S E R M _O N Ill. ;t'u;:aet,:\'~l--~::::. a ~~~t~~c,;~~d~~~~t~~wy ~~~::~r~h~~~·r~~bl~\~~~~~d~~t~e~r ttl~ci~)~~r: ry: ;he Pumfl1mc~t w• ll be m proport•on to the Glory of God's Majefiy that is difhohOtlr d and provok cl by Sm, and extent of h1s Power. And as the Soul was the Principa l, and the Bod)' but an Acce!fary in the Works of Sin; fo its capacious Faculties wiil ~e fa r mo.re totmented , than the more_ li~ited l;acu1tics of the outward Senfes. The f<e ry ~ttnbutes of God H1all be tranfmlttccl through the Glafs of Confcience, and tonce.nt~r d upon damne? Spmts: the ~1re Without th~m 1s nor fo tormenting as this Fire w1t1Hn them.. How wtll the tormenttng Pailion~ be mAam'd? What Rancor, ReluCtance and Rage agamfi the Power above that fentenc cl them to Hell ? What Impatience and Jnd ignauon again!\ themfelves for their Wilfu l Sins, the jull: Caufe of it! How will th7.f curfe their Cr~arion, anLl_wi lh the~r utt~r ExtinCtion, as the final Remedy of their M !I cry ? But all theu ardent W1fi1es are m vam : for the Guilt of Sin will never be ex. ptatcd, nor G~d r~ far reconcd'd as to anmhilate them. As long as there is Jull:icc in Heaven, and Fue m Hell, as long as God and Eternity fi1all continue, thoy mull: ful~ tCr thefe Torments, wb1ch the Strength and Patience of an Angel cannot bear one hour. From hence we may infer; what an inconceivable Evil there is in Sin and hmv hateful it is to the mofi High, when God wbo is Love, who is j/iled tbe Fat!J~r o} Mtrcies, has prepared and does inAid fuch Plagues for ever fo r the Tranfgrefiion of his holy Laws : and fuch is the Eqmty of h is Judgment, that he never pumlhes Offenders above their Defert, I fl~a ll now apply this Dochine, by reflecting the Light of it upon our Minds and Hearts, . r. Thi s difcovers how~erverfe and depraved the Minds and Wills of Men m, to c!Jufe Sm ratber tban Ajjli[/ton, and break the Divine Law for the obtaining 1 emporal Th ings. If one with an attentive Eye regards the generality of Mankind, what Domi. 11ion prefent and lcnlible Things have over them, how fecurely and habitually they fm in profecution of~heir Carnal Atms, a.s if the Soulllwu!d nor. furvrve the l3ody, as tf there were no Tnbunal above to examme, no ]udg to fcntcncc and punilh Sinners; if he has not Marble BowcJs, it wi ll ex~i te his Compallion or Indignation. What Com. pari{Q~ is the~e between the ~ood T!ungs of tlus World, and of. the next in Degrees ~r Duratlbri? Atcry Honour,. Scnfual Pleafures~ and Worldl y R1ches, are but r!1e rhm Appearances of Happinefs, ·Shadows in Mafquerade, that cannot afford folid Content to an immortal Spirit : the BleiTednefs of Heav~n replcnifl1es with e:rerlafiing Satisfa· dion. What Proportion is there between the llght and momentary aifltElions /;ere, and a vafl: Eternity .fi!l'd with Indignatiott and Wrath, 1ribulation mu/ Anzuijh, and defperate Sortow ? \\1hat fiupid Beaft, what Monfier of a Man, would prefer a fupcrficial tranfient D elight, the Plealure of a fl10rt Dream, before ever fatisfying Joys ? or to avoid a night :Evi l, venture upon DefiruCtion? Yet this is the true Cafe of Sinners: if they can ob. rain the World with the lofs of Heaven, they count it a valuable Purchafe; if they can compound fo, as to efcape Temporal Troubles, tho' involved under Guilt tbat brings cxtream and eternal Milery, they think it a raving Bargain, Amazing Folly I Either rhcy believe or do not, the Recompences in the future State : if they do not, how un. occountable is their Impiety? If they do, 'tis more prodigious they <)o not feel t/;e p,,_ trs of tbe World to come, fo as to regulate their Lives, and controul the firongeil: Temp.. tations to fm againll: God. A wicked Believer is more guilty than a wicked JnndeL How could we conceive it poilible, were it not vdib1e in their ACtions, that Men-who have · judicativc Faculties to cGmpare and diil:inguil11 things, and accordingly be moved with Def~rcs or Fears, fl10uld with ardent Affetlions purfue defpicable Vanities, and negleCl fubfiantial H•ppinefs, and be fearful of the Shadows of Dangers, and intrepid in the 111idfi of the ttuell: Dangers! He is a defperate Gamefter that will venture a Crown at a Throw, againll: lome petty Advantage : yet this is really done by Sinners who hazard the loG ol Heaven for this World : they hang by flender Strings, a little Breath that expires every rnoment, over bottomlefs Perdition, and are in fenf1ble, without any pal.. pitation of Heart, any fign of Fear. How firong is the Oelul•on and Concupifcencc of the carnally-minded ! The Lufis of the Fl el11 bribe at1d corrupt their Underil:anclings, or divert them from fenous Con· f1deration of their Ways, and the I!fues of them, From hence it is they are prefently intangl ed and vanqujfl{d by lenfual Temptations; tbey arecozen'd by the Colours of Good and Evil, and Sa:tan eaftly accornphf11es Ius rnofi permcrous a~d envwus Detign, to mnke Men miferable as himfeiL How jufi is the Reproach of WJfdom, How lo11gJ< jimple ones will ye love Simplicity, and fools bate K11owled~ ! The Light of Reafon and Revelation fhines upon them, they have not tire exculc of Ignorance, but the ngl~~;
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