Chap. Ill. Of HE LL. We are affured , from the Wifdom and Compaffion of our Saviour, that 'tis a powerful Means ro mortifY the Inclination to Sin, and m induce ~stoprcvent and rc~llall ·~empt~~ tions. The fubtile Tempter cannot prefent any Motives, that to a (eC:bfied Mmd w1IJ mal« Sin el igible. Let the Scales be even, and put into one all the Delights of the Senfes all the Pleafures and Honoutsof the World, that are the Elements of Carnal Felici· ty; how light arc they again/1: the Heavenly Glory? Will t he Gain of the World comF:~~~;,~~~,;~~lu%nt~'~,;~~~~~~;~\~t:S',0~n~~l~:~:p~\n~~:~.~a~f;·~~~Xa~~~lb~~c~0f~hfy1~ ing for ever, the Choice would be more difficult, and the Mrll:ake lefs culpable; but they vani01 intp nothing in the Comparifon. According to the Judgment of Senfe, would a- ·ny onechllfethe enjoyment of the moll:exquifite P!eafures for a Year, and afterwards be content to burn in a Furnace for a Day ; much lefs to enjoy them for a Day, and to burn for a Year? What ll:upid Brutes are they, who for momentany Delights incur the fiery Indignation of God for ever ? Try but the Finger with the Flame of a Candle, you will foon difcover your weaknefs. Will the remembrance of fenfual Delights allay the Torments of the Damned? When Carnal Lull:s are moll: inflamed, and Objeas are prefent, Pain will ext.inguilli all the Pleafure of the Senfes: And if aaual Enjoyment cannot afJo rd Delight when the Body is under a Difeafe, will the Refleaions upon pall: Pleafures in the Fancy and Memory refrefb theDamned in thcirextream Torments? No, rhc remembrance will infinitely increafe their Anguifh, that for fuch feeming and fl1ort Plea· fures, they brought upon themfelves Mifery intolerable, without Eafe or End. 0 that Men would ll:rip Si n of irs difguifes, and wa01 off its flattering Colours, and look into its odious Nature, and to the confequential Evrls of it in the next World ! 0 that they would confider they hang by Oender Strings (a little Breath that expires every minute) over the bottomlefs Pit, and that within a little while nothing will remain of the Pleafures of Sin, but the undying Worm, and the ever·living Fh1mes! This would be a means to raife and prefervc in them an invincible Rcfolution and RcluB:ancy again fr all temptations to fin and provoke God. But how hardly are Men induced to exercife their Minds on this terribleObjea! They think Jea/1: of Hell, who have moll: reafon to confider it. To this I muft add, that the mere fear of Hell, and the judicial Impreflion upon Confcience from it, is not fufficienc to convert Men to God. For that fervile AffCEtion) tho it may ll:op a Temptation, and hinder the eruprion of a Lull: into the grofs Aa, yet does not renew the .Nature, and make Men Holy and Heavenly. There may be a refpeB:rve drflrke of Sm, w1th a drrect AlfeB:ron to lt. Befides, that Relrgron that is the mere EffeEt of Fear, will be, accordmg to the nature of its Principle) with refifrance and trouble, wavering and incoofiant: for tormenting Fear is repugnant to the human Na· ture, andwill be expelled, if poflible. In lhort, the fear; of Hell may be only a natu- ~f1 t~;~~~i, t~l;trh~Cfei~~· ~f~~1J~a~s1~ ~~~:~~~f~~ ~~~~:~ati~~e:~:~~~is\~~; 1~~~~~~~~ ~~pi~~h~~o of God, whoolfers Pardon and Indemnity to all returning Sinners and for the Hope ofD<umrol"c, Heavef!, the ble~td Reward prom~ fed to them. No OflCrs of M~rcy will prevail to ~~~~;;~~~et make Smners to yreld themfelves, till they are ll:ormed by the Terrors of the Lord. But A,g, when the fear of Hell has made a Breach, Divine Grace enrcrs and takes poffeflion. As the Virtue of the Load~one, when enco~~afs'd and arm'd with Iron, is increafed, and draws a far greater werght than when 1t IS naked and fingle ; thus the Attractives of Heaven are more powerful to move the Hearts of Men, when inforced from the Terrors of Hell. Now the Love of God, and t he Hope of Heaven, are fpiriwal Alli£lions; and the Obedience that flows from them is volumary from the intire confent of the Soul, and perfevering. Lafily, From the confideration of the Puni01ment deterrn in'd for Sin) we may undcrll:and how dear our Engagements are tothe Lord Jefus Chrilt. The ReB:or and Judg of the World would not releafe the Gmlty. \VIthout a Ranfom, nor the Surety without Satrsfaa10n ;, and the Son of God moft wrllrngly and compaflionately. gave his precious Blood the Pna: of our Redemption. He obtain'd the Spirit of Hohnefs, to illuminate our Minds? to mclme our WJIJs, to fanarfy our Affearons, without whofe Omnipotent Grace, ne1ther the hopes or fears of thmgs Spmtual and Future, would ever have clean. fed and changed our Hearts and Lives. We are naturally as fenfelefs as the Dead as to what concerns our Everlall:ing Peace, blind and brutifh, and without fear llioulcl plunge ou: felves mto DeftruB:ron, rf the Spmt of Power, and of a found Mind, did not qmcken and drreB: us m the way to. Ever!aftm!l Lrfe. () that we might fee l our dear Obhg~~IOOS t~ him who .has delzvered m from the u_:rath to ~ome, and p~rchas'd for us a Felretty perfea, and Without end! I would not lellcn and drfparage one Divine ,Work, to advance and extol. another; but 'tis a Trutll that lliines with its own Light; and
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