text:
Asian Tribune is published by World Institute For Asian Studies|Powered by WIAS Vol. 12 No. 2961
Letter from America: Thoughts on Bangladesh – 1
For the last few weeks I am in Bangladesh. This week Muslims are going to celebrate the Eid-ul-Adha commemorating the sacrifice that Prophet Abraham [Ibrahim (AS)] vowed to God the Almighty. The Hindu community is also celebrating their Durga Puja in Bangladesh – the largest festival for the Bengali Hindus.
The entire country is now in celebrative mood with many offices closed for the extended holidays. As usual, the shopping centers are full with customers. A visit to any of the shopping centers is sufficient to show that this once poverty-stricken country is no longer poor and people have lots of money to spend. Although the price of most food items is as expensive (sometimes more) as in the USA, no one starves to death. The purchasing power of ordinary folks here has multiplied several folds in the last couple of decades. Outside the mosques, temples and Buddhist monasteries hardly one can see beggars.
The city streets are abuzz with rickshaws, baby taxis, cars, buses and trucks round the clock. Every day, hundreds of new cars are infiltrating the crowded roads in all major cities. Even in the late hours of the night, thousands of vehicles move from one place to another on any of the major roads every hour making it difficult for all those people residing in homes near the roadside to have a quiet, sound sleep. I happen to be one of those victims. More than half a century ago when my parents moved to Khulshi area of Chittagong, once a beautiful coastal city lying on the Bay of Bengal, there were hardly a dozen residents in our neighborhood, and the adjacent road had little traffic. It was truly a residential area. Now it is difficult to demarcate between residential and commercial areas in most parts of the city, and our adjacent road has become a major artery connecting other parts of Bangladesh to the port city of Chittagong.
While the city population has grown at least twenty times in the last half a century, not too many new and wider roads have been built in the last four decades in Chittagong, thus aggravating the pains of most commuters. This Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was in Chittagong and opened some major flyovers in the city, which would help to lessen the traffic jam situation in this city of over eight million people.
Most of the footpaths along the roads are occupied by the vendors or shopkeepers thus forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads, further narrowing down the effective width for the vehicles to drive along. As expected, crossing any of the major junctions of roads is a very time consuming process taking anywhere from two to ten minutes. A three-mile commute inside the city, thus, can take anywhere from half an hour to a full hour. At this rate, as one real estate developer once told me, Bangladesh is losing or wasting away more than a quarter of its GDP because of poor transportation system alone.
As I see it, unless Bangladesh prioritizes improving its ground communication or transportation network – easing the pains of its commuters, it will fail to maximize its true potential. The government, therefore, ought to take a serious look to improving its communication network. In my opinion, there is no alternative to improving the rail communication system, especially given the fact that Bangladesh is energy-poor. I am told that most of the inter-city railroads don't have dual lines. As such, at places when another train has to go in the reverse direction, even the non-stop trains have to wait in certain areas, thus allowing the other train to pass along. Given the fact that train communication is both cheaper and could take much less time than alternative means (minus air transportation), this negligence to improving its infrastructure is simply mindboggling. I am here told that the bus owners are opposed to any such improvement proposal, which would in turn reduce their share of the profit. Many of the politicians also own bus services, thus lingering the overall crisis in this critical sector.
This reminds me of California when the automakers in the early 20th century were at the forefront of such opposition against public transportation system. They wanted residents to buy cars and not use public transportation – trains and buses. And they were successful for almost a century. I recall that when I was a student in California in the early 1980s, cities like Los Angeles still didn't have rail transit system. All these have changed for better now. Los Angeles has a great rail transit system allowing its people to move from one part to another at a much cheaper cost and less time.
Bangladesh must overcome its inertia and political gravitational pulls to deciding for and improving its railway infrastructure not just for the benefit of the intercity commuters but also for its people in the inner cities, with huge rippling benefits in other sectors. With a good rail transit system in place, most commuters would eventually switch to it under-burdening its otherwise faulty road transportation system. This would lessen Bangladesh's dependence on oil and gas, freeing such vital resources for other better usages.
When the Mahajote Government of Sheikh Hasina came to power nearly five years ago, two of the major promises her government made were to improve the gridlock situation within the city roads and energy demand. Her government has a positive score on both counts. As typical of Bangladesh, however, some of the newly constructed flyovers are named after family or party members of the prime minister. The newly opened flyover in Jatrabari of Dhaka has been named after late Mayor Hanif and that in the Baddhar Hat area of Chittagong has been named after an Awami League minister - late M. A. Mannan. Both were exemplary politicians who deserved such recognition.
Interestingly, just last week, I had the pleasure of talking with Emon, son of late M.A. Mannan, in my parents' home. Mr. Mannan was a labor and social welfare minister who was much revered for his honesty and sincerity. He returned three hundred crore Taka to Bangladesh Treasury when the above sum of money was given as a gratuity money to him on a foreign contract signed with a Middle-eastern country. I don't know of any politician in Bangladesh who has demonstrated such a level of honesty!
On the energy sector, Sheikh Hasina's government has succeeded in improving the overall capacity. However, its supply lags behind the ever increasing demand. Some of the initiatives towards curtailing energy dependency, e.g., energy from coal plant in Rampal area of the Bagerhat district, near the pristine Sundarbans, have been highly controversial and criticized by some activists. The latter see the construction of the proposed plant in Rampal as threatening the eco system in the Sundarbans.
Many neutral energy experts, however, consider such opposition to the government plan as misguided, hypocritical and dishonest. None of these energy-crusaders, touted as Bangladesh's prominent intellectuals, is, sadly, willing to walk the talk by living an Amish life by residing in huts or homes that don't require electricity or gas. As a matter of fact, each one of them is known to live in air-conditioned homes. Many see them catering to foreign, e.g., Indian, interest thus, making Bangladesh entirely dependent on other countries on such matters. Lest one forgets, the previously imported coal from India has been known to be of very low quality generating higher carbon emission.
So, what is better for Bangladesh – an energy-starving policy for a developing country that continues to rely on Indian coal for its vital energy demand while capping its own resources or a smart policy that has learned to harness energy without compromising on ecology, ethics and energy self-sufficiency that would help grow Bangladesh's economy?
To be continued>>>>
- Asian Tribune -


text: Last year, Griffin Roer ventured off to start his digital marketing consultancy, Uproer, after developing his SEO expertise agency-side. He works with startups, small businesses and enterprise customers to build content strategies that improve organic search performance. As an active member of the Twin Cities search marketing community, Griffin serves on the board of the Minnesota Search Engine Marketing Association (MnSearch).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Revision Brightening Facial Wash Overview:
Revision Brightening Facial Wash is a luxurious daily cleanser that removes dirt, grime, excess oils, and makeup from the skin. This great face wash provides a deep clean while leaving the skin feeling hydrated and smooth. Brightening Facial Wash is enhanced with Beta Hydroxy Acids to also provide skin brightening and light exfoliation benefits. Fully cleanse your skin while achieving a brighter complexion with Brightening Facial Wash by Revision.
Product Notes:
- Facial cleansing wash
- Works to brighten the skin
- Provides light exfoliation
- Deep clean without over drying
- Leave skin looking soft and smooth
- Removes dirt, debris, and makeup
- Absorbs toxins
- Leaves skin looking soft and smooth
- Made from all natural ingredients
- Ideal for all skin types
Twice daily, wet face and neck with tepid water. Lather a nickel-sized amount in palm of hand. Then, using fingertips, gently massage onto face and neck using circular motions. Avoid eye area. Rinse thoroughly with water and pat skin dry. Use with sunscreen of SPF 25 or higher while using this product.
Purified Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sucrose Laurate, Glycol Distearate, Glycolic Acid, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi (Bearberry) Leaf Extract, Nymphae Alba (Lily) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extract, Panthenol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Glycyrhizza Glabra (Licorice) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aminomethyl Propanol, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Steareth-4, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzoic Acid, Fragrance.


text:
Laffey Fine Homes International to Join Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Real estate brokerage network Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, announced that Laffey Fine Homes International will join its network July 11 operating as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Laffey International Realty.
The brokerage, a full-service real estate company, remains independently owned and operated by local real estate leaders Emmett Laffey, Gregory Berkowitz and John Schoonmaker. It is a premier luxury brokerage on Long Island's North Shore with operations extending from Montauk to Manhattan. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has grown to nearly 46,000 agents and 1,400 offices since its founding in September 2013. The network was recently named "Real Estate Agency Brand of Year" and "Most Trusted Real Estate Brand" in the 2018 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study.
"We are thrilled to bring the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand to our customers and clients throughout the region," said Emmett Laffey, the firm's president and CEO. "Our company with its strong heritage and reputation, combined with the venerable Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand, will be unstoppable in the marketplace."
Get more details about the company on its website.
Get more breaking news, photos and more on Twitter @NYCWired


text:
Most of the time when we hear about the marriage of modern design and sustainable construction, it's heralding a large new office building or apartment tower. But Chad Ludeman of Postgreen Homes is intent on bringing those elements to rowhouse living.
Take the facade of Postgreen's latest project, Duplexcellence II, made of sturdy steel with energy-saving cooktops, LED lights and double-the-industry-standard insulation. Even consumers who aren't excited about green construction are thrilled to see how much lower their utility bills are. Ludeman says, "We're building quite a different product than everyone else."
Ludeman founded the company in 2008 after jobs in engineering and marketing, and it's been steadily growing since, and he puts effort toward growing Postgreen's name recognition. "For most developers, each project is a new brand," he says, "and nobody really knows who's behind it. But being really open and transparent about who we are and what we're about has been a goal since day one."
Today he works with his wife, a childhood friend and a construction team. "We don't need to be the biggest, richest developers out there," he says. "We want to do something that we are proud to put our name on."
The latest project: Duplexcellence II
Postgreen has a few projects in the works right now, but Ludeman is most excited about Duplexcellence II, now almost complete, near the El's Girard stop.
A follow-up to a similar project across the street, it contains four duplex units stacked two by two. The bottom units have gardens, and the top ones sport roof decks, all behind that surprisingly sexy reclaimed-wood facade.
A particular point of pride for Ludeman is how economically the design uses space, allowing more families to live on the lot than would in a more traditional townhome.
Also in the works is Awesometown in Fishtown: Fourteen modern townhomes, four of which are designated for moderate-income families through a partnership with New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) and Ludeman's willingness to spare some profits to deliver affordable housing to qualified buyers.


