QUESTION I. 4$I. lion between greater and lesser sinners ? No, by no z`s yrs. It is sufficiently evident that all persons are liable to them, and whole nations at once suffer by them. Such is the universal de- generacy of human nature, that wheresoever these calamities come, they find none innocent : and it is the general situation of degenerate mankind, under just displeasure of God that made them, which exposes them all to these destructions. But to proceed in a survey of the miseries of mankind. Think of the innumerable common misfortunes which attend human life ; look into the bills of mortality, observe what multi- tudes perish by these accidents in one city every week, and infer what a much larger number of these accidents injure the health, the ease, the limbs of mankind, and fill their lives with pain, though they are not brought immediately to the grave. Think of the mischiefs which are continually plotting and contriving in all the towns and villages of the world, whereby perhaps one half of the race of men try to defraud, circumvent, and do in- jury and mischief to their neighbours ; and the bad and the good suffer promiscuously in this world in their possessions and pro. perties, in their comforts of life, in their health, and in all that is dear to them. Take a view of these extensive and reigning vices and miseries, and then say, whether this world be not 'a. part of the creation of God, which bears plain and signal tokens of the frowns and displeasure of its Maker. It would add much to the heap of human misery, if we should consider the cutting sorrows which arise from the daily loss of our dearest comforts. What groans and heart-achs and wailings of the living surround the pillows of dying friends and dearer children? What symptoms of piercing and painful dis- tress attend their remainswhen they are conveyed to the grave ? And by such losses all the comforts of future life become disre- lishing, and every new scene of sorrow is embittered with double gall. Let it be observed, that in the sorrows, miseries and deaths of mankind round the world, especially in the more civi- lized part of it, there is scarce one person sick, or in pain, mi- serable or dying, but several others sustain a considerable share of misery by the strong ties of nature, or of interest, the dear bonds of friendship, and the tender and sympathizing powers which are mingled in ourcomposition. This diffuses a personal calamity through whale families, this multiplies human sorrows and miseries into an endless number, and makes us justly en- quire, can all this be contrived to torment innocence and holiness, or to punish creatures who continue such as God made them at first ? It would still swell the Ioad, if we bring in the many teazing vexations and cutting disappointments which arise from the falsehood of pretended friends, and from the cruelty of kindred, n3
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