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

But how rare and disused a Duty is this? How hardly are Men induced to set about it? Business and Pleasures are powerful Diversions. Some pretend Business as a just Cause, but in vain; for the one Thing necessary challenges our principal Thoughts and Care. Besides, there are intervals of Leisure, and the Thoughts are always streaming, and often run waste, which directed aright, would be very fruitful to the Soul. The true Cause of this neglect is from the inward temper of Men. Carnal Pleasures alienate the Mind, and make it unfit for the deep serious actings of the Thoughts upon Eternal Things. I have said of Laughter, Thou art mad; it makes the Mind light, and vain, and desultory. As a distracted Person by every motion of Fancy flies from one thing to another without Coherence. The Heart filled with cloudy Cares, and smoky Fires, with Thoughts and Desires about worldly Things, is unprepared for ⟨p. 456⟩such a clear, calm, and sedate Work. A Carnal Person can taste no sweetness, feel no relish in the Meditation of Heaven, nor any Spiritual Duty. 'Tis as if one should take some delicious Fruit into his Mouth, a Peach, or the like, without breaking the Skin; it would be rather a trouble, than pleasant. Nay, the Gospel expressly declaring, That without Holiness no Man shall see God; those who by vicious Affections are engaged in any sinful way, being conscious of their Guilt and unpreparedness, and that while such, they are under a peremptory exclusion from celestial Glory, cannot endure the thoughts of Heaven. The Divine Presence is their Torment, and the serious consideration of it, is to bring them before God's holy and just Tribunal, to accuse and condemn them.

But how rare and disused a Duty is this? How hardly are Men induc'd to set about it? Business and Pleasures are powerful Diversions. Some pretend Business as a just Cause, but in vain; for the one Thing necessary challenges our principal Thoughts and Care. Besides, there are intervals of Leisure, and the Thoughts are always streaming, and often run waste, which directed aright, would be very fruitful to the Soul. The true Cause of this neglect is from the inward temper of Men. Carnal Pleasures alienate the Mind, and make it unfit for the deep serious actings of the Thoughts upon Eternal Things. I have said of Laughter, Thou art mad; it makes the Mind light, and vain, and desultory. As a distracted Person by every motion of Fancy flies from one thing to another without Coherence. The Heart fill'd with cloudy Cares, and smoaky Fires, with Thoughts and Desires about worldly Things, is unprepar'd for