text:
On this week's episode…
Major talks about toast
HHG prepares for Sunday
and JayDukes tries his best to secure large Oreos!
Of course, you can always catch us live over at twitch.tv/notchofriends
Hit us up on Twitter at @NotchoFriends
Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/NotchoFriends
Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
Rate and review on iTunes.
Also, you can support us for as little as $0.99 by visiting
But, most importantly, share us with your friends!


text:
This Wedding Wreath is a 30 cm artificial floral wreath that is full of beautiful high quality artificial flowers. It is perfect for your front door, interior design and weddings.
I have used the highest quality material purchased from trusted suppliers in Australia. It took me 20 days to find the suppliers and collect the flowers.
My highest priority in my works has always been being unique and beautiful and you will be given a unique piece of artwork that not found anywhere else.
The frame is a Francheville Mountain Wreath Dark Brown 25 cm that I have bought from Spotlight in Australia.
I take great care in packing your wreath safely. Your wreath will be wired to the bottom of the box avoiding movement of the wreath.
Shipping – I have included approximate shipping cost for each countries but due to the size of this wreath, the shipping charges vary greatly depending on where it is sent. Please send me a message prior to ordering to get an accurate shipping quote.


text:
Liesbeth Meijs - 19 / Aug / 2016
Trendy ear climbers
Shop the trend: silver ear climbers, earrings that follow the shape of your ear
Ear climbers are worn on your ear with the tip of the earring pointing up, or wearing the tip pointing down is, of course, possible as well ;-)
Pretty to wear with an updo or styled with your hair pulled behind your ear, ear climbers are ear studs that follow the shape of your ear, they are designed to wear with the tip upwards.
The hip combinations is an ear climber in one ear and another small ear stud in your other ear. ARLIZI ear climbers are made of sterling silver, or gold plated silver, and suit every look, you can wear them to work and for a night out. They stay comfortably in your ear. The latest trends in ear climbers are minimalist bars, a graceful leaf / feather ear climber and the unique cross ear climbers.
Look in the shop for the ARLIZI ear climber collection: shop ear climbers


text:
Holidays in a country house with lots of charm – and a Steinway grand piano! The 180-year-old Landhaus Fredenwalde is located in the Uckermark, only an hour away from Berlin. The lovingly restored brick house offers 220 square meters of space for large families or a holiday with friends. Visible beams, wooden floors and fireplaces provide a cozy atmosphere. Pianists will love the music room with the Steinway grand piano where you can make music with view over the hills. A paradise – not just for the kids – can be found in the spacious garden with fruit trees, which lies at the foot of a vineyard. After a 110 meter climb you have a beautiful panoramic view of meadows, forests and lakes.
What to do
Swimming, cycling, walking, playing music. The hiking trails start right on the doorstep and lead through an undulating and varied landscape. In the garden there is a rustic wooden sauna. If you like, you can swim every day in a different bathing area in one of the many lakes. Those who want to make cultural trips, visit the ancient Cistercian Monastery Chorin and castle Boitzenburg or explore the many small individual Uckermärker events.
Details of the property
Region/Town: DE – Germany, Brandenburg, Fredenwalde
Name: Landhaus Fredenwalde
Scenery: Uckermark
Accommodation: House
Number of guests: up to 12 people
Architecture: Old & new
Completed: 2010 (conversion)
Design: Urs Cordua, DE-Berlin / Jörg Wappler, DE-Berlin
Special Features: sauna in the garden
1-8 (house/apartment), 8+ (house/apartment), Brandenburg, Brandenburg, DE – Germany, Garden, House, Old & new, Uckermark
Homepage landhaus-fredenwalde.de
Availability calendar
The calendar displays the current availability of the accommodation. Days with a dark grey background are not available, while days in light grey or white are free for bookings.


