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when all the the Comforts and Beauties of it are Vanished, and when it appears in no Colours but the Sable and Mournful ones of Perplexity and Aftonishment; When we shall be continually Haunted with a Dread, not Unlike to that of Cain, that every one that meeteh us, will Slay us; When we fhall, at once, wish for the Comfort of Converfing with our Friends, and yet Shrink under that Wish, left They should indeed prove our Enemies, and Undefignedly give us the Mortal Wound; When at once, Natural Appetite fhall pufh us forward to a neceffary Supply of Nourishment, and more Cautious Thought Forbid our Approaches to it, left it fhould be Impregnated with the Fatal Poyfon; When we fhall be Inceffantly racked with Fear of Admitting the very Air, we Live by, left we fhould draw in Death with it; When Time shall be Intirely fwallowed up in One Uninterrupted Funeral; When we fhall be ever Uncertain, whether the Terrors of the Present Moment are 'Rifen as High, as Terrors can Rife, or, whether the Next Moments, proving as Deceitful as the Pre

fent

fent, fhall bring on a Scene of ftill Ghaftlier Thoughts, or Ghaftlier Sights, than Those that usher'd in the moments, which Now fit so very Heavy, that they seem to have loft their Fleeting Nature, and to Dwell upon us; When Clouds of Horror Drive fo thick over our Minds, that there is no Room for one Gladfom Ray of Light, or Comfort to break in between them; and, When we shall be scarce able to Determine, whether fuch a Death, or fuch a Dread, be the Greater Evil.

We are at present to confider, what our Opinions of things will then be; how Willing and Ready we fhall then be, to purchase Relief under our Infuperable Difficulties, Freedom from our Infupportable Reflexions, and an Intire Sense of Safety, at any Rate, or by any means; either, by an Utter Deteftation of the Sins of Other Men, without refpect of Perfons, or without any Other Refpect and Difference, than That of turning the Greatest Weight of our Abhorrence, upon the Iniquities and Abominations of Thofe, who feem to have been the Greatest Occafions of our Mifery; or, by Boldly Exhort

ing and Reproving the most Profligate, or Powerful Sinner alive; or, by Abandoning, Utterly, our Infidelity, or Impenitency, our Corrupt Principles, or Corrupt Practices, all the Dearest of our Sinful Gratifications, of Body or Mind; Tamely fubmitting our Reason to an Unfhaken Belief of the Mysteries, and our Paffions to an Intire Obedience to the Precepts of the Gospel.

Let us therefore Now, by a wife Choice, take into our Minds, fuch a Judgment of Things, as we shall not Then be able to keep Out of Them; Let us now be Industrious in Performing the Duties, which we shall Then Hate the Thoughts of Neglecting. Though our Endeavours may Now be fufficient to Prevent the Judgments of God, they may not Then suffice to the Removal of Them. Let us turn to the Lord with all our Hearts, and diligently feek him, whilst he may be found. Behold, now is the Accepted time, behold, now is the day of Salvation.

Let our Apprehenfions of the Evils, which furround us, work fo Happy and Lafting a Change in us, that thofe Evils Themselves

Themfelves may never Invade and overtake us, but that we may obtain the Mercy and Favour of the most High, such Degrees of his Mercy and Favour, as may Effectually Preserve us from Deftruction, both Temporal and Eternal, through the Powerful Merits and Mediation of our Bleffed Lord and Saviour, Jefus Chrift; To whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghoft, Three Perfons, and one God, be all Honour, Praife, and Thanksgiving, both Now, and for Evermore. Amen.

SERMON

SERMON VIII.

The Temporal Advantages of Religion.

PROV. III. 16.

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand Riches and Honour.

W

ISDOM, or Religion, is here introduced Holding out to men's View, the greatest Temporal Bleffings, as Inducements to engage them in her Service. And the fame Encouragements to Virtue and Goodness, are offer'd in Other places of Holy Scripture. Therefore St. Paul affures us, *that Godliness is profitable to all things, having promife of the life that Now is, as

I Tim. iv. 8.

well

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