OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 135 interest to lie in them, not to abound in meditation concerning them, it argues indeed, that whatever they profess, they are earthly and carnal. Again; meditate and think of the glory of heaven, so as to compare it with the opposite state of death and eternal misery.. Few men care to think much of hell, and the everlasting torments of the wicked there- in. Those do so least, who are in most danger of fall- ing therein : they put far from them the evil day, and suppose their covenant with death and hell to be sure. Some begin to advance an opinion that there is no such place, because it is their interest and desire that there should be none. Some out of profaneness, make a scoff at it, as though a future judgment were but a fable. Most seem to think there is a severi- ty in thoughts about it, which it is not fit we should be too much terrified with. Some transient thoughts they will have of it, but not suffer them to abide in their minds, lest they shouldbe too much discomposed. Or they think it not consistent with the goodness of Christ to leave any men in that condition; whereas there is more spoken directly of hell, its torments and their eternity, by himself, than in all the scripture be- sides. These thoughts, in most, proceed from an un- willingness to be troubled in their sins, and are useful to nine. It is the height of folly for men to endeavor the hiding of themselves, for a few moments, from that which is unavoidably coming upon them unto eternity, and the due consideration whereof is a means for an escape from it. But I speak only of true believ- ers : and the more they are conversant, in their thoughts, about the future state of eternal misery, the greater evidence they have of the life and confidence of faith. It is a necessary duty to consider it, as what
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