The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in…

2. Let us make it the main Business of our Lives to remove from our Souls the just Fears of Death. 'Tis one of the solemn Follies of the World to fear where there is no cause: As if a Sentinel should mistake Glowworms in the Night for lighted Matches, and give a false Alarm: but 'tis a worse Folly, though pleasing, not to fear when there is the greatest Reason to excite it. And 'tis so in the present Case: for the most are without the Fear of Death, that should make them serious in preparing for it: nay, to maintain their Security, are as unwilling to hear Conscience declare the Wretchedness of their Condition with respect to Eternity, as Ahab was the Prophet Micaiah, who always foretold evil things to him.

2. Let us make it the main Business of our Lives to remove from our Souls the just Fears of Death. 'Tis one of the solemn Follies of the World to fear where there is no cause: As if a Sentinel should mistake Gloworms in the Night for lighted Matches, and give a false Alarm: but 'tis a worse Folly, though pleasing, not to fear when there is the greatest Reason to excite it. And 'tis so in the present Case: for the most are without the Fear of Death, that should make them serious in preparing for it: nay, to maintain their Security, are as unwilling to hear Conscience declare the Wretchedness of their Condition with respect to Eternity, as Ahab was the Prophet Micaiah, who always foretold evil things to him.

'Twas the chief Design of the Philosophers, by Principles of Reason to fortify themselves against all frightful Accidents, and with a masculine Mind, ⟨p. 84⟩with an Heart ardent, and with generous Spirits to ^*encounter this inevitable Evil. When one of them was threatened by the Emperor Antigonus with present Death, he boldly replied, Threaten this to your dissolute Courtiers that are softened and melted by sensual Pleasures, and easily receptive of terrible Impressions, not to a Philosopher to whom Death is contemptible in any Appearance. This was a piece of affected Bravery; for Pagan Philosophy could never furnish them with Armour of Proof against the Dart of our last Enemy. But the Gospel assuring us that Death is an Entrance into Immortality, makes that to be the Reality of a Christian, that was a vain boast of the Philosophers.