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

1. Shame is a Passion of which human Nature is very sensible, and this in the highest degree of Confusion shall seize on the Wicked.¹ For all the just causes of Shame shall then meet. The inward source of it is the consciousness of Guilt, or Turpitude and Folly in the Actions; and all these are the inseparable ⟨p. 506⟩Adjuncts of Sin.² The guilty Soul by a piercing reflection upon its Crimes, has a secret shame of its Degeneracy and Unworthiness. The Passion is increased, when a discovery is made of vile practices that defile and debase a Man, expose to Contempt and Infamy, before Persons of high Quality and eminent Virtue, whom we admire and reverence, and whose esteem we value. To be surprised in an unworthy Action by such a Person, disorders the Blood, and transfuses a Colour into the Face, to cover it with a Veil of Blushing. And the more numerous the Spectators are, the more the Disgrace is aggravated. And if Derision be joined with the Ignominy, it causes extreme Displeasure. O the universal Confusion, the over-pouring amazement that will seize on Sinners in the great Day of Discovery, when all the Works of Darkness, all their base Sensualities shall be revealed before God, Angels and Saints! When all the Covers of Shame shall be taken off, the Excuses and Denials, to extenuate or conceal their Sins, shall vanish, and their Breasts be transparent to the Eyes of all! How will they be ashamed of their foul and permanent Deformity in ⟨p. 507⟩the Light of that glorious Presence? How will they be astonished to appear in all their Pollutions before that bright and immense Theatre? How will they be confounded to stand in all their Guilt before that sublime and severe Tribunal? How will they endure the upbraidings for all the Sins which they have so wickedly committed, and the derision for the Punishment they so deservedly suffer? The holy Judg will laugh at their Calamity, and mock when their fear comes. The Righteous also shall see, and shall laugh at them, Lo these are the Men that made not God their Portion, but perishing Vanities, that preferred sweet Folly before severe Wisdom. The Devils will reproach them for that scornful advantage they had over them, That as Children are seduced for things of Lustre to part with real Treasures, so they were easily persuaded for the Trifles of Time to exchange Eternal Happiness. Whither will they cause their Shame to go?