io6 The Wifdom of Religion ju/lifted, in the Vol. II II. That Impiety and Wickednefs is a real Foundation of Guilt and Fear, of Horror and Defpair in the Day of Adverfity and Affli&ion, and more efpecially in the Approaches of Death. I. That a Religious and Virtuous Life is a real Ground of Peace and Serenity of Mind, of Comfort and Joy, under all the Evils and Calamities of Life, and efpecially at the Hour of Death. Under the Evils and Calamities of Life, Innocency is a great Stay and Support to our Minds under Sufferings, and will bear up our Spirits, when nothing elfe can, efpecially if a Man fuffer for a good Confcience, and for Righteoufnefi fake; becaufe then, betide the Comfort of Innocenti...ÿ; we are entitled in a fpecial Man- ner to the Favour of God, and the Comforts and Supports of his Holy Spirit, and the Hopes of a glorious Reward from that God, for whofe Sake and in whofe Caute we fuffer. All Trouble is tolerable to him who hash noBurden of Guilt upon his Mind, - to himwho is at Peace with his own Confcience, and at Peace with God, and is afï'ured of his Favour and Friendfhip, of his Providence and Care, of his Approbation and Reward ; this is a firm Ground, noronly of Patience, but of Joy to a good Man, in the fádeft and moft difmal Condition he can fall into. Unto the Upright (faith thePfalmift) there arifith Light in Dark net , Pfal. 112. 4. And noWonder, becaufe he that fears God, and ferves him faithfully, and [lifers for him patiently, bath laid a fure Foundation of Comfort to himfelf, hath fown theSeeds of Contentment and Peace, of Joy andGladnefs in his own Mind, which will fpring up and flourifh molt, when we are in the molt deihtute and afii&ed Condition : Light is fawn for the Righteous, and Glad- nef: for the Upright in Heart, fays David, .Pfal. 97: t t. The Workof Righteoufof fhall be Peace, and the Effect ofRighteoufnef , QuietneJs, andAfferance for ever, faith the Prophet, Efa. 32.17. And more efpecially at the Hour of Death, then the Comfort of a good Man overflows, and he lifts up his Head with jay, becaufe his Redemption draweth.nigh : Then the Refle&ion upon a well-fpent and unfpotted Life, fills his Soul with abun- dant Confolation, with yoy unfpeakable and full ofGlory ; for God, and theThings of another World, appear more real and fubftantial tohim, as he draws near to them, and his Faith begins to be turned intoSight and Fruition ; he nowRands upon the Confines of both Worlds, and difcerns more clearly the Vanity and Emptinefs of that which he is going from, and the fubftantial and durable Hap - pinefs of that which he is entring into. Here is the Trial of our Faith, and the Proof of Religion, by the real Fruits and Effe&s of it, in the Peace and Comfort which it gives to a good Man, when he is leaving this World ; fo that when he walks through the Valley ofDeath, hefears no Ill, and his Hopes are then molt lively and vigorous, when he is ready to give up the Ghoft; the Voice of Nature, and of ever Man's Reafon and Confcience, as well as Scripture, Jays to the Righteous, It Jhall be e well with him, for he 'hall eat the Fruit of his Doings; but Wo unto the Wicked, it Jhall be ill with him, for the Reward ofhis Hands Jhall begiven hint. Which brings me to the IId Thing, namely, That Impiety andWickednefs is a real Foundation ofGuilt and Fear, of Horror and Defpair, in the Dayof Adverfity and Affii&ion, and efpe- cially in the Approaches of Death. And how can it be otherwife, when all inward Support andComfort fail him, and all Sorts of Evil and Calamity, inward and outward, affault him, and break in upon him at once? When the Principles of Infidelity fail him, and what he had made out fo fpecioufly to himfelf, vanifheth into nothing, as aDream when one awakens, and as a Milan in the Night ? For when any great Calamity befalls this Man, God, who was not before in all his Thoughts, then begins to appear ter- rible to him, and he cannot banifh the Thoughts andFear ofhim out of his Mind. But how uncomfortable is this, to be convinc'd there is aGod, when a Man bath molt Need of him, and can leafi hope for hisFavour andPity? But efpecially at the Approachof Death, what a fad Preparation for that is an impious and wicked Life? How does his Confcience then fly in hisFace, and how bitter is the Remeuìbrance of thofe Sins, which he committed with fo much Plea- 4 flare
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=