TO A SOUND CONVERSTON. 851 not signs of one that takes pleasure in your death. If this had, been his delight, how easily could he have had thee long ago in hell ! How oft before this could he have snatched thee away in the midst of thy sins, with a curse, or oath, or lie in thy mouth ! When thou wast last in thy drunkenness, or deriding the ways of God; how easily could he have stopt thy breath, and made thee sober in another world ! Alas! how small a matter is it for the Almighty to rule the tongue of the profanest railer, and tie the hands of the most malicious prosecutors, or calm the fury of the bitterest of his enemies, and make them know they are but worms ! If he did but frown upon thee, thou ívouldst drop into the grave. If he gave commission to one of bis angels to go and destroy ten thousand sinners, how quickly would it be done ! How easily can he lay thee upon the bed of languishing, and make thee lie roaring there in pain, and, eat the words of reproach which thou hast spoken against his ser- vants, his word, his worship, and his holy ways ! How . ,easily can he lay that flesh under groans, and make it more loathsome than the dung of the earth ! That flesh, which now must have what it loves, and must not be displeased, though God be displeased ! and must be humoured in meat and drink, and clothed, what- ever God say to the contrary. How quickly would the frown of -God consume it ! When thou wast passionately defending thy sin, and quarrelling with them that would have drawn thee from it,- and plead- ing for the works of darkness; how easily could God have snatched thee away in a moment, and set thee before his dreadful majesty, (where thou shouldst see ten thousand ' times ten 'thousand glorious angels waiting on his throne,) and have asked thee, What hast thou now to say against thy Creator, his truth his servants, or bis holy ways? Now plead thy cause, and make the best of it thou canst. Now what canst thou say in excuse for thy sins? Now give account of thy time, and 'of all the mercies thou hast had. O how thy, stubborn heart would have melted, and thy
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