The Soul's Conflict with Itself

If men carried away with their own lusts, would give but a little check, and stop themselves in their posting to hell, and ask, What have I done? What am I now ¹about? Whither will this course tend? How will it end? &c. Undoubtedly men would begin to be wise; Would the blasphemer give away his soul for nothing (for there is no engagement of profit or pleasure in this, as in other sins, but it issues merely out of irreverence, ²and a superfluity of profaneness;) would he (I say) draw so heavy a guilt upon himself for nothing, if he would but make use of his reason? Would an old man (when he is very near his journeys end) make longer provision for a short way if he would ask himself a Reason? But indeed Covetousness is an unreasonable vice.

If men caried away with their own lusts, would give but a little check, and stop themselves in their posting to hell, and aske, What have I done? What am I now ¹about? Whither will this course tend? How will it end? &c. Undoubtedly men would begin to be wise; Would the blasphemer give away his soule for nothing (for there is no engagement of profit or pleasure in this, as in other sins, but it issues meerly out of irreverence, ²and a superfluity of prophanesse;) would he (I say) draw so heavy a guilt upon himselfe for nothing, if he would but make use of his reason? Would an old man (when he is very neare his journies end) make longer provision for a short way if he would aske himselfe a Reason? But indeed Covetousnesse is an unreasonable vice.

1. 1The souls expostulation.The soules expostulation.
2. 2Blaspheming whence.Blaspheming vvhence.