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PREFACE.
xi
generations.
I
am
sure such
thoughts
are
as
absolute-
ly necessary now
;
nor are
temptations
to
neglect them,
either
fewer or weaker now
than formerly.
The
worth of everlasting rest
is
not
felt, because
it
is
not
considered
;
it
is
forgotten,
because
a
thousand
trifles
are preferred
before
it.
But
were
the
divine
reason-
ings
of
this
book
duly attended
to,
(and
oh
that the
Spirit and
grace
of
a
Redeemer
may
make them
so
!)
then
an
age
of
vanity
would
become serious
;
minds
enervated
by sensuality, would
soon
resume
the
strength
of
reason,
and display
the
excellence
of
Christianity; the
delusive names
of pleasure
would,
be
blotted out, by the glorious reality
of
heavenly
joy
upon'
earth;
every station and relation
in
life
would
be
filled
up
by
the propriety
and
dignity of
serious
religion
;
every member
of
society would
then
effectually
contribute
to
the
beauty and
happiness
of
the
whole
;
and
every
soul
would be
ready
for life
or
death,
for one
world or another,
in
a
well
-
grounded
and
cheerful persuasion
of having
secured
a
title
to
that
rest
which
reinaineth
to
the
people
of
God.