PACT ti. SERMON VIII. 111 and still they think the next month, or the next year, it is time enough to prepare for heaven, when perhaps a summonsis sent . suddenly from on high ; Thoufool this night is thy soul required of thee ; Lukexii. 20. What confusion and feat', what hurry and distress of spirit will seize you in that hour? You that have laid out all your wisdomupon the littlebusinesses of this life, and tri- fled with affairs of everlasting importance ; you must go down to thechambers of death in surprize and anguish ; you must leave all the fruits of your wisdom behind you, and be branded for eternal fools. I pity those who are blest with a large memory, and would plead with you this day for the sake of your souls. Theme- mory, it is a noble repository of the mind, it is made to receive divine truths, to be stored with the ideas of 'God and his grace, with the glories of Christ and heaven ; it is given us to furnish and supply the heart and tongue upon all occasions, for worship, for conference, and for holy joy. What pity it is so wondrous a capacity should be crowded with vile images, with wanton scenes, with profane jests, and idle stories! Or, at best, it is filled with gold and silver, and merchandize ; with lands andhouses, ships and insurances ; it is all inscribed with stocks, annùities, and purchases, and turned into amerebook of accounts, a trading shop, or an everlasting exchange : Night and day, the buyers and sellersare passing through this temple, which should be consecrated to God ; and there is no room left for the 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 mucli fuel gathered for your future burning. Think a little with yourselves, ye possessors of these rich endowments of the mind when you have been honoured 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 yourhatred against God, and to forge per- petual blasphemiesagainst the Majesty of heaven ? are you wil- ling to be joined to the society of devils, and be engaged in their abominable work ? Shall this sprightly fancy, this subtle reason, this .large memory, serve forno purpose, but to aggravate your guilt, and your damnation ? Shall these fine talents sharpen your misery, and give edge to the keenest reflections of conscience :. conscience, that inward stingof the mind ; conscience, that im- mortal tormentor ? Yet this must be the certain portion of those
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