in the evil day. 363 and carnal content, thefe (as right with their hearts) are taken up into the chariot to fit with them, but all other are command- ed to go behinde. Alas, poor-fpirited wretches ! fomething might be laid for you, if this evil day of death and judgement were Inch enriarationi.,,, as had no foundation or being but what our fancies give them, (fuch troubles there are in the world, wh'e'n have ail their evil from our thoughts, when we are dirqui- eted with the fcorns and reproaches of men, did we but not think of them they were nothing) but thy banishing the thoughts of this evil day from thy mind, will be a poor (port relief. Thou can'} neither hinder its coming, nor rake away its fling when it comes by thy fighting it-. Thou art like a Pailenger in a chip (leep or wak, thou art going thy voyage. Thou doeft but like that filly bird, who puts her head into a reed, and then thinks fie is fafe from the Fowler becaule (he fees him hoc. Thou art a faire mark for Gods vengeance, he fees thee, and is taking his aim: at thee, when thou keit not him, yea, thou putteft thy felf under an inevitable neceffity of perifhing, by not thinking of this ; day. The firit step to our lafety, is confideration of our danger: It reproves thefe, who if they think of the evil day, yet it is v e. fo far that it is to little purpose. They will be lure to let is ac inch a diftance from them, as (hall take away the force of the mediratior, that it fhall not flrike them down in the deep fenfe and fear of it. That carman, which if we flood at the mouth of it would chatter limb from limb, will not fo much as lcare them that get out of its teach. The further we put the evil day, the weaker imprt Ilion it makes on us. ' fis true (lay (inners) it can- not be help'r, we owe a debt CO nature, it mutt bepaid ; ficknefs will come, and death follow on that, and judgement brineas up the reare ofboth. Bat (aksl)they look not for tilde guefls yet, they prophefy of thefe things a great while hence to come. Ma- ny a faire day they hope will intervene. Thus men are very kind to themfelves. Firfl, they virifh it may be long before it comes, and then becaufe they would have it fo, they arebold to promife thernklves it fh.11 be fo;and when once they have made this pro- mife,no wonder if they then live after the rate of their vain hopes, puttingoff the flaring of their accounts, till the winter- evening of old age, when they (hall not have fuch allurements togad ae A a a 2 broad
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