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

'Tis recorded as the unparalleled Folly of Nero, ¹that when he was ready to cut his own Throat, to avoid the Fury of the multitude, he broke forth into great Expressions of Sorrow, what an excellent Artist he died. 'Twas not the loss of the Roman Empire that so much troubled him, as that so much skill in Music died with him. He valued himself more as a Fiddler, than an Emperor. Thus carnal Men with a folly infinitely more prodigious, when Death is near, are not so much affected with the loss of the Crown of Glory, and the Kingdom ⟨p. 535⟩of Heaven, as with their present leaving this World and its Vanities. This makes Death intolerably bitter. Till the Love of God purifies the Heart, the fruition of his Presence is not esteemed or desired. A Seraphim sent from the presence of God with a flaming Coal from the Altar, touched the Lips of the Holy Prophet, and his Heart was presently melted into a compliance with the Divine Will. But if a rebel Angel, that burns with another fire than of Divine Love, were dispatched from Hell with a Coal from that Altar, where so many Victims are offered to Divine Justice as there are damned Souls, and touched obdurate Sinners, that they might have a lively sense what it is to burn for ever, it were the most congruous and effectual means to reclaim them; like stubborn Metals, they are only made pliant by the Fire. From what has been said, we may observe the heavenly Harmony between Mercy and Justice in God: he is the Father of Mercy, 'tis his natural Off-spring, his primary Inclination to the Creature, and the threatening of Vengeance against Sinners, is a gracious design to constrain ⟨p. 536⟩them with humility and repenting Affections to seek his Favour. Briefly, his severity and flaming displeasure never destroys Sinners, but to revenge the abuse of his neglected Benignity and Clemency.

'Tis recorded as the unparallel'd Folly of Nero, ¹that when he was ready to cut his own Throat, to avoid the Fury of the multitude, he broke forth into great Expressions of Sorrow, what an excellent Artist he died. 'Twas not the loss of the Roman Empire that so much troubled him, as that so much skill in Musick died with him. He valued himself more as a Fidler, than an Emperor. Thus carnal Men with a folly infinitely more prodigious, when Death is near, are not so much affected with the loss of the Crown of Glory, and the Kingdom