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

Secondly. That the belief of eternal Judgment may be powerful in our hearts and lives, it must be actuated by frequent and serious thoughts. Faith gives life and efficacy to our notions of eternal things, and Consideration makes our Faith effectual. As the natural Life is preserved by the activity of the vital Principles, the Circulation of the Blood, the drawing of the Breath, the motion of the Pulse; so the spiritual Life is maintained by the exercise of Grace. The carnal Affections ⟨p. 217⟩dare not appear before Reason and Conscience, when awakened by the serious believing Consideration of eternal Judgment. The Evangelists relate, that when our Saviour was asleep in the Ship, a sudden Tempest arose that was likely to over-set it in the Sea: but awakened by the cry of his Disciples, Lord, save us, we perish; he presently rebuked the Wind, and a Calm ensued. Thus whilst the habit of Faith is asleep in the Soul, there will be great danger from the concurrent violence of Temptations and Corruptions; but when 'tis awakened by lively and powerful thoughts, it does Miracles in subduing the strongest Lusts. 'Tis monstrous and beyond all belief, did not sensible Experience make it evident, that notwithstanding the minds of Men are convinced of the certainty of the Divine Judgment, and the Recompenses that immediately follow, yet their Wills remain unconverted, and their Affections cold and unactive in their preparations for it: That such numbers who have so much Christianity as to believe that an irrevocable Doom will pass upon the Wicked, and so little Christianity, that they cannot ⟨p. 218⟩justly hope to escape from it, yet are so careless of their Duty, nay joyful in their sinful courses, as if Judgment were a dreadless thing. What is the cause of this prodigious security? 'Tis the neglect of considering, that we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ, to receive according to the things done in the body, whether good or evil.

Secondly. That the belief of eternal Judgment may be powerful in our hearts and lives, it must be actuated by frequent and serious thoughts. Faith gives life and efficacy to our notions of eternal things, and Consideration makes our Faith effectual. As the natural Life is preserved by the activity of the vital Principles, the Circulation of the Blood, the drawing of the Breath, the motion of the Pulse; so the spiritual Life is maintained by the exercise of Grace. The carnal Affections