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

But the Soul being the chief Sinner, shall be the chief Mourner in those Regions of Sorrow. An Image of this we have in the Agonies of Spirit, which sometimes the Saints themselves are in here, and which the most stubborn Sinners can neither resist nor endure. Job was afflicted in that manner that he complains, The Arrows of the Almighty ⟨p. 501⟩are with me, the Poison whereof drinks up my Spirit, the Terrors of God set themselves in Array against me. If a Spark of his Displeasure falls on the guilty Conscience, it tears and blows up all, as a Fire-ball cast into a Magazine. Solomon, who understood the Frame of humane Nature, tells us, The Spirit of a Man can bear his Infirmity: that is, the Mind fortified by principles of moral Counsel and Constancy, can endure the assault of external Evils: but a wounded Spirit who can bear? This is most insupportable when the sting and remorse of the Mind is from the sense of Guilt: for then God appears an Enemy, righteous and severe; and who can encounter with offended Omnipotence? Such is the sharpness of his Sword, and the weight of his Hand, that every stroke is deadly inward. Satan the cruel Enemy of Souls, exasperates the Wounds. He discovers and charges Sin upon the Conscience with all its killing Aggravations, and conceals the divine Mercy, the only Lenitive and Balm to the Wounded Spirit. What Visions of Horror, what Spectacles of Fear, what Scenes of Sorrow are presented to the distracted ⟨p. 502⟩Mind by the Prince of Darkness? And which heightens the Misery, Man is a worse Enemy to himself than Satan: he falls upon his own Sword and destroys himself. The guilty Conscience turns the Sun into Darkness, and the Moon into Blood: the precious Promises of the Gospel, that assure Favour and Pardon to returning and relenting Sinners, are turned into Arguments of despair, by reflecting upon the abuse and provocation of Mercy, that the Advocate in God's bosom, is become the Accuser. Whatever the Soul-wounded Sinner sees or hears, afflicts him; whatever he thinks, torments him. All the Diversions in the World, Business, Pleasures, merry Conversation, Comedies, are as ineffectual to give freedom from those Stings and Furies in the Breast, as the sprinkling of Holy Water is to expel a raging Devil from a possest Person.

But the Soul being the chief Sinner, shall be the chief Mourner in those Regions of Sorrow. An Image of this we have in the Agonies of Spirit, which sometimes the Saints themselves are in here, and which the most stubborn Sinners can neither resist nor endure. Job was afflicted in that manner that he complains, The Arrows of the Almighty