Serm. CXCV. eternal Life. 633 to come out of the cold , to a warm fire : but if a man in a great heat iliall leap into the cold water, it will ftrike him to the heart. Such is the fond choice of ë: very (inner, to pats immediately out of a Efate of the greateft fenfual pleafure, into the mutt quick and fenfible torments. This our Saviour fully reprefents to us in the parable of Lazarusand the rich man, Luke 16. 25. where Abraham is brought in upbraiding the rich man for his foolifh and prepoferous choice, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received/t thy good things, and likewife Lazarus evil things: but now be is comforted, and thole art tormented. This made a vaft difference ; the rich man received his good things firft, and then was tormented : Lazarus fief received his evil things, and then was comforted ;. and how comfortable was Abra- ham's bofom to him, after he had lain in fo muchmifery and want at the rich man's' Gate ? and onthe other hand, how grievous mutt pain and tormentbe to that man, who never was acquainted with any thing but cafe and pleafure ? But it may be all this is but a fuppofition ; and there is río man fo fotfaken df hìs reitfon, and of common prudence, as to make fuch a bargain. Surely no man that is reafonable, no man that confiders the difference between time and eternity; between a few years, and everlafting ages, can be perfuaded to forego the happinefs öf Heaven, and tofa ll into the hands of the living God, nonot ifthe wholeworld were offer'd to him for confideration. Indeed thefe large terms of gaining the whole: World, are but a fuppofition, which our Saviour makes to thew the unreafonable- nefs ofmuff mens choice 5 but in truth, and in effect, the cafe of (inners is much worfe. Among all thofe numerous troopsoffnnersthat go to Hell in fach throngs; there is not one ofthem that ever made himfelf fo wife a bargain ; and tho' the iuhole world be but a pitifurprice to be paid fot a man's Soul, yet fo fupidare the greateft part of thofe Creatures, whom we call reafonable, as to ftrike up a bargain for little fcraps and portions of this world. There are but a fewwho fand upon fisch terms as this world thinks confiderable. They are a fort of more generous (in- ners, than damn themfelves for a Crown and a kingdom, that will-not do an all Of injuftice upon lower termsthan a Mannor or a Lordfhip. Alas ! moft men bar- ter away their Souls for a trifle ; and fet their eternal happinefs to fale for a thing of nought. How many are there, who, to gratifie their covetoufnefs, or tuft, or revenge, or any other inordinate Pafion, are content tohazard the lofs oftheir Souls? whowill go toHell rather than be out ofthe fashion; and damn themfelves out of sneer complement to the company, and cannot be perfuaded to leaveoffthat foolifh cuflomof fwearing, whichhath neither pleafure nor profit in it, no, not to fave theirSouls? Thus it is in truth, and the fuppofition which our Savioti here makes ofgain- ing the whole world, is but a feigned cafe, the marketwas never yet fo high, no fin- ner had ever yet fogreat avalue for his immortal Soul, as to fandupon fuch terms;; alas! infinitely lefs than the whole world, a little fordid gain, the gratifying of a vile luf, or an unmanly Pafhon, the fmile or the frown ofa great man, the fear of fingularity, andofdifpleafing the company, thefe, and fuch like mean and piti- ful confiderations, tempt thoufands every day to make away themfelves, and to be undone for ever. I have done with the firfi thing, the folly of this adventure, What is a marl profited, ifbefoall gain thewhole world, and loft, his own Soul? I proceed to the Second, The fevere reflection men will make upon themfelves for this their folly. What would they not give to undo this foolifh bargain ? What willa man give in exchangefor his Soul? to redeem and recover fo great a lofs? And foonet or later everymanwill be fenfsble ofthis folly; probably in this world , but mofe certainly in the other ; and then What would a man give in exchangefor his Soul? Whenever the firmer comes toreflel upon himfelf,.and to confider feriouflywhat he hathdone, with what indignation will he look upon himfelf, and cenfure his own folly ? Like a man who in a drunken fit hathpaf awayhis etrate for atrifling confideration; the next morning when he is fober and come to himfelf, and finds himfelf a beggar, howdoes he rate himfelf for being fuch a beat and a fool, as to do that in a blind and rafhheat, which he will have caufe torepent, as 1ongas he bath aday to live ? Minmm Or
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