text:
|« Prev
|A Discourse upon 1 John iii. 3.
|Next »
Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
THE apostle in this chapter endeavours to comfort the saints from a consideration of the transcendent greatness of God's love, which appeared in those excellent privileges that accrued to them from it. The first of which the saints enjoy even in this life, namely, to be the sons of God, the adopted children of the Almighty, to be admitted into the nearest and dearest relation to the great Creator and Lord of heaven and earth. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! The second great privilege is to be enjoyed by the saints in the life to come, and that is no less than a likeness to Christ himself in glory; a participation of those grand, sublime prerogatives that Christ is endowed withal. We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him in glory, ver. 2. Now because this great enjoyment was as yet future, and so visible but at a distance, and consequently not so pregnant and bright an argument of comfort, he tells them, that the saints could view it as present in the glass of their hopes, by which they could draw from it a real comfort, with an actual fruition.
It is indeed the nature of earthly comforts to afford more delight in their hopes than in their enjoyment. 519But it is much otherwise in heavenly things, which are of that solid and substantial perfection, as always to satisfy, yet never to satiate; and therefore the delight that springs from the fruition of those is still fresh and verdant; nay, we may add this yet further, that the very expectation of heavenly things, if rational and well grounded, affords more comfort than the possession and enjoyment of the greatest earthly contents whatsoever.
The apostle having thus told them of their hope, and what a real hold it took of the things hoped for, that he might prevent mistake, and dash presumption, tells them also, that an assured hope of future glory did not at all lead men to present security, but was so far from ministering to sloth, that it did rather quicken and excite them to duty; so that he that has this hope in him purifieth himself: he does not lie still, and acquiesce in this, that he shall be happy and glorious in the world to come, and therefore in the mean time forgets to be virtuous in this; but it raises him to a pursuit of a more than ordinary strain of duty and perfection; he purifies himself., even as Christ is pure; this is his hope, this is his design; he expects to be like Christ in the brightness of his glory, and therefore he exerts his utmost diligence to resemble him in the purity of his life too.
Now before we proceed any further, there are two things that offer themselves in the very entrance of the words, and require some resolution. As first,
1. Is it possible for any man to purify himself? Is it not the Spirit of God that must work in us both to will and to do? For are we not naturally dead in trespasses and sins? And who can bring a 520 clean thing out of an unclean? How then can so great a work be ascribed to us?
To this I answer, that we must distinguish of a twofold work of purification.
1. The first is, the infusing of the habit of purity or holiness into the soul, which is done in regeneration or conversion; and in this respect no man living can be said to purify himself. For in this he is only passive, and merely recipient of that grace, that the Spirit of God, the sole agent, infuses into him; antecedently to which we are said to be dead in trespasses and sins, and consequently in this condition can by no means contribute to this work, so as to purify ourselves.
2. The other work of purification is the exercising of that habit or grace of purity which a man received in conversion; by the acting or exercising of which grace he grows actually more pure and holy. And in this respect a man may be said in some sense to purify himself, yet not so as if he were either the sole or the prime agent in this work; for God is the principal agent, who first moves us, and then we act and move, and are said to be coworkers with God; and so are these words to be understood. God, without any help or procurement of our own, first gave us a talent, which afterwards we improve, yet not that entirely by our own strength, but by his assistance. In short, that which has been said in explication of this thing, amounts to no more than that known and true saying, That God who made, and since converted, that is, new made us, without ourselves, will not yet save us without ourselves. And thus much for the first query.
2. But, 2dly, admitting that a man may purify 521himself in the sense mentioned, yet can he do it to that degree as to equal the purity of Christ himself? to purify himself, even as he is pure? of whom it is expressly said, that he is fairer, that is, holier and purer, than the sons of men, and that the Spirit has anointed him with the oil of gladness, that is, with all divine graces, above his fellows.
To this also I answer, that this term, even as, denotes here only a similitude of kind, not an equality of degree; that is, he that hopes for glory, gets \ his heart purified with the same kind of holiness that is in Christ, though he neither does nor can reach it in the same measure of perfection; he gets the same meekness, the same spiritual mindedness and love to the divine precepts, that is, the same for kind; forasmuch as there is no perfection in Christ's humanity, but the very same for kind is also to be found in his members, though, we confess, in a much lower degree; as the same kind of blood that runs in the head runs also in the hand and in the foot, though as it is in the head, it is attended and heightened with quicker and finer spirits, than as it is diffused into the inferior members. But yet further, though we should grant that he that has this hope in him pursues not only after the same kind, but also after the same degree of purity that is in Christ, yet it follows not hence that he ever attains to the same; for we must distinguish of holiness as it is absolutely perfect in the pattern, and as it is imperfect in our imitation.
These things being thus cleared off, I cannot perceive any thing more of difficulty in the words; the prosecution of which shall lie in the discussion of these two things.522
I. To shew what is implied and included in a man's purifying of himself, here spoken of in the text.
II. To shew how the hopes of heaven come to have such an influence upon the effecting of this work.
And first for the first of these. To purify is a term of alteration, and imports the removal of the filth or pollution of any thing, by introducing the contrary qualities of purity or cleanness. Now that which a man is to remove, and to purify himself from, is sin, in which there are two things to be carried off by a thorough purification.
1. The power of sin. 2. The guilt of sin.
As for the first, the purifying of ourselves from the power of sin, I shall shew,
1. Wherein it consists.
2. By what means it is to be effected. It consists of these three things.
1. A most serious and hearty bewailing of all the past acts of sin, by a continually renewed repentance. Every day, every hour, will afford fresh matter for a penitential sorrow; for sin will still increase and multiply; so that Christ has taught us a daily prayer for the forgiveness of sins; and the very nature of the thing will teach us to mingle prayer with humiliation; since to pray God to forgive that for which we are not humbled, is but further to provoke him, and to procure a penalty instead of a pardon. We are told that the righteous man falls seven times a day; and I am sure if he falls by so often sinning, he cannot rise but by as often repenting.
Some are apt to deceive themselves, and to think 523that once repenting is sufficient for all their sins; so that when this is done, they think themselves be forehand with God for all the sins that they shall commit for the future: but such must know, that repentance is still to follow sin; and he that does not repent continually, never repented so much as once truly. What needed the prophet Jeremy to have wished his head a fountain in order to his weeping for sin, did not that require such a stream as was to follow without intermission? A fountain of sin may well require a fountain of sorrow. For repentance cannot be effectual, but as it bears some proportion to sin; and unless one be as continual as the other, there is no proportion between them.
It is an excellent thing so to manage our spiritual accounts, as not to let our debts run on too far. That soul that is careful to make scores even between God and itself by a daily fresh repentance, has a mighty advantage over its corruption, and will by degrees weary it out; the very thought of a subsequent humiliation is enough to embitter and discommend the sweetest offers of sin.
Repentance has a purifying power, and every tear is of a cleansing virtue; but these penitential clouds must be still kept dropping, one shower will not suffice; for repentance is not one single action, but a course. We may here compare the soul to a linen cloth; it must be first washed, to take off its native hue and colour, and to make it white; and afterwards it must be ever and anon washed, to preserve and to keep it white. In like manner the soul must be cleansed first from a state of sin by a converting repentance, and so made pure, and afterwards, by a daily repentance, it must be purged from those actual 524 stains that it contracts, and so be kept pure. It is an enjoyment and a privilege reserved for heaven, not to need repentance; and the reason of this is, because the cause of it will then be taken away. But here this pitch of perfection is not to be hoped for. We cannot expect that God should totally wipe these tears from our eyes, till he has taken all sin out of our hearts. Till it be our power and privilege not to sin, it is still our duty to repent.
2dly, The purifying ourselves from the power of sin consists in a vigilant prevention of the acts of sin for the future. If we would keep our garment clean, it is not sufficient to wash it only, unless we have also a continual care to keep it up from drailing in the dirt. After the use of healing physic, by which we are freed from our distemper for the present, we must also use preventing physic, to se cure us from the returns of it hereafter. Repentance bewails those sins that a man has committed, and bewares of those which as yet he has not; it has a double aspect, looking upon things past with a weeping eye, and upon the future with a watchful. I know the bare suppressing of sin from breaking out into act, is not able to mortify or extinguish the power; yet in this sense, at least, it may be said to weaken it, that it hinders it from growing stronger. For a restraint of ourselves from the committing of sin bereaves the power of sin of that strength that it would certainly have acquired by those commissions. Sin indeed, while it lies quiet, still is sin, but when it rages in outward actions, it is more sinful. While a beast is kept in, and shut up, he still retains his wild nature; but when he breaks out and gets loose, his wildness is much more hurtful and outrageous.525
Now for the keeping of sin from an actual breaking out, a man should observe what objects and occasions are apt to draw it forth, and accordingly avoid them. When there are some impressions of holiness made upon the heart, if we yet venture it amongst the allurements of enticing objects, those will quickly again deface them. As when we have stamped a piece of wax with the print of a seal, if we put the wax to the fire again, that will presently melt out the impression.
He that would keep the power of sin from running out into act, must restrain it from conversing with the object. For when that has once cast the bait before the heart, so that the heart begins to look upon it, and by degrees to delight in it, and to feed its imagination with pleasure, then let a man beware, for the tempter is then hammering and framing out a sinful action; sin is then conceiving; and if we do not fright it by humiliation, so far as to make it prove abortive, it will certainly bring forth; and we know that when the heart has brought forth sin, sin will be sure to bring forth death.
In vain therefore is any endeavour to purify the heart, unless we watch. A Christian should be always in a posture of caution. If the former part of our life has been stained, let us endeavour to keep that, at least, that is to come, pure and unpolluted. And then, though abstinence from sin cannot of itself take away the power of it, yet it will put the heart in a good preparedness for grace to take it away. On the contrary, every new actual transgression exceedingly heightens our account. For this is most certainly true, that whatsoever adds to the guilt of sin, increases also the power.526
The purifying ourselves from the power of sin consists in a continual mortifying and weakening the very root and principle of inherent corruption. The power of sin is properly the root, and the actual commission of it are the branches; and our purifying work cannot be perfect, unless, as we lop off the branches, so we also strike at the root. There is a principle of sin conveyed to us from our very being, and it continues with us as long as our being, that is, in this state of mortality. And there is no man living but has wrapt up in his nature the seeds of all impurity; so that in this respect we are said to have a body of sin, Rom. vi. 6. Sin is not only a scar or a sore, cleaving to one part or member, but it has incorporated itself into the whole man. In respect of which also it is said, How can he be clean that is born of a woman? Job xxv. 4. A man draws so much filth from his very conception and nativity, that it is now made almost as natural and essential to him to be a sinner, as to be a man.
Now the chief work of purification lies in the disabling and mortifying this sinful faculty. The power of godliness must be brought into the room of the power of sin. A man must plant all his endeavours for the battering down of this strong hold. A man must be perpetually striving as for his life, and for eternity, to get the conquest over his inbred enemy. All ways and courses must be taken to pluck out this core, or the wound cannot be cured. All endeavours to purify ourselves from actual sins, unless we also work out the principle of sin, is only to wash and scour the outside of the vessel, while the inside is full of all kind of filth and noisomeness. As long as this remains in us, it will be fighting; and if it be not 527mortified, it will be victorious. It is continual and restless in all its workings, like the troubled sea, continually casting forth mire and dirt. Every day it casts new defilements upon the soul, fresh pollutions upon the conscience. Justly therefore are we to direct our purifying work against this, forasmuch as this is the cause, and, as it were, the parent of all those actual abominations that swarm in our lives.
Having thus shewn the particulars of which this work of purifying ourselves from the power of sin does consist, I come now to the next thing, which is, to shew the means by which it is to be effected: three I shall mention, as having a most sovereign force and influence for the compassing of this great work.
1. The first is, with all possible might and speed to oppose the very first risings and movings of the heart to sin; for these are the buds that produce that bitter fruit; and if sin be not nipped in the very bud, it is not imaginable how quickly it will shoot forth. There be sudden sallies out of inherent corruption in these first motions, which, though at first they are not so easily prevented, yet may be easily suppressed; and these may be working in the heart, when there is no noise of any outward enormity in the actions. The fire may burn strongly and vehemently, though it does not flame. The bees may be at work, and very busy within, though we see none of them fly abroad.
Now these sins, though they may seem small in themselves, yet are exceedingly pernicious in their effects. These little foxes destroy the grapes as much or more than the greater, and therefore are to be diligently sought out, hunted, and killed by us, if we 528 would keep our hearts fruitful. We should deal with these first streamings out of sin, as the Psalmist would have the people of God deal with the brats of Babylon; happy shall he be who taketh and dasheth those little ones against the stones. And with out doubt most happy and successful will that man prove in his spiritual warfare, who puts on no bowels of pity even to his infant corruptions, but slays the small as well as the great; and so not only conquers his enemies by opposing their present force, but also by extinguishing their future race. The smallest children, if they live, will be grown men; and the first motions of sin, if they are let alone, will spread into great, open, and audacious presumptions.
But if a man is always upon his guard, and, as it were, stands perdu at his heart, to spy when sin begins to peep out in these first inclinations, and then with much force and courage beats them back again; the very power of sin will by degrees languish; for as frequent working improves the power, so a long disuse and intermission of working will insensibly weaken it. The first motions of sin lie nearest to the faculty itself; whereupon he who vigorously fights against these, must by consequence also wound that; as he that strikes that part that is next to the root, by the same blow weakens also the root itself.
As often therefore as a man finds his corruption renewing its assaults, let him set upon it with a renewed opposition. As often as that stirs, let him strike, at no hand suffering it to get ground of him; for every motion of it not resisted gives it an advance. And we know that after it has made some progress, it is then harder to be subdued than at the first repulsed. When an enemy is but rising, it is easy to 529knock him to the ground again, but when he is up, and stands upon his legs, he is not then so easily thrown down. It is less difficult to hinder and prevent, than to stop and restrain the course of sin.
2dly, A second way to purify ourselves from the power of sin, is to be frequent in severe, mortifying duties, such as watchings and fastings, the use of which directly tends to weaken the very vitals of our corruption. For they are most properly contrary to the flesh; and whatsoever opposes that, proportionably weakens sin. Yet still I recommend not these practices as if they were any ways meritorious, or of themselves able to subdue sin, but only as spiritual instruments which God sanctifies, and the Spirit often employs and makes successful about this great work. And so far as, under God, they are instrumental and conducing to the taming of the flesh, they have been of singular use to the saints of God in all ages: and those who are not in some measure acquainted with the exercise of such austerities, it is to be feared, are but novices in piety, and strangers to the arts of mortification. He that would lay the axe to the root of his sin must use it coarsely, and strike it boldly. Courtship to an enemy is but cruelty to ourselves. Better were it for a man to restrain an unruly appetite, and to stint himself in the measures of his very food and his sleep, than by a full indulgence of himself in these, to pamper up his corruption, and give it strength and activity to cast off all bonds, till at length it becomes unconquerable. Sin has now so insinuated itself into our nature, that we cannot freely cherish that, but we must by unhappy consequence nourish and feed our sin too. For which cause it is, that such as have had experience 530 what it is to walk with God, and what are the chief impediments to such a course, have been always fearful of pleasing the flesh, though in things lawful or indifferent. And every man's conscience can best resolve him, whether or no a full allowance of himself, even in things not forbid, has not indisposed him to a more near and spiritual converse with God. He that would maintain such a strict communion with himself, must bind that excellent advice of the apostle upon his heart, Gal. v. 13, not to use liberty for an occasion to the flesh. For did but men well consider how apt the flesh is to encroach upon the spirit, and how ready to turn every thing into an occasion of sin, they would keep it under with the severest discipline, and deny it in all its importunate cravings, as knowing that they have to deal with a rebel, who is rather bound up and restrained than throughly subdued and conquered; and therefore, when he has opportunity, wants not will to renew his rebellion. It is not in vain, therefore, that the apostle, Rom. xiii. 14, warns men not to make provision for the flesh. For God knows that is too apt to provide for itself, and to prog and purvey for the satisfaction of its vile desires.
There are two things in the body, both of which contend to have its service, and the interest of both is totally different, namely, sin and the soul. And if we would break the dominion that sin usurps over it, and make it subservient to the operations of the soul, and the spiritual commands of the understanding, we must be sure to rule and feed it like a sturdy slave, inure and accustom it to flesh-displeasing performances. And a constant, faithful practice of this will at length enfeeble the forces of sin, and keep 531them from making an insurrection against the spirit. Our bodies are unhappily made the weapons of sin; and therefore, if we would overcome that, we must, by an austere course of duty, first wring these weapons out of its hands.
3dly, A third way to purify ourselves from the power of sin, is to be frequent and fervent in prayer to God for fresh supplies of sanctifying grace. There is no conquest to be had over sin but by grace, nor is grace any way so effectually to be procured as by prayer. For surely, if we would obtain any thing from a prince, it must be by way of petition.
We find a defiling power of sin within us; and perhaps we strive against it, but still it is strong; we contend with it, but still it prevails. And now what should we do, but call in help and assistance from above? Come unto me, says Christ, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you ease. Christ calls upon us to come, and I am sure the best way is to come upon our knees; we cannot make our addresses to him more acceptably than by humble, frequent, and importunate supplications.
It is a truth both clear from scripture, and ratified by the experience of all believers, that there was never any one, were his entanglements in sin never so great, his corruptions never so raging, but if he was enabled to wait upon mercy in an earnest, constant use of prayer for the removal of his sin, be came in the end a conqueror, the issue was glorious, and the success comfortable. Prayer is the only expedient that we have always in readiness to procure help in the time of spiritual distress. To describe the virtue, efficacy, and excellency of this duty, is not the business of the present discourse; but thus 532 much I shall say of it, that it is that which enables every believer like a prince to prevail with God. It has (as I may speak with reverence) a kind of omnipotence; for it even overpowers him that is al mighty. It is this that has often tied God's hands from the inflicting of judgments, and opened them for the bestowing of blessings.
And now, if this be the force and energy of prayer, when we find the power of sin to grow violent, and the workings of it, by any strength of our own, irresistible, why do we not fly to this remedy, and cry mightily to God, that he would create clean hearts, and renew right spirits within us? Why do we not make that request to our Saviour that the leper did; Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean? It is but one word of his power dispensing out purifying grace, and we shall be pure. And surely Christ could not but vouchsafe a gracious answer to every such petition. For if he was of such tenderness and compassion as to heal the leprosy and distemper of the body upon asking, do we not think that he will be much readier to commiserate and heal the dangerous, loathsome leprosy of the soul, which is sin, upon the vehement entreaties of a sincere heart? Certainly he that was so tender to the bodies of men, must needs be much more compassionate of their souls.
Now we are to observe yet further, that as prayer is of such sovereign force to procure sanctifying grace from God, so there is a certain cleansing, purifying power in the very duty itself. And we may appeal to the experience of any pious person, who has accustomed himself to be earnest and spiritual in prayer, whether he has not found his heart in a very 533different frame and posture after the performance of it, from what it used to be at other times. How have his inclinations to sin been, as it were, stupified, the dislike of his corruption renewed! How has his love to holiness been inflamed! How much stronger has he found himself to encounter a temptation! I believe there is none who ever kneeled down to this duty with a good heart, and performed it well, but rose up with a better. If he came to it with desires against his sin, he went away with strength added to his desires.
