By Thomas Goodwin, from chapter 15:

Let us therefore take God for our portion,

whatsoever else becomes of us,

whatsoever befalls us;

let what will come,

what afflictions, what throbs,

what miseries or crosses will come,

heaven will make amends for all;

God will be better to thee than all.

Put them all in one balance,

and God with that glory he will bestow on you in another balance,

and he will over-weigh them all,

for they are not worthy to be compared to this glory.

This was it that ‘made the martyrs run through so many persecutions and tortures, and that with cheerfulness; they took God for their portions; so they had him, they cared not what became of their bodies.

For, saith Paul, ‘ we look not to things which are corruptible, but to things which are eternal.’

And because it is probable, yea, and more than probable,

that there are degrees of glory in heaven,

that God will reward every one according to their works,

do not only content yourselves to go to heaven,

but endeavour to serve God more,

that you may have great glory in heaven;

be abundant in good works,

hoard up good works,

according to which glory shall be weighed to you in heaven.

Let not pleasures hinder thee of the least degree of glory,

for to have but one pearl added to thy crown is more than the whole world.

Commit therefore no sin that might hinder your attaining of glory,

for what though God pardon thy sin?

Yet thou losest glory which thou mightest have gotten

whilst thou wast committing the sin,

the least shred of which glory transcends all the glory of the world.