111 FALLINb 3$OnT OF HEAVEN. who spend their life, and lie down in death, with these talentN unsanctified : for the anguish and torture of sinful souls, most rise, and grow for ever, in proportion to the glory of their abused endowments. Though, perhaps I have been tedious already under this head, yet before I part with it, I must address myself to those . whoare born with a sweet disposition, that seem to be cast in a softer mould than the rest of men. I love and pity those of my, acquaintance whoare blessed with so divine a temper; who have tenderness and good-will in their very form and aspect, and I mourn to think that any of these should perish for ever. You are the favourites of all men, and beloved by all who enjoy the pleasure of your acquaintance ; do ye not longtobe the favourites of God too ! You seem to be made for the delight and comfort of mankind : but shall this be all your portion ? Good-humour is the composition of your nature, and the lare of kindness is onyour lips! when the ear hears you, then it blesses you; and when the eye sees you, it gives witness to you. But is this enough to depend upon for eternal life ? Perhaps you have borrowed part of the valuable qualities of that good man Job, you have delivered the poor that cry, and thefatherless that had none to help him; you have caused the widow's heart to singefor joy, and the blessing of him ' that, was ready to perish, has come often upon you; Job xxix. 11, 12, 13. There is so much natural goodness in your constitution, that leads you on, by a sweet instinct, to the practice of many charities : but this is not saving grace. If Jesus Christ himself were upon earth in this humbled state, he would look upon you as mari, and love yóu ; but the Holy God looks down from heaven, and beholds you as the object of his just and divine ha- tred, while you live in a state of vanity and sin, drunken with sensual pleasures, and at enmity with God. This sweetness of temper, that springs from your blood, and the happy mixture of humours; or, at best, from the mere na- tural frame of your spirits, will never pass, upon the great tribu' nal, for holiness and inward religion. With all this Charming appearance of virtues, these colours that look like heaven, you will be doomed to hell and perpetual misery, unless there be found in you some nobler qualities, such as love to God, mor- tification to thisworld, the knowledge and faith of Jesus Christ, If these be not the springs of your charityand love to men, you will not be secured from the condemning sentence of the Judge, norfrom the company of devils in the future world. But, oh ! how will your soft and gentle natures bear the insult and rage of thosemalicious spirits ? Howwill your temper, that had something so lovely in it, sustain to bebanished for ever from the world of love ? to be for ever excluded from all the
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