Whosoever, therefore, would give a speedy des patch to his corruption, let him continually engage his prayers against the power of it. It is reported of Alexander, that when he was beset round by his enemies, and sorely wounded, he yet bore up his spirit, and fought upon his knees. So a Christian, when all the powers of darkness do encompass him, and his sin has given him many wounds, yet if he can but hold out praying and fighting against it upon his knees, he may in the end vanquish and overcome it. A praying heart naturally turns into a purified heart.
And thus much for the first thing from which we are to purify ourselves, namely, the power of sin, as also for the ways and means by which it is to be effected. From all which we gather how vain and successless that method of purifying the heart from sin must needs prove, which is used by two sorts of men.
1. Such as direct their humiliations and penitential cleansings only to some great actual sin that has broke out in their lives, but in the mean time never to the power and root of sin, which is the cause of 534 all these actual rebellions. These indeed are most conspicuous in our lives, but the other is the most dangerous and hurtful to our souls. For this is that spring-head that lies under ground, and sends forth all those streams of impurity that flow in our actions. Now that should most humble us that most provokes God; but it is the sinful frame of the heart, the inclination and disposition of the whole man to wickedness, that renders us so loathsome in the pure eyes of God. We indeed take more notice of a sinful action than of a sinful heart, because that does more vex and disquiet us, and is more visible to ourselves and others. But when repentance is sincere and effectual, where it resolves to kill sin, it gives the first stab to the heart. Thus David, an excellent pattern of true penitence, when he would humble himself for those actual sins of murder and adultery, he pursues them to their first cause, which was his sinful nature, Psalm li. 5. In sin, says he, was I conceived; and verse 10, he cries out for a clean heart. Those actual sins he made only occasions to discover to him the sin of his nature. They indeed made a greater noise and clamour in the world, and procured him more trouble and shame from men; but he knew that the power of sin in his heart was most odious, and consequently most deserved his sorrow.
From whence we may take an excellent infallible note of difference between a forced, unsincere, and a true, spiritual repentance; that the first humbles us chiefly for actual sins, and that because they are the most troublesome; the latter humbles us chiefly for the sin of our hearts and natures, and that because it is the most sinful. For that it is so, is clear from 535this consideration; because the sin of our natures makes our state and condition sinful, which a bare actual transgression does not. No wonder, therefore, if many poor deluded persons, who spend much time and labour to purify themselves from sin, yet after all are not purified. For they fasten their repentance upon some one actual sin, but overlook the power. But certainly this is to take the wrong way, and to labour in the fire; this is to plaster a pimple upon the cheek or face, while a malignant humour is to be purged out of the whole body. For still it is the body of sin, and not so much this or that particular sin, that is like to be the sinner's destruction. It is not a sore or a bruise upon his hand or arm, though perhaps that may pain him most, but it is his consumption, though it does not so much pain him, that endangers his life. Whosoever therefore would be throughly purified, must begin the work here, strike at the foundation, stop the fountain, block up that place from whence sin receives all its supplies; otherwise all labour, all sorrow and humiliation, will avail nothing. For after it has beat back sin from one place, it will break out in another; when one actual sin disappears in a man's life, another will presently start forth. The only sure and infallible way of destroying the effect, is first to remove the cause.
2dly, The other ineffectual course to purify the heart from sin is, when men rest only in complaints of the evil of their natures, without a vigorous endeavour to amend the particular enormities and misdemeanour of their actions. This course is directly contrary to the former, which pursues the reformation of particular actions, without regarding the purification of the heart. Both ways are equally unsuccessful. 536 For to purge the actions before the heart, is preposterous; and to complain of the heart, with out reforming of the actions, is vain and superfluous. Many complain and cry out very tragically of the wretchedness of their hearts, their total indisposition to all good, and exceeding propensity to all sin. All which may be very true. But while they are complaining of their hearts, perhaps they freely allow themselves in some known course of disobedience, they frequently renew wounds upon their consciences by the repeated commission of actual sin; and this surely is not the way ever to get themselves purified; thus to complain of sin, and to commit sin; to confute their complaints by their practices; to cry out of the body of sin, and yet to take no notice of actual impieties; this is both a provocation of God, and an abuse to themselves. Their business is to turn complaint into endeavour, words into action, and vigorously to oppose every particular temptation, to stifle every sinful suggestion. For certainly none ever truly hated the sinfulness of his heart, who did not in some measure reform the sinfulness of his actions.
I proceed now to the other thing from which we are to purify ourselves, and that is, the guilt of sin. In speaking of which I shall shew,
1. Negatively, what cannot purify us from the guilt of sin. 2. Positively, what alone can.
1. For the first of these. No duty or work within the power and performance of man, as such, is able to expiate and take away the guilt of sin. In this matter we must put our hands upon our mouths, and be silent for ever. He that thinks and attempts by his own goodness to satisfy God's justice, does by this the more incense it; and by endeavouring to remove 537his guilt, does indeed increase it. His works of satisfaction for sin are the greatest sins, and stand most in need of the satisfaction of Christ.
We know how miserably the deluded papists err in this point, how they wander in the maze of their own inventions about works of penance, deeds of charity, pilgrimages, and many other such vain ways, found out by them to purge and purify guilty consciences. A man perhaps has committed some gross sin, the guilt of which lies hard and heavy upon his conscience; and how shall he remove it? why, peradventure, by a blind devotion; he says over so many prayers, goes so many miles barefoot, gives so much to holy uses, and now he is rectus in curia, free and absolved in the court of heaven. But certainly the folly of those that practise these things is to be pitied; and the blasphemy of those that teach them to be detested. For do they know and consider what sin is? and whom it strikes at? Is it not the breach of the law? Is it not against the infinite justice and sovereignty of the great God? And can the poor, imperfect, finite services of a sinful creature ever make up such a breach? Can our pitiful, broken mite discharge the debt of ten thousand talents? Those that can imagine the removal of the guilt of the least sin feasible, by the choicest and most religious of their own works, never as yet knew God truly, nor themselves, nor their sins; they never understood the fiery strictness of the law, nor the spirituality of the gospel.
Now though this error is most gross and notorious amongst the papists, yet there is something of the same spirit, that leavens and infects the duties of most professors; who, in all their works of repentance, 538 sorrow, and humiliation for sin, are too, too apt secretly to think in their hearts, that they make God some amends for their sins. And the reason of this is, because it is natural to all men to be self-justiciaries, and to place a justifying power in themselves, and to conceive a more than ordinary value and excellency in their own works, but especially such works as are religious.
But this conception is of all others the most dangerous to the soul, and dishonourable to God, as being absolutely and diametrically opposite to the tenor of the gospel, and that which evacuates the death and satisfaction of Christ; for it causes us, while we acknowledge a Christ, tacitly to deny the Saviour. And herein is the art and policy of the Devil seen, who will keep back the sinner as long as he can from the duties of repentance and humiliation; and when he can do this no longer, he will endeavour to make him trust and confide in them. And so he circumvents us by this dilemma: he will either make us neglect our repentance, or adore it; throw away our salvation by omission of duty, or place it in our duties: but let this persuasion still remain fixed upon our spirits, that repentance was enjoined the sinner as a duty, not as a recompence; and that the most that we can do for God cannot countervail the least that we have done against him.
2. In the next place therefore, positively, that course which alone is able to purify us from the guilt of sin, is by applying the virtue of the blood of Christ to the soul by renewed acts of faith. We hold indeed, that justification, as it is the act of God, is perfect and entire at once, and justifies the soul from all sins both past and future; yet justification and pardoning 539mercy is not actually dealt forth to us after particular sins, till we repair to the death and blood of Christ by particular actings of faith upon it; which actings also of themselves cleanse not away the guilt of sin, but the virtue of Christ's blood conveyed by them to the soul; for it is that alone that is able to wash away this deep stain, and to change the hue of the spiritual Ethiopian: nothing can cleanse the soul, but that blood that redeemed the soul.
The invalidity of whatsoever we can do in order to this thing is sufficiently demonstrated in many places of scripture; Job ix. 30, 31, If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. He that has no thing to rinse his polluted soul with, but his own penitential tears, endeavours only to purify himself in muddy water, which does not purge, but increase the stain. In Christ alone is that fountain that is opened for sin and for uncleanness; and in this only we must wash and bathe our defiled souls, if ever we would have them pure. 1 John i. 7, The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin. It is from his crucified side that there must issue both blood to expiate, and water to cleanse our impieties. Faith also is said to purify the heart, Acts xv. 9. But how? Why certainly, as it is instrumental to bring into the soul that purifying virtue that is in Christ. Faith purifies, not as the water itself, but as the conduit that conveys the water. Again, Rev. i. 5, Christ is said to have washed us from our sins in his own blood. There is no cleansing without this. So that we may use the words of the Jews, and convert an imprecation into a blessing, and pray, that his blood may 540 be upon us and upon our souls; for it is certain that it will be one way upon us, either to purge or to condemn us. Every soul is polluted with the loathsome, defiling leprosy of sin. And now for the purging off of this leprosy, if the Spirit of God bids us go and wash in the blood of Christ, that spiritual Jordan, and assures us that upon such washing our innocence shall revive and grow anew, and our original, lost purity return again upon us, shall we now in an huff of spiritual pride and self-love, run to our own endeavours, our own humiliations, and say, as Naaman did, Are not the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? Are not my tears, my groans, and my penitential sorrows, of more efficacy to cleanse me, than the blood and death of Christ? may I not use these, and be clean, and purified from sin? I answer, No; and after we have tried them, we shall experimentally find their utter insufficiency. We may sooner drown than cleanse ourselves with our own tears.
I have now finished the first general thing proposed for the handling of the words, which was, to shew what is implied in the purifying of ourselves here spoken of in the text. I proceed now to the other;
II. Which is, to shew how the hope of heaven and a future glory comes to have such a sovereign influence upon this work.
It has so upon a double account, natural and moral.
1st, And first upon a natural account; this hope purifies, as being a special grace infused into the heart by the Holy Ghost, and in its nature and operation 541directly contrary to sin: as heat is a quality both in nature and working, contrary to, and destructive of cold. All grace is naturally of a sin-purging virtue; as soon as ever it is infused into the soul, it is not idle, but immediately operative. And its operation is to change and transform the soul into its own nature; for the effecting of which it must work out that principle of corruption that does intimately possess it. When leaven is cast into the lump, it presently begins to work and to ferment, till by degrees it has throughly changed the whole mass. In like manner every grace will be incessantly working, till it has wrought over the heart to its own likeness.
Now hope is one of the principal graces of the Spirit, so that we have it marshalled with faith and charity, and placed immediately after faith, in regard of the method of its operation, which is immediately consequent upon that of faith. For what faith looks upon as present in the promise, that hope looks upon as future in the event. Faith properly views the promise, hope eyes the performance. But the scripture tells us, that faith purifies the heart, and casts out the filth and corruption naturally inherent in it: and if these are the effects of faith, they must needs be ascribed also to hope, which is sown in the heart by the same eternal Spirit, and consequently is of the same quality and operation with that. For that it springs not from mere nature, but from an higher principle, is most manifest. Since it is the Spirit of God alone that proposes to the soul the grounds of hope, and lays before it the object of hope, and then, by an immediate, al mighty power, enables the soul fiducially to close 542 with and rest upon that object, upon those grounds. Flesh and blood cannot rise so high; bare reason cannot furnish the heart with such a support. It may indeed cause us to presume, but it can never cause us truly to hope.
2dly, The hope of future glory has an influence upon this work of purifying ourselves upon a moral account; that is, by suggesting to the soul such arguments, as have in them a persuasive force to engage it in this work. Of which sort I shall reckon four.
1. And the first shall be drawn from the necessary relation that this work has to the attainment of heaven, as the use of the means to the acquisition of the end. Our way to happiness does indispensably lie through holiness; and God has so ordered things, that we cannot arrive at one, but through the other. Now when the purification of our hearts is the proper way and means appointed, and consigned by God's own institution, for our obtaining of everlasting felicity with himself; is it not the highest strain of folly and madness that is imaginable, for a man to pretend that he does earnestly hope for this happiness, and yet in the mean time totally neglects that course by which alone it is attainable? Should we take such a course in worldly things, how cheap, how unreasonable, and ridiculous would our hope appear! For does any one hope to reap, when he never sows, and expect treasure from a far country, with which he holds no traffic or commerce? Certainly, notwithstanding all words and protestations, we should conclude that such persons did not really hope for the things they pretended; or if they did hope for them, that they were incurably mad and 543besotted, and past all hope, at least as to the recovery of their reason. The apostle most rationally warns men in Gal. vi. 7, 8, not to think that they can mock God because they can deceive themselves. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. For as it is absurd to hope to reap, and yet not to sow, so it is equally unreasonable to sow one kind, of grain, and to expect a crop of another; to sow tares, and yet hope to reap wheat. There is no reaping of life everlasting, (as the apostle's phrase is,) but by sowing to the Spirit; this is the only proper way to attain it. For this is an eternal truth, that the works of the Spirit have a necessary subordination to the rewards of the Spirit.
2. The second argument by which the hope of future glory persuades the soul to purify itself, shall be taken from this consideration, that it is purity alone that can fit and qualify the soul for so holy a place. He that is clothed in filth and rags is not a fit person to converse and live in a court; nor is there any one who designs the course of his life in such a place, but will adorn and dress himself accordingly. David proposes and resolves the question in Psalm xxiv. 3, 4, Who shall ascend into thy holy hill? Even he that hath clean hands and a pure heart. And again in Psalm xciii. 5, Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. And therefore as God said to Moses, Pull off thy shoes, for the place on which thou standest is holy ground; so may we say to every one that hopes for heaven, Take away that filth, that enormity and corruption that 544 cleaves to thy life; for the place whither thou art going is holy, and therefore requires and admits of none but holy inhabitants. In Revel, xxi. 27, it is said, that nothing shall enter into the new Jerusalem that is polluted, or that maketh a lie. It is with the new Jerusalem as it was heretofore with the old, where all the filth, the offscourings, and whatsoever was noisome in the city, was carried to a place without, and there burnt. And we all know, that there is a deep and dismal place without the new Jerusalem, where every noisome, wicked, and polluted thing shall be cast and burnt with everlasting flames.
Nay further, purity and holiness does not only fit us for heaven, so that without it we can have no entrance or admittance there; but it also so fits us, that if it were possible for us to enter into heaven void of it, heaven would be no place of happiness to us in that condition, but a place of trouble, torment, and vexation. As for instance, it is impossible for a beggar in his rags to be admitted to the society and converse of princes and noblemen; but put the case that he were, yet his beggarly condition would never suffer him to enjoy himself in that company, in which he could be nothing but a mock and a derision. In like manner, heaven bears no suitableness to an impure, unsanctified person. For a sinful heart must have sinful delights and sinful company, and where it meets not with such, in the very midst of comforts and company, it finds a solitude and a dissatisfaction. The business we shall be put to in heaven, is for ever to praise and admire the great God for the infinite beauty of his holiness, and the glorious perfections of his nature; but this surely 545is an employment no ways either fit for, or desirable to a sinner. It is indeed a blessed thing to see God, but it is so only to the pure in heart; for to the wicked and impure, the vision of God himself could not be beatifical. Those that live in any country must conform to the habit of the country. Those that are citizens of the new Jerusalem must have the clothing and the garb of such citizens, even the long white robes of a pure, unspotted righteousness. In a word, no hope can give us a title to heaven, but such an one as also gives us a fitness for it.
3. The third argument, by which the hope of heaven persuades the soul to purify itself, shall be drawn from the obligation of gratitude. For surely if I expect so great a gift at God's hands as eternal happiness, even humanity and reason cannot but constrain me to pay him at least a temporary, short obedience. For shall I hope to be saved by him, whom I strike at and defy? Or can I expect that he should own me in another world, when I reject, despise, and trample upon his commands in this?
God gives us righteous precepts, and endears them to us by glorious promises; and now can it stand with the principles, not of piety only, but of common ingenuity, to balk the duty, and yet to snatch at the reward? to expect the highest favours from God's mercy, and to offer the greatest indignities to his holiness? When Christ had promised paradise to the thief upon the cross, would it not have been a prodigious piece of ingratitude for him to have joined with his fellow thief in cursing and reviling him, by whose favour he expected presently to exchange his cross for a crown?546
God promises to us a kingdom, and makes the condition of our passage to it, only the cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. A work that is our privilege as well as our duty; and shall we not obey him in this one command? A command so reasonable for him to enjoin, and so advantageous for us to perform? For shall he be willing to make us glorious, and we grudge to make ourselves pure? Shall he hold forth such vast wages, and we not find in our hearts to set about the work? These things are absurd and disingenuous, and such as the world would cry out of in common converse. And therefore let no man think, that that disposition can commend him to God, that would justly make him abhorred by men.
4thly and lastly, The fourth argument, by which the hope of heaven persuades the soul to purify itself, shall be taken from this consideration; that purity is the only thing that can evidence to us our right and interest in those glorious things that we profess ourselves to hope for. It is infinitely fond and presumptuous for a man to hope to inherit that estate, to which he can shew no title. The reasonableness of our hopes of heaven depends upon the sure right and claim that we have to it; and prove this we cannot in the court of our own conscience, much less in the court of heaven, but only by the obedience and purity of our lives, and their strict conformity to the excellent precepts of the gospel. No man can ascertain himself that he is an heir of glory, unless he can prove himself to be a son; and he shall never be able to find that he is a son, till holiness makes him like his heavenly Father; for where 547there is this relation, there will be also some resemblance.
And now, I suppose, that from what has been discoursed upon this subject, every one does, or at least may, gather a certain mark or criterion, by which to judge of his hopes and pretences as to the happiness of his future estate. It is grace only that ends in glory. And he that hopes for heaven in earnest, will be as active in his repentance as he is serious in his hopes. Who almost is there that does not own himself a candidate and an expectant of future glory, nay, even amongst those whose present glory is only in their shame? But if such persons did not wretchedly prevaricate with themselves, how could there be so much of heaven in their hopes, and yet so little of it in their conversation? How comes their heart to be in one place, and their treasure in another?
It is evident that the very hope and religion of every profane and vicious liver is but mockery and pretence. For can any one of common sense really expect to be saved in the constant practice of those enormities, for which the God of truth himself assures him he shall be damned? It is infinitely vain for a man to talk of heaven while he trades for hell, or to look upwards while he lives downwards; yet thousands do so, and it is the common practice of the deluded world; which shews how much men trifle in the grand business of their eternal condition. They profess an hope of that, of which they have scarce a thought; and expect to enjoy God hereafter, though they live wholly without him here. But the issue will be accordingly; neither 548 they nor their hopes can ever stand before the pure eyes of him, with whom live only the spirits of just men made perfect.
To whom be rendered and ascribed, as is most due, all praise, might, majesty, and dominion, both now and for evermore. Amen.
|« Prev
|A Discourse upon 1 John iii. 3.
|Next »


