143 / 514
SERVI. VTIM..
FALLING
SHORT OF
HEAVEN.
135
thoughts
of heaven there. Shall these
busy
swarms
of
cares and vanities for ever
fill
up
so
large a chamber
of
the
soul?
Shall
impertinencies
be
for ever
thrust
into
this treasury? such as
will
stand
you in no stead,
when
you are dismissed from
the
body,
but
shall vanish
all
at
once
in
that
hour, and
shall leave
your
spirits poor
and
naked
:
or
if
they
follow
you to the world
of
spirits,
it
will
be
but
as so
much fuel gathered for your
future
burning.
Think
a
little
with yourselves,
ye
possessors
of
these
rich endowments
of
the
mind, when you have been
ho-
noured here
on
earth,
can you
bear to
be
doomed to
eternal
shame
and punishment
in
hell?
Shall
this
wit,
and
this
reason
be
there
employed
to
express
your hatred
against God, and
to
forge
perpetual
blasphemies
against
the
Majesty
of
Heaven
?
are
you willing to be
joined
to
the
society
of
devils,
and
be
engaged in
their abomina-
ble work
?
Shall this
sprightly
fancy,
this
subtle reason,
this
large memory, serve
for
no
purpose,
but
to aggra-
vate your guilt and
your
damnation?
Shall
these
fine
talents sharpen your
misery,
and
give
edge
to
the keen-
est
reflections
of conscience;
conscience,
that
inward
sting
of
the
mind
;
conscience,
that
immortal
tormentor?
Yet
this
must
be
the
certain portion
of
those
who
spend
their
life,
and
lie down in
death,
with these
talents un-
sanctified
:
for
the anguish
and
torture of
sinful souls,
must
rise,
and
grow
for
ever, in
proportion
to
the glory
of their abused
endowments.
Though,
perhaps,
I
have been
tedious already
under
this head,
yet,
before
I
part
with
it,
I
must address
myself
to those who
are born
with a sweet
disposition,
that
seem
to
be
cast
in a
softer mould than the rest
of
men.
I
love
and pity those
of
my
acquaintance
who
are
blessed with
so
divine a
temper,
who have
tenderness
and
good
-will
in
their
very form
and
aspect, and
I
mourn
to think
that
any
of
these should perish for ever.
Yòu
are
the
favourites
of
all men,
and
beloved
by
all who
enjoy the
pleasure
of
your acquaintance
;
do
ye
not
long
to
be
the favourites
of God
too
?
You
seem
to
be
made
for the delight and comfort
of mankind: but
shall this
be all
your portion
?
Good- humour
is
the composition
of
your
nature, and
the
law
of
kindness
is
on
your
lips
:
when the
ear
hears
you,
then it
blesses
you;
and
when
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