84 THE GREAT MISERY OF THOSE in the judgment of the Holy Ghost, they were such of whom the world was not worthy,(x) Much more unworthy will the world be of their fellowship in glory. 7. (II). I know many will be ready to think they could spare these things in this world well enough ; and why may they not be without them in the world to come? Therefore to show them that this loss of heaven will then be most tormenting, let them now consider, their understandings will be cleared to know their loss, and have more enlarged apprehen- sions concerning it ;their consciences will make a closer application of it to themselves ;their affections will no longer be stupified, nor their memories be treacherous. 8. (1) The understanding of the ungodly will then be cleared to know the worth of that which they have lost. Now they lament not their loss of God, because they never knew his excellence ; nor the loss of that holy employment and society, for they were never sensible what they were worth. A man that has lost a jewel, and took it but for a common stone, is never troubled at his loss ; but when he comes to know what he lost, then he laments it. Though the understanding of the damned will not be sanctified, yet they will be.cleared from a multitude of errors. They now think that their honours, estates, pleasures, health, and life, are better worth their la- bour than the things of another world ; but when these things have left them in misery, when they ex- perience the things which before they did but read and hear of, they will be of another mind. They would not believe that water would drown, till they were in the sea ; nor the fire burn, till they were cast into it c but when they feel, they will easily believe. All that error of mind which made them set light by God, and abhor his worship, and vilify his people, will then be confuted and removed by experience. Their knowledge shall be increased, that their sor- (x) Beb. xi. 36, 38.
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