SEAM. VIII.] FALLING SHORT OF HEAVEN. 131 divinely warned of the danger of riches, how great a snare they sometimes prove to persons ofa hopeful cha- racter. Fourthly, We proceed now to the last thing propos- ed; and that is, to make an address to three sorts of persons, taking the occasion from the character in my text. I. Those who have any thing lovely or excellent in them, but, .through the power of a carnal mind, are kept at a distance from God, and have no title to heaven; such are beloved of men, but not beloved of God. II. Those who are weaned, in some good measure, from this world, and have treasures in heaven, but are defective in those qualities that might render them ami- able on earth; such are beloved of God, but not of men. III. Those who are furnished with every good qua- lity, and every grace, that are the objects of the special love of God, and almost every man loves them too. I. Let me address myself to those who have any thing lovely or excellent in them, but, through the power of a carnal mind, are kept at a distance from God, and have no title to heaven. Such was the young man in the gospel ; and according to the several good qualities that he possessed, I shall divide my exhortation to se- veral persons. 1. To such as are endowed with any natural excellen- cies of body or mind. Youth and beauty, strength and health, wit and reason, judgment, memory, or sweet disposition ; all these tare thegifts of God in the world of nature, and render persons so far amiable as they are possessed of them. You that flourish in the vigour and glory of youth, and yet have no saving acquaint- ance with God in Christ, no right to eternal life ; while I behold you, I would mourn over you with much com- passion. What pity it is that the flower of your age should be employed only to sooth your vanity ! to adorn your guilty passions, and to dress up the scenes of sin ! That flower will wither in old age, and it leaves no per fume behind, but what arises from virtue and goodness ; or, perhaps, you will give it up to untimely decay : by indulgence of irregular pleasures, you devote it to be K2
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