text:
LYF F120B Flash file download: LYF is one of the Indian mobile handset development companies which have its headquarters in Mumbai. It is also known as Reliance LYF which provides 4G enabled VoLTE smartphones to its customers with subsidy on the Reliance Jio network. According to recent research, LYF is the fifth largest smartphone player and second largest LTE phone supplier in India. This is the best selling smartphone with keypad for the lowest price.
LYF F120B Flash file
LYF Jio F120B mobile is often found to be an auto reboot, no graphics display, unable to switch ON or OFF the mobile. The phone gets hangs often during normal usage. If you are facing the same issues then there is a way to rectify it without any professional flash tool.
Also, Check Top 6 Best and Safe ROM sites 2019
What is Flashing?
Flashing is the process of installing a new ROM or Firmware into the phone due to the problem in working. This is generally upgradation or degradation of the OS to make proper functioning of the mobile. It will normally set the default settings of the phone and internal services of that mobile will not be changed.
Also, Check HD Movies APK File Download 2019
How to Flash LYF F120B?
LYF Jio F120B mobile needs to be flashed when there in interrupt in the normal functioning of mobiles like auto reboot, no graphics display and sudden malfunctioning of keys. For flashing the LYF F120B mobile handset the following steps need to be done.
Step1: Download LYF F120B flash file from the internet which consists of the File, tool & Driver.
Step2: Install the driver on your PC for the flashing.
Step3: Connect the phone in ON condition to check the installation process.
Step4: The driver name will change automatically which indicates that installation is successful.
Step5: Now install the Flash tool which will create the shortcut on the desktop.
Step6: Connect the phone and click the load content.
Step7: Click the download button. It will start upgrading.
Step8: After Upgradation disconnect the phone.
Also, Check Download Latest Version of MX Player Pro APK For Android
The above are the steps need to be followed for flashing the LYF Jio F120B mobile handset when there is a problem in normal functioning. This can be done and you can use the mobile without any interrupts.


