Theroofullofs ofthe precious Soul. 2,7 t gain fo much by ufury,fo much by extortion,fo much by fraudulent dealing ; the total fum is colle&ed to his hand. what is a anprofited ? whence the obfervation might be this ; that, 1khm thegain of the world, it attended with the loft ofthefoul, the averplus will be Obfervat. The worlds tuff nothing. dgain with -the 'ouls lofa it Thebargain is fuch, as that there is nothing gotten by it. That is too fparing ao- anexprelfion, itis fhort of Chrifis meaning, who conceals the worft, and refers it tbiog. to our own colleftion: for (by the way) it were a happinefstobe notbing,it were profitable for the damned : but this comes neareft Chrifts meaning, it is a lofs un- redeemable, and fachas the world cannot countervail, when a man for the gaining of the world forfeits his foul. Let us fee it in fame particulars. Fir, if it be a man that glories in the refplendencyofhis fortunes, and bleffeth himfelf in magnifying his efface ; a Commander ofKingdoms andNations, an in- groffer of prefermentsand dignities ; yet Firft, Deathwill attach him, there is no carrying it away : he muff ofnecclìwty t. Death takes take his leave ofhis Mammon, and then whofefhall all thefe things be for which he all away. hath loft his foul ? Who gains by the Jmalnefi of the Epha, thegreatnefs ofthe fhekle,the refuteof the wheat ? Where is the man that gloriedinhis abundance, and fiore, and thought himfelf the only happy man ? faith theProphet `David, 1 went bat by, and he wargone, I fought him, and bit place couldnot Wound. There is a lively expreffion that illuftrates it, fer. 17. As the Partridgegatberethyoung that ter. t7. st. p,e brought notforth : fo he thatgettetb riches, andnot by right, Jhallleave them in the middeft ofhis dales, and at his end(hallbe afool. What not before ? Yes , he was alwayes a fool ; but thenby conviction, his own confcience !hall call him fo; by theconfeffron of his own tongue, which (hall call him fo ; by the proclamation of juft men, they (hall proclaim him fo ; Lo this is the man that tooknot Godfor hit jirength , but trufied in the multitude of his riches , andJfrengthened himfelf, eife Secondly, having loft his fuppofed good,he loofeththe fruitionof God the chief a. He lofeth good, the countenance of the beatifical prefence, the fellowlhip,, and melodious t chief harmony ofthe gloriousAngels : his place and portion withe/fbraham, lfaac, and good. ?scab, in the kingdome ofHeaven. And all proportionable to his own defervings. In his life-time he refufed God, being deadGod refufethhim: he turned his face from the poor andneedy ; God in his afflidion eternally turns hisface from him. A. lofsfo exceeding great, that whofoever defcends deepeft in the meditationof it, yet he ,hall beat -a lofs, and to Peek for a full definition of it : for as Chryfofiome truly Cbryfo/i. affirms, though a man tell theeof tenthoufand hells,all is onein comparifon of this mifery, to bedifcatded ofbleffedncfs andglory, and to be hatedof Chrift. But if this be-fo, what ;hall we fay to further mifery ? .having loft the chief good, Z Po&ff of he receives his punilhmcnt with hypocrites, andunbelievers in thedungeon of ex- cream the grnuA ill. ill. A place where there is nothing but horror ofconfcience and defperation ; a company of affrighting devils ; andwith all this, weepingand wailing, and gnafb. ing of teeth. Inftead of merriment, and jovial laughter, and fcurrilous lafcivious fongs, and wafting, andabufing the creatures ofGod, nothing but weeping, and gnathingof teeth. So that havingcome into the chambers ofdeath, and doled in the (traits ofthe grave ; the manlike the hedge-hogg, leaves theapples behind him, . and only refervcs the prickles of a wounded fpirit,''. in that fentenceofBabylon; As Simile. much aethe bath gloried berPelf, and lived delitiouJly, fomuch tormentgive her. Laftly, that that is thehell of hells, that nothingmay be wanting to his deferved 4. Without woe ; he is out of hope of all graciousmeans ofdeliverance,hemuff never look for hope of deli- revocation of Gods fentence, though withElan, he feek it with tears, hemalt never look for mitigationof hishorror, though he beg with the unmerciful glut son, for one drop of water. The dateof repentance is out; theday ofgrace will never dawn again : the jultice is implacable, the fireunquenchable, the wormunfa- tiable, andall continual without intermillion for evermore. Oh!
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