Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.1

268 ¶the Happine s of the Righteous S E R M. attends it in his imagination, by the appear- XI. ance of generofity, freedom, friendfhip, or `'focial communication. Who doth not know, on the other hand, the pains of a felf- accufing and condemning heart ? How abje (t, how mean, and odious, doth an immoral charmer appear to every one who difcerns it, at lean in an extreme degree ? How vile, how defpicable is the mifer, and the luxurious ? How much abhorred the cruel, the ungrateful, and perfidious ? But how much more hateful to himfelf is the obftinately vicious, the impious, and the wickedly difhoneft man, when he is forced to review his actions, and look into his own heart ? He has no feeling of rational manly felf - enjoyment ; on the contrary, galling felf- refleCtions and inward remorfe confume his very vitals, make life a burden, and a deliverance from it earneftly wifhed and fought for. He is confcious of having de. ferved ill from all rational and moral agents, and is in a continual dread of a recompence fuitable to the demerit of his crimes. Now let any man judge whether fuch a Rate be eligible ; rather, whether it be not the worft that a rational creature is capable of in this world ; whether, therefore, by the very

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