188 NOW OR NEVER, al sin, and the necessity of a Reconciler, and of., renewing grace. Look upwards, sirs, and think whether heaven be worth our labour. Look downwards, and think whether earth be more worthy of it. Lay up your treasures where you must dwell for ever. If that be here, then scrape, and flatter, and get all that you can: but if it be not here, but m another life, then hearken to your Lord, and lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, and there let your very hearts be set. And, upon the peril of everlasting misery, hearken not to any man that will tempt you from a diligent holy life. It is a serious business} deal seriously in it; and be not laughed or mocked out of heaven. ' All the commands, and promises, an<i threatenings of God, the most powerful preaching that, as it were, sets open heaven and hell, do not prevail with fleshly men, to leave the most sordid and unmanly sin: and shall the words or frowns of creeping dust prevail with thee against the work for which thou livest in the world, when thou hast still at hanil unanswerable arguments from God, fi·om thyself~ from heaven and hell, to put thee on? VVere it but for thy life, or the life of thy children, friend, yea, or enemy, or for the quenching of a fire in thy house, or in the town, wouldst thou not stir and do thy best? And wilt thou be idle when eternal life lies on it? Let Satan roar against thee by1his instruments. Let sinners talk awhile of they know not what, till God hath made them change their note. These are not matters for a man to observe, that is engaged for ' an endless life. 0 what are these to the things that thou art called to prosecute? Hold on then, Christians, in the work that you have begun. Do it prudently, and do it universally. Take it together, works of piety, justice, and charity: but do it now without delay, and do it seriously with your might. I know not what cloud of darkness hath seized on
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