Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

The greatest in the World, and the most proud of their Greatness, the Luxurious Voluptuaries, shall their Pomp and Delights continue with them in the Grave? Can they reign and revel when their Bodies are in the Dust, and their Souls in Hell? Where is their admired Happiness? Is it not all dead with them? nothing will then remain but the tormenting Remembrance of their Folly. But the Word of ¹the Lord endures for ever: 'Tis an immortal Seed, and makes the Ground 'tis planted in, to live for ever. We ⟨p. 378⟩are assured, he that does the Will of God, abides for ever. The Blessedness of Heaven is everlasting, as God the Object of it, and the Soul that enjoys it. There is nothing defective in the State above, where Happiness is surrounded with Eternity. This is worthy of our most aspiring Ambition, of all our Hopes and Desires. Now is it possible that the present World, as empty as the Froth of the Sea, as vanishing as a Puff of Air, should be chosen before Celestial Happiness? It is by the most, so prodigiously are Carnal Men swayed by Sense, that like Brute Beasts they are violently drawn by present Things, and little moved by Things spiritual and future. The Devil brings ready Money in his Hands, and tempts them with this present World: The Son of God offers in his Word Eternal Happiness, which is despised in the Comparison. If one should ⟨p. 379⟩choose a small Sum at present before the sure Reversion of an Estate that would enrich him all his Life, would he not be despised by all for want of Understanding? Yet Men allow that Folly in their own Practice, that they would condemn in others. But such is the Mercy of God, that to persuade and prevail with us, he uses all the Arguments that can work upon the Minds of Men. Hope and Fear are the strongest Springs to move us; he therefore sets before us Heaven and Hell, to attract our Hope, and excite our Fear. He makes use of Hell to kindle our Zeal in seeking the Kingdom of Heaven. The most violent Passions are over-ruled by Fear. Now in the threatening of Hell all the Motives of Fear are united. Little Evils are despised, not feared: great Evils that may be easily avoided, or apprehended very remote, are ⟨p. 380⟩not feared. But Evils that are imminent and destructive, are the most powerful Objects of Fear. Now every Man in his sinful State, hangs by slender Strings over the bottomless Pit: