter, 1615-1691

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