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

Besides, the most who are Believers in Title, are Infidels in Heart. Our Saviour tells the Jews, who pretended the highest Veneration to the Writings of Moses, That if they had believed Moses, they would have believed him, for Moses wrote of him. If Men did seriously believe such an excellent Reward, as the Gospel propounds, would it be a cold unpersuasive Motive to them? The depravation of the Will argues a correspondent defect in the Mind; though not absolute total Infidelity, yet such a weakness and wavering in the Assent, that when Temptations are present and urgent, and it comes to actual Choice, Sense prevails over Faith. This will be clear by Universal Experience in temporal Things. The probable hope of Gain, will make those who are greedy of Gold, prodigal of their Lives, and venture through tempestuous Seas to accomplish their Desires. And if the ⟨p. 442⟩belief were equal, would not Men do or suffer as much for obtaining what is infinitely more valuable? A firm Assent would produce adherence, and Faith in the Promises, Fidelity in obeying the Commands of Christ. Tertullian propounds it as a powerful incentive to the Martyrs, Quis ergo non libentissimè tantum pro vero habeat erogare, quantum alii pro falso? Who would not joyfully sacrifice Life and all its Endearments, to obtain true Blessedness, which others do for the vain Appearance of it? Men may be as truly Subjects without subjection, as Believers without a Heavenly Conversation, which is inseparable from the Reality of Faith. Many in the Bosom of the Church are as truly, though not so notoriously, Infidels, as Turks and Heathens. Indeed even in true Believers the apprehension of eternal Things has such great allays, that temporal Things are over-valued and over-feared. A strong Faith in the Truth and Power of God, would make the glorious World so sure and near in our Thoughts, that with indifferent Affections we should receive good or evil Things here, Rejoice as if ⟨p. 443⟩we rejoiced not, and mourn as if we mourned not. Our Lives would be so regular and pure, as if the Judg were to come the next Hour, as if the Sun did now begin to be darkened, and the Trumpet of the Arch-Angel were sounding, and the noise of the dissolving World were universally heard. Infidelity deeds the Impression, and suppresses the reigning Power of Eternal Things in our Hearts.

Besides, the most who are Believers in Title, are Infidels in Heart. Our Saviour tells the Jews, who pretended the highest Veneration to the Writings of Moses, That if they had believed Moses, they would have believed him, for Moses wrote of him. If Men did seriously believe such an excellent Reward, as the Gospel propounds, would it be a cold unperswasive Motive to them? The depravation of the Will argues a correspondent defect in the Mind; though not absolute total Infidelity, yet such a weakness and wavering in the Assent, that when Temptations are present and urgent, and it comes to actual Choice, Sense prevails over Faith. This will be clear by Universal Experience in temporal Things. The probable hope of Gain, will make those who are greedy of Gold, prodigal of their Lives, and venture through tempestuous Seas to accomplish their Desires. And if the