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

1. Men delay Repentance upon the Presumption of a long Life: But what is more uncertain? 'Tis the Wisdom and Goodness of God to conceal in his impenetrable Counsels the time of our Sojourning here: For if Men, though liable to Death every hour, and therefore should be under just Fear, lest it surprise them unprepared, yet against so strong a Curb, run with that exorbitant vehemence after the present World; how much more licentious would they be, if secured from sudden Death? But none can promise to himself one Day. Death comes not according to the order of Nature, but the Decree ⟨p. 90⟩of God. How many in the Flower of their Youth and Strength thought themselves at as great a Distance from Death, as the East is from the West, when there was not the space of an Hour between them and Death, between them and Hell? The Lamp suddenly expires by a Blast of Wind, when there is plenty of Oil to feed it. The rich Man pleased himself with Designs of sensual Enjoyments for many years, yet did not see the dawning of the next Morning: Thou Fool, this Night shall thy Soul be required of thee. This Sentence is pronounced in Heaven against thousands that are now alive, conversant in the Vanities and Business of the World, Eating and Drinking, Playing and Trading, and all unconcerned as to dying, yet shall breath their last before to Morrow, and their unwilling Souls be rent from the Embraces of their Bodies. In various manners Men die from inward and outward causes; an Apoplexy, an Imposthume, a Flux of Rheum stopping Respiration, kills the Body without any presaging Signs of Death: As if the Roof and all the Chambers should fall within the House, while the Walls ⟨p. 91⟩are standing entire: And how many unforeseen Accidens, and therefore inevitable, put a sudden Period to Life? Is it not our truest Wisdom by an early Repentance to prepare for Death, when the Season is certainly short, and but uncertainly continued, and the Omission is irreparable?

1. Men delay Repentance upon the Presumption of a long Life: But what is more uncertain? 'Tis the Wisdom and Goodness of God to conceal in his impenetrable Counsels the time of our Sojourning here: For if Men, though liable to Death every hour, and therefore should be under just Fear, lest it surprize them unprepar'd, yet against so strong a Curb, run with that exorbitant vehemence after the present World; how much more licentious would they be, if secured from sudden Death? But none can promise to himself one Day. Death comes not according to the order of Nature, but the Decree