50 TheflnalIffeie of Sila, Vol. II: And furely ifwe firmly believe and ferioufly confider there things, we haveno reafon to befond of any Vice we can take no great Comfort or Contentment in a finful Courfe. If we could for the feeming Advantage and (hors Pleafure of force fins, difpenfe with the TemporalMifchiefs and Inconveniencies ofthem, which yet I cannot fee how any Prudent and Confiderate Man could do : if we could conquer Shame, and bear the Infamy and Reproach which attends mofifins and could digeft the upbraidings of our own Confciences, fo often as we call them to remembrance, and refleEt ferioufly upon them ; tho' for the gratifying an importunate Inclination, and an impetuous Appetite, all the Inconveniences of them might be born withal ; yet methinks the very thought of the End and Mite of a wicked Life, that the endof thefe things is Death, that indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguifh, far greater than we can now defcribe or imagine, fhall be to every foul of Man that doth evil, fhould over-rule us. Tho' the violence of an irregular tuft and delire are able to bear down all other Arguments, yet methinks the Eternal Intereft of our precious and immortal Souls fhould (till lie near our Hearts, and affeet us very fenfibly. Methinks the Confideration of another World, and of all Eternity, and of that difmal late which attends Impe- nitent Sinners after this Life, and the dreadful hazard of being miferable for ever, fhould be more than enough todifhearten any Man from a wicked life, and to bring him to a better Mind and Courfe._ And ifthe plain Reprefentations of thefe things do not prevail with men to this purpofe, it is a fign that either they do not believe there things, or elfe that they do not confider them ; one of thefe two muff be the reafon why any Man, notwithftanding thefe terrible threatnings of God s Word,` does venture to continue in an Evil Courfe. 'Tis vehemently to be fufpe&ed, that men do not really believe there things, that they arenot fully perfwaded that there is another Rate after this Life, in which therighteousGodwill render to every Manaecording tohis deeds : and there- fore fo much Wickednefs as we fee in the lives of men, fo much Infidelity may reafonably be fufpe&ed to lie lurking in their Hearts. Theymay indeed feem- ingly profefs to believe thefe things; but he that would know what a Man in- wardlyand firmly believes, fhould attend rather tohis A&ions than to his Verbal Profeffìons: For if any Man livesfo, asno Man that believes the Principles ofthe Chriftian Religion in reafon can live, there is too much reafon to queflion whe- ther that Mandoth believe his Religion ; he may fay he does, but there is a far greater evidence in the Cafe than Words; the A&ions of the Man are by far the moil credible Declarations of the inwardSenfe and Perfwafion of his-Mind. Did men firmly and heartilybelieve that there is a God that governs the World, and regards the A&ions of men, and that he hath appointed a day in which be will judge the World in righteoufnefs, and that all Mankind (hall appear before him in that day,andevery A&ion that they have done in their wholelives (hall be brought upon the Stage, and pats a ftri& Examination and Cenfure, and that thofé who have made Confcience of their Duty to God and men, and have lived foberly, righteoufly, andgodly in this prefent World, (hall be unfpeakably and eternally Hap- py in the next,, but thofe who have lived lewd and licentious lives, and perfifted in an Impenitent Courfe, (hall be extreamly and everlaftinglymiferable, without Pity, and without Comfort, and without Remedy, and without Hopeof ever be- ing otherwife ; I fay, if men were fully and firmly perfwaded of thefe things, it is not Credible, it is hardly Poflible that they fhould live fach Prophane and Impious, fuchCarelefs and Diflblute Lives, as we daily fee a great part of Man- kinddo. That Man that can be aw'd from his Duty, or tempted to Sin by any of the Pleafurés or Terrorsof this World, that for the prefent enjoyment of his Lofts can be contented to venture his Soul, what greater Evidence than thiscan there be, fhat thisMan does not believe the threatnings of the Gofpel, and how flay- fill a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God? That Mau that can be wil- ling to undergo anhard Servicefor feveral years, that he may be in a way toget an Eflate, and be rich in this World; and yet will not be perfwaded to reftrain himfelf
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=