text:
Agency: Orion Social Media Malaysia
The objective of this campaign is to increase and enhance 7-Eleven Malaysia's presence on social media through Buncit Bear (Euro Edition) in conjunction with the football event that was taking place and position itself as a fun, vibrant, and bold brand that continue to appeals to younger target consumers. By doing this, we also aimed to create a top of mind brand awareness amongst fans.
At the same time, we also intend to increase footfall to 7-Eleven Malaysia's outlets through generating more redemption of Buncit Bear that will directly create a positive impact in increasing sales. On top of that, we also launched a simple weekly contest to add excitement and increase the hype to the campaign throughout the campaign period.
Buncit Bear (Euro Edition) happened over a course of eight weeks, with weekly contest to add excitement and fun to the campaign. Participants are required to answer simple question each week to be in the running of winning the Buncit Bear apart from through the collection of sticker issuance for redemption. The campaign rewarded 24 winners in total, with 3 winners each week. Winners are announced on a weekly basis to keep the hype and engagement going.


text:
11th International IUPAC Conference on Polymer-Solvent Complexes and Intercalates
Polymer-Solvent Complexes and Intercalates (POLYSOLVAT) is a biennial international symposium that discusses the structure, property and applications on polymer-solvent complexes and intercalates. All earlier editions of POLYSOLVAT, including maiden one at Meyrueis in France, were so far held in Europe and the works presented in the conference were regularly published in the Macromolecular Symposia journal. POLYSOLVAT focuses on the formation mechanisms, morphology, molecular structure, and the properties of compounds formed between solvent molecules and/or small molecules with synthetic polymers, biopolymers, proteins, as well as supramolecular polymers. For the first time, this IUPAC conference will be organized in India due to the overwhelming participation of Asian researchers in the above mentioned field.
IACS is the oldest scientific research institute in India devoted to practice basic science in physics, chemistry and biology. It was founded on 1876, much before independence came to the country, by a medical professional Dr. Mahendra Lal Sircar. This is the place where Professor C V Raman worked (1907 – 1933) for his pioneering discovery of Raman Effect for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. Prof. Meghnath Saha and Prof. S. N. Bose were also associated in different capacities with this premier institute of the country. The polymer research in India was first started at IACS in 1947 under the leadership of Prof. S. R. Palit. Since then, IACS is a vibrant place of polymer research in India.
Gatan is a corporate sponsor and exhibitor. We will have our R&D and Sales managers available to discuss your application needs for TEM and SEM specimen preparation, imaging and analytical analyses.


