and Sin no longer: It's a fign they look upon Eternal Glory, as fome poor beggarly happinefs, who cannot vouchlafe it a ferious look till their eyes grow dim, and the Sun and the Moon and the Light, and the Stars are darkned, Ecclef. 12. 2.

Would they but fend for us, or come to us, while marrow is in their Bones, and their Blood brisk and lively in their Veins, their Reafon ftrong, and their Understanding in its full vigour and glory, and advise with us about these everlafting things; we would then tell them, what Eternal Life means, and how no Man can be a Man, or be faid to act with common prudence, that doth not with all diligence make his Calling and Election fure; we would then let them fee how many thousands thousands perish for want of thinking of Eternity. We would let them fee how miferable those Men's condition must needs be, who have their portion in this life, who after this life muft look for nothing else but everlafting Chains of Darkness; we would represent to them, that their long life here on Earth, except it be adorned with goodness, is but a long preparation for a longer mifery; and that he that dies full of good works, though at Thirty years of age, hath lived much longer,

than he that hath lived an hundred, and been a fervant of Sin and fenfual Delights; for he only lives that lives to God, the reft are dead while they live, and rather take up room, than live. We could prove to them that these are not things to be laughed at, but deferve their

moft

;

most serious contemplations and that the faving of a Soul is not fo light a thing as they may ima gine. We would let them fee, that the Pious Kings, and Princes, and Philofophers, Confeffors, and Saints and Martyrs of old, whofe Memories we adore, were no Fools, when they kept under their Bodies, and brought them into fubjection, left they fhould become caft-aways; when they looked upon all the loffes, and troubles, and miferies that could befall them for righteousness fake, as things not worthy to be compared with the glory which e're long should be revealed in them when they did not count their own lives dear for the Gofpel of Chrift, and were ready to pass through the most daring flames to Heaven. We would let them fee, that those Men had brains, and were Men of Wisdom and Discretion as well as they, and living fo near the time of Christ and his Apoftles, could not poffibly be ignorant of what was to be done in order to everlasting happiness; and if they had not been very confident of the truth of Chrift's Promises and known for certain, that without ftrictness, and contempt of the World, and watching against Temptations, there was no entring into their Master's joy, they would never have ftriven fo much to enter in at the ftraight Gate as they did. We would let them fee, that they did rightly apprehend the defign of Chriftianity, which was to make Men out of love with fublunary Objects, and to mind nothing fo much as the things of the Spirit? that it was not force but their choice, that made them fwim against

the

the Current of their fleshly Inclinations, and that what they did, was to inftruct us, how we are to inherit the Promises.

We would let them fee, how different Mens Thoughts are when they come to die, from what they have while they enjoy ftrength, and health, and liberty; and that a melancholy Thought now and then concerning their finful Life, is not Repentance, nor leaving fuch fins, which would blemish their Credit and Reputation in the World, doing whatfoever Chrift commands them; nor talking now and then of the Vanity of the World, forgetting what is behind them, or crucifying the World unto themselves. We would let them fee what the Scripture means, by working out their Salvation with fear and trembling; and how dreadful that faying is, If the righteous be scarcely faved, Where will the wicked and finner appear? We would let them fee, that the Expreffions the Holy Ghost uses concerning our travelling to the Land of Promise, imply very great care and induftry, and do plainly intimate, that God will not part with his Heaven to Men, that do not think it worth feeking, or being at any trouble about it. We would let them fee, that if any thing in the World deferves their pains and care, Heaven deserves it infinitely more, as it is of infinitely greater confequence, than ? the most boundless Empires or Principalities. We would let them fee, that God is no refpecter of Perfons; and without Holinefs, Heliogabalus is regarded no more than Codrus; and Ptolomy, no more than Paufon; Gyges, no

more

more than Aglaus; and than, as he had fitted Re ligion for all Mens capacities,infomuch that though all cannot be wife, or learned, or great, or rich, yet all may obey him, and keep themselves un1potted from the World, fo he will one day fummon every Man to give an account of his Stewardship, and bring every work into Judgement, with every fecret thing, whether it be good or evil. We would let them fee, that what fatisfies Men now, will not give them any great content or fatisfaction then; and though now, fome fprinklings of Piety may lull them into good conceits of themselves and of their worth, yet these like blow-balls, will then be all, upon the least touch, fhattered into Atoms.

By fuch Discourses as thefe, we might by degrees engage them into a ferious Confideration of their fpiritual Concerns, and warm them into refolutions, to lay by, for fome time, the thoughts of their Baskets and of their Store, of their Barns and of their Fields and ruminate on things which carry fo much Terror and Majefty with them. And indeed fuch things, were they heard with. out prejudice, they would in fome measure confound and ftartle Men in their courfes; and, if they are not given over to a hard heart, or to a reprobate mind, rouze their Spirits into nobler Thoughts and Contemplations, they would difcover to them, that the love they bear to the World defiles their Souls, vitiates their Charity, hurts their Neighbours, wrongs the Almighty, captivates their Minds, and will most certainly deceive them in the end; and that therefore they had

better

better change the Object of their Affections, and place them there where permanent Satisfactions are, where our Expectations can never be difappointed,our Defires never fruftrated, and our Hopes never baffled; but our Enjoyments will be perpetual, our Fruition everlasting, and our Habitation eternal in the Heavens.

But alas! they fhun our Company, except it be to talk of worldly Affairs, or to ask us about fome nice Points of Divinity, and are afhamed to make their Condition known, and to own them. felves ignorant of the Path that leads to Glory. They either excufe themselves with this,that their Neighbours and their Friends will laugh at them for making Minifters their Oracles; or plead, that they know as much as the Man of God can teach them: Would God they did! and that all the Lord's People were Prophets! But if they did, Is there not fome difference between knowing these Sacred Truths, and having them fet home upon the Confcience? That shall stick in a familiar Difcourfe, which in reading we take no notice of; and a Word in private Conference may drop from a Holy Man, and may be spoke with that zeal and honefty, as fhall ftrike the Soul into a change or renovation of Mind, which perhaps many years study, or a large stock of knowledge, would not have effected: So that if the Question be asked, Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no Phyfitian there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? we may truly fay, We would have healed Ifrael, but they would not be healed:

Q

XII. Im