OF SpIRITi1AI. IVIINDEDNESS. 309 deprived of the principal advantages of it in this world. Such persons are like to men who live in a country wherin they are not only pressed with poverty, and all sorts of misery; but are also obnoxious to grievous punishments, and death itself, if they are taken in it. In this condition they are told and assured ofanother country, wherein, so soon as they arrive, they shall be freed from all fear of danger of punishment, and if they pass further into it, they shall meet with riches, plenty, and a fair inheritance provided for them. Hereon they betake themselves to their voyage to ob- tain an entrance into it, and possession of it. But no sooner do they come within the borders, and so are free from danger, or fear of punishment and death, but they sit down, and will go no further, to enjoy the good things of the country whereto they are come. And it falls out with many of them, that through their sloth, negligence, and ignorance, they take up short of the true bounds and limits of the country of liberty and peace which they aimed at, whereby danger and death surprise them unawares. This ruin could not have befallen them, had they industriously endeavored to enter into the heart of the country, and have pos- sessed the good things thereof. At best, being only in the borders, they lead a poor life all their days, ex- posed to wants and danger. So it is in this case. Men falling under the power of convictions, and those restless fears wherewith they are accompanied, will stir up themselves, and inquire how they may fly from the wrath to come, how they may be delivered from the state of sin, and the eternal miserywhich will ensue thereon. In the gospel, not only mercy and pardon are pro-
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