234 Of the proper Improvement S E x M. weak and carelefs minds, yet it has a dan- X. gerous tendency, and often proves bitternefs in. the end : But the other, in its fin i ap- pearance lefs pleafing to the fenfes, is more reafonable in itfelf, and contributes to the neceffary inftrudion of the underftanding, and bettering the heart. I fhail endeavour in the following difcourfe, firff, to explain a little fart'r.,=- what the preacher here recom- mends,Sorrow s ¿ter than laughter, the going to the hozle of mourning, and having our hearts there, rather than in the houfe of feafling and mirth. Secondly, the reafons he infifts on for enforcing his advice, namely, that death is the end ?I' all men; therefore it is for the advantage of the living to lay it to heart, and to render the thoughts of it fa- miliar to them, whereby they (hall ,increafe in wifdom and virtue. Firfl, I am to explain what the preacher here recommends, forrow as better than laughter, going to the houfe of mourning, and having our hearts there, rather than the houfe of fèafling and mirth. The expref- fions are plainly proverbial, and the defign of them is not fulfill'd merely by the external a ±ions, which are mentioned in a literal fenfe: What wifdom, what merit or virtue is
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