190 NOW OR NEVER. doer," and I were spit at and buffeted by those that do now but secretly reproach! Might I more closely follow Christ in holiness, why should I grudge to bear his cross, and to be used as he was used? Knowing, that "if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him; and the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Alas, sirs! it is nothing but intoxicating prosperity, and sensual delights, and worldly diversions, that make you think well of ungodly slothfi.1lness, and make you think contemptuously of a heavenly life. There is not the boldest infidel in the world, nor the bitterest enemy to holiness, but shortly would wish they had rather been saints, with all the scorn and cruelty that malice can inflict on such, than to have braved it out in pride and gallantry, with the neglect of everlasting things. Methinks I even see how you will passionately rage against yourselves, and tear your hearts with self-revenge, (if grace prevent it not by a safe repentance,) when you think too late how you lived on earth, and what golden times of grace you lost, and vilified all that would not lose them as foolishly as you. If repentance unto life made St. Paul call himself foolish, disobedient, deceived, and exceeding mad, (Tit. iii. S. Acts xxvi. 11.) you may imagine how tormenting repentance will make you call yourselves too late. 0 sirs! you cannot now conceive, what different thoughts will then possess you of a holy and unholy life. How mad you will think them that had but one life's time of preparation for eternal life, and desperately neglected it! And how sensible you will then be of the wisdom of believers, that knew their time, and used it while they had it! "Now wisdom is justified of all her children;" but then how sensibly will it be justified of all its enemies! 0, with what remorse will undone souls look back on a life of mercy and opportunitiesl thus basely t
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