88 THE GREAT MISERY OF THOSE eternal state written on the posts of their doors, on their hands and hearts ; he would have had them mind it, and mention it when they lay down and rose up, when they sat in their house, and when they walked by the way ; and seeing they rejected this counsel of the Lord, therefore it shall be written always before them in the place of their thraldom, that which way soever they look, they may still behold it. It will torment them to think of the greatness of the glory they have lost. If it had been what they could have spared, or a loss to be repaired with any thing else, it had been a smaller matter. If it had been health or wealth, or friends, or life, it had been no- thing. But, G !! to lose that exceeding eternal weight of glory ! It will also torment them to think of the possibility they once had of obtaining it. Then they will remember, " Time was, when I was as fair for the kingdom as others. I was set upon the stage of the world : if I had played my part wisely and faith- fully, I might now have had possession of the inhe- ritance. I might have been among yonder blessed saints, who am now tormented with these damned fiends. The Lord did set before me life and death : and having chose death, I deserve to suffer it. The prize was held out before me : if I had run well, I might have obtained it ; if I had striven, I might have had the victory if I had fought valiantly, I had been crowned." It will yet more torment them to remember, that their obtaining the crown was not only possible, but very probable. It will wound them to think, " I had once the gales of the Spirit ready to have assisted me. I was proposing to be another man, to have cleaved to Christ, and forsook the world. I was almost resolved to have been wholly for God.. I was once even turning from my base seducing lusts. I had cast off my old companions, and was associating with the godly. Yet I turned back, lost my hold, and broke my promises. I was almost persuaded to be a real Christian, yet I conquered those persuasions. What workings were in
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