BAXTER'S FAREWELL SERMON. 515 that think religion is disparaged by such short and small afflictions of believers, and how unexcusable they are who yield unto temp- tation, and venture upon sin, and comply with the ungodly, and forsake the truth, through the fear of so short and momentary sor- rows, when there is none of them but would endure the prickof a in or the scratch of a brier, or the biting of a flea, to gain a king- dom, or the opening of a vein, or the griping of a purge to save their lives. O, how deservedly are ungodly men forsaken of God ! For how short a pleasure do theyforsake him, and the ever- lasting pleasures ! And how short a trouble do they avoid by run- ning into everlasting trouble ! If sin had not first subdued reason, men would never make it a matter of question, whether, to escape so smalla suffering, they should break the laws of the most righteous God, nor would they once put so short a pain or pleasure into the balance against the endless pain and pleasure. Nor would a temp- tation bring them to deliberate on a matter, which should be past deliberation with a man that is in his wits. And yet, alas! how much do these short concernmeits prevail through all the world! Unbelieversare short-sighted ; they look only or chiefly to things near and present. A lease of this empty world for a few years, yea, an uncertain tenure 'of it, is preferred before the'best security for eternal life. Its present pleasures which they must have, and its present sorrows which theytake care to escape. As Christ bath taughtus to say about these worldly things, so the devil hath taught them to say about everlasting things " Care not for to-mor- row, for the morrow shall take thought for the things 'of itself; sufficient to the day is the evilthereof;" Matt. vi. 34. There- fore, when the day of their calamity shall come, a despairing con- science will perpetually torment them, and say, ' This is but the sorrow which thou choosest to endure, or the misery which .thou wouldest venture on, to escape a present, inconsiderable pain.' If there be any ofyou that, shall think that present sufferings are considerable things, to be put into the scales against eternity, or that are tempted to murmuring and impatience under such short afflictions, I desire them but to consider, 1. That your suffering will be no longer than your sin. And if it endure but, as long, is it any matter of wonder or repining? Can you expect to kep your sickness, andyet to be wholly.freed from the pain ? Can sin and suffering be perfectly separated ? Do you think to continue ignorant and proud, and selfish, and in so much remaining unbe- lief, carnality, worldliness, and sloth, and yet never to feel the rod or spur, nor suffer any more than if you had been innocent? De- ceive not yourselves ; it will not be ; Gen. iv. 7. Sin lieth at the door ; and be sure at lastit will findyou out ; Numb. xxxii. 23. "Be- hold, the righteous shall be recompensefl in the earth, much more
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