SOO THE WORL11 TO COME. a prize put into our hands, for it is the only time given ur to obtain deliverance and escape from eternal death : Life in this view, as there a bubble and vapour as it is, carries in it something of infinite and everlasting moment.: But alas, how wretchedly does foolish and sinful mankind trifle and squander it away amidst a thousand vanities and impertinencies, or saunter it out in sloth and laziness, with an utter disregard of the impar,. tant eternity that depends upon it ? What multitudes are there that waste the golden hours of grace, and the seasons of hope, in procuring to themselves, by their own wilful iniquities, a length of damnation and everlasting despair. While we dwell here in the midst of the means of mercy and salvation, there is hope that our sinful souls may be healed of that disease which is breeding the ever gnawing worm within its. We may prevent the fuel of divine wrath from kindling into a flame which cannot be quenched : But when once the clock of life has gone through its appointed spaces, and the last hour strikes, whether it be three or five, whether at twelve at noon or at midnight, all hope is for ever gone ; we are plunged into the regions of death, despondency and darkness, and nothing re- mains but the actual torture of the worm of conscience to seize on us, and the fire of divine anger actually breaks out, which shall burn to the lowest hell. O could we but behold ourselves in the glass of wisdom, while we are yet standing upon the slip- pery edge of this burning precipice, and playing with painted bubbles there, or in warm pursuit of a flying shining featitc^ along the brink of this burning torrent, what tools and madmen should we appear to be even in our own eyes ! And yet we go on to practise this folly, this madness, day after day, in spite of all the warnings of God and man, till at last our foot slips in some dreadful moment, and we vanish out of the sight of our companions, and are lost for ever. III. If the miseries of hell are eternal " how unreasonable a thing is it ever to suffer the loss of any possessions or joys which are temporal and perishing, to come into competition with them ?" Surely there is nothing that belongs to time that should tempt us to run the risk of the sorrows of eternity, nor allure us to commit one sin against God, which is the fatal spring of such sorrows ! Stand still, O sinner, and hearken to the voice of wisdom. Do the pleasures of sense, or the gaieties of sight, or the wealth or grandeurs of this life allure thee to make thy way boldly through any, means toward the possession of them, think with thyself, is it by offending this great and dreadful God ? And wilt thou dare to take one step towards these dangerous and de- ceitful vanities, and risk thy immortal welfare in the pursuit ? What a foolish bargain wilt thou make to gain the whole world of slum- lived perishing trifles, and to lose thy soul in outlless
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