248 Of the proper Improvement S E R M. very melancholy entertainment ; it fills the X. mind with horror, fpreads a gloom over the face of all worldly comforts, and damps our aftive powers in purfuing, as well as our pleafure in enjoying them; therefore do fo many remove this forrow from their hearts, and put the evil day far off in their imaginations, if they cannot do it in rea- lity. It is not, however, thus, that we reafon, or that we govern ourfelves in pa- rallel cafes; if a man has an important in- tereft at flake, if there be any ground to apprehend the lofs of his fortune or his reputation, what doth he do ? Doth he put it out of his thoughts becaufe he wou'd not give himfelf trouble ? No, it affects him fenfibly, and his concern puts him up- on ufing his bell endeavours for preferving what is in danger ; or, if even that appears inevitable, he cannot help being thought- ful about it, meditating upon the nature and extent of his misfortune, and enquiring with anxiety how he may make the belt of it, and if there be any poflibility of mending his condition afterwards. As to the cafe now before us, death is certain, and there- by the lofs of all our prefent enjoyments ; the poffibility of preventing it, is a point abfolutely
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