LIFE OF.. FAITH. 439 Your end is narrow, though your way be broad, and our end is broad, though our way be narrow. You build as miners in coal- pits do, by digging downwards into the dark ; and yet you are labo- rious. Though we begin on earth, we build towards heaven, where an attractive loadstone draws up the workmen and the work; and shall we loiter'under so great encouragements? Haveyou consid- ered that faith is the beholding grace? the evidence of things not seen ? and yet have you the hearts to .blame believers fordoing all that they can do, in a case of such unspeakable, everlasting conse- quence? Ifwe are believers, heaven and hell are as it were open to our sight. And would you wish us to trifle in the sight of heaven? or to leap into hell when we 'see it as before us? What name can express the inhuman cruelty of such a wish or motion ? or the unchristian folly of those that will obey you ? O give us leave to be serious for a kingdom which by faith we see. Blame us .for this, and blame us that we are not besides ourselves. Pardon us that we are awake, when the thunder of. Jehovah's voice Both call to us, denouncing everlasting wrath to all that are sensual and ungodly. Were we asleep as you are, we would lie still, and take no heed what God or man said to us. Pardonus that we are Christians, and believe these things, see- ing you profess the same yourselves. Disclaim not the practice till youdare disclaim the profession. Ifwe were infidels, we. would do as the ungodly world ; we would pursue mir present pleasures and commodity, and say,, that things above us are nothing to us ; and would take religion to be the troubler of the world ; but till we are infidels or atheists at the heart, we cannot do so. Forgive us that we are men ; if you take it to be pardonable. Were we brutes, we would eat and drink, and play, and never trouble ourselves or others with the care of our salvation, or the fearsof any death but one.; or with resisting sensual . inclinations, and meditating on the life to come ; but would take our ease and pleasure while we may. At least;, forgive as that we are not blocks or stones ; that we have life and feeling. Were we insensate clods, we would not see the light'of heaven, nor hear the roaring of the lion,, nor fear the threats of God himself. We ,would not complain, br sigh, or groan, because we feel not. If, therefore, we may have leave to be awake, and to be in our wits, to be Christians, to be men, to be creatures that have life and sense, forgiveus that we believe the living God ; that we cannot laugh at heaven and hell, nor jest at the threatened wrath of the Almighty. If these things must make us . the object of the world's reproach andmalice, let me rather be a reproached man than an honored beast, and a hated Christian than a beloved infidel ; and
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