text:
The Lara Croft we meet in Shadow of the Tomb Raider does not resemble the same struggling young girl we were introduced to back in the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider. She's experienced loss and through it she has matured. She's felt pain and it has hardened her from within. She is a hunter now, and a very violent one at that.
The story this time around revolves around an end of the world scenario as Lara must race against time to prevent a series of global cataclysmic events all the while fighting to eliminate the threat of the organization known as Trinity. It's also a bit on the darker side, and the game is fairly quick to establish this tone early in the campaign through a few memorable encounters that are still stuck in my head.
I was also very glad to see that Jonah, a character who has appeared in both the previous titles but was never given enough screen time, has a much greater role to play this time around. He acts both as a moral compass and closest companion to Lara, as we dive deeper than ever before into the motivations and regrets that drive her forward. You truly get a sense of how strong their relationship is, and how much these two characters mean to each other over the course of the game in a way that was never properly conveyed before.
And while the personal interactions between Jonah and Lara and the overall character development is great, the story does tend to fall into some cliché tropes that you can see coming from a mile away. It's still fairly entertaining, but the writing could have been much better.
The new setting of the jungles of Peru is also a vastly different location than what we've seen before, both in terms of it's visuals and the scope. Areas are divided into large open spaces that are absolutely littered with things to explore, challenges to complete and various exotic animals, such as Jaguars, to hunt.
There are quite a few Crypts to explore, some of which radically shift the usual open-endedness of the game into much more narrow and cramped experiences that were both amazing and nerve-racking at the same. Yet they are still dwarfed by the game's 9 Challenge Tombs which, unsurprisingly, are some of the most entertaining bits of the entire game. To solve these you need to make use of your wits, your various tools and everything you've learned about the game till that point. Honestly, the developers could make an entire game about only exploring Tombs, and I would still play it.
You also get to explore a fair number of underwater locations this time around, that are really not as bad as they sound. They appear both inside caves and out in the open as lakes, and are usually good places to find resources such as gold. They don't feel like chores, and most of them are quite abundant in air pockets, so you never really have to fret about drowning.
The gameplay is still mostly the same though, albeit with a few minor tweaks. You unlock new abilities for Lara at campfires through the game's skill trees, which are divided into the Warrior, Seeker and Scavenger branches. Most of the abilities in these are not very different from previous entries, but you do get access to a few of the newer ones as you play through the game such as the ability to see the hearts of large animals while using Survival Instinct, which lets you inflict massive damage on them when hunting.
And you'll need to hunt and collect resources from the environment quite often, both to upgrade your weapons and to craft outfits that you find throughout the game world. Because the large selection of new outfits offer bonuses such as increased ammo from crates and skin from animals among other things. The outfit system is also layered now, allowing you to mix and match different items on the upper and the lower body slots on top of the regular complete outfits..
Combat is also more or less the same, and revolves around the same four weapon types: Pistols, Rifles, Shotguns and Bows. Using them feels better than ever however, and the game does a spectacular job in pacing firefights out in between sections that encourage the use of heavy stealth, making sure that neither ever starts to feel too repetitive. But still expect to use your Bows the most, alongside a variety of different traps and brutal take-downs, because Shadow of the Tomb Raider leans very heavily towards stealth. In fact, it's evident from some of the new skills and the foliage heavy world that level design was focused primarily on accommodating it.
Plants found in the world can now also be used for more than just crafting healing items. Certain plants can be used to give yourself advantages such as being able to sense wildlife or slow down time when aiming, which is something that often comes in handy during hunting and encounters with large groups of enemies.
Lara is now also able to rappel off of elevated surfaces and swing using the new Grapple Axe, adding a whole new layer to the way she explores the world, as she swings and builds up momentum to cross gaps in the environment. There are some moments in the game that make excellent use of this feature to provide unique traversal challenges, but I won't be spoiling any of them here. Just know that they're amazing.
Also new to Shadow of the Tomb Raider are the Jungle towns that act as hub areas in the game. Here you can purchase a wide variety of items from street vendors such as outfits, ammunition and even brand new weapons, and some NPCs can even be interacted with to unlock points of interest on the map. It is also here that you can take on side-missions, most of which give out meaningful rewards, but are still little more than filler content.
In conclusion, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is without a doubt one of the best games in the entire Tomb Raider franchise, if not the best. It introduces few new ideas and innovations to it's gameplay, but it's how those ideas are executed upon that truly matters. It's far from perfect, but what we do have is a truly exceptional Tomb Raider game.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is out now on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and the PC. It was developed by Eidos Montréal in conjunction with Crystal Dynamics, and was published by Square Enix. This review covers the Xbox One version of the game.
The review copy was provided by the publisher.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is an amazing entry into the Tomb Raider franchise, and one that sets a new bar for the series as a whole. Few things about it are new or different, but what we do have is an incredibly refined game.


text:
Lima is both the political and commercial centre of the Peruvian economy and the capital of Peru with most international flights landing and departing from here.
The city is one of the biggest cities in South America with a population of around 9 million people, so it has all the facilities of a big city with banks, expressways, lots of traffic, shopping centres, Metro lines, churches, restaurants, university, museums, sporting stadiums and hotels.
The centre of the city – Lima Centro – is where you will find most of the historic Spanish Colonial buildings and the Presidential Palace (Palacio de Gobierno) where the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place. The centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The city's centre is inland from the coast and you could either plan to stay in the centre or head to the coastline to Miraflores or one of the other beachside suburbs (Distritos) like Barranco, San Isidro or Pueblo Libre. If you search for hotels on this website under any of these district names or Limo Centro – you will see lots of hotel options to stay.
Once you have booked into your hotel and got your bearings, you will find that getting to and from the City Centre and Miraflores or Barranco by taxi is relatively easy, but you might also consider taking a 'Colectivo' as an alternative to a bus or taxi. The colectivos are mostly small mini vans that run along set routes, picking up and dropping off their passengers along the way. They are a bit faster usually than catching a bus and also cheaper than a taxi.
There are also official taxis and non-official taxis also – where the drivers or another person will try to entice you for a cheaper price. Always be aware of your own safety. If newly arriving at the Jorge Chavez Airport, take a little time to sort out the best way to get to your place of stay and get some Peruvian currency from an ATM or money exchange/bank before heading off to your destination.
The Airport is around 7 kilometres from the city centre and you could take a taxi or the catch the Airport Express Bus.
There are open top Bus tours that you can take to hop on- hop off and see some of the main sights in the city, and this makes it easier to get to know the city without having to search for places or try and walk, drive to or catch taxis.
Like almost all Spanish cities in South America, the city spreads out from the beautiful Plaza de Armas (Plaza Mayor) in Limo Centro where the main Cathedral (Catedral)is located and there are also other Plazas nearby too, including Plaza San Martin, with its grand fountains a few blocks away off Jirόn Carabaya. It is worth spending a little time in both Plazas and surrounding streets to get a feel for the city centre and its charm. If you stick with the main thoroughfares you will stay safe.
If you like to see fountains, there is a giant nightly water show with music and lights – a bit like the ones in Dubai and Las Vegas. It happens Wednesdays to Sundays in the Parque de la Reserva on Avenida Arequipa.
The city has a number of museums that relate to both the Incan and early civilisations as well the Religious and Spanish history too. These are just some of them –
- Museu de la Inquisiciόn – is located at Jirόn Junin 548 in the building where the Inquisitions took place over the years from 1570 to 1820. The Spanish Inquisition happened in Spain and also in the Spanish colonies in South America. It was a religious interrogation of those caught not professing the Catholic faith – heretics, non-believers and what were called 'Marranos' - converted Jews and Muslims who the inquisitors thought were insecure and only professed their Catholic faith in public, while still practising Judaism or Islam in private. Here in the museum you can see the courts and also torture chambers where the inquisitions took place.
- Palacio Torre Tagle – located at Jirόn Uvayali 323 - a classic old Spanish mansion building constructed around 1730 with a grand portico entranceway and double thick heavy doors opening to the street with an ornate wooden balustrade balcony overhanging the street. Inside, the building is built around a central courtyard in classic Spanish style.
You will see a lot of this style in South America. In most Anglo architecture, the idea is to have windows and/or a veranda looking outwards to a view of the mountains, sea or other landscape, whereas the Spanish and French often built buildings around a square central courtyard, where there is a garden and a wide walkway around the perimeter.
In designing this way, the 'view' is captured by looking down from a first floor or into the garden square from ground level. Often a building may have a non-descript door to the street and little else to indicate a substantial building inside. After opening the door, you would pass under the first floor above and then come to the central courtyard square inside, with a walkway and rooms on all four sides. Many of these central courtyards are very calming and beautiful – and there is a lot to be said about this style of architecture, where the 'view' is a controlled internal space.
- Centro Cultural Inca Garcilaso – at Jirόn Ucayali 391 is almost next to the Palacio Torre Tagle and is best known for its photography collection and the building's architecture.
- Museo del Banco Central – located on the corner of Jirόn Ucayali and Jirόn Lampa has collections of Pre-Inca artefacts as well as paintings and coin collections.
- Museo Etnográfico José Pia Asa – at Jirόn Callao 562 is where you see some of the best craft work, jewellery from both Incan times as well as from Peruvian Jungle tribes too.
- Museo Arqueolόgico Larco Herrera – Plaza Bolivar, at the corner of Antonio Pola and San Martin Jirόn in Pueblo Libre. This is a pretty good museum to visit to see both gold and silver Incan work as well as erotic art too.
- Museo de la Naciόn – Javier Prado Este 2465 in San Borja. This is a big museum and has lots to see with changing exhibitions happening throughout the year.
- Museo Oro del Peru - Jirόn Alonso de Molina 1100, Santiago de Surco. Here you will see gold (Oro) artefacts - original and reproductions as well as military Arms that have been used over the centuries.
There are also a number of other museums too as well as many monasteries and churches that are worth seeing inside. While you could attempt to see all of them, seeing just one or two will suit most travellers.
One of the great things about Peru is that there is still a very vibrant craft culture still happening.
In many countries, paintings, sculptures, craftwork is almost entirely confined to Art Galleries and Museums with Gift Shops selling mostly tourist items made in China. Here in Peru you will find most craft work is made in Peru, from pottery to ceramics, intricately carved gourds, weavings, ceramics, paintings, jewellery, small dolls, alpaca wool, hats and clothes – and most of this work can be found in the markets.
Here in Lima – you will find shops and street sellers in and around the Lima's Plaza de Armas and also in Miraflores there are many shops along the Avenue Petit Thouars – between Block 52 and 55 where the Mercado Indio's is located.
Also here in Miraflores is the Miraflores Arts and Craft Market – in Parque Kennedy. Tourism is a big part of the Peruvian economy and while some sellers can be a bit too enthusiastic about selling you what they have, that also doesn't mean that you have to equally play too hard in the bargaining game. Shopping should be fun and bargaining is also a part of that.
Running down the entire length of the Peruvian coastline is the Panamericano Highway and it runs old and new Panamericano Highway runs past a series of beaches along the coastline here too. There are mostly high cliffs separating the beach itself from the land and city buildings above it with a long boardwalk for walking and cycling. The cliffs are high enough for paragliding.
Both Miraflores and Barranco have lots of colonial buildings, plazas and garden areas and if you head to the Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs), a big wooden bridge, you will be pretty much is the centre of the area to walk around and take in the sights and atmosphere.
Also in Miraflores is Huaca Pucllana – at Calle General Borgonõa 8 – a massive adobe brick and clay pyramid structure that is constructed over seven levels and dates back to pre-Incan civilisations, with some parts of it dating back to 500AD. The whole Pyramid is surrounded by the main city with its high rise buildings and is definitely worth a visit to see and hear the story of its history. At night it is lit up, the light creating its own special atmosphere.
Lima and particularly the districts of Miraflores and Barranco have lots of bars, restaurants, cafes and shops and being on the coast there is lots of seafood on offer, including Peru's most famous seafood meal – Ceviche and national drink – a Pisco Sour.
To the south of Lima, around 30 kilometres south are the ruins of Pachacamac that date back to around 500AD – a whole complex of Temples, plazas and pyramids right next to the coastline overlooking the ocean with two uninhabited islands just off-shore. There is also a small museum with relics that have been discovered on-site and the best way to get here from Lima is on a day tour. There are also other ruins to the north and east of Lima too, and again the best way to see them is by taking a tour from Lima.
Lima is certainly the gateway to Peru and probably the best way to see Lima is to spend some time both in Lima Centro and also in Miraflores or Barranco, before journeying onwards to see the Nasco Lines (south of Lima) or to the Incan ruins of Cusco and Machu Picchu and/or to the Amazon and Iquitos.
There is so much to see in Peru and like all travel it really depends on how much time, energy and money you have to spend as to what you see and do here in this great country.
Happy Travels
Geoff Stuart


text:
The University of Pittsburgh University Library System (ULS) is seeking an enthusiastic and talented key contributor to the growth, development, and enhancement of a large ecosystem of digital repositories for scholarly content. This is a high-level, regular, fulltime software developer position reporting to the Director of Information Technology in the University Library System. At various times the Software Developer will perform in all areas of systems analysis, system design, needs assessment, software development, interface design and development, software support, and resource planning for numerous electronic publishing and library related applications
. The Software Developer will work on data analysis, data import/export processes, and data transformations between disparate systems in support of operational needs and business intelligence decisions. Proficiency with the LAMP stack, Object Oriented PHP, Object Oriented Perl, MySQL (or other relational database systems) required as well as familiarity with C, Java, Python, Apache Web Server, and XML data transformations. B.S. in Computer or Information Science or related field or minimum of 5 years related work experience required.
The incumbent will be responsible for communication with staff, faculty, students, and other stakeholders both within and external to the university. The incumbent must quickly learn new concepts, manage tasks efficiently while meeting deadlines, and possess excellent communication skills. The incumbent must be a self-motivated, independent, detail oriented, responsible team-player.
B.S. in Computer or Information Science or related field. A minimum of 5 years' relevant work experience may be substituted for the degree requirement. A minimum of 5 years' relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in system/application development.
• Demonstrated experience in system administration using a LAMP stack (Linux/Unix, Apache, MySQL, PHP/PERL) environment.
• Proficiency with Web scripting languages such as PHP, Perl, C, Java, and Python
• Proficiency with SQL, relational databases (e.g. Oracle, MySQL).
• Proficiency with XML and various metadata standards; experience in XML transformations preferred.
• Experience with business intelligence tools such as Tableau, Cognos BI, and/or Oracle BI preferred.
• Ability to quickly learn new concepts and software.
• Self-motivated, independent, detail oriented, responsible team-player.
• Flexibility and drive to handle the variety of responsibilities and the demands of currency in this rapidly evolving field.
• May be on call for system support during evening/weekend hours.
This position has the ability to work from home on a permanent basis


text:
Bill Granger's Citrus Quinoa, Sprouting Sunflower Seeds, Beetroot, Feta and Chilli Salad. Try this delicious dish and share it with your family.
Serves 4
175g mixed quinoa
4 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
juice of 1 lime, plus lime wedges to serve
2 tablespoons orange juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large zucchini (approximately 200g), grated
25g sprouting sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon toasted mixed sesame seeds
1 large beetroot (approximately 200g), peeled and grated
3 tablespoons toasted pumpkin and/or sunflower seeds
2 red endives, leaves separated
200g feta
pinch of chilli flakes
1 Place the quinoa in a large pan. Add 500 ml water and season with salt. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until the quinoa is just cooked. Drain. Combine the olive oil, lime and orange juice and salt in a bowl. Toss half the dressing through the warm quinoa. Set aside to cool.
2 In a bowl, toss the zucchini, sprouting sunflower seeds and sesame seeds with the remaining citrus dressing. Set aside. In a separate bowl toss together the beetroot with the pumpkin and/or sunflower seeds, a pinch of salt and drizzle of olive oil
3 Plate the endive with the quinoa, courgette and beetroot salads. Crumble over the feta. Top with chilli flakes and serve with lime wedges.
The Carousel thanks Bill Granger for this recipe.


text:
Ten Signs You May Be A Candidate for Balloon Sinuplasty
1. The Sniffles
Do you find yourself constantly sniffling or needing to reach for that box of Kleenex? If so, it could be a sign of chronic sinusitis, a condition whereby your nasal passages are reacting to various factors and constricting air flow.
2. Headaches
Are you suffering from little headaches in the morning when you wake up? or at night? This could be a symptom of chronic nasal congestion.
3. Runny Nose
Always reaching for that tissue? Always needing to blow your nose or deal with post-nasal drip (runny nose)? This could be a sign of significant allergies and nasal congestion that can be treated easily with balloon sinuplasty.
4. Snoring
Keeping your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend up at night because of your snoring? Snoring is usually a sign of chronic nasal issues ranging from congestion to allergies. Balloon sinuplasty will help treat your snoring if not removing it entirely from your musical repertoire!
5. Breathing Through Your Mouth
Do you find yourself breathing through your mouth more often than your nose? If so it probably means you have major sinus issues such as sinusitis and/or allergies, all of which can make you a perfect candidate for balloon sinuplasty!
6. Nasal Voice
Do you sound a bit nasaly when you speak? When you are not breathing properly through your nose your voice changes and you are not able to speak and breathe correctly. Fix that nasal voice today!
7. Sleep Apnea
Are you waking up many times and going back to sleep in the middle of the night? If so this sleep apnea could be a major indicator of sinus trouble that can affect your rest and even lead to possible strokes.
8. Restless Leg Syndrome
Are you kicking and constantly moving your legs when you sleep? Studies have indicated that restless leg syndrome may be caused by a lack of airflow and oxygen to the brain. When your brain doesn't get enough oxygen as you sleep your body reacts in reflexive ways. Clogged sinuses contribute greatly to restless leg syndrome.
9. Poor Cardiovascular Performance
Do you find yourself out of breath often, even when eating or climbing stairs? This could be a sign of poor airflow due to poor breathing and disruptive sinus congestion. When your breathing is only through your mouth your cardiovascular performance loses great efficiency and leads to poor performance in sports and other physical activities.
10. Diminished Sinus Passages
When you only breathe partly through your nose your airflow efficiency is greatly affected. Even when you feel some flow, if you are not getting 100% consistency in both sinus passages your breathing and overall health can be greatly impacted!


text:
Club Bliss
Club Bliss is one of East Dunbartonshire's freshest nightclubs, located in Kirkintilloch. Super easy to get to from Glasgow's city centre too. And located just around the corner from Bar Bliss, which is the perfect place to start your night off. Then finish your night in style at Club Bliss with fab drink promos, awesome music and free entry before 12.
There's always something on at Bliss. There is always really good live music, with many local singers and bands appearing.
Got a cracking event to hold but nowhere to have it in? You're in luck. You can hire Bliss!
No Reviews
Have you visited this venue? If so, please take a few minutes to leave a review.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within the Reviews section are those of the author and not the views or opinions of the AJS Digital Group.