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

1. It embitters the enjoyments of the present Life, and makes the most prosperous in the World, even in the fullness of their sufficiency, to be in straits. Though the Senses are pleased with the quick sweetness of Change from one Object to another, yet the Soul cannot have a delightful undisturbed Fruition, foreseeing that the stream of Pleasure will issue into the dead Sea. Truly Light is sweet, ¹and 'tis a pleasant thing to behold the Sun. But how short is this Life with all its Pleasures, in comparison of the Days of Darkness that follow. Now though 'tis our best Wisdom and truest Liberty, to rejoice in ⟨p. 27⟩this World as if we rejoiced not, and frequently to meditate on the cooling Doctrines of Death and Judgment, to repress the transports of the voluptuous Appetite; yet since the Comforts of this Life are liberally indulged to us by the Love of God, to be the Motives of our grateful and affectionate Obedience, to sweeten our passage to Heaven, we may with tranquillity of Spirit make a pure and cheerful use of them in his Service; and 'tis an oppressing bondage, when the disquieting anxious Fears of Death hinder our temperate enjoyment of his Favours and Blessings.

1. It embitters the enjoyments of the present Life, and makes the most prosperous in the World, even in the fulness of their sufficiency, to be in straits. Though the Senses are pleased with the quick sweetness of Change from one Object to another, yet the Soul cannot have a delightful undisturbed Fruition, foreseeing that the stream of Pleasure will issue into the dead Sea. Truly Light is sweet, ¹and 'tis a pleasant thing to behold the Sun. But how short is this Life with all its Pleasures, in comparison of the Days of Darkness that follow. Now though 'tis our best Wisdom and truest Liberty, to rejoice in ⟨p. 27⟩this World as if we rejoiced not, and frequently to meditate on the cooling Doctrines of Death and Judgment, to repress the transports of the voluptuous Appetite; yet since the Comforts of this Life are liberally indulged to us by the Love of God, to be the Motives of our grateful and affectionate Obedience, to sweeten our passage to Heaven, we may with tranquillity of Spirit make a pure and chearful use of them in his Service; and 'tis an oppressing bondage, when the disquieting anxious Fears of Death hinder our temperate enjoyment of his Favours